The ultimate goal of the WTBTS is to get as many members as possible and to obtain all its members' time, money and resources. Allowing for members to celebrate Holidays will diminish their gains... Crafty...🤔🤔🤔
@@survivingparadisepodcast Thank you for posting. I appreciate the depth you go into too refute the nonsense they spew out. As you say it's very therapeutic to have a laugh of what one has to believe if they are to be a Jehovah Witness. Even though as you also point out the danger that these teachings instigate.
*I love the holidays now! It’s a cultural tradition that started in Celtic Times to make people more generous to those that didn’t save enough coal & stocked, preserved food and its FUN.*
I started celebrating last year. I made little gift bags for my coworkers! Last year I made 50, this year I made 100. I AM GOING TO SPREAD THAT CHRISTMAS CHEER DAMNIT!! 😂
@@survivingparadisepodcast i believe some ex jw’s actually HAVE to laugh to keep from crying. i was ALMOST a part of this organization. i studied for over 20yrs, but i knew something wasnt right, just couldnt pin point it. i like your vids 😀
@@survivingparadisepodcast yes me too! my great grandmother introduced us to it years ago. im just glad that none of my family members ever actually gotten baptized. we wouldnt have been approved for it..too worldly lol
Those were some excellent points. Wish I had thought of them when trying to get some members of family to use some common sense, but I'll be more prepared now if ever I get the opportunity. Thanks so much, Stacy.
💗You are noy alone I am with you 100%! Christmas time made me lonelier than usual! I hated being home but I certainly didn't want to go back to school and face the extra pain of being the odd, sad, JW kid! 😮💨
The fact that Witnesses will celebrate a death but not a birth, including the birth of Jesus himself, is so on character for them. Literally no fun, all doom and gloom all the time. Yay! Someone is freakin dead! Let’s touch a plate with magic circles and fermented grape juice on it! 🙌
Apparently they have forgotten their founding father Charles didn’t have an issue with Christmas. Also, apparently Romans 14:5-6 means nothing to them either where God himself tells us celebrating holidays isn’t a sin as long as we give the glory to God. And you are right! This is what I had been thinking also. So biblical people, including the angles, can celebrate Christ’s birth but those of us living in modern times are not allowed to? Wtf
Superb! Absolute truth you brought out. I especially enjoyed your comparison of "no date of Jesus' birth in the Bible", with 1914, 1919, etc, etc. I had never thought of that b4! And pimo, pomo, pomeranian...LOL! Love that laugh, it is contagious.
Thank you for always sharing and explaining to us to get the gist of the full circumference of topics so thoroughly covered. God doesn't even exert undue control over us why should the gb tyranny?
@@survivingparadisepodcast Thank you again! You now have all the time to say everything you want. I remember a school overseer ringing a bell, bc my time went over the allotted 5 minutes. What was even more embarrassing was that he scolded me on my time rather than what my part called for. The silly things I recall.
