Christmas and the WTS -- Never been a JW, have questions!

whyizit

I was recently reading some older WTS articles. It was obviously during a time when Christmas WAS approved of by the WTS.

I was considering sending copies (incognito, of course) to my JW friends.

I know that one of the first objections would be "there's been new light"since then. I thought about sending a note asking a few questions concerning the WTS quotes. Such as: "Since the WTS teaches the opposite point of view now, what are we to believe? That God changes His mind? Or that the WTS is making up doctrines from the current leader's own opinions?"

These are a few of the quotes. I have the actual pages from the books. I was planning to send photo copies:

The Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1904, pg.364 - since the celebration of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate-"Christmas day."

The Watchtower, Nov.15, 1907, pg. 351 - It might interest you to know that we are already offering the books for "Chrsitmas gifts."

The Watchtower, Dec.15, 1926, pg.371 - The event is so important that it is always appropriate to call it to the minds of the people, regardless of the date.

With Christmas around the corner, I just wondered if you thought it might be helpful for current JWs to perhaps see that it was not always necessary for them to exclude themselves from family gatherings. A few of my JW friends seem very conflicted this time of year. Perhaps it would be a good time to help promote a miracle?

What do you think? What do you think their internal thoughts may be? (Since I would doubtfully hear any feedback from them personally?) Has anyone here ever put together anything similar to this for their JW friends and family?

greendawn

Surely the JWs celebrated Christmas in earlier times even though their leaders no doubt knew that it had in a way pagan origins with pope Damasus taking the date over in the 4th century from the pagans who celebrated Solus Invictus on December 25th. Still it makes no difference since the celebration itself has a christian content.

AK - Jeff

The Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1904, pg.364 - since the celebration of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not necessary for us to quibble particularly about the date. We may as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand event on the day which the majority celebrate-"Christmas day."

This is my basic view of it now.

Most jw's are fully aware that Xmas was once celebrated - it is 'new light', would be the most likely reply. I wonder if a conversation could be turned though to the keynote question; " Can you please prove how you know that Christ selected you as his organization, and began to issue such 'new light' to Jehovah's witnesses"? They all claim that, but there is no proof of it at all - if the date of 607 is brought up [as it likely will be by them], one could simply request that they prove the date 'using secular history' only. That was the basis for COJ's exit as I recall - a person he was studying with ask him that - now of course he has aided many of us to understand that falacious doctrine thru his book "Gentile Times Reconsidered".

It might work again for thinking witnesses. Who knows.

Jeff

Mr. Kim

........Mostly old news. As any person, group, business, religion, etc. expand and grow in knowledge, the customs, thoughts, beliefs and actions should change for the betterment of all people concerned.

The problems arise when people say that what they say is the "absolute" word of GOD and further mix in human doctrine. Hence, the many problems with JWs.

garybuss

You wrote "What do you think?"I think I can agree with the Witnesses OR get shunned.

fullofdoubtnow

I don't know if pointing out their past record of celebrating Christmas would acheve anything. Most jws are aware that the wts used to be ok with it, and are so brainwashed into believing in the "new light" excuse the society come up with every time they are forced to make a change that the significance of any changes probably wouldn't register with them. They wouldn't see it as God changing his mind, more likely they'd view it as the gb refining their understanding of the bible.