Questions

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:34:51 GMT

rubyzib: Here are the answers to the questions that where emailed to you ^_^.

(1)What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion?
The only ‘Tradition’, so to say, would be the memorial. Which can be compared to the Passover, we recognize this day once a year. Also as witnesses we do not celebrate holidays that other religions might, or that people not of our religion do.

For more information on this here is an Article published by Jehovah’s Witnesses in the, School and Jehovah’s Witnesses, brochure pages 17-21.

Holidays and Celebrations

The fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not participate in most holiday observances and other celebrations can be somewhat perplexing to a teacher. We hope the following helps you to understand why we take the matter so seriously.

Perhaps to a greater extent than you may have realized, many holidays and the customs associated with them have a non-Christian religious background. It is this that makes them objectionable to Jehovah’s Witnesses. We try to follow the principle stated by the Christian apostle Paul:

“What fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial [a false god]? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? . . . ‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah.”—2 Corinthians 6:14-17.

So if a holiday or a celebration is in some way linked to other gods or goddesses, or if observing it is contrary to our understanding of Biblical principles, we do not take part.

Birthdays: Enjoying a feast or a party and generous giving to loved ones are certainly not wrong. (Luke 15:22-25; Acts 20:35) Jehovah’s Witnesses enjoy giving gifts and having good times together throughout the year. However, the only two birthday celebrations mentioned in the Bible involved people who were not true believers. They were a Pharaoh of Egypt and the Roman ruler Herod Antipas, each of whose birthday celebrations had deadly results. (Genesis 40:18-22; Mark 6:21-28) So it is not surprising to see these historical references to the attitude of early Christians toward birthday celebrations:

“The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries (New York, 1848), by Augustus Neander (translated by Henry John Rose), page 190.

“Of all the holy people in the Scriptures, no one is recorded to have kept a feast or held a great banquet on his birthday. It is only sinners (like Pharaoh and Herod) who make great rejoicings over the day on which they were born into this world below.”—The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York, 1911), Volume X, page 709 (quoting Origen Adamantius of the third century).

Additionally, birthday celebrations tend to give excessive importance to an individual, no doubt one reason why early Christians shunned them. (Ecclesiastes 7:1) So you will find that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not share in birthday festivities (the parties, singing, gift giving, and so forth).

Christmas: As you are probably aware, December 25 was not the birthday of Jesus Christ. You may feel that this does not matter—that the event is the important thing. But the way the Christmas holiday developed shows that there is more to it than that. The following encyclopedias explain:

“The observance of Christmas is not of divine appointment, nor is it of N[ew] T[estament] origin. The day of Christ’s birth cannot be ascertained from the N[ew] T[estament], or, indeed, from any other source. The fathers of the first three centuries do not speak of any special observance of the nativity.”—Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981 reprint), by John McClintock and James Strong, Volume II, page 276.

“Most of the Christmas customs now prevailing in Europe, or recorded from former times, are not genuine Christian customs, but heathen customs which have been absorbed or tolerated by the Church. . . . The Saturnalia in Rome provided the model for most of the merry customs of the Christmas time.”—Encyclopædia of Religion and Ethics (Edinburgh, 1911), edited by James Hastings, Volume III, pages 608, 609.

It is commonly known that Christmas was not originally a celebration of Christ’s birth. U.S. Catholic of December 1981, page 32, notes: “It is impossible to separate Christmas from its pagan origins.” The magazine explains:

“The Romans’ favorite festival was Saturnalia, which began on December 17 and ended with the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun’ (Natalis solis invicti) on December 25. Somewhere in the second quarter of the fourth century, savvy officials of the church of Rome decided December 25 would make a dandy day to celebrate the birthday of the ‘sun of righteousness.’ Christmas was born.”

When learning these facts about Christmas, how have some been affected? The World Book Encyclopedia (1982) observes under “Christmas”: “During the 1600’s . . . Christmas was outlawed in England and in parts of the English colonies in America.” Since people in the past refused to celebrate Christmas because of its pagan origins, it should be understandable why Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate it today. We take no part in Christmas parties, plays, singing, exchanging of gifts, or in any other such activity that is associated with Christmas.

