My worst Christmas was when I was 10 years old, and my mom and step-dad told us we wouldn't be having Christmas anymore, because they decided to become Jehovah's Witnesses, and they don't celebrate Christmas. That sucked. Thank god I was able to move out of the house and get a mind of my own.
2006-12-25 04:39:54 · 21 answers · asked by AssClown 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jehovah's Witnesses are Christians; they teach that Christ was and is divine and of the same nature as God.
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that no salvation occurs without Christ, that accepting Christ's sacrifice is a requirement for true worship, that every prayer must acknowledge Christ, that Christ is the King of God's Kingdom, that Christ is the head of the Christian congregation, that Christ is immortal and above every creature, even that Christ was the 'master worker' in creating the universe!
Jehovah's Witnesses love and respect and honor Christ. They do NOT celebrate so-called "Christmas" because "Christmas" does NOT celebrate Christ; "Christmas" celebrates the pagan Saturnalia. Jesus was not even born in December. Nearly all so-called Christmas customs dishonor Christ.
(Jeremiah 10:2-5) This is what Jehovah has said: "Do not learn the way of the nations at all... 3 For the customs of the peoples are just an exhalation, because it is a mere tree out of the forest that one has cut down, the work of the hands of the craftsman with the billhook. 4 With silver and with gold one makes it pretty. With nails and with hammers they fasten them down, that none may reel. ...the doing of any good is not with them."
http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm
By contrast, it's tragic that the one holiday Christ actually *DID* ask Christians to commemorate is entirely ignored by almost all of Christendom. It is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death, sometimes called "the Last Supper" or "the Lord's Evening Meal".
(1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NWT) The Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup.. Keep doing this... in remembrance of me.”
(1 Cor 11:24, 25, NEB) "Do this as a memorial of me.”
Christ Jesus himself personally celebrated and explained the significance of that Last Supper to his followers (see Matthew 26:26-29). Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have done so on the same Jewish calendar date as Jesus did, Nisan 14, which generally falls between late March and mid-April. Interestingly, Christians in the centuries immediately after Christ's impalement were sometimes called "Quartodecimans" which literally mean "Fourteen-ers", because the early Christians were well-known for this true holy day.
How would Jesus feel to learn that the holiday he commanded was widely ignored, while his so-called followers chose to celebrate a pagan false god and their own traditions of men? We don't need to wonder.
(Matthew 15:6-9) You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20011115/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
2006-12-25 08:19:39 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
Disfellowshipped JW
1982 Corning, CA Congregation
For cause, but not the ones some ex-JWs who want to put themselves on a pedestal, want you to believe, and know you will without question.
You moved out of your parents house at age 10, two years before you even begin developing the ability of conceptual thought process? You must have been really upset. What did you do when they told you that you couldn't carry around your blanky any more?
I was in the thrid grade when my mother and than step-father became JWs. It took a lot longer for him, as he was violently opposed to it, in the beginning.
Your anger sounds more like a wannabe JW so that you can have something to complain about. I remember that last Christmas, as my stepfather really did it up to the nines, with lights everywhere. I believe it was 1964. Of course in those days we weren't as indoctrinated by corporate America into believing that Christmas is everything and not giving gifts is anti-American, demeaning, and trying to take away they profits. At least JWs are not the trained dogs so much of America has come.
As for Christmas, why do you follow a holiday of man, while ignoring the observance Christ said to follow. I doubt you could even say what day it is suppose to be on, which no Christendom holiday falls on. Does this mean you place the traditions of men over Christ? I think the pricks are not the JWs, but the people who have remote control your purse strings.
As for JWs, if you were really one, than you would know that JW kids get gifts and their parents love, all year round, for not special reason at all. They also gave a good education of the Bible, but apparently supporting corporate Aerica if more important.
2006-12-25 08:33:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
Oh hon, I feel so bad for you, I was raised in that stupid cult myself! But I bet you really love Christmas now though eh? Makes you really appreciate it when you are denied such beauty as a child. Those people are being controlled by a group of men in Brooklyn, where all they believe is dictated from, and while most of them are just kind, lost, souls, there are a lot of bad things that go on.
This cult, and all others like it, should be outlawed for the sake of all children who are never allowed the joy of coming downstairs on Christmas morning and opening presents, which if they are young enough, came from Santa. :) This cult cuts off children from all the wonder and joy of holidays, NO Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, not even BIRTHDAYS are celebrated. A child raised in this disgusting example of Christianity lives a deprived, ostracized life where he or she is never accepted by those outside of the cult, and if they dare to question, by those in it either, resulting is social stunting and years of feelings of guilt.