I’d also like to point out that the Bible- including the NWT, as mentioned in this episode- literally mentions that another name for Jesus is “Emmanuel,” which means “GOD WITH US.” The Bible literally says that Jesus IS God, so I’m not sure what JWs are on about claiming he isn’t. 💀💀💀
Council from GB in today's text! "Let all things take place decently and by arrangement.-1 Cor. 14:40. Without the clear-cut role of headship, Jehovah’s family would become disorganized and unhappy. For example, no one would know who should make final decisions and who should take the lead in carrying out those decisions. If God’s arrangement for headship is such a good thing, why do so many women today feel oppressed by it? Because many men ignore Jehovah’s standards for the family and choose instead to follow local customs or traditions. They may also abuse their wives to satisfy some selfish desire. For example, a husband might dominate his wife in an attempt to boost his self-respect or to prove to others that he is a “real man.” He may reason that he cannot force his wife to love him, but he can make her fear him. And he may use that fear as a way to control her. That type of thinking and conduct clearly deprives women of the honor and respect to which they are entitled, and it is directly opposite to what Jehovah wants.-Eph. 5:25, 28. w21.02 3 ¶6-7 December 26 2022 Interestingly this has to do with a husband controlling his wife in a bad way, but the headship arrangement starts with Jehovah God. So in essence the GB condemns itself because they act like an evil husband who instills fear into his wife in order to control her. 🤔 the Governing Body makes it clear, if you do not do as they say even if you do not understand why, God will kill you forever!!! As you brought out in a podcast recently about control. This text for 12/26/2022 condemns them for acting like a bad husband, in their own words; "They (GB)may also abuse their wives (Congregation) to satisfy some selfish desire. For example, a husband (GB) might dominate (The Congregation) his wife in an attempt to boost his self-respect or to prove to others that he is a “real man.” He (GB) may reason that he cannot force his wife(The Congregation) to love him, but he(GB) can make her(The Congregation) fear him(GB). And he(GB)may use that fear as a way to control her"(The Congregation) So in their own words they, the Governing Body, condemns themselves by what they next admit to. And I add; (That type of thinking and conduct clearly deprives women of the honor and respect to which they are entitled, and it is directly opposite to what Jehovah wants.-Eph. 5:25, 28. w21.02 3 ¶6-7) The Governing Body acts like the evil husband they, themselves describe! The Governing Body acts or resembles "Nabal" Abigails drunkard Husband! Does not Morris the turd represent the Drunkard among the GB? Turd meaning (a contemptible piece or lump of excrement!) 😂🤣😂😂🤣😂 I bet the GB watchdog wants to know who I am! 🤭🤫🤐😏👎 You know the saying; what goes around, comes around! Give me another round of Scotch please!!! Remember Morris the turd song? I Drink Alone!!! 🍸
And there you have it.....a thinking person who can easily reason away the absurd tactics of the Governing Body!! And I love that you dropped in a reference to Nabal and Abigail.....King David's entire arc is so fun! LOL
Happy Holidays Stacy! Thanks for the sobering reminder that we are now officially 109 years into the last days 😢😅 Edit: I was never a born in JW but over the 27 years as a baptised JW, I missed more and more being around the rest of my family and friends for Christmas one of the best holidays I used to celebrate before becoming a JW. I was not convinced in my heart that Christmas was wrong or that celebrating my birthday was wrong. I even made peace with the idea that I was never going to be resurrected because I was secretly a hypocrite. Another idea I was not convinced about was only the “anointed” should partake of the “Memorial emblems”. Finally I also think often about the story of Jesus birth in the Bible and why the details surrounding it were included in the Bible
Happy Holiday's Dantoinette! All good things for everyone to consider....while they have some eggnog, open a gift and enjoy precious moments with loved ones. Like all those things you mentioned, just fabricated crap from the Governing Body.... they're all insulting!
This is funny, when I was a JW, a number of witness families we knew celebrated Christmas for their children, so they wouldn’t feel left out. One family I spent a lot of time with, wrapped their gifts in newspaper, I’m guessing in an effort to minimize the Paganism they were actually participating in…
I always loved Christmas and so did my JW sister who gave up the celebration around 1968 when she joined the cult. She has all but erased the memories of our family gatherings prior to the time she became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It must have been difficult for her children and husband to accept her change in attitude towards the Christmas celebration but in time she eventually drew them in. Three of her sons left the cult and for the most she has disowned them. She now has grandchildren who have not joined the cult and she has nothing to do with them. She forgets the times when she, her husband and children (of the time) visited my parents during Christmas and how loving my parents were to their grand children. After she drew me into the cult I found it to be very difficult to ignore the season of Christmas. During the Christmas season the members were encouraged to never allow Christmas music to play on their radios at home or in their cars. What was the encouragement to counteract this? It was to always have kingdom songs playing at home and in the car. I am so happy I only wasted 10 years of my life in the cult. I am single and alone today but I have a tree up and my house is decorated for the season. I have many friends who celebrate the Christmas holiday and I value their friendship. According to my sister; we are destined to destruction.