Jehovah’s Witnesses take the same position of total nonparticipation in other religious or semireligious holidays that occur during the school year. The reason is that these holidays, too, are connected with non-Christian worship; in fact, certain features of such worship often dominate the celebrations. Consider the following examples:

Easter: Although this holiday is supposed to commemorate Christ’s resurrection, note what secular authorities say regarding it:

“Easter. Originally the spring festival in honor of the Teutonic goddess of light and spring known in Anglo-Saxon as Eastre. As early as the 8th century the name was transferred by the Anglo-Saxons to the Christian festival designed to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.”—The Westminster Dictionary of the Bible (Philadelphia, 1944), by John D. Davis, page 145.

“Everywhere they hunt the many-colored Easter eggs, brought by the Easter rabbit. This is not mere child’s play, but the vestige of a fertility rite, the eggs and the rabbit both symbolizing fertility.”—Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore Mythology and Legend (New York, 1949), Volume 1, page 335.

Halloween: Though celebrated as a Christian holiday, Halloween finds its origins in pre-Christian festivals that propagate false ideas about life after death. Interestingly, we read: “After the Reformation, Protestants rejected this feast along with other important ones such as Christmas and Easter. Nevertheless, Halloween folk customs of pagan origin flourished.”—Encyclopædia Britannica (1959), Volume 11, page 107.

All Saints’ Day: “There is little doubt that the Christian church sought to eliminate or supplant the Druid festival of the dead by introducing the alternative observance of All Saints’ day on Nov. 1. This feast was established to honour all saints, known or unknown, but it failed to displace the pagan celebration of Samhain.”—Encyclopædia Britannica (1959), Volume 11, page 107.

New Year’s Day: “In ancient Rome, the first day of the year was given over to honoring Janus, the god of gates and doors and of beginnings and endings. . . . New Year’s Day became a holy day in the Christian church in A.D. 487.”—The World Book Encyclopedia (1982), Volume 14, page 237.

Valentine’s Day: “Valentine’s Day comes on the feast day of two different Christian martyrs named Valentine. But the customs connected with the day . . . probably come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage, and Pan, the god of nature.”—The World Book Encyclopedia (1973), Volume 20, page 204.

May Day: “May Day festivals probably stem from the rites practiced in honor of a Roman goddess, Maia, who was worshiped as the source of human and natural fertility. . . . [The] Maypole is believed by most scholars to be a survival of a phallic symbol formerly used in the spring rites for the goddess Maia.”—The New Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia (1952), page 8294.

Mother’s Day: “A festival derived from the custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Formal mother worship, with ceremonies to Cybele, or Rhea, the Great Mother of the Gods, were performed on the Ides of March throughout Asia Minor.”—Encyclopædia Britannica (1959), Volume 15, page 849.

These are just a sampling of holidays that are commonly observed, and in which schoolchildren often are expected to participate by sharing in certain activities. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses for conscientious reasons do not take any part in these holiday activities—whether it be singing, playing music, acting in plays, marching in parades, drawing pictures, attending parties, eating and drinking, and so forth. Yet, at the same time, we do not object to others celebrating such holidays nor try to hinder them. We appreciate it very much when teachers kindly excuse our children from participation in all activities that in any way commemorate these holidays.

National Holidays

Other holidays are somewhat different in nature. These are not so universally celebrated, but may be unique to a particular country. For example, there may be national days of thanksgiving. In some places there may also be a certain day set aside to memorialize a nation’s war dead, or a day to remember the birth of a country or certain prominent presidents, rulers or national heroes.

Jehovah’s Witnesses also respectfully refrain from participating in such national holidays. Though we respect the authorities in whatever country we may reside, for conscientious reasons we do not give them what we view as worshipful honors. We remain neutral toward all such celebrations. This is in keeping with Jesus’ words regarding his followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.”—John 17:16.

(2) How have those holidays and traditions changed over time?
No.

