Residual Cognitive Effects of the Watchtower Partylines...? (Christmas)

by Mincan 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  Mincan

  So down by the Falls they have the Niagara Festival of Lights, in Queen Victoria Park they have many thoughtful displays of "lightshows" as well as having all the trees decorated in lights. Oftentimes there is Christmas music playing from the Niagara Park Commisions's headquarters or other areas of the Park.

  How long did it take you before Christmas didn't seem "weird" or subconsciously wrong. Like I always found Christmas carols annoying, I wonder why this is now. Perhaps they simply are annoying. Maybe believing they were evil and yet seeing everyone enjoy them caused me to develop cognitive dissonance which I resolved by loathing them.

  Seriously, I was looking at Christmas trees in a Canadian Tire store the other day, Jesus Christ they are expensive! Never realised.

  Now I told my grandma I had to throw out 4 pairs of socks because of holes. She responded with "put them on your Christmas list."

  That hit me like a ton of ashlar. I paused for a minute, then smiled. Hmmm, a Christmas list you say... I just write what I want and then I get it?

  Every holiday I have yet observed for the first time has been awkward and disconcerting, I assume Christmas will be the same.

  So, how have you adjusted?
• 

  Paralipomenon

  I'm in the same boat.
  
  I was feeling somewhat guilty about Halloween as the kids were dressed up and we're walking around the neighbourhood. In the back of my mind I could still hear my mother "Oh, look at that, so satanic. People welcoming demons into their homes"
  
  Then I watched from the bottom of some stairs as my little guys trooped up to a door and with big smiles yelled out "TRICK OR TREAT!" Some people would ask "what do you say?" and all they would chime in a chorus of thank you's.
  
  Seeing how happy the children were, showing off their costumes to people and meeting their friends from school really worked to dull my mom's nagging voice. I'm sure I'll get the same feeling with Christmas, but most holidays are for the kids. I remember my growing up, going out bowling on Halloween as our parents told us how lucky we were to be safe from the demons. I may not have gotten candy, but everyone else was going to be destroyed at Armageddon. Jehovah would have the last laugh. Wonderful thoughts for a child.
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  Mincan

  I went out for Halloween with some of my younger cousins.

  I can't say I enjoyment made up for more than half the experience, as disconcertation made up at least half of the experience.

  I felt, if not a bit old (mask), a bit tall to be trick or treating, but I did it anyway, I had to do it once, probably will never do it again. Ugh, I ate like half my candy that night and got sick...
• 

  mrsjones5

  I was raised in the bOrg but I have always loved the Christmas season. I got my first christmas tree a couple weeks after I married my hubby. Parents don't like it...don't care...I love it.

  Josie
• 

  shopaholic

  I was raised in the bOrg but I have always loved the Christmas season.

  Same here. And I love the christmas carols and everything is so pretty and everyone is in a shopping mood. I always felt a little fanatic when not participating in the holiday parties at work. They would try to be very accommodating and never say "christmas" but instead use "holiday" for the non-christians. There wouldn't be a christmas tree or anything but I still wouldn't go. Not sure if I'm going to go this year because how do I not go for the past 2 years and then all of a sudden go to it? Anyway, one place I worked had an "end of the year" party, I went to that one every year. Some folks said it was a new year's party but that was fine with me because I've always celebrated New Year's in my heart because I love new beginnings and I never understood why JWs didn't celebrate it.
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  Emma

  I had no trouble celebrating Christmas; I still love it and wish it lasted longer. This year the budget's a bit tighter but I'm still looking forward to putting up the tree and having friends and family over for meals or just visiting. I'm not a "believer" but embrace its earth based origins. I feel so much more in tune with nature and the earth's cycles now. Once I was shunned by my family for being inactive, I didn't have to worry about being caught. My son stopped trick-or-treating way to early as far as I'm concerned! I'm glad to live in a neighborhood with lots of children so get to hand out goodies.
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  AK - Jeff

  I used to sing carols under my breath as I worked, knowing that they were inherently part of an evil celebration. Now I sing them out, usually starting about August.

  We decorate more and more each year. We do it mostly for the GrandMunchkins, but the season is for them mostly isn't it? I finally can exclaim to others "Merry Xmas", and "Look at those wonderful lights".

  It did not come natural at first - our first Xmas was in 2004. The next year I turned 50, and celebrated my first birthday.

  Yes - the nagging doubts roll around under the surface still a little, but not much now. The more hatred and lies I see from the bOrg, the easier it has become to let myself enjoy normal thought and life. Like hugging my 10 year disfellowshipped daughter. I am enjoying my life and celebrating it with gusto.

  But we missed one - Thanksgiving. That is one that even Jw's usually did incognito. No more incognito for me.

  Jeff
• 

  WTWizard

  Given how cruel Jehovah has been to me all my life, I don't give a (expletive) what Jehovah thinks. In fact, the more He hates it, the more I get. And I have got the whole apartment lit up and lots of bulbs. A great big Christmas tree. A great big wreath. Tinsel garland everywhere. In fact, it can be seen from outside the windows.

  If they try to contact me, they are going to have the nastiest time getting hold of me. I will waste as much of their time and energy as possible. They see me shopping for Christmas garland, I will simply pretend they aren't there and continue (and continue giving them The Hang Up if they call). If they do manage to set up an appointment, I will make them waste their gas and then not show up for it. They show up at my place, they are in for a show of Christmas decorations plus Christmas music and some porn or apostate Web sites as I pull out my Crisis of Conscience book. To them, that will have been a waste of gas because I have precisely nothing to lose if I get disfellowshipped.