In my experience as a JW I've been made to feel out of place and often criticized for not celebrating holidays of a pagan origin. I'm not particularly worried about this or anything, I just want some peoples thoughts once they've read this?
To me, if I wasn't religious, and I went to some country where they religiously celebrated in a way I didn't like, I would have the right to avoid the celebration and maybe do it in a way that I liked. It's nobodies right to criticize my choice and say that I'm depriving my children etc (even though I'm not depriving them because I've replaced it with something else). Is it right to be made to feel outcast or unusual just because you don't believe in certain festivals etc?
Sometimes at work, I'm really pressured to take part in something connected with Christmas (for example) and they more or less try to force it down my throat...and yet these are the same people who tell me that they don't want ME to come to their doors with MY religion...
2007-11-29 08:49:51 · 25 answers · asked by Paul S 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Just to clarify why JWs go door knocking - they believe the what the bible says, and it says that God is going to judge the world. Jesus gave the commission to his disciples to preach and tell people (good news for the righteous, but bad news for the unrighteous)....JW's motives for preaching is purely based on obedience to the bible and helping others to have hope...it doesn't matter whether people believe what we say or not, JWs motives are pure and not harmful (they don't even believe in going to war).
2007-11-29 09:01:35 · update #1
Stacy - Hi there, yes you have got a point, a lot of people don't realize the deep-seated religious (pagan) origins of these things mainly because these celebrations have become very secular...that's why we have to explain the history to them and the bible's view point. But then they will say it's just innocent fun etc etc. And you have to explain even more (lol)....You are welcome to ask any JW about their beliefs any time...
2007-11-29 09:16:28 · update #2
Hi Jackie - here's some research for you to do:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
And here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter
Read it all and follow some of the links
Just a few quotes for you to ponder on:
"Many customs associated with modern Christmas were derived from Germanic paganism."
Easter - "Eostur-month, which is now interpreted as the paschal month, was formerly named after the goddess Eostre, and has given its name to the festival."
JWs definitely believe in bringing praise to God etc, but they don't believe that doing that via some semi converted pagan festivals is the way to do it.
2007-11-29 10:24:40 · update #3
It's not right for any theists to criticize other theists. It's hilariously hypocritical, is what it is.
2007-11-29 08:52:52 · answer #1 · answered by ►solo 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
You're right. You shouldn't feel pressured into celebrating a holiday in which you don't believe. In this respect, JWs are some of the few Christians who even recognize that those holidays are ours. You are some of the few people that actually understand that holidays such as Christmas and Easter are ours, and I appreciate that. I don't care that other Christians choose to celebrate them (hey, if you're having fun, it's all good), but they should at least recognize the origins of the holiday and not harp on about "Their taking the Jesus out of Christmas" when he wasn't in it to begin with.
Edit: And to prove my point, let us look at Jackie's response. How is it insulting to call something pagan? Especially when it's the truth.
2007-11-30 23:30:11 · answer #2 · answered by Young Wiccan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have trust and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins then the best gift you can give a JW is to tell them that gospel. At least they believe in what they are doing. Most so called Christians don't believe what they say they believe or they would pass it on. Here is the only gospel that saves you today. 1 Corinthians 15: 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1 Corinthians 15: 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Romans 4: 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
2007-11-29 17:10:01 · answer #3 · answered by Ray W 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses are closer to the Bible truth as we can get. We are different from others, and this is why we are prone to criticism.
Christmas is a secular holiday that the entire world celebrates. But people aren't really sure of it's origin. Sounds like running into a brick wall with your eyes shut, to me.
It is unfair to criticize someone because of their customs and beliefs. If we Witnesses go door to door and we're told by the householder that their not interested, we leave politely. We don't force our beliefs upon others. Then why do it to us?
We live our lives in accordance to what the Bible teaches and we're just as happy as everyone else, hey probably even happier!.
2007-11-30 06:59:48 · answer #4 · answered by ♥Nads♥ 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
PLEASE Brendon, how on earth can you compare bombing a toy factory to proselytizing? Not even remotely similar.
I am not bothered so much by the criticism as the coercion to participate in their pagan celebrations, although the two often go hand in hand. To me it is comparable to a person being offered something to eat or drink to which he has an aversion. Whether this aversion is logical, such as his being allergic or an alcoholic who should never drink or completely illogical from others point of view, they should NOT be coerced to eat or drink it.
Jehovah's Witnesses have a an aversion to mixing true religion with false. (2Corinthians 6:14-15) Whether or not you personally feel this is right, it is not your place to try and coerce them to go against what they believe.
2007-12-06 11:19:55 · answer #5 · answered by babydoll 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No one has the right to criticize anyone for anything when it comes to a belief in God.
Celebrations of "birth", "love", "life", and ALL other things that represent God SHOULD be celebrated....
No matter what your religion or upbringing may be, you have to realize that we all believe in THEE God.
Whether or not you want to call Him Father, Jehova, Yeshua, Jesus... or any other Name...
Details are things that keep us from achieving our goal sometimes... SO Much is missed because we think that details are more important than the goal!
Or Goal is know God... and to sustain His Laws... the Laws of Love... what harm is there in celebration and having fun for something that is of a GOOD purpose..
We all know God, but we all know even WAAY more ways to find Him... because we all have differences in the life is PROOF to show that God is the almighty...
Celebrations and festivals, are another branch that God wants you to be able to have fun and enjoy life with!
I have more teachings on faith and creation here if you would like to see
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/oceanremix
or
http:/geocities.com/oceanremix/linesoftruth.html
2007-11-29 17:07:22 · answer #6 · answered by oceanremix 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, I think JWs are the closest to the truth of what the bible says as anyone can get. However, I also feel they punish themselves by denying themselves way to many freedoms, but I say, if your faith in an invisible being is that strong, more power to you. My opinion is that no one should be subjected to ridicule, because that is a personal attack, a healthier approach would be to debate the issue at hand. I would also like to mention that I have never met a dishonest, rude or downright mean JW, and anytime they have come to my door, all I have to say is I'm not interested, and they leave. ;-)
2007-11-29 16:56:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
Of course not! But those who do criticize us take a perverse delight in it.
The scriptures tell us that "the world loves what is it's own" and if we were a part of their world......they would be happy.
Some people really show-off during this time of the year by stepping up the persecution of JW's
2007-11-29 23:47:39 · answer #8 · answered by sugarbee 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think it makes people feel bad when they seem someone else Not doing something they do, as a matter of choice. Thus attacks happen. I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I have been treated rudely because of deciding to not celebrate something before, but that's their decision. My decision is then to either be rude back or take the high road.
2007-11-29 20:52:01 · answer #9 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We have to understand that a part of that criticism is from our being just different and even possibly right. That would mean others were wrong and that is unacceptable to the egos.
The fact that we are just as happy as anyone else is entirely overlooked. Our good conscience for keeping God's commands more than makes up for any criticism.
2007-11-29 17:04:22 · answer #10 · answered by grnlow 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Not everyone is even aware that your faith doesn’t observe holidays. I was in college before I ever heard about that because I had zero exposure to that church growing up. To be honest, I don’t even know the reason for this. Unless you’ve told them, maybe your co-irkers don’t know either.
Also though, Christmas has become such a secular event that it may not occur to these people that asking you to participate is a problem.
2007-11-29 17:03:47 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