(3) How has religion shaped your life?
When I dedicated myself to Jehovah through my baptism, I wasn't just dedicating myself to a religion. I was dedicating myself to a WAY of life. Being a witness is so much more then church gathering, and saying that I believe in god. It how I live, and breathe, it’s me striving to please Jehovah our God and live up to his expectations set out in the Bible. This is both a protection and blessing, morally I stay clean, I have the satisfaction of knowing, that even though I’m not perfect and I mess up, my striving to do what is right in gods eyes, keeps me in his love. Like was mentioned by another who answered theses questions, witnesses make their mind over in the faith:

Ephesians 4:20-24; But YOU did not learn the Christ to be so, 21 provided, indeed, that YOU heard him and were taught by means of him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that YOU should put away the old personality which conforms to YOUR former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; 23 but that YOU should be made new in the force actuating YOUR mind, 24 and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.

(4) What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?
Being that all humans are imperfect, we, I , have the struggle of dealing with my own imperfection. Staying morally clean, and keeping a sound that is a difficulty. We live in what one could call a world of ‘moral decay.’ There is plenty of things on this earth that could temp a person, and no one can say that there aren’t things that tempt them.

James 1: 4 and 5 say; But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire. Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn, sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death.

However doing these things, and striving to live by theses standards are in no way burdensome. (1 John 5:3 “ For this is what the love of God means, that we observe his commandments; and yet his commandments are not burdensome,”)

In fact I find it and honor and a pleasure to be doing the will of God, it bring me great happiness.

(5) How did you come to practice your particular religion?
I was raised in the truth, my grandparents helped build a strong, knowledgeable foundation about what being a Jehovah’s Witness meant. They gave me the tools needed to make my own decision about how I wanted to live. Never was the decision forced on me, nor is it forced on anyone, it’s a personal choice. And in just the past few years I’ve studied Gods word, built a personal relationship with Jehovah, one no person could break. I’ve learned to rely on god, and he’s become my best friend. I made the truth my own, and dedicated myself to the doing of god’s will.

(6) In what ways do you believe this particular religion is misunderstood by non-members?
I believe we as witnesses are incredible misunderstood. We’ve been called child abusers, a cult, some use to / do believe that because some of our Kingdom Halls (place of worship) don’t have windows; we have our religious meetings in the nude.

None of the above is true; we are just normal people, striving to live by bible standards. We love our neighbors as ourselves, we respect people and their views, we remain neutral in political issues, we be honest in our daily living, and we try our upmost to remain moral clean.

(7) Do you find it difficult to relate to members of other religions?
Not at all, personally I love learning about what other people believe. That way when I study with someone about Jehovah's Organization, I’m able to relate to them with their religion or a religion they were raised in.

Witnesses are a large group of different races, nationalities, backgrounds, past faiths, languages... (I think I covered it all LOL) However, our religion is practiced WORLD WIDE, and all in harmony with one another.

(8) How is your religion active within the community?
Jesus gave a commission to all this disciples in Matthew 28:19 says “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” So every day, somewhere in all the worlds neighborhoods, Witnesses are preaching the message of gods kingdom and the life saving good news within the pages of God word the Bible.

(9) How do you feel that the teachings of your religion fit in with your daily life?
My Religion IS my daily life. Like I said before, it’s the path I choose to walk.

(10) In what ways do you think others could benefit from your religion's teachings?
The world today is blinded by Big Business, Politics and Religion. The world is so blinded by forced that some refuse to believe exist. We’re trying to save the lives, or bring hope into the life of those who have no hope. Those who have become victims of this world. We are trying to find those who are looking for something, looking for answers to questions in life that no one else has been able to answer.

Our preaching work, which you know is when we knock on your door, is our commission from Christ as I mentioned earlier. And our way of desperately trying to help bring hope to those in the world who want something more, something real in their life, not something superficial, or temporary.

(11) Have you ever noticed other people's behavior towards you change as a result of your religion?
I have, all the time. My favorite one was when I was working at K-mart, and fellow employees found out I was a witness, they said, “No wonder you don’t curse!” And from that day on, they all didn’t curse around me. I told them that it wasn’t necessary to change themselves around me. But they all said that they liked the influence I made on them.

(12) What reactions do you get for the ways you choose to spread the word of your religion?
I’ve received a wide array of reaction to the way I preach. And I knew that I would, and I respect all reaction.

Well, i hope that i helped!

Welcome

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:48:32 GMT

Your Judith

Questions

Welcome