What doesn't my Uncle, who is a Jehovah's Witness, come to our Thanksgiving dinner?

Question

Should all families never have a bonding like Thanksgivng? Why are so many religions against each other when it comes to 'How to worship God'?

Answer 1

Its not that he doesn't "appreciate" thanksgiving day. He does. Its that its a day that's been brought into a religous atmosphere, with all the "thanksgiving" going to so many gods. After all, not every family in America is white and Christian, thank you. Rather than "step on any toes and alienate Jehovah" he chooses to celebrate the ONLY day of the Year that he was TOLD to celebrate, the Passover or Last Supper. The first full moon after the vernal equinox or Nisin 14 of the Jewish calendar (which is always the on the same day). Unlike our Easter which falls on like the 3rd Sunday or so of March or something, theirs actually falls on the day Jesus commanded it too.

So its not that he doesn't want to be with his family, its that not true, he'd love too, i'm sure. But where would it stop? Halloween? Its not OVERTLY religious or maybe 4th of July? You have to draw the line somewhere and better to be safe than sorry when dealing with keeping your relationship with your God on a happy keel. Why not have a family reunion day every year when everyone can get together?

Answer 2

Because Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in mixing false worship with true worship, they reject so-called Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter because these are actually reassigned pagan holidays having little to nothing to do with the bible.

Similarly, the Witnesses' strict nationalistic and political neutrality causes them to eschew such holidays as Indepence Day and Memorial Day in the United States.

Thanksgiving is remarkably unique among "holidays" in that it does not seem to derive from pagan worship or from nationalism. Yet the vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses make the PERSONAL DECISION to refrain from celebrating Thanksgiving, perhaps because they personally believe that non-Witness family and associates would not appreciate the fine difference between Thanksgiving and the vast majority of calendar holidays.

The one facet of Thanksgiving that seems likely to compromise pure worship is the communal prayer. A Witness does not generally allow a non-Witness to represent him in prayer since non-Witness prayer too-often fails to conform to biblical standards. Reluctance and awkwardness regarding how to gracefully handle this may cause a conscientious Jehovah's Witness to avoid the situation altogether.

http://watchtower.org

Answer 3

I'm not sure. Thanksgiving isn't actually a Christian holiday of the normal sort. It's more just a time to remember what we're thankful for in this life, no matter who we're thankful to. So, since it's not a religious holiday, that may be why. The JW seem awfully hung up on religion.

Answer 4

Well, there are celebration that is accompany with false teaching or beliefs that agains bible principle. Your family can still have gathering without celebration that accompany that agains the bible such as family reunion that fix in other day that the family choose but not with the holidays or the public holidays that people celebrating. If you have another question feel free to email me. Thanks!

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witness' do not celebrate holidays because of their religion.

Answer 6

I have a cousin who is JW and she said that you should celebrate Thanksgiving every day, not just once a year. That was her answer - I don't really know why they don't celebrate.