2006-12-22 03:10:16 · 19 answers · asked by Soon2BMommy 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hehe - Joe - I would, except I live in a gated apartment complex, where each building has a code. So, no one ever knocks on my door, even to sell me candy. :)
2006-12-22 03:17:12 · update #1
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate any holiday that has it's backing in paganism or politics. Which is basically all of them. Plus they follow the example of Jesus and the early Christians who did not celebrate birthdays. The only two mentioned in the bible were celebrated by pagans. John the Baptist had the honor of losing his head for someones present.
I just saw something about the holocaust on 60 minutes and for Hitlers birthday, every 10 minutes or so someone was executed for over an hour. That was his birthday present.
They do give gifts and cards to their children and family, but NOT for Christmas or Birthdays.
They are a very fun loving people. Who enjoy life. Who get together often with other families and play music, sing and dance. They enjoy traveling and meeting fellow believers from other countries who welcome them into their homes.
Jehovah's Witnesses are very busy people, they go to work and take care of their homes like everyone else. Plus they take the time to share the good news to their neighbors. If they don't want to hear it that is their choice.
They do celebrate one thing and that is Jesus death, which is why he came to earth and what he commanded us to do.
2006-12-22 03:38:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
For an example, Christmas, is a Pagan celebration. You are correct, something simply not being in the Bible, doesn't make it inherently bad/wrong. However, while not always easy, it is usually possible to apply Bible principles to current activities. Example, guns weren't around back then either, but most/all people realize the Bible's stance on murder. So while one could kill someone with the gun, and say Guns aren't mentioned in the Bible, the principle of NOT committing murder IS in the Bible.
2016-05-23 15:41:21 · answer #2 · answered by Kimberly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason why Jehovah's Witnesses DO or DO NOT do things is because of what is actually in the Bible. It is a well documented fact (both Scripturally and historically) that the whole of the Christmas celebration came from pagan practices.
The really important thing to me is: does God accept worship if it includes practices from pagan religions? The Old Testament makes perfectly clear again and again that He was outraged by the ancient nation of Israel when they did so.
A really great example of this was after the Hebrews had fled Egypt in Moses' day. They had even crossed the Red Sea to safety. Yet when Moses seemed to be gone a long time on Mt. Sinai (he was busy receiving the Ten Commandments and hundreds of other commandments known in the Bible as "The Law") the people decided to make a golden calf to use in worship like they had seen being done by the Egyptians in their religions. They even called the presentation of the golden calf "A festival to Jehovah" saying and really thinking that they were honoring the true God with this. Yet notice what God told Moses: "Go, descend, because your people whom you led up out of the land of Egypt have acted ruinously. They have turned aside in a hurry from the way I have commanded them to go."
He was so angry at the people for polluting what had been his instructions for worship by having this pagan "festival" that he told Moses he wanted to "exterminate" all of them. (Exodus 32: 5-10).
Can a holiday today that is based on pagan practices actually be acceptable to God as an honor to Him and his Son, Jesus Christ? Well, God doesn't change. Resoundingly, the answer is no!
2006-12-22 03:24:40 · answer #3 · answered by greg_airious 2 · 6⤊ 1⤋
When you want answers, go to the source. I asked questions like these of a friend who was a Jehovah's Witness. He showed me the passages that applied. It is all a matter of interpretation. They were fascinating discussions because he didn't keep telling me I was going to Hell, at least not often.
They do not celebrate birthdays because bad things happened to good people during birthday celebrations throughout the Bible. Christmas is a birthday. Jesus also is to have said to remember his death, not his birth. The do celebrate Good Friday & Easter in the same way as other Christian denominations. Their concept of Hell, btw, is of absolute nothingness - in other words, death w/o afterlife. Sounds pretty peaceful to me, & it gets rid of all the troublemakers that might rise up against heaven down the road. This removes the contradiction of a god who is love & forgiveness condemning lost souls to eternal punishment. Just a thought that makes a lot more sense to me.
2006-12-22 03:27:37 · answer #4 · answered by bob h 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
first place, Jesus Christ was not born on dec 25th. the shepards where out in the field and that part of the world it is the cold and rainy season and the shepards would not be out. second. Jesus told us to celebrate his death and since Jesus died on Nisan 14, the last supper or the passover and since Nisan 14 is once a year we celebrate it all around the world on Nisan 14. we do give gifts to our families all year long and have parties. people who celebrate xmas get broke and complain about the bills months afterwards. we only worship Jehovah God. without Jehovah there would never be Jesus Christ. people say it is Jesus Christ birthday, what does Jesus get? nothing.
2006-12-22 03:20:48 · answer #5 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
They tell me its because of the origins.
They try to be just like the christians that followed Jesus.
In early Christianity, birthdays were not paid any attention.
It was something the pagans did.
Trying to imitate the first christians, JW's refrain.
Its all about the origin of the custom.
2006-12-22 03:14:51 · answer #6 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I am sure if you really wanted to know the answer to that question, you would open the door and listen to what they have to say when the knock on your door. Then you can ask a billion and one questions. That's what I would do!
2006-12-22 03:15:16 · answer #7 · answered by Joe 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
To the JW's, holidays and birthdays are ripe with pagan symbols and they believe that contradicts the teaching of God (personally I thought some of God's best work is accomplished by using pagan symbols for his purposes). JW's want to be seperate from worldly things which is fine, but it sure doesn't help to witness to the lost.
2006-12-22 03:14:41 · answer #8 · answered by Scott B 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because they believe that giving anyone or anything such personal attention detracts from their worship of God. They do make an exception for weddings and anniversaries, since marriage is a blessing from God.
Peace and Merry Christmas!
2006-12-22 03:13:37 · answer #9 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
NO, it wasn't formed "completely" from pagan rituals at all. While the date does coincide with the great tutonic winter festival and NOT with the true date of Jesus Christ's birth, nevertheless, the purpose of the holiday was changed by the early Church in order to celebrate and honor the birth of the Christian founder, Jesus Christ.
People who refuse to celebrate Christmas (or ANY holidays) are simply sour, humourless "kill-joys" and I personally have no use or tolerance for them. I was once visiting the house of an Ismali Muslim in Vancouver when I noticed a huge and lovely Christmas tree standing in the livingroom. I said to him, "you and your family are Muslim, why is it you have a Christmas tree in your house?" He smiled and said something which I will never forget, "because its Christmas!"
Now THAT is the true "Christmas Spirit!"
2006-12-22 03:22:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