The anniversary of Antinous's death (October 30, 130 AD) seems remarkable in its proximity to Halloween, and I don't think it is too much of a stretch to say that even today we are still dealing with the fallout from a war between sex and religion started long, long ago.

Part Three: the Fall and rise — of sex

(Readers who are interested may click here for Part One and here for Part Two of this series.)

Sex and prayer.....

At first blush, these two things would not seem to have much in common. But in the identity politics-driven world of modern America, sex and prayer have a very important thing in common.

They are political.

Politicization of sex is not new, of course. (More links.) Neither is politicization of prayer — although I hate to see it becoming a new form of "conservative" identity politics.

Halloween is being similarly politicized, and the way things are going, I would not be surprised to see all official references to it eliminated.

This whole late October/early November season is ridden with pagan as well as Christian overtones:

October 31 - Goddess month of Samhain begins
- Samhain or Halloween or All Hallows Eve - commemorates the onset of a darker, introspective time of year when the veil between the otherworlds is thin and access to these other worlds is easier
November 1 - Cross-quarter day, the first day of winter in the natural year
- Festival of the Dead - Samhaim, light fires in memory of the dead and to commune with the underworld, building hope for the future
- All saints Day, a day to honor dead saints
2- All Souls Day, a day to honor all departed spirits
3- Day of St. Malachy - an Irish prophet of medieval times
- In the Celtic tradition, start new enterprises this day for success. Day to bring cattle down from the highlands for winter
5- Guy Fawkes Night, burn effigies of evil spirits and bad memories to allow the new year to unfold into happier days

By any standard, there are enough religious references present above to offend most fundamentalist Christians, most Muslims, many atheists, and even pagans. In fact, some pagans are upset about certain forms of Halloween celebration deemed degrading to Wiccans.

How did Halloween, originating as it did with the pagan celebration of Samhain, ever become standard fare in Christian countries? The general consensus is that Pope Gregory instructed his missionaries to coopt local customs and holidays by folding them into the Catholic Church.

Ditto for the later cooptation of Aztec traditions into the Day of the Dead.