Do Jehovah's Witnesses acknowledge the Puritans for banning Christmas 400 years ago?

Question

Can you direct me to any JW literature that applauds the Puritans for their nation-wide stance against pagan customs, especially those connected to Christmas? In 1644 the Puritan group in Britain's Parliament brought in laws to ban Christmas. They objected to the binge-drinking and debauchery, even to Christ'mas' - changing it to Christ tide. The immorality of wassailing and wenching were thrown out along with decking the halls with holly. Soldiers patrolled London to seize supplies of suspect festive fare being hoarded. For 18 years, Britain had no Christmas, and that was official!

Surely the JWs see the hand of God at work in the Puritans? Surely God blessed them and the nation for this immense governmental stance against unholy practices? Do any JWs reading this agree?

To answer Ishvarlan & Jadore's questions, consider Achtung's point: 'Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses do acknowledge Puritanism's rejection of Christmas to have been correct and logical. Yet, a person or group that acts with logic and correctness on one matter does not thereby prove that it is blessed by God.'

Now please apply it to yourselves. Like the Puritans, you reject Christmas. That is a logical enough stance. It's even correct, inasmuch as Christians are nowhere commanded to celebrate Christ's birth in the Bible. But does that prove you are Christians, with God's blessing? If it doesn't (and it doesn't) why do you trumpet your anti-Christmas stance so much? Why are you so anxious to be seen as unique (though you are not) when it comes to Christmas? In what way does all your anti-Christmas rhetoric promote the gospel about salvation being found through faith in Christ alone? Can't you use the birth of Christ to point to him, as Christians do at Christmas?

Ishvarlan - every December of every year, going back 9 decades or so, the Watchtower Society has published articles on how pagan Christmas is. They never fail to take the opportunity to point to themselves as being 'true' Christians because they avoid such 'contamination'. In JW opinion, anyone who celebrates Christmas CANNOT be a Christian! You must drop Christmas if you are to be baptized as a 'true' Christian (i.e. a JW).

Achtung - did you really say, "Another example might note that Islam recognizes the oneness of Almighty God; yet Islam's ignoring the divinity of Christ plainly demonstrates that Islam is not a form of true worship."

Islam ignores the divinity of Christ because they know polytheism is condemned by God. JWs call Christ 'a god' but insist he's separate from The God. So JWs have two gods, which is polytheism, is it not? If you say you don't actually worship Christ, even as a demi-god, then you deceive others by saying he is 'a god'. At least with Islam we know where they stand!

Answer 1

The second answer quotes from a JW article about Puritans. It seems clear that the Puritans stood up for Christian principles and values. As to the second part of your question - surely they see the hand of God at work in the Puritans and surely God blessed them - I doubt JW's would be able to agree. Why?

Well, back in the days of Cromwell, he and the Puritans were anti-King and anti-Catholic. They were heavily involved in politics - in government - and JW's denounce any religion that is involved in politics. Although the Puritans were a force for good (and for God) in the land, they were not popular and, as history reveals, they were eventually kicked out and thousands of them were forced to set sail for America. Today the Puritan influence can still be felt in America.

If JW's were to acknowledge that God used the Puritans and blessed them, then they would have to acknowledge that those thousands of Pilgrims were anointed, Spirit filled Christians and that they had a heavenly calling. Unfortunately, that would mess up their sums, because they claim only 144,000 persons since the time of Christ are anointed, Spirit filled Christians with a heavenly calling.

Forgive me from deviating from the original point about Puritans banning Christmas 400 years ago. If I am wrong, and there is JW literature that indicates that Puritans were true Christians, blessed and used by God, then I will retract my answer and apologise.

I think we have much to thank the Puritans for. They wouldn't win any popularity contest today, though!

Edit: Found the statistics: The number of JW 'anointed' peaked at 37,732 in 1938. Also, I am led to understand that the 'sealing of the anointed' ended in 1934 because they thought (then) the 144,000 was complete. That view changed as time went on and I believe there are still around 7,000 JW 'anointed' today (information from JW answers to questions asked in August and October 2007).

Answer 2

Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses do acknowledge Puritanism's rejection of Christmas to have been correct and logical. Yet, a person or group that acts with logic and correctness on one matter does not thereby prove that it is blessed by God.

Even atheists recognize the total illogic of a loving God who would torture sinners forever.

Another example might note that Islam recognizes the oneness of Almighty God; yet Islam's ignoring the divinity of Christ plainly demonstrates that Islam is not a form of true worship.
...(James 2:19) You believe there is one God, do you? You are doing quite well. And yet the demons believe and shudder.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/kn37/

Answer 3

A very good question.
A number of articles and information has been published by the WTBT Society acknowledging the Puritans and their beliefs and struggles.
In the Awake magazine, 1996 22 Nov, it commented that T"he Pilgrims tried to model their society “as closely as possible after Israel’s twelve tribes under Moses,” according to the book The Puritan Heritage—America’s Roots in the Bible. At times, though, the Puritans went to extremes. Their reputation as hard workers, for example, sprang in part from their belief that material prosperity indicated God’s favor. And although they genuinely loved their children, many early Puritans believed that they should “conceal their . . . inordinate affections.” Thus, “puritanical” has come to be associated with austerity, severity, and excessive strictness. In spite of their imperfections, however, the Pilgrims had a measure of moral fortitude, were devout, and made efforts to live by the Bible. Clearly, these were qualities that held the Pilgrims together and saw them through many of their trials."
We know that throughout the ages there have always been individuals and groups who have served Jehovah and have been faithful and true, but whether the Puritans were or not is not something we would know.
Jehovah knows who, back then, and even today, have been faithful and true. There are a number of examples through the ages of groups or individuals who have held fast to Jehovah through adversity, and he knows these ones. Whether that includes the puritans or not, I could not be sure however, but know He will know.

Answer 4

Can I direct you to a publication applauding it? No. Do I think that not celebrating pagan practices is a good idea? Sure.

Do I think God supports politics?? No, the Bible makes it clear this is Satan's world.

Your point??

EDIT

By no means do we claim our not celebrating Christmas as being THE proof of our being Christian. Honestly it most often seems to come up on here when someone else brings up Christmas.

Answer 5

The Puritans saw the reality of Christmas.
They may very well known the history of it.

But no, God did not have a "hand" in Christmas being made illegal.

BTW, they did know that God's Name is Jehovah, and they used the Name.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witness's do acknowledge the Puritans but in effect they say that even if someone else does something "right", it's still not from God unless it's from them. It was an accident because they couldn't possibly have the "Truth" like the all knowing JW's.

Arrogant and pompous.

UPDATE: The Font Oak, right on, my friend. I couldn't have said it better.

Answer 7

No..the Puritans would have looked at JW and said the same thing...who is this watchtower that keeps predicting when Jesus will return and how many times are they allowed to be incorrect?

On the other hand.. if they were here today, they too would be disfellowshipped because the Puritans never had any problem with translatting John 1:1.

Answer 8

Annsan,
Why?

Answer 9

What a load of twaddle. who cares what the jw think? They are the same as all the others, nutters who believe in a non-existent gOD. An absolute fantasy, There has NEVER been any proof of gOD existing. wheres the hand of gOd when the tsunami struck?
The Hiroshima bomb(delivered by a christian usa)
Nagasaki (same again)
9/11
ww1
ww2
and many others, (you choose)
etc,etc..
don't tell me it was gOD punishing them. this so called gOD of love.......?

Answer 10

if u have questions about what jw believe in go to wwwwatch tower .org