Why do Ex-JWs start celebrating pagan Christmas?

by DubR 221 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  OUTLAW
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  Finally-Free

  As an aside, I can't help but wonder why some people like to shit on things that contribute to the happiness of others. If someone doesn't want to celebrate Christmas, then don't. Who cares? But why shit on those who do?

  I'm not hurting anyone by celebrating Christmas. You'd be better off finding a more worthy target for criticizm. You can start by criticizing religions who protect pedophiles.

  W
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  OUTLAW

  Part5 of post to DubR.. ....................... ...OUTLAW
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  Elsewhere

  Because it's fun!
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  greendawn

  Why should Christmas be wrong and why be so bothered about its pagan origins which is totally immaterial since Christmas does not have a pagan spirit and does not promote any pagan ideas or practices. To the contrary it is a christian or if you like long since christianised celebration with the spirit of christinity, it reminds people of the humble coming of the saviour into the world and the good will of God towards mankind. And that's what really matters is it not? Christians can even eat meat sacrificed to the idols because the idols were after all non existant as much as the pagans trembled before them.

  And refering to the past origins rather than the subsequent function of Christmas is emotionally retarded to say the least, it really sacks s--t. Christians can do whatever they want with pagan celebrations to integrate them and use them for their own purposes after all they defeated paganism following an attrocious battle and had to take some tropies from them. To the WTS the christmas ban serves as a means to isolate and alienate their members from human society so they can be better trapped, held captive and manipulated.

  Finally if we look at the man who invented these ideologies ie Ruthrford we will quickly see that he did not have the credentials to be a christian religious leader since he had a very unsaintly character and connections with occultism and free masonry which has a genuinely pagan ideology.

  At the end of the day it's the spirit of Christmas and Easter and the crucifix that really matters and not their origin whatever it may be.
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  VoidEater

  What are the secular origins of marriage licenses? Why would I associate with such a non-religious act?

  What are the pagan origins of wedding rings? Why would I want anything to do with them?

  What is the Bible basis of wedding anniversaries? If they're not blessed by Jesus specifically, why would I celebrate them?

  Is going to a theater a little too much like attending a Roman circus?

  Isn't watching a Macy's parade some kind of religious observance?

  Can we have turkey in November?

  There are many cultural events we engage in that we have little thought for their origins. Their origins don't matter anymore.

  Christmas is a cultural event, some see deep Christian connections in it, others see ancient Pagan connections - and still others hold no religious connections regarding it whatsoever.

  There is no reason to avoid it. Christ gave two commands, neither of which are broken by celebrating Christmas.

  It's nice to be part of the human experience, and share in some cultural events - it's part of being human.
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  nugget

  Rather than ask why people start celebrating christmas, it would be more meaningful to examine why JWs don't.

  We know that the reasoning is flawed and early Bible Students did celebrate Christmas (the old song book in our hall contains Silent night). Rutherford banned Christmas to seperate JWs from other christian faiths to make them different and to exert control. It was one of the USPs of the faith it's contrarinous and holier than thou attitude. But Rutherford;s motives were not whiter than white.

  That being said why would anyone want to hold fast to a teaching from a man with Rutherford's track record? The fact that he banned it is even more reason to deck the halls.

  Besides it is fun and frivalous and brightens up a dreary winter.
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  Dagney

  "PAGAN PAGAN PAGAN!" That's what a little JW girl said one day in a store in the middle of all the Xmas decorations. I think we thought it was cute at the time. **sigh**

  What is pagan? Civilization, (and Christians), evolved from non Christian beginnings. They were people who were creating their lives, trying to figure out how to exist and flourish. Habits that worked or made sense continue to this day.

  Various groups along the way thought it was really important to their Christianity to make a stand against the things they didn't like. They tried to impose their beliefs on others and make them feel bad or less of a Christian if they take the same stance regarding such evil. At the end of the day, everybody is just trying to make a life with family and friends just like our ancient ancestors.

  Some colored lights and pretty sparkly things is really not a big deal. Just do what you love and enjoy, and makes you happy. That's about it, really.
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  PSacramento

  There is no reason to avoid it. Christ gave two commands, neither of which are broken by celebrating Christmas.

  And there is a most valid of points.
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  JWoods

  Another point, beyond the fact that much early Christian festivity was borrowed from the Jews - is that much Jewish tradition bears a striking resemblance to surrounding Pagan culture of the day.

  True, an emphasis was placed on avoiding multiple Gods and child sacrifice, but there is much of Jewish OT ritual that smells of the occult and the surrounding religious tradition. Come to think of it, the Abraham story and Christ on the Cross could be termed child sacriface ritual.

  The NT itself, probably best illustrated by the Revelation, is quite Hellenized in style...so you might say that no religion, no matter how pure they envision themselves, is a total island to itself without some cross-pollenization with other religions.