like Christmas or birthday gifts?
2007-05-18 13:29:25 · 14 answers · asked by karma 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
In most cases, a Jehovah's Witness would not accept Christmas or birthday gifts. Of course, the congregation would not "punish" any Witness who chose to do so, however, since the details of what constitutes "celebration" of paganism is left almost entirely to individuals and family heads to decide personally.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
2007-05-19 02:09:46 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Here is a Watchtower quote about it.
*** w59 12/1 p. 736 Questions from Readers *** Should we receive Christmas gifts, then what? It does not seem wise at such time to attack the institution of Christmas. Rather than refuse or return them, it would be better merely to express appreciation by word of mouth or letter or card; and, while wholly ignoring any reference to the holiday season, we could use the occasion to make some reference to our New World hope. It may even be advisable to wait until after the holiday season so as to further disassociate our expression of thanks from the pagan celebration.
JWs are not supposed to give gifts but it depends of the JW. Most JWs I know break some of the rules, and I was often shocked at finding out how many live double lives.
2007-05-22 01:32:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
we as Jehovah Witnesses do except gifts but not for christmas or birthdays. Jesus was not born on dec 25. we gift gifts during the year and we also have parties.
2007-05-18 13:35:21 · answer #3 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 7⤊ 2⤋
No, kindly we will reject and explain why the problen is not the gift is the motivation for example if I offer you a candle the candle it is Ok but if you knows that the candle was dropped in the toilet and someone take it out not the people who gave you but other, would you eat that candle? is exactly the same with some traditions.
2007-05-18 13:34:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋
Possibly.
It depends on the circumstances or on the person.
I am a JW and I have accepted gifts from persons who understood my beliefs and asked me to take them anyway.
In other instances I have politely refused the gift.
It is a personal case by case decision.
2007-05-18 13:34:25 · answer #5 · answered by eliz_esc 6 · 8⤊ 1⤋
The guy I work with is a Jehovah's Witness and he will not. In fact, he really doesn't want to get Christmas cards in the mail either.
When he turned 50, I drummed up an excuse in the office to have a little "happening" so as to get together but it was not to celebrate his birthday, or at least that was my story.
2007-05-18 13:36:20 · answer #6 · answered by Bill W 2 · 1⤊ 6⤋
Do we give/accept gifts?? Yes. Would we for these occasions?? No.
2007-05-18 20:46:17 · answer #7 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
.
Accepting a 'token' of apprication during a time of gift giving certainly would not constitute celebrating a holiday thus, a Jw would not judge one of it's own kind.
.
2007-05-18 13:48:07 · answer #8 · answered by de v 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I would have to say no. But you could prob give them a gift just to be nice,just not around holidays.
2007-05-18 13:33:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 2⤋
No as they don't believe in celebrating Christmas or birthdays.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beliefs_and_practices_of_Jehovah%27s_Witnesses
2007-05-18 14:05:48 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