STOP IT NOW BEFORE MORE CHILDREN ARE HARMED!
2006-12-28 06:02:06 · answer #3 · answered by barbcast555 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
They are not pricks - just deceived. They have been fed garbage by the organization, but the organization calls it food and the JW's continue to accept it.
It would not be the best for you not to celebrate Christmas if that was not your own wish.
2006-12-28 18:40:49 · answer #4 · answered by Buzz s 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'm ver sorry that you feel that way but I once tought that celebrating Christmas would be good, luckily I had my parents to help me understand what's best for my life which is my relationship with Jehovah.
I'm proud that your parents are Jehovah's Witnesses and that they tried to save your life.
I think I can't change you're opinion but this religion for me is the best in the world.
Bye, and the best of luck on finding true happiness.
2006-12-27 10:16:32 · answer #5 · answered by rogue_roque 4 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Wow you moved out at 10... that must be a record. Bottom line is that you seem to just want a reason to denigrate another group of people based on issues you have with your parents. JW are part of the majority of people in the WORLD who do NOT celebrate Christmas. Believe it or not most of the world are not "Christian" and do not observe this holiday. I grew up as a witness and i got presents and gifts all year around. i loved that i did not have to wait for that one time of the year when other parents lied to their kids and said someone else brought them presents. It meant alot to me to know my mom and dad worked hard to give us something that we would cherish to help show their love for us... now get a life....
2006-12-28 04:59:59 · answer #6 · answered by Codi 3 · 1⤊ 5⤋
They aren't pricks.
You need to respect their religion as it is.
It sucks that your parents converted when you were a child and thought the only thing that mattered was presents (no offense), but it was their choice and as their child you are "forced" into the same faith. But, like you said, you moved out and chose the faith you thought suited you better.
You need to remember that they have minds of their own as well, and they choose that faith.
2006-12-25 05:11:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
They're not pricks for the most part. Some of them are mindless, some of them are not. I've met a variety of JWs, some I adore, some I don't. They don't celebrate Christmas because they feel it is too Pagan. Anywho, just be glad you moved out of your house. Like I said I do like some JWs, but I don't think I could live with any of them, lol.
2006-12-25 04:42:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
I hate to burst their elitist bubble, but Jehovah's Witnesses fail to realize that all true Christians recognize that the actual date of Jesus birth is not mentioned in the Holy Bible nor the New World Translation. Since true Christianity has its roots in Judaism and not Paganism, we have to look at this date in light of Jewish history. In the Jewish month of Chislev, (our month of December on the 25th day of the month), the Jewish observance of Chanukah also called Hanukkah was started. This festival began as the temple was rededicated by Judas Maccabeus in 165 BC, after being desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanaes by his setting up a pig as a sacrifice in the temple. It is also called the festival of lights. The Bible account recorded in John 10:22,23 states "At that time the festival of dedication (or lights) took place at Jerusalem; it was winter and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon". Therefore, Christians chose this date to
observe the birth of Jesus, the true "light of the world"(John 8:12). Since Jesus himself likened His body to a temple in John 2:19, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up", Christians felt it appropriate to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, the "true temple" on December 25th.
Jehovah's Witnesses reasons for not celebrating Christmas are actually not because it's "Pagan" or because "they give honor to Jesus everyday" . Not celebrating Christmas is a fabricated Watchtower Society teaching, a common tactic used by most cults to lessen the importance of Christ and to prevent loyal members from associating with "worldly" relatives.
2006-12-27 09:21:16 · answer #9 · answered by softfuzzyrabbit 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They don't celebrate ANYTHING!
I had a friend in elementary who wouldn't accept a birthday card or attend any of the school festivities.
Not only that, she was very strange. I would go to her house for play dates and we would always start with a Bible Study before we played or watched TV. We were like 9/10 and one day we watched this one episode of Wishbone that had the devil in it. Well, when the devil came on, she muted the TV and told me that her parents didn't want her to listen to the devil.
Another time, we were playing with our classmates and for some reason, when we crossed our fingers we'd get safety from getting tagged or something. She refused because she wasn't supposed to cross her fingers.
2006-12-25 04:41:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