What do Jehovah's Witnesses believe and why don't they celebrate holidays?

Question

Wouldn't Halloween be a great 'training exercise' for their youngsters?

Answer 1

It's a proven fact that most holidays are "pagan" holidays. Halloween explanation at bottom.

What beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses set them apart as different from other religions?

(1) Bible: Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God, and instead of adhering to a creed based on human tradition, they hold to the Bible as the standard for all their beliefs.

(2) God: They worship Jehovah as the only true God and freely speak to others about him and his loving purposes toward mankind. Anyone who publicly witnesses about Jehovah is usually identified as belonging to the one group—“Jehovah’s Witnesses.”

(3) Jesus Christ: They believe, not that Jesus Christ is part of a Trinity, but that, as the Bible says, he is the Son of God, the first of God’s creations; that he had a prehuman existence and that his life was transferred from heaven to the womb of a virgin, Mary; that his perfect human life laid down in sacrifice makes possible salvation to eternal life for those who exercise faith; that Christ is actively ruling as King, with God-given authority over all the earth since 1914.

(4) God’s Kingdom: They believe that God’s Kingdom is the only hope for mankind; that it is a real government; that it will soon destroy the present wicked system of things, including all human governments, and that it will produce a new system in which righteousness will prevail.

(5) Heavenly life: They believe that 144,000 spirit-anointed Christians will share with Christ in his heavenly Kingdom, ruling as kings with him. They do not believe that heaven is the reward for everyone who is “good.”

(6) The earth: They believe that God’s original purpose for the earth will be fulfilled; that the earth will be completely populated by worshipers of Jehovah and that these will be able to enjoy eternal life in human perfection; that even the dead will be raised to an opportunity to share in these blessings.

(7) Death: They believe that the dead are conscious of absolutely nothing; that they are experiencing neither pain nor pleasure in some spirit realm; that they do not exist except in God’s memory, so hope for their future life lies in a resurrection from the dead.

(8) Last days: They believe that we are living now, since 1914, in the last days of this wicked system of things; that some who saw the events of 1914 will also see the complete destruction of the present wicked world; that lovers of righteousness will survive into a cleansed earth.

(9) Separate from the world: They earnestly endeavor to be no part of the world, as Jesus said would be true of his followers. They show genuine Christian love for their neighbors, but they do not share in the politics or the wars of any nation. They provide for the material needs of their families but shun the world’s avid pursuit of material things and personal fame and its excessive indulgence in pleasure.

(10) Apply Bible counsel: They believe that it is important to apply the counsel of God’s Word in everyday life now, at home, in school, in business, in their congregation. Regardless of a person’s past way of life, he may become one of Jehovah’s Witnesses if he abandons practices condemned by God’s Word and applies its godly counsel. But if anyone thereafter makes a practice of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drug abuse, drunkenness, lying, or stealing, he will be disfellowshipped from the organization.

The above list briefly states some outstanding beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses but by no means all the points on which their beliefs are different from those of other groups.

Here is what a 14 year old Jehovah Witness boy had to say about "holloween".

Why I Don’t Celebrate Halloween

LAST YEAR, while his neighbors were busy preparing for Halloween, in some countries, a popular annual holiday with strong spiritistic overtones, 14-year-old Michael in Canada had other things on his mind. In an essay that he wrote for school, Michael stated:

‘Tonight is the night before Halloween. As I look outside my window, I see that all my neighbors’ lawns are decorated with tombstones and skeletons and that jack-o’-lanterns light their windows. Parents are making adjustments to their children’s costumes; children are dreaming about how much candy they’ll get tomorrow.

‘My family is different. Our lawn isn’t decorated, and our windows aren’t lit up. People ask me why I don’t celebrate Halloween. Basically, Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t celebrate it because of its origins.

‘Surprisingly, I like Halloween time. “Why?” you may ask. Because it makes me think. It makes me think about the reason I choose not to do certain things. Each person has to answer for himself whether the origins of a custom matter. I think that the origins do matter. For example, most people would get upset if their neighbors got dressed up as Nazis. Why? Because of the origins of Nazi uniforms and what they stand for, principles that most people find offensive. I find the principles offensive that the devil, wicked spirits, and witches represent, and I don’t want to be associated with them. It’s good to think about the choices we make and our reasons for making them and to make choices based on principle rather than on what is popular. That’s why I like this time of year. I am proud to be different and to stand by what I believe in.’

Answer 2

I'm not a JW so I can't answer your first question and besides it would require a lot more room and time then I have available to explain all their beliefs

But I can tell you why they don't celebrate the holidays.

First of all, Christmas and Easter are man-made Christian holidays that have pagan origins. In the 4th century AD, Roman Emperor Constantine created those two holidays so both Christians and pagans would have celebrations at the same time. He knew that to have better political power over the people he would have to somehow unite the pagan and Christian religions.

