Why can's Jehova Witness's celebrate holidays?

Question

It's just wierd they have to leave class when we have a christmas party or something.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.

Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:
(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”

Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.

Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:

(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2005/1/1a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Disfellowshipped JW 1982 Corning, CA Congregation For reason, yet no longer those some ex-JWs who decide for to place themselves on a pedestal, decide which you will have self belief, and comprehend you will with out question. you have won some stable solutions here, so i visit strengthen on them. it may well be pronounced that JWs do have many celebrations for the period of the 300 and sixty 5 days, they do exactly no longer prepare secular trip journeys. they are maximum in many cases no longer deliberate numerous hours in improve, possibly on the dominion hall on a Sunday morning. It form of works interior a similar way as a teenager having some associates over whilst the mothers and dads are away and it turns into party, basically with out liquor. somebody will tell somebody else, who tells some others, that they are going to someones domicile, a park, a sea coast, etc. for a potluck. by utilising the time you get domicile, restoration some nutrition and get to the area, there's a pair hundred witnesses there, from different congregations interior the area. some would carry contraptions and that they've ajam consultation. They play video games like Yatsee or Monopoly. whilst it is accomplished, there is not any longer an illustration that there became a party there. I undergo in techniques lots of the previous due nighttime events at Moonlight State sea coast in California. the familiar difference is they do no longer anticipate a trip to party, or to furnish presents. whilst going to the save, in the event that they see some thing they think of a man or woman will like, witness or no longer, they purchase, possibly wrap it, and supply it to them, our of affection and friendship. it is the biggest difference, no stress of the trip journeys. no could have an interest by no rely if we've the main suitable gives you, spent adequate, wrapped them top, concealed them till the main suitable time, and ensure a thank you to pay the credit card later. I observe this final 3 hundred and sixty 5 days that Easter has exchange into very similar to Christmas, with a similar stress to purchase, wrap, cover, and pay for the presents later. in spite of the fact which you would be able to thnk of the trip journeys, in actual certainty that we are transforming into the knowledgeable canine of the foremost firms who've knowledgeable us to purchase.

Answer 3

Christian celebrations are shunned from Jehovah Witnesses.
Part of the reason being, that they do not believe Jesus is God.
While most, if not all Christians understand that Dec.25 is not Jesus' actual birthday, this was the day chosen by Constantine and the early church, when he decreed that all the world would be Christian, so to envelope all the pagans in their world at that time. This does not make it 'right', it is what it is.

As far as being weird? No, this is their indoctrination, and while we may not agree, we must respect them. If you yourself feel they are weird, can you imagine the embarrassment and exclusion they feel when they can't join in?

As for me? I do NOT allow my children to celebrate Satan's Highest Holy Day , better known to many as Halloween. I would have my children stay home if there were those kind of celebrtions in their schools...same difference.

Answer 4

I can answer this question really good. My father is one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I used to be one too, but I'm not really interested in religion anymore. They don't celebrate holidays such as Christmas or birthdays because they believe they are pagan holidays (had to do with sacrificing something to other gods when their bible says to worship only one god: Jehovah). For example: birthdays (on two occasions, someone's head was chopped off and this was in celebration of false kings, etc.).

Answer 5

Because each Holiday, is created by Man.

Christmas was a holiday that incorporated pagan rituals in it...like the Christmas tree...

Easter incorporates the pagan ritual of fertility, (thus the easter eggs).

Other things, like the 4th of July offers platitudes towards man's accomplishments, as Memorial day, and Labor day does.

If its not for the LORD, they will not celebrate it.

No, I am not a Jehovah Witness, but my brother is one, and I have heard it all....

I wish you well..

Jesse

Answer 6

The only thing Jesus ask us to do at Luke 22:19 was the lord evening meal and NOTHING ELSE. Most holidays are pagan in origin anyways. For more info go here b/c there is a lot: http://www.watchtower.org/

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

Answer 7

As one of Jehovah's Witnesses I am pleased to see so many correct answers!
just adding one you may not know...........Did you know Pope John Paul admitted a few years ago that Christ was NOT born on 12/25/00.
And yes all holidays except one, are man made!

Answer 8

It's because they only honor God and they believe things like parties and exchanging gifts goes against this. That's why they don't celebrate their own birthdays either. They also don't believe in blood transfusions, organ donation, they think it is a sin for you to accept any thing that comes from the body of another person, and you can't even pre-donate blood for yourself, like if you are having surgery.

Answer 9

Because they are a cult...they cant be considered Christian. The only thing they believe in is making money for their "elders". Rarely do u see any JWs help anyone or do anything except hawk books on Saturday morning...so dont trip! Such a self-serving cult will get their reward hahahaha

Answer 10

Jehovah Witnesses only participate in passover, which is the only thing Jesus asked us to do. All other holidays are from pagan origin to them.