Awake! response showing holidays are ok and conscience matter - Inside!!

by WingCommander 16 Replies latest jw friends

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  WingCommander

  I forget where I got this, but this scan is from the July 2004 Awake! magazine, and as you can see it responds to a reader asking about the obviously pagan Pinata tradition. But that isn't the story or the shocker here, it is the society's response to the article.

  Basically, it says that if a custom has lost it's original pagan association and is no longer considered pagan, that it is therefor ok to accept and use.

  But they sure confuse all, as they say in the same response about why they don't celebrate B-days, which clearly lost ANY pagan significance thousands of years ago. But that is besides the point, isn't it? You see, it is my understanding that it DIDN'T MATTER if it had lost significance, as long as it was dirty in God's eyes it didn't matter. Did someone make a boo-boo here, or what????
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  Kristofer

  I really REALLY want to read this but it is WAY too blury or small... Can you rescan this possibly?
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  daniel-p

  Here is the text from the CD:
  
  
  Piñatas:
  I read with interest the article “The Piñata—An Ancient Tradition.” (September 22, 2003) It left me with some questions. The ties to false religion are well-documented. But the article seemed to take the position that as long as it doesn’t bother someone’s conscience, it is OK. What about birthdays and holidays such as Christmas?
  -S. W., United States
  
  “Awake!” responds: Christians refrain from any celebrations or customs that continue to involve false religious beliefs or activities that violate Bible principles. For example, the Bible definitely puts birthday celebrations in a bad light. (Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6-10) However, if it is very obvious that a custom has no current false religious significance and involves no violation of Bible principles, each Christian must make a personal decision as to whether he will follow such a custom.
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  daniel-p

  According to the last sentence, it is not a disfellowshiping offense to celebrate holidays, since it is a consience matter! What a bunch of liars.
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  candidlynuts

  interesting that they did not address christmas specifically.
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  willy_think

  
  I remember this, as I recall it, JW pitchmen bad mouthing the use of piñata was seen as a hindrances by management, so the instructions came down, as they do.

  As I read it, The article is instructions for JW pioneers to lay off the piñata in public, but as far as the rank and file JW no change.
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  Thirdson

  For example, the Bible definitely puts birthday celebrations in a bad light. (Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6-10) However, if it is very obvious that a custom has no current false religious significance and involves no violation of Bible principles,

  
  

  
  Just because the Bible puts a bad light on something doesn't mean its a Bible principle. If that were the case what about dogs? Dogs are nearly always put in a bad light (Ex 22:31, Judges 7:5, 1 Sam 17:43, 2 Sam 3:8, 2 Sam 9:8, 1 Kings 14:11, 1 Kings 21:19, 24, Ps 22:16 Prov 26:11, Eccl 9:4, Matt 7:6) If something is wrong merely because of bad light then owning, spending money in caring for and basically enjoying your pet dog is wrong. And there are a lot more negative scriptures about dogs than there are about birthdays, plus dogs were once worshipped in some cultures so you can't argue no previous false religious significance.

  There is no logic to Watchtower rules and regulations.

  3rd
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  daniel-p

  The real reason? Mexico was experiencing the highest growth during that year (2004). It was a political move, not a theocratic one.
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  NellyNel

  Hi there....i was wondering if you could send me that awake article.....

  I clicked on the version that you scanned and the resolution poor. When i enlarged it the text was illegible.

  Thanks and nice work!
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  Lo-ru-hamah

  I was still in when that pinata article came out. Everyone was so freaking excited about this "new information". I mean, there is/was all kinds of bad stuff going on and they are EXCITED that now hitting a pinata is a conscience matter. How absolutely absurd!!!!! Their response to the question is so ignorant as well. Bunch of , oh I don't know, I can't think of a word bad enough to express how they make me feel.

  Anyway, welcome to the board NellyNel.

  Loruhamah