Its about the giving. . .

by JWdaughter 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  JWdaughter

  I saw this on newsday.com today. This is an excerpt of a former JWs take on holidays and their experience with learning to celebrate the. I am sharing what I think is the gist of the essay:

  " In getting out my Season's Greetings and my birthday wishes, and now in preparing to celebrate Easter with a 7-year-old, I've come to realize something very important. Neglecting seasonal celebrations while growing up meant not so much that I was given less, as everybody assumes, but that I had fewer opportunities to give to others.

  It's never too late to start."
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  LittleToe

  As humans we need our little rituals, and it starts out as kids. If we are starved of them it affects our emotional balance.

  The best we had as kids were Assemblies and the Memorial
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  Stealth453

  Good point. I have to agree. The 'giving' joy far outweighs the 'getting'.
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  purplesofa

  well said
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  Abandoned

  Yep, the jw offer a souless, zombie life.
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  Fred E Hathaway

  I like giving ... my time to worthy purposes, info to help others benefit from my experience, companionship to someone who is in distress, a challenge to someone who plays by friendly rules, a smile of welcome whenever possible ...
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  BR25

  and what does everyone else offer? Wonderful man made holidays from pagean rituals. I would rather be a zombie. The bible offers a longer life than the 75 yrs most people live now. No matter what your religion is, you should take origins into consideration. So jws dont celebrate holidays? Big deal. there is nothing great about how most holidays began, and there is no scriptual backing so what is the big deal. If it werent for presents 98% of people who claim to be true christians, wouldnt acknowledge as much either, especially the kids.
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  agapa37

  As humans we need our little rituals, and it starts out as kids. If we are starved of them it affects our emotional balance.

  The best we had as kids were Assemblies and the Memorial

  I agree that people in general feel the need to be ritual, however, as CHRISTIANS if those rituals involve Pagan customs like many of the holidays today, then we need to fill that void another way!
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  JWdaughter

  "and what does everyone else offer? Wonderful man made holidays from pagean rituals. I would rather be a zombie. The bible offers a longer life than the 75 yrs most people live now. No matter what your religion is, you should take origins into consideration. So jws dont celebrate holidays? Big deal. there is nothing great about how most holidays began, and there is no scriptual backing so what is the big deal. If it werent for presents 98% of people who claim to be true christians, wouldnt acknowledge as much either, especially the kids."

  Mmm. Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Christ. For Christians, THAT is what the holiday is about. The other stuff is 'fluff'. No one worships bunnies or eggs. Springtime, renewal are all universal themes, and are part of the Jewish ritual also.

  What the Bible offers is debatable, but I don't see that pretend bunnies or decorating eggs is pagan in and of itself. If they take all their eggs, form it into the shape of a calf and worship it, you might have a case!

  If you are a JW - or a guilty DF/EX/Wannabe, there is a good chance that your Zombie preference has come true.

  There is no scriptural backing for Christians not to PARTAKE of the emblems, but that doesn't stop the JWs from teaching/preaching/practicing such a diversion from the Christian teachings of the Bible.
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  RichieRich

  Well, I don't know about the giving, but I made an egg with a penis on it.