I'm so glad you're FREE....and just reading that made me so SAD!! Think of all she has missed out on....for WHAT??? Imagine what they have done to her soul.....it's evil. I'm so glad you're out and enjoying life!
@Surviving Paradise, can you maybe do a video on average life expectancy of JW? Is it longer or shorter than in general population? Life in poverty, lack of joy in the life (many things which people find joyful are forbidden - holidays, birthdays, etc), constant stress and low education level can have damaging impact on life expectancy.
It took me years to finally become comfortable and without guilt for slowly easing into something that felt so good. I started out with Xmas dinners at my non witness husband’s family, who is a very good and honest person in the “world.” I realized that this isn’t about what I was always taught to feel, it was love and family time and gift giving. It felt good!! And then each year I started decorating more and more and became so into it my kids and husband didn’t even know who I was!! Ha Let’s say I’m so happy I didn’t make my kids and family miss out on this for most of their lives and woke up when it was the right time. Merry Xmas and happy new year!! 🎉
This guy who I went to high school with told me that Jehovah's Witnesses will someday will learn this the hard way that Jesus was born on December 25th and he also told me that he thinks that the Jehovah's Witnesses religion is a totally weird religion and he also said he thinks he's better off being a catholic than being in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion
18 Dec '23. Just seen a statement at the top of a newspaper. " I will not be buying any presents for anybody this year , I can no longer afford it". Another article seen on the TV, stated that some families get into debt which lasts till the next Xmas with buying gifts, debt which they could well do without, with the costs of feeding and heating families rising so dramatically !
In regard to Christs birth, if the angels can celebrate, and the magi can a couple of years later, so can we. The date in December has an historical basis. Zachariah’s rotation served in the Temple in the fall and had vision. 6 months later - March - Mary saw Angel visited Elizabeth, John born in June, Jesus in December. The idea the date was based on paganism is silly.
@@survivingparadisepodcast Newbie groups always like to make up stuff on their own and twist history and facts, instead of just checking with the Church and asking why or how we know. :)
I hear you brother. BIG time trigger.... it kept us from every having extended family, cousins, grandparents, etc. Horrible. I'm numb to it now....ambivalent. Thanks to them.
Those of us who had spiritually weak parents got to experience some holiday joy from time to time when mommy was inactive she engaged in bad associations that spoiled our useful habits and we did gift giving 🎄
I have been a bible student (i tried to end bible study multiple times but JW didn't want to recognize that bible study is finished - i don't want to get baptized and don't want to preach). I wrote "Merry christmas and a happy new year" on soc media. JW who was studying bible with me, noticed it and asked me "What do you think Jehovah thinks of you? How do you think Jehovah fells?" I felt so heartbroken when they tried to ruin my christmas celebration. Do JW ruin christmas celebration of every bible student?
Awesome! We went through school with kids who were allowed to think, and they threw all kinds of logic at us that we had to deflect so we could defend our parents' stupid religion. We had our own thoughts when we'd read the 'poor' Jesus' family that got 'GOLD' FRANKINCENCE and MIRRH, extremely expensive products on Jesus' birthday/baby shower. We also have 20 years of Jesus' life that we know not from the specially chosen pages of the 'holy scriptures' what he did or did not celebrate (BIG BLANK SPOT). It's all so incredibly insulting, as you also say to defend these jackass excuses. Thank you again. I love to revel in your criticism **of the NewWorldReligion world-leader-aproved cult,** and laughter each Sunday.
You are doing an awesome job. I honestly can't listen to some of your podcasts because I get way too emotional but I know it helps many. Be assured of my absolute support of your channel. I know there are 10s of thousand people who grew up jw who need healing! Thank you Brother.
