What would happen to a JW for celebrating Christmas?

by Vanderhoven7 42 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  KerryKing

  Growing up as a JW and now raising my own children with birthday celebrations and xmas, I have learnt how important these celebrations and holidays are for forging strong family ties, not only immediate family but also extended family. I barely know any of my aunts, uncles or cousins because we never socialised with them, either because they were not jws or they weren't 'good enough ' jws.

  The JWs, to my mind, are working in direct opposition to Jesus commands to love your neighbour. They'd rather preach to strangers, than save their own relatives. Many of them will do anything to NOT have to look after elderly parents or grandparents, including moving overseas to 'serve where there's a greater need'. No family ties for them whatsoever. They're married to jw.org.
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  LongHairGal

  KERRY KING:

  I am glad you are able to see the importance of celebrations and holidays for forging strong family ties!

  I was raised Roman Catholic and so thankful I had these things and wonderful memories of caring people including beautiful decorations and cooking aromas.. These were priceless and in sharp contrast to the sterile environment of JWs.

  Right before I started my ‘Fade’ from the Jehovah’s Witness religion, I sent out Holiday cards for the first time in decades!.. I also re-established contact with estranged relatives before it was too late.👍🏻. I had much apologizing and explaining to do but people were understanding!

  You were correct about those JWs who abandoned their families and got ‘married’ to the organization in a sense.. If these Witnesses are expecting the org. (or any of their spiritual friends) to take care of them in their old age they are in for a very rude awakening!
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  Beth Sarim

  The cult(Borg) puts itself in between members & their families.

  By,,,shipping people off to far away lands instead of caring for elderly parents .

  The shunning policy

  & by scrubbing holidays & birthdays which forge family bonds

  Because they cant have too much attention & focus on families instead of the Borg.
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  LongHairGal

  BETH SARIM;

  What I took away from all of this is that the JW religion hates holidays and celebrations - and not just because they are supposedly ‘pagan’. That’s just a convenient excuse because even the days of the week are pagan.

  The religion does NOT want their members associating with non-Witness relatives and friends because it fears that the members will get used to the love and non-judgmental treatment they would receive.

  The religion is simply afraid the members will wake up and get un-indoctrinated when they compare that loving treatment to the grief they get in the Kingdom Hall.
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  Beth Sarim

  LHG;

  You just hit the ball out of the park!!!

  Because you know what,,,,most & I mean most JWs are NOT stupid people. Id say 99.999999% are NOT stupid people.

  What you just said,,,the Borg dreads the fact if they dare figure this out.
• 

  BluesBrother

  It all depends… on your B of E, who you are .. I mean do they like you or are you a pain to them already?

  Now sister pioneer could get away with it by talking herself out of it, ie “ I only popped into see my neighbour and she pressed a drink and a gift into my hand”

  The unpopular sister would get the book thrown at her.

  Of course if the B of E were up to date, as I see it , they would readily accept the words “ I am sorry “
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  KerryKing

  I remember an elder in a neighbouring cong, a genuine gentleman, used to visit some of his elderly and lonely return calls on xmas or boxing day, and he'd quite happily accept a sip of whiskey while he was there 😅
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  NotFormer

  How far would the "my unbelieving spouse insists on observing it" argument get someone?
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  Vanderhoven7

  When my unbaptized dad was a publisher of sorts, my Catholic mom put her foot down and we had Christmas every year as kids, saw our relatives on both sides and exchanged presents. Way to go Mom! Enough of Watchtower anti-family nonsense.
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  TonusOH

  I do recall one year where my mother bought us some toys and games in mid or late December. She was a very frugal person, so the reason was probably that there was a sale on them. As young children, we didn't care, since she rarely bought these items. I can remember that we told each other --in VERY hushed tones-- that it was like we were celebrating Christmas!

  My dad was not a JW (save for a very brief period in the early 80s) and one of his brothers did bring us Christmas presents when we were very young. I think my mother put a stop to that. So we had a bit of an idea of what it was like for children.