ok for x'mas they have differences.....but what about
birthdays
thanksgiving
valentines day....
ETC...
2006-10-05 06:57:06 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
hey i dont mean this question for JW's to come all and start defending their religion. I have my beliefs and they have theirs. I was just wondering, its good to have factual information but I feel like people are taking this question like if I am opposing them. Or trying to prove them wrong, I was just curious cause I know JW's and they dont really know why...
2006-10-05 12:00:54 · update #1
btw I am non denominational Christian, and they also have fun too, with out cursing, alcohol...Etc.
2006-10-05 12:01:46 · update #2
It's not because we don't want to have fun, or enjoy life.
My very first experience (other than someone knocking on my door) with Jehovah's people was at a picnic.
There was a football game going on, two volleyball games, several playing w/ frisbees, and you could leave and join any game you wished.
The one thing that impressed me most was there was no one getting drunk, no one fighting,
but everyone from toddlers to the elderly were having fun.
Even when I let a cuss word slip (I wasn't a witness then) no body say anything judgemental. No one treated me any different.
I finally experienced the Love Jesus said that would identify his followers.
Every thing we celebrate or don't celebrate has a scriptural reason.
Check it out. www.watchtower.org
2006-10-05 08:02:57 · answer #1 · answered by TeeM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no question as to where these religious holidays come from. Valentine's Day actually comes from a sex worship orgy that took place every February 15 or so. Birthdays were celebrated because the pagans believe that you are closer to your personal pagan god on your birthday. Just look up any holiday and you will see clearly where they all come from. The question is, is it OK to still celebrate these things just because of what they used to mean? First of all, pagans still exist, and they still celebrate these pagan festivals. Secondly, I'm a black man. Would you call me a n***** to my face? I mean, it doesn't mean quite what it used to. But it still is offensive to me, and to black people everywhere. God is a person. He has feelings, just the same as us. He felt "hurt at his heart" when the Israelites kept straying from Him. What we do affects Him very much. Just because humans call these "holy days" and pretty much hide the facts to the common Christian, doesn't mean that God is OK with it. Why be sensitive to my feelings as a black man, and not to those of Jehovah? He has been around the whole time, he watched these people and their celebrations to their fake gods whom he hated, and he watched his people take on those same customs, call them "holy" and hide the facts to their followers. We don't celebrate political holidays because these are Satan's governments and they stand in opposition to Jehovah. Read Daniel 2:44. God's kingdom is the only one we recognize. This is why most Jehovah's witnesses choose not to celebrate these holidays. As for thanksgiving, for the most part I don't think we take as strong a stance on that day. The only thing to think about is that it is a worldly holiday. This is Satan's world. (1 John 5: 19) We want to stay no part of the world, just as Jesus was.
***Hey Ikystar I didn't take your question as you JW bashing or anything like that. I just kind of went off on a tangent there. Sorry. My bad son
2006-10-05 09:54:43 · answer #2 · answered by Nothin wrong 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they understand that these are pagan events and the bible condemns these practices. The average Christian is ignorant when it comes to these holidays, they actually believe Jesus was born on December 25.
Even when I was a Christian and people asked me why I did not celebrate Christmas, or Easter or any other holiday, I was told I was going to hell when I explained that these so called christian holidays are pagan in origin.
You only have one example f a birthday celebration in the New testement and that was being celebrated by pagans and John the Baptrist lost his head during this event.
2006-10-05 07:12:52 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
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
2006-10-05 08:37:42 · answer #4 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi....
Actually, they do celebrate the ONLY celebration commanded by Jesus, and that is to celebrate his death, not his birth, once a year around passover time.
Most all other holidays ( holy days) in some way or another involve non-christian or pagan influences. I do believe they have eased up a bit on Thanksgiving, as it is not overtly religious in nature.
2006-10-05 07:02:57 · answer #5 · answered by The Oldest Man In The World 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paganism and dishonor are the reasons Witnesses don't participate in these holidays.
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?
“The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating—complete with lighted candles—in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom.”—Schwäbische Zeitung (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt), April 3/4, 1981, p. 4.
“The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born. The Romans also subscribed to this idea. . . . This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. . . . The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune. . . . Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . Originally the idea was rooted in magic. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”—The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.
What is the origin of Valentine’s Day?
The World Book Encyclopedia informs us: “Valentine’s Day comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine. But the customs connected with the day . . . probably come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.”—(1973), Vol. 20, p. 204.
Thanksgiving
Once a year people may set aside a day for thanksgiving, such as the national Thanksgiving holiday observed in America. But even then how many observers of this holiday actually offer thanks to God? Are not their thoughts more on feasting and having a merry time than on the many gifts God has given? Can it be said that thanksgiving is offered to God by indulging in an extra-big meal? Thanksgiving to God does not come from the stomach but from the mind. It is verbally expressed. “I will praise the name of God with song, and I will magnify him with thanksgiving.” (Ps. 69:30) “In everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.”—Phil. 4:6.
2006-10-05 07:49:20 · answer #6 · answered by Will M 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The reason JW's do not celebrate any holidays is because they beleive it to be idol worship and takes the place of worshipping the one true God, Jehovah. I do not totally agree with them on this area but I do agree that some of our religious holidays are more geared to the economical side rather than the spiritual side of things
2006-10-05 07:10:57 · answer #7 · answered by donefishd 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They do celebrate something. Read Luke 22:19.
2006-10-05 07:00:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they don't believe in celebrating things that take away from the worship of God. They don't believe in celebrating Christmas, because it has become more focused on presents than Jesus.
2006-10-05 07:00:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No idea, but I hurd that they dont celebrate cuz the bible says to only celebrate one holiday, or something like it
2006-10-05 07:00:33 · answer #10 · answered by Sexy BAbe 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