@@ooklathemok7322 Thank you so much ookla! I know how you feel....I'm sure it's evident on several subjects. It takes me weeks to work up the emotion to talk about a few; I want to lose my temper on anything with kids. So many triggers!
That was such a good video… I love listening to you it’s like listening to a story book… The longer I’m away from the organization, the more clearly I can see that this is just a bunch of nonsense!… This Christmas for 2023 I’m going to start celebrating early!
What I see is that the gb doesn't want the jw's to learn or know who the real Jesus is, or how important His birth was. They celebrate a created archangel that cannot save their souls from damnation. Maybe that's why they celebrate only its death and not its invisible rising from the death? The gb is definitely keeping people from the real Christ Jesus. And we all know satan is the one that wants that to happen.😢😔 This is a great video! Thank you for putting it all out there.👍👍👍
@john c. Good morning John!🌞 Anyone who was raised in the wt has been raised in the wrong religion according to the Bible. It's terrible and damning what the gb is teaching people. They are not the Christians' mouthpieces, that's for sure. Especially when the Bible says that God talked to prophets in different ways in times past, but now talks through His Son Jesus. And the Bible is about what Jesus is, who He is, what He's done, will do, and why. Amen! Love always, and have a beautiful day my friend! ❤️✝️❄️☃️
@john c. 👍👍 Blaspheming the Holy Ghost is an unforgivable sin. But that doesn't mean that person's other sins will not he forgiven. I don't remember if the gb teaches that or not... I guess some equate that one sin with the person not being able to be saved to go to heaven when they die. That's a very false teaching. I'm thankful Jesus has forgiven me of my past sins, and the sins I have every day of my fleshly life here. Every one of us sin without even knowing it. But it's the forgiveness Jesus offers that makes a difference in a person's eternity. You're right... God has given us two choices where we can spend our eternity... heaven or hell. And He's made it clear too. That's why I don't understand why the wt is teaching soul-sleep then waking up on a paradise earth. Jesus never taught that, nor did any of His disciples.🤔 It must be a control thing...😔 I'm glad you're born again/saved to brother. Love always to you and your family!❤️✝️❄️☃️
@john c. Oh! And I found a channel yesterday called Heretic Jonathan where he said he's going to do a video on the similarities between the wt/jw's and the Jim Jones' cult. It might be a good one! 👍👍
@john c. People damn and degrade God and Jesus everyday. But the Holy Spirit is sent to a new saved person to dwell in them forever. So He teaches, corrects, comforts, helps, gives the person peace, understanding of God and Jesus and He illuminates the Scriptures. And we know what the fruit of the Spirit is too. The gb blasphemes the Holy Spirit everyday, and in them doing so, has the jw's doing it also.😢 Keep praying everyday that the jw's wake up to the lies and deceptions they're being taught brother. You're a good Christian, and you're doing great! Thank you... stay strong in the Lord. ❤️✝️❄️☃️
Merry Christmas. I attended my first midnight Christmas Mass at my local Catholic church and it was leaps and bounds more beautiful and more moving than any Jehovah's witness meeting or assembly or memorial
@jordanissport this is what I missed about Christmas during my 27 years as a JW. The early morning service (the church I was raised in did it that way) the carols, reading or enacting the Nativity story and then the food and fellowship with family and friends afterwards. It was more about Christ and less about the festivities. Watchtower leaders who banned Christmas had no concept of the “Christ” in Christmas approach to the celebration. It was very spiritual and moving as you said
. Children are full of imagination, let them enjoy their childhood. You only have one childhood. Celebrate Life, Celebrate Happy Times, any time. Rebel and celebrate Christmas and Birthdays. Don't let anyone destroy your family happiness. Thank you for your time, Surviving Paradise, Merry Christmas.
@@vusimngomezulu2500 what are wedding anniversaries according to the bible? What is the proper way to drive a car according to the bible? What does the bible say about shaving your beard?
