by aussie 12 Replies latest jw friends
Eventhough I celebrate it because of my wife I still don't really like it. It is really about giving gifts to people and decorating the house. It puts a burden on many people who don't have the money to buy gifts for all the ones in the family. So many people go in debt with credit cards that hardly get paid by next Christmas. It is based on a lie, Jesus wasn't born on Dec. 25.if he was born at all. Even my wife says she would like to forget it this year.
Ken P.
have you ever heard of free choice? If you want to celebrate the holidays, go ahead. If you don't want to, don't do it. If you don't like the way other people do it, make up your own way. I enjoy a lot of things about Christmas, including the music, colors and lights, and making goodies to share with others. As for the rest of it, I don't think adults need gifts anyway, other than consumable seasonal things like maybe fruit cake or cookies or something to honor the occasion. And kids don't need so many gifts - a couple of things is enough. I have an agreement with all my friends that we won't exchange gifts - but we do get together to make goodies, and the get-together is our present to each other.
I too believe in free choice. There are plenty of legitimate reasons (other than the Craptower) why one might not wish to celebrate Christmas. First, someone might already be burdened with other things (like the death of a child) around that time. Then there is the money, the work, and the fact that some people just don't like Christian festivals. And there are religions aside Jehovah's Witlesses that do not honor Christmas. The Jewish religion honors Hanukkah instead. Some atheists and Devil worshipers do not observe Christmas (though there are some that do). And there are those who decide not to do Christmas for environmental reasons.
However, most people do choose to do at least something. Some might like the music. Others, the decorations will be their thing. And there is the issue of giving gifts. Many people do enjoy that, even though too many give out of the sense of obligation and end up maxing out their credit cards. And there is the food, the time off, and just having some time to enjoy family and friends. And of course, some do it for religious reasons. All perfectly acceptable reasons.
The only way celebrating can be a problem is when people go beyond their means or drink and drive. Going beyond your means is stupid, whether for a holiday or every day--this is very common in this time and age; I think there's going to be a major credit crunch in the next several years from too much year-round spending. That is not just a Christmas problem. As for drinking and driving, anyone who does that, Christmas or not, ought to lose their driving privileges.