Christmas coincides with the Winter solstice and the pagans celebrated the fact that the days would start getting longer. This was the holiday of Saturnalia, a week long period of lawlessness celebrated between December 17-25. Constantine imported the Saturnalia festival into the Christian religion hoping to take the pagan masses in with it.

Easter was named after Eostre (a.k.a. Eastre, Ishtar or Astarte). She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre." Pagan religions in the Mediterranean area had a major seasonal day of religious celebration at or following the Spring Equinox.

Easter and Christmas are completely pagan in origin and Constantine simply decided to create these holidays for Christians so they would coincide with the pagan's.

As for Holloween, It's of pre-Christian Druidic origin and, according to scholars, can be traced to the Celtic festival of Samhain, which heralded the Celtic New Year. The Celts lived more than 2,000 years ago in what is now Great Britain, Ireland and northern France. Samhain, presided over by Druid priests, marked the start of winter's cold and darkness and naturally became associated with death.

For the Celts, the eve of Samhain, the night of October 31, was when the spirits roamed the Earth. In pre-Christian times, the belief was that there was the world in which humans lived and then there was another world, populated by those with supernatural powers.

The JWs don't celibrate these holidays because they have no Scriptural backing and are of pagan origin. In at least that one regard, the JWs are much more enlightened than the rest of Christianity.

Answer 3

What did the youngsters of the 1st century Christian Jews do what the youngsters of alternative families have been watching Jewish holidays, and that they did no longer? a stable occasion may be the Passover, which became the Memorial of the final Supper for Christian Jews. What approximately JW little ones residing in pre-WWII Germany? ought to they have participated interior the college celebrations of Hitler's birthday? In non-Christian based counties, ought to Christian little ones, JWs or no longer, be partaking in secular holidays? Do you think of little ones must be residing for the now, quite than for the Promise of eternal existence. How does lacking out in some years of non-Christian based observances study to lacking out on 1000's of years of existence devoid of having old and ailment? Granted, those residing in Christendom have little faith that something extremely exist previous demise, or that human society can ever be extra functional, yet JWs do have that faith. They comprehend for valuable there is the Promise of the resurrection, and of a clean international, a paradise Earth. while their little ones seem in any respect those little lights furniture interior the evening time sky they comprehend from what they have discovered from the Bible that they are able to stay long sufficient to flow to those little lights furniture. they won't totally comprehend what they're studying, yet with the help of the time they attain the age of comprehend-how, they could have a stable hassle-free wisdom of the Bible.

Answer 4

Well as for training we bring our youngsters with us. The reason we decide to not celebrate various holidays is for the same basic reasons other people decide to celebrate them. We feel it the right thing to do/not do. Many holidays are pagan in nature.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Holidays because most are based on Pagan origins, such as Christmas (the worship of Saturnalia a pagan God), Santa Claus (who started out as a Shamanic tradition as a fertility Idol), Fourth of July (Patriotism - they only serve Jehovah and his Son, Christ Jesus) to salute/pledge ALLEGIENCE to the symbol of the U.S. would violate their consciences (usually pledging allegience includes upto dying for a cause, which they feel Jehovah and Christ are 'only worthy of." Most are not only proud to be Americans, but really appreciate the fact that they are and what it means for them and their families! Its just that doing the pledge is just going to far. B-I-G D-E-A-L! So what? What does that thave to do with high gas prices? Its just what they believe and they haven't hurt anyone, have they???? The only 2 birthdays in the Bible, someone DIED at each birthday. At Pharoh's birthday (Old Testament), the Baker died, in the New Testament, John the Baptist (Jesus' 1st cousin had his head cut off) at Herod's birthday party.

http://www.watchtower.org/

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses believe strongly in God Jehovah and in his Son Jesus Christ. Witnesses believe the bible to be inspired and infallible, and the only real authority for learning God's will and purposes.

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/e/20050101a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/article_01.htm

Answer 7

origin of halloween??
halloween started by celebrating Samhain celtic lord of the dead. People used to protect thier houses from demons of returned dead by putting pumpkins made to look like faces at their door with candles inside... candles made from human fat. Halloween is a celebration to Satan it is his rememberance of the nephanim children who died in noahs flood... the children of angels and woman. Samhain is said to release the spirits of the dead on this nioght to mingle with the living and demand treats and money as a gift offering to satan.
And ur wondering why Jehovahs witnesses dont celebrate it...? i think the origin should speak for itself.

Answer 8

Why don't you ask "Why do you and others celebrate holidays?"

Examine your reasons and see if they match Christian standards, such as do not be loving the world and the things in the world.

What training exercise?

Answer 9

Some of their beliefs are listed here: http://www.watchtower.org/e/beliefs_and_activities.htm

I believe the reason they don't celebrate holidays is because of their roots in paganism.

Answer 10

Well....they don't believe in celebrating holidays.

Answer 11

They say because Jesus didnt celebrate holidays. But in fact Jesus celebrated all Jewish Holy Days