I’m not religious anymore, more of just spiritual, certainly not christian... but this year we have our first full size christmas tree and I love it and the vibe it gives during these dark days of the year. Not feeling any guilt or other uncomfortable emotions. I loved listening to your down to earth deconstructing of why we wouldn’t celebrate christmas, or why we should if we wanted to! We do us!
@Joe Publisher I had blocked my mind and memories for roughly 14 yrs, so using this podcast for one, to bring back memories to get familiar with the young girl I carry inside of me and understand my conflicts. But I do recall a pamflet regarding higher education. Luckily my parents saw I have a smart brain and let me choose what I wanted to do. It’s via an NLP training that I started to understand I was in conflict with my past. Strangely enough, I wasn’t triggered by the language they familiarise you with in NLP. Then when I finally opened up to hearing about JW again via those horrible, satanic apostates (sarcasm), hearing the quotes from the literature and the GB in the broadcasts... damn! That’s some mindcontrol the WTS is using!! I now also remember I didn’t take everything completely black / white, but with some nuances. In retrospect I think sometimes the elders had their suspicions, but I never voiced my thoughts out loud to keep myself under the radar. JW’s who are still in, can say in public that they don’t shun, but growing up as one, I knew that was definitely happening. I still recall a chat with my mom when I was little, where she said that one who is DF’ed, we shouldn’t even say ’hello’ to. To this day I’m happy that my parents, who are still in, are not in to the extreme and put actual love towards me, first.
I am catching this episode a little late but I agree. My never JW husband and I always have a large Christmas party with his family and our friends and coworkers too. My active JW mom stays with us in the winter months. I always laugh inside when we have our party because she comes out and speaks with everyone and eats with us and sits through the whole party. We have a Santa that passes out small gifts for everyone too that she refuses but for all intents and purposes she is at a Christmas party. When I asked her about it she said well I have to come out and eat and I can’t be rude to people. I don’t mind she comes out and enjoys the party and tells herself what she needs to. I think she gives herself a pass because she just happens to be in the home and it’s not under her control. The mental gymnastics of JW’s sometimes lol.
There’s a watchtower or awake discussing piñatas which were said to be pagan in origin. However the org says in the publication that it’s ok to participate in the custom of piñata because the intention behind it has changed. However that goalpost of intention gets moved for Christmas. You don’t have to come to ex JW channels to study yourself out of this organisation just focus on the publications and you will mentally leave if not physically.
@@survivingparadisepodcast This was a great episode! Jesus shouldn’t have a baby shower - that was a fresh perspective. I never thought of it in that way😂. Good quotes too about not quibbling about the dates giving tribute to Jesus’ birth from the publications. You know that SAME thing people would tell you on the doors!. On a somber note you heard about the ex witnesses who turned up Xmas smashed hall window and a murder suicide took place outside the hall in Denver Colorado? Keep the podcast going some can’t deal with the fallout from leaving!
@@broncosbest6441 Thanks my friend, just a peek into my brain LOL. I did hear about that! TERRIBLE!!! I need to go back and read the background. How awful and in your home state!
@@survivingparadisepodcast No I’m in the U.K. but the news reached here!! Internet makes the 🌍 smaller! Look after yourself all the best in the New Year 🍺
@@broncosbest6441 What's wrong with killing Jehovah's Witnesses. The great German leader Adolf Hitler once said: "Diese Brutt der internationalen Bibelforscher muss aus Großdeutschland ausgerottet werde!" 🤣🤣🤣
I have heard of the selling if this oil, which is still around, and according to some former Bethelites, the GB still makes and sells this patented product, or has financial interest in this product. 🤔 I do not Remember the name of the Bethelite who left the organisation that gave this info, but I know it was made for profit.
I joined in 1987 from "The World"-- the nihilism towards holidays almost emotionally killed my worldly family. They tried to understand the Christmas objection... o.k... then, my birthday was slain... o.k... then, Mother's Day... not o.k... then, Thanksgiving!!!!! That was the one where my family was sure the JW's had lost their every living minds. My Dad was like, "What in the hel! is wrong with being thankful to JW's?!!!!!!!!!!"
