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JWs intrigue me
Yahoo User
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 Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:04 pm Post subject: Is it ok for Jehovah Witnesses to recieve christmas gifts? |
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| I have a cousin who is a JW. He wont celebrate christmas, in the sense that he wont buy anyone else gifts. However, he loves christmas music, christmas cookies and he says it is of for him to receive gifts. I think this is kinda lame. Your thoughts?@ Ishvarlan:Yes, my cousin is a JW and I am not making things up. I think it is funny that you are quick to accuse me of lying. How thoughtful of you. He is JW and he will accept christmas gifts. He says " I dont want to be rude and decline a gift" Pretty lame excuse. |
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amberette
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| I think it's hypocritical for someone to say they don't celebrate yet it's ok for them to get gifts. I don't celebrate Christmas either and I'm appreciative that people think of me to get me a gift, but I try to respectfully decline because I don't think it's fair to say I don't believe in Christmas so I won't give you a present, but yeah you can get me one! |
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J.A.G.007
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| he can like the style of christmas music just not the actual songs. certain songs aren't originaly for christmas such as jingle bells and the ukranian carol they were later integrated for christmas. cookies are cookies. and he can recieve gifts as long as they aren't a christmas present.if you give him a present for the sake of giving him a present that's absolutely fine. and he can give gifts as simple gifts as well. it's another matter though if it is a christmas present. a present with the conotation of being part of the christmas celebration or experience is not acceptable if he is a jehova's witness. so NO he can't get gifts if they are in any way associated with the celebration of christmas. |
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Sara B
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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| That is kinda lame, but at the same time, it's okay for other religions to grasp other ideals of the Christmas season. For example, I was raised to celebrate Christmas and now I am a Buddhist. I still celebrate the season with my family and we exchange gifts. To my husband and I, the holidays are a time to get together with family we don't see very often. I love Christmas. The decorations, and the spirit. I'm a very festive person when it comes to holidays. |
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Vince M
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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| As I understand it, according to the tenets of their beliefs, it is NOT okay to accept a Christmas gift.The JWs I have known will not even participate in Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners and pot luck meals. If the event is tied in to those kinds of holidays, they MUST decline to participate.When I managed a department of technicians and electronic assemblers, I learned, very early, to plan things that MIGHT be construed as holiday-related, at least a week or two earlier than when such events might normally take place. Instead of an Xmas pot luck, we'd set one up in early December and say it was because we'd been working long hours and deserved a break and needed to have some fun. I just made sure we had another one in late spring, to "balance things out."I tried, very hard to keep the workplace "holiday neutral", whether for Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Bhuddists and athiest. Believe me, the workplace was LOADED with all kinds. |
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nonameblonde
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:28 pm Post subject: |
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| If he doesn't celebrate or believe in Christmas, why would he accept Christmas gifts. Sounds like he's a poor Jehovah's Witness. |
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Ishvarlan
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Clearly it sounds like either your "cousin" isn't a Witness, or you are making things up. No offense but your directed questions make you seem a little biased.Also, if you are curious about why said cousin does things shouldn't you ask him??? |
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daisee1203
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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| I work with someone I'm pretty close to who is JW and she says its NOT okay to get gifts in honor of Christmas. Listening to music, eating the food, etc is fine as long as there is no connection to celebrating Christmas. In other words they see it as a cookie, not Santa or reindeer. In fact she worked at a Christmas store once. But nope, they can't recieve gifts called Christmas, Birthday or Easter presents. |
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dvcgurl
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| its not ok but jehovah r hippocrits anyways so it doeswnt matter |
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Bruce T
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 12:17 am Post subject: |
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| It sounds like your cousin wants to have it both ways-- to receive gifts , but then not having to give any gifts. If you want to give him something, it's up to you. But don't expect him to get you anything. |
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achtung_heiss
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:36 am Post subject: |
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Heaven knows(regarding each particular incident).A typical Jehovah's Witness (on earth) would understand his brother or sister's decision to be his or her own, to make according to his or her conscientious and actual understanding of the "gift" (or perhaps "bonus"). It is well-known that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate pagan holidays, but they also do not superstitiously reject something merely because it has been tagged by someone else with a holiday nickname. For example, fruitcake does not become unacceptable simply because it is sometimes called Christmas cake.Of course, Jehovah's Witnesses work to please God and Christ, and understand that no seeming "loophole" could ever deceive the divine judges who can read the heart....(1 Samuel 16:7) Mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is....(Jeremiah 17:10) I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, examining the kidneys, even to give to each one according to his ways...(Mark 2: Jesus, having discerned immediately by his spirit that they were reasoning that way in themselves, said to them: “Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?...(Genesis 18:25) Is the Judge of all the earth not going to do what is right?A Jehovah's Witness may choose to accept a bonus or a gift if he sincerely believes that the giver intends it to be something other than an aspect of a pagan celebration. It would seem that a critic who pretends some special insight into the conscientious thoughts of another may benefit from professional counseling and the bible's practical advice....(Psalm 119:69,70,7 The presumptuous have smeared me with falsehood. As for me, with all my heart I shall observe [God's] orders. Their heart has become unfeeling... Let the presumptuous ones be ashamed...(Proverbs 11:27) He that is looking for good will keep seeking goodwill; but as for the one searching for bad, it will come upon him.Learn more:http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/ |
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Brenda
Yahoo User
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| Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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| All the JW's I've ever heard of did not celebrate any holidays including Christmas. |
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