I work with a couple of them and I always feel sad that they aren't allowed to celebrate their birthday, or any holidays, or just about anything for that matter. I don't really know anything about the JW doctrine that explains this, can anyone shed some light?
2007-08-24 17:12:23 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Institution: Yes. Why does anyone ask questions on here if they can just Google for the answer. You are a hater, aren't you?
2007-08-24 17:17:42 · update #1
cult
http://towerwatch.com
2007-08-25 16:02:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Real quick, someone said something about a limited amount of people going to heaven, they say it is 144,000, a number that is mentioned numerous times in Revelation. They do hold a hope for others, jus tnot in heaven (it seems that some people seem to think that outside of heaven is no hope at all).
Anyhow, I can't say exactly why they don't celebrate holdidays, I do know that it is based largely on the idea that most holidays are at BEST merged ideas and traditions of pagans along with Christianity. I can't state all the examples, I have heard over and over on the History Channel how Christmas and New Year's undoubtedly apply to that category.
I find it very interesting the the History Channel even mentions how many doctrine held today originated in the 2-4 century, including many holiday traditions.
As far as another person who says they're undoubtedly happier than you, or having more fun, well, obviously that's relative and circumstantial. I do know from experience that most people involved are involved because they want to be, because it makes them happy and they believe it as the truth. I do actually agree with many of the teachings, not all. They do seem to strive to use the Scriptures to back all that they teach.
I question how serious some of these things are. But I will say that as far as holidays go, they really mean nothing anymore, except presents and parties. For that reason I don't hold them too high. I do participate in dinners and what not for the sake of the companionship of friends and family. As far as doctrines, I would find THEIR OFFICIAL website, talk to one you know, or try wikipedia at the very least. I've read info about them there and it seemed accurate.
2007-08-25 00:46:51 · answer #2 · answered by BJ_1985 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I studied with the JW's and even saw that they actually have way more fun than the people that aren't. They are always having cookouts, and dinners, and going to the beach, or the mountains.
And they do not wait for a preset date to buy or do nice things for each other, they do it all the time.
I think that the whole birthday, and christmas thing makes people a bit selfish. Why? Because on thsoe days we tend to think that people 'owe us presents' because of the tradition.
I think the traditions foisted upon us by history are rather mindless and unnecessary reasons for stress.
Every winter, I see the people in Ca. getting all wound up around Christmas, the families in the stroes with their kids screaming greedily, and the parents runnig up their credit card debt.
I think the gesture of buying each other gifts because we want to, rather than because we have been compelled by traditon, makes for a happier life.
I would not woory or be sad about the JW's. Believe me, they are having a lot more fun and happiness than you are.
2007-08-25 00:26:42 · answer #3 · answered by Tim 47 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I don't know anything about JW doctrine either, but birthday celebrations are not biblical. Likewise 99 44/100 % of other modern holidays.
AEN
2007-08-25 00:25:16 · answer #4 · answered by Grendel's Father 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate, it is true, but do not pity them. It is their choice, and they have their reasons for doing it this way.
When my children were young I sometimes felt sorry for their JW classmates who were not permitted to partake of birthday celebrations or anything that might seem celebratory. Often the children were sad and felt excluded, and it was clear to me that they were too young to make their own choice about it. Thoughtful teachers made all festivities rather low-key, and involved an educational component, so most of the kids could participate anyway. I.E. a birthday was a chance for a "personal history" presentation and accompanying snacks. Holidays were presented strictly for educational purposes (but food was presented too, of course), and did not favor one religion over another. That sort of thing was helpful.
2007-08-25 00:20:05 · answer #5 · answered by Singinganddancing 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't know why they can't celebrate these things but I can tell you that the Jehovah's Witnesses do not believe in the Trinity. They also believe that only a certain number of people will go to heaven. It's a number something like 177,000 and I don't know how they arrived at that number. Those two details alone made me decide that I wasn't going to become one of them.
2007-08-25 00:17:33 · answer #6 · answered by bfldmom3 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Like most other 'religions', they pick and choose what they want to believe, and discard the rest. Scripturally, it does not say you should not celebrate your birthday, HOWEVER, scripture DOES say to count your days(years), so that you can say ABBA has blessed me x number of years. One could also say not to observe your birthday as it is not 100% clear WHEN Yahshua was born, although it is very clear when His death occurred(which fulfills what Solomon said in 'the day of my death is better than the day of my birth').
Most 'religions' are based on false prophets and false teachers, a violation of a command Yahshua gave. So, they are all in some sort of 'bondage' to traditions of men.
2007-08-25 00:24:19 · answer #7 · answered by witnessnbr1 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
From the inception of their cult by Charles taze Russell (a pyramid worshipper) to the present day trail of false prophecies, JW's are one of the truly lost groups around. Don't be lazy, check them out on Google. They do everything their master, the Watchtower Society tells them is okay for them to do, worshipping and following what the Watchtower says instead of worshipping and following what God says. Sad, so sad.
2007-08-25 00:20:33 · answer #8 · answered by Whyruafraid? 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Your best bet, is to simply ask them, Bible in hand to explain their reasons. If that isn't appealing you could go to http://www.watchtower.org
To simply answer you, I will take one of the clearest holidays we choose to not celebrate. Christmas. We feel that since it has it's roots steeped in Pagan celebrations we shouldn't take part in it.
Don't feel sad that we choose to not do something we feel is wrong, we still have fun, give/receive gifts, some dance (some better than others, like me, I can't dance:D) etc.
2007-08-25 10:12:32 · answer #9 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
when you are buying gifts for christmas and paying for them on your credit card the next year, we don't have that problem. we have parties, dinners all year long. we give gifts to our families when ever we want to. our children don't have to wait for a birthday or holiday. we don't miss out on anything. we do celebrate Jesus Christ memorial all around the world on Nisan 14. Jesus told us to celebrate his death not his birth. dec 25 Jesus was not born then. if you want to learn about Jehovah Witnesses and what we are all about visit the website at www.watchtower.org. see the one under me, she was disfellowshipped and now we are a cult. when she was a witness, it was not a cult. she has a lot of hate in her
2007-08-25 15:35:01 · answer #10 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
As I understand they only observe a yearly Memorial of Christ death. Every other holiday is pagan
2007-08-25 00:17:17 · answer #11 · answered by Aeon Enigma 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