I’ll never forget the year my JW great uncle told me Santa was dead and would never be coming again. Naturally, I being a kid not raised a Witness, started bawling and immediately ran to ask my parents if it was true. My great uncle laughed his ass off and my parents pretty much told him he was an asshole and to leave. This was after my parents had forbid him and my great aunt from preaching to me and my siblings, so I guess this was his way of getting back at us. Joke’s on him though, I’m now not only not a Witness, I’m an actual, literal, polytheist, honest-to-gods pagan! I guess those darn evil pagan Christmas/Yule demons got me after all. Lol.
@@survivingparadisepodcast yeah, it was the first thing that really made me think, “Wow, these Jehovah’s Witness folks may not be as nice as they claim…”
Get a copy of "Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop if you really want to know why. It seems that December 25 is the birthday of Tammuz the re incarnated god of Nimrod.....(actually Tammuz is the illegitimate son of Nimrod's wife, Issis, born after Nimrod's death).
How about "Christmas fractions"? I remember when the cult came out with "blood fractions" allowed, according to conscience, but not whole blood. Made me giggle about Christmas-- can a JW hang house lights, but no tree? Accept a gift from one's boss, but not give one? Eat a ham on Christmas, but no Christmas decor on the dining table? LOL
35:45 🎶This is not the greatest birthdate in the world (no) This is just a tribute Didn't discover the greatest birthdate in the world (no) This is just a tribute To the great birthday in the world All right It was the greatest birthday in the world allright 🎶
I am happily not a Christian, but the Apostle Paul said that eating the meat from temples was not an endorsement of paganism. Yeah, if your unsophisticated brother was losing his sh!t about it, you might reconsider, but it was not inherently a problem. The JW's should have just kept the holidays, but transform them into JW-style holidays. Just leave out the overtly pagan stuff. Besides, I can't tell you how many "not Thanksgiving" thanksgivings I went to as a JW. (I'll give them bowing out of Halloween-- that one would be hard.)
1. Celebrating Jesus’ birthday: “The early Christians did not celebrate [Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”-The World Book Encyclopedia. 2. December 25: There is no proof that Jesus was born on that date. Church leaders likely chose this date to coincide with pagan festivals held on or around the winter solstice. 3. Gift-giving, feasting, partying: The Encyclopedia Americana says: “Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December, provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. From this celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting, the giving of gifts, and the burning of candles.” The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that “all work and business were suspended” during Saturnalia. 4. Christmas lights: According to The Encyclopedia of Religion, Europeans decorated their homes “with lights and evergreens of all kinds” to celebrate the winter solstice and to combat evil spirits. 5. Mistletoe, holly: “The Druids ascribed magical properties to the mistletoe in particular. The evergreen holly was worshiped as a promise of the sun’s return.”-The Encyclopedia Americana. 6. Christmas tree: “Tree worship, common among the pagan Europeans, survived after their conversion to Christianity.” One of the ways in which tree worship survived is in the custom of “placing a Yule tree at an entrance or inside the house in the midwinter holidays.”-Encyclopædia Britannica.
Christmas as a whole is confusing, you guys says thats when jesus was born but I looked everywhere in the bible and it said nothing about his date of birth and I didn’t know where Santa and the elves came up 😂, and I love how you guys act like it’s an important day for family so do you guys not have family time at all? Just once a year? Like all the kids in my school that I’ve talked too only like Christmas because it’s about the toys never about Jesus, I don’t think kids would say that straight up to their parents 💀
Galatians 6:7 Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap; You need a Bible study and pray!! Because you wasn't paying attention add focusing on your selfish life you have no knowledge of the Bible I will pray for you and hopefully you will get yourself together
Thanks Dee, student of the Bible and read it seven times, know the scripture well.... Thanks for praying for me.... let us know when you get an answer!
