They are definitely a strange lot.
2006-12-25 08:27:44 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The premise of this question is false.
Individuals among Jehovah's Witnesses decide for themselves whether, to whom, and on what date they will give gifts. That date *MAY* include December 25, but rarely does because most Jehovah's Witnesses are careful to avoid what may seem to be a celebration of Christendom's so-called "Christmas".
On and around "Christmas", a typical practicing Jehovah's Witness does not accept a gift unless and until his giver agrees that the gift is not associated with any religious celebration. Each Witness decides for himself how he will handle details in this regard. Jehovah's Witnesses are well aware that their strict standards likely discourage almost everyone from giving them gifts on or near December 25th, and they are untroubled by this fact.
(Romans 6:23) The gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.
(1 Thessalonians 2:4) We have been proved by God as fit to be entrusted with the good news, so we speak, as pleasing, not men, but God, who makes proof of our hearts.
(2 Timothy 3:1-5) In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power
Learn more:
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
2006-12-26 03:02:33 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They don't receive gifts, either, but there are always those you don't follow all the parts of a religion, no matter what they religion teaches. That is why the Watchtower only counts the active publishers as members, and not just anyone who says they are, or just go on Sunday. That is what other churches do. If JWs did that their numbers would be 3X as large. They may also tired of the harassment you give them when they try to return the gifts and just donate the items to charity.
2006-12-25 08:44:56 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is a personal decision. To not be rude to people, they can accept their gift and say thank you very much...as long as the gift giver knows that they do not celebrate christmas. But if someone is trying to test their faith and they are trying to "trick" or prove to others that this is proof they do celebrate christmas...then it is not wise to accept it. But I think most people are simply being nice when they give gifts..to anyone
2006-12-25 12:44:04 · answer #3 · answered by Mackenzie 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the person, most will not take of a gift. guess what? we do give and take gifts all year. we just don't celebrate a pagan holiday that has nothing to do with Jesus Christ. he was not born on DEC 25. Jesus told us to celebrate his death not his birth. since he died on Nisan 14, the last supper or passover and it is once a year. we celebrate it once a year. Jesus was 33 1/2 years old when he died and if you count six months forward you would come to sometime in Oct. also the shepards where in the field and dec is cold and rainy season. the watchtower does not tell us what to do. I don't know why people think the watchtower tells us what to do. we follow the bible.
2006-12-25 08:31:09 · answer #4 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I artwork with someone i'm extremely on the point of who's JW and she says its not very well to get presents in honor of Christmas. listening to music, eating the nutrition, and so on is fantastic see you later as there is not any connection to celebrating Christmas. In different words they see it as a cookie, not Santa or reindeer. in truth she worked at a Christmas shop once. yet nope, they could't recieve presents called Christmas, Birthday or Easter supplies.
2016-12-01 04:13:13 · answer #5 · answered by broadway 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not true for all of them...I had a friend (a Jehovah's Witness) who wouldn't accept a birthday card and we were about 10.
2006-12-25 08:28:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Give the gift, but do not mentioned Christmas, it will be accepted along with all the Christmas goodies to eat and drink.
2006-12-25 08:51:49 · answer #7 · answered by charmaine f 5 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I want to answer, I want to answer! Hold on please, there's someone at the door.
It was some people with literature but they were just standing there, when they finally started to say something I yelled "TOO LATE" and slammed the door. (I am a little rude -- but I am taking rudeness management classess...)
Where were we? Oh yes, Jehovah's Witnesses?
(1) No, they don't believe in evolution. I once said to one of the them "I once read that rudimentary hind limbs appear briefly in the embryos of whales and dolphins. What was Jehovah thinking?" He just looked at me like I was an idiot, which I assure you I am not. I may not be the brightest troll under here, but I'm not an idiot.
Am I on the right question?
(2) Yes, they believe there once lived a talking snake. At that time, if I'm not mistaken, there were also bugs that talked. This is really hard for me to accept.
(3) Yes, they don't think you are pretending not to be home; they think you are asleep, that you are a sinner, a sleeping sinner. In that regard they are similar to the Baptists.
(4)Yes, they believe you will be grateful for their message, if not today then perhaps tomorrow. They need to receive the Christmas gift to prove that they talked to you.
(5) No, they do not heckle in science class; but they do heckle the nurse that comes to take their temperature. The Bible specifically forbids the insertion of thermometers into private cavities; and believe it or not, that includes the area under the tongue.
Does that answer your questions? One disclaimer though: Where I didn't know the answer, I made one up. Is that okay?
I hope you haven't read this far cause I have no idea what I'm talking about, but I really like my new keyboard.
(unknown source; please e-mail me if you know the author.)
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2006-12-25 08:29:33 · answer #8 · answered by MrsOcultyThomas 6 · 1⤊ 8⤋
Probably for the same reason they are forbidden to be a policeman and carry a gun, but they're allowed to call a policeman to come to their house, bring his gun, and use it if necessary.
It depends on what the Watchtower tells them is OK or not.
2006-12-25 08:37:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
I DIDN'T KNOW THAT. NEXT YEAR I GOING TO BE A JEHOVAH WITNESS. I'M JUST KIDDING, BUT NOT A BAD IDEA.
2006-12-25 08:32:09 · answer #10 · answered by bettys 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