there is nothing wrong whatsoever in taking advantage of this holiday. my family has done this for many years. the problem comes when you try to take up WRONG practices. please by all means have a party. but why try to follow every wrong practice that is done ?
Ah, so you DO have Christmas, I was beginning to wonder! It seems to me that you are doing what I did whilst I was a JW - analysing everything. Dividing everything into pagan/non pagan, acceptable to Jehovah/unacceptable to Jehovah. Why is it so important to do this analysis and put labels on everything? Why is it so difficult just to accept these things at face value and just enjoy them?
I am not talking about sacrificing virgins or cutting out their hearts.... not my idea of a good time.... that is not particularly relevant to this day and age anyway - I am talking about harmless traditions that I am familiar with, that have gone down through the centuries in England and are part of my heritage. Will God really get angry if I pull a Christmas cracker, or dress a Christmas tree? Am I really displeasing God if I take the kids to visit Santa, a symbol of generosity and good spirits? Will I lose Gods love if I put a penny in my Christmas pudding or go to my local carol service?
I dont think so.
i am not trying to start a flame war, but it seems to lack a mental courage to go against what you know to be true.
Mental courage to not celebrate Christmas? Why would I not want to celebrate it? I don't understand why you are trying to 'demonise' such a wonderful time of the year, it is after all a recognised Christian festival and I would like to believe I am indeed a Christian. The JWs try so hard to make Christmas appear evil yet it is so often the only time of year when people get to church, or have a family get-together, it tends to be a time of 'peace and goodwill to all men' and people are generally more pleasant to each other. Cant be a bad thing! I believe the need for mental courage comes when you walk away from being a JW - that is the time for strength of character and mind.
I understand that when a person has been a JW all their lives and know no other way of life then celebrating Christmas must be irrelevant - it would be like me suddenly turning around and celebrating Hannukah - it wouldnt mean anything to me personally. But I havent always been a JW, I grew up with Christmas and to me this is just a return to my old way of life and I wouldnt have it any other way.
I am unsure as to which 'wrong practices' you allude to.... which practices are you concerned about in particular?