![The REAL Reason John the Baptist Was Killed - Mark 6 [Beyond the Words]](/img/1.gif)
Had to step back for a bit. I missed your voice man. Thank you.
Thanks Phil, hope you're well and Happy New Year!
The ultimate goal of the WTBTS is to get as many members as possible and to obtain all its members' time, money and resources. Allowing for members to celebrate Holidays will diminish their gains... Crafty...🤔🤔🤔
Exactly, they know what they're doing....
@@survivingparadisepodcast They absolutely know what they're doing, those SOBs...🤬🤬🤬
So they save money instead of making gifts and therefore can contribute MORE!!
They like their cash! ;)
Wow another devastating indictment of the Governing body 👍
Thank you for listening Nicholson!
@@survivingparadisepodcast Thank you for posting. I appreciate the depth you go into too refute the nonsense they spew out. As you say it's very therapeutic to have a laugh of what one has to believe if they are to be a Jehovah Witness. Even though as you also point out the danger that these teachings instigate.
@@nicholsonlawrance5821 Thank you Nicholson!
POMO, PIMI, Pomeranian 🤣🤣🤣...Merry Christmas sir.. excellent episode as usual..
LOL, thank you!!
😂
*I love the holidays now! It’s a cultural tradition that started in Celtic Times to make people more generous to those that didn’t save enough coal & stocked, preserved food and its FUN.*
I agree!! It's FUN!
I started celebrating last year. I made little gift bags for my coworkers! Last year I made 50, this year I made 100. I AM GOING TO SPREAD THAT CHRISTMAS CHEER DAMNIT!! 😂
:) enjoy every second!!!
Your reasoning is absolutely true, and as always funny!! How could we ever believed all this??!
Thank you Beauty!! :) We all need the laugh
its the laughing for me lol😅
LOL, glad it doesn't offend.....a few people have commented here that we shouldn't laugh
@@survivingparadisepodcast i believe some ex jw’s actually HAVE to laugh to keep from crying. i was ALMOST a part of this organization. i studied for over 20yrs, but i knew something wasnt right, just couldnt pin point it. i like your vids 😀
@@TheGermandutchess AGREE, even those that are out have to laugh or we will cry. WOW, 20 years...SO glad you dodged it all!!!
@@survivingparadisepodcast yes me too! my great grandmother introduced us to it years ago. im just glad that none of my family members ever actually gotten baptized. we wouldnt have been approved for it..too worldly lol
@@TheGermandutchess I'm so glad you and your entire family dodged this insane, cruel cult!!
Those were some excellent points. Wish I had thought of them when trying to get some members of family to use some common sense, but I'll be more prepared now if ever I get the opportunity. Thanks so much, Stacy.
thank you so much Rebella!!
I enjoy Christmas very much. Love the decorations, music and the jolly spirit... Love it!!! ❤❤❤
It's special!!
💗You are noy alone I am with you 100%! Christmas time made me lonelier than usual! I hated being home but I certainly didn't want to go back to school and face the extra pain of being the odd, sad, JW kid! 😮💨
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible????????
Oof, it was an AWEFUL feeling :( .....and we could always count on our birthday being miserable too :(
The fact that Witnesses will celebrate a death but not a birth, including the birth of Jesus himself, is so on character for them. Literally no fun, all doom and gloom all the time. Yay! Someone is freakin dead! Let’s touch a plate with magic circles and fermented grape juice on it! 🙌
It’s where they can promote the religion 🤣
It's a valid point.....need more time to unpack that one. It's bizarre.
Apparently they have forgotten their founding father Charles didn’t have an issue with Christmas. Also, apparently Romans 14:5-6 means nothing to them either where God himself tells us celebrating holidays isn’t a sin as long as we give the glory to God. And you are right! This is what I had been thinking also. So biblical people, including the angles, can celebrate Christ’s birth but those of us living in modern times are not allowed to? Wtf
LOL EXACTLY!!!!
