Its the memorial, NOT EASTER! (page 2)

WTWizard

Next time, say "Happy Ashtar". That is actually even closer to its pagan origin--and directly worships the demon Astaroth. I bet they will wish to go back to "Happy Easter" next time.

maninthemiddle

Jolitte, My wife is older than you, but her 40 something cousin called half the people in her family about something she saw online about us, but never called my wife of I.

I don't know where this type of action comes from.

HintOfLime

Next year, send your mother an easter card in the mail.

Be sure to write "Happy Birthday, Mom!" on the inside.

- Lime

Easter to me is a time of renewal. It is about the resurrection. Life from death. The JW Memorial is about death and rejection. The JWs commemorate the rejection of Jesus by rejecting the "emblems" as they call them.

TOTH

Such closed and small minds are formed in that cult. ANYTHING that even slightly bucks their teachings is vilified and frowned upon. Sorry you are having to endure this kind of stuff. Next time you want to be funny tell ME! I won't derail the joy!

OnTheWayOut

Easter with Good Friday and Passover are not just random days. They have a way of figuring it out similar to the way Watchtower figures the Memorial. They are always in Spring at a certain point.

A bunch of JW's are like your mother- not able to joke about it. Tons of them will not compromise on Church weddings or funerals, but expect outsiders to compromise and attend the services at the Kingdom Hall. Even the Memorial invitations show that they want outsiders to come, but they won't go to any Easter service at a church.

All I figured out when I was growing up with one JW parent and mostly non-JW family was that Jehovah was angry about presents and candy at holidays. Jehovahs was angry about lots of stuff.

undercover

Memorial was a dull affair and never looked forward to as a JW kid... or adult, come to think of it. Just an extra meeting in a week filled with too many occasions of dressing up.

As a kid it meant no chocolate bunnies or easter egg hunts or baskets of goodies.

But to this day, Easter means Charleton Heston saving the Hollywood Israelites from Yul Brynner. It is required televsion viewing in my house year in and year out.

Band on the Run

I grew up with the Franco Zefferelli production of Jesus of Nazareth. It has superstars and glitz all over the place. A light treatment of the NT.

B/c of Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ, I was not able to see it on TV this year-even on cable stations.

My true all time favorite is The Last Temptation of Christ.

I purchased the DVDS so I have them next year.

Oh, I saw most of the Robe with Richard Burton. Some of these Jesus movies are so bad they are a hoot.

Morbidzbaby

Yeesh... Reminds me of my own mother. I jokingly called her on her birthday and when she answered, I sang "Happy Birthday to you..." (just those 4 words) and laughed. Now, mind you, this has been an ongoing joke in my family. My dad even calls up one of the elders every year and jokes about it being his birthday...complete with those first four words sung jokingly.

My mother, on the other hand...well, I guess since she decided I'm now "worldly", I can no longer joke with the family about such things. She got all upset and sarcastically sang "Don't sing that to me..." in the same tune. I got very pissed off because it just shows the friggin' HYPOCRISY. It's okay for her and my dad to do that with JW friends...but how DARE an inactive JW joke about it?! Ridiculous.

It seems like your brother is a Mama's boy. I wouldn't even bother joking with him about stuff like that anymore. As for your mom, if it were me, I'd make it clear that I will no longer be doing her or "friends" in the congregation any favors if I'm going to be treated like an outcast for making a JOKE, so she shouldn't bother to ask you anymore.

Its the memorial, NOT EASTER!