Superb! Absolute truth you brought out. I especially enjoyed your comparison of "no date of Jesus' birth in the Bible", with 1914, 1919, etc, etc. I had never thought of that b4! And pimo, pomo, pomeranian...LOL! Love that laugh, it is contagious.
LOL, thanks Susan....I have to laugh or I get so angry....thanks for listening!
Thank you for always sharing and explaining to us to get the gist of the full circumference of topics so thoroughly covered.
God doesn't even exert undue control over us why should the gb tyranny?
Thank you SY....time didn't permit me to go into the book of Romans.....where it says celebrate what you want and don't worry about others
@@survivingparadisepodcast Thank you again! You now have all the time to say everything you want.
I remember a school overseer ringing a bell, bc my time went over the allotted 5 minutes. What was even more embarrassing was that he scolded me on my time rather than what my part called for. The silly things I recall.
@@smh73 LOL, thanks for triggering that memory! I was notorious for going overtime....still am LOL....and that damn bell!
Yeah I was a kid JW but not until 11 after that no more Christmas which I didn’t understand
:( terrible. I think it is particularly hard on kids that had Christmas, then it suddenly disappeared
Omg this hilarious thanks for making me laugh
:) thank you Shirley.....I laugh to stay sane!
I’d also like to point out that the Bible- including the NWT, as mentioned in this episode- literally mentions that another name for Jesus is “Emmanuel,” which means “GOD WITH US.” The Bible literally says that Jesus IS God, so I’m not sure what JWs are on about claiming he isn’t. 💀💀💀
Lot's to talk about there, great share!!
Council from GB in today's text!
"Let all things take place decently and by arrangement.-1 Cor. 14:40.
Without the clear-cut role of headship, Jehovah’s family would become disorganized and unhappy. For example, no one would know who should make final decisions and who should take the lead in carrying out those decisions. If God’s arrangement for headship is such a good thing, why do so many women today feel oppressed by it? Because many men ignore Jehovah’s standards for the family and choose instead to follow local customs or traditions. They may also abuse their wives to satisfy some selfish desire. For example, a husband might dominate his wife in an attempt to boost his self-respect or to prove to others that he is a “real man.” He may reason that he cannot force his wife to love him, but he can make her fear him. And he may use that fear as a way to control her. That type of thinking and conduct clearly deprives women of the honor and respect to which they are entitled, and it is directly opposite to what Jehovah wants.-Eph. 5:25, 28. w21.02 3 ¶6-7
December 26 2022
Interestingly this has to do with a husband controlling his wife in a bad way, but the headship arrangement starts with Jehovah God. So in essence the GB condemns itself because they act like an evil husband who instills fear into his wife in order to control her. 🤔 the Governing Body makes it clear, if you do not do as they say even if you do not understand why, God will kill you forever!!! As you brought out in a podcast recently about control. This text for 12/26/2022 condemns them for acting like a bad husband, in their own words;
"They (GB)may also abuse their wives (Congregation) to satisfy some selfish desire. For example, a husband (GB) might dominate (The Congregation) his wife in an attempt to boost his self-respect or to prove to others that he is a “real man.” He (GB) may reason that he cannot force his wife(The Congregation) to love him, but he(GB) can make her(The Congregation) fear him(GB). And he(GB)may use that fear as a way to control her"(The Congregation)
So in their own words they, the Governing Body, condemns themselves by what they next admit to. And I add; (That type of thinking and conduct clearly deprives women of the honor and respect to which they are entitled, and it is directly opposite to what Jehovah wants.-Eph. 5:25, 28. w21.02 3 ¶6-7)
The Governing Body acts like the evil husband they, themselves describe! The Governing Body acts or resembles "Nabal" Abigails drunkard Husband! Does not Morris the turd represent the Drunkard among the GB?
Turd meaning (a contemptible piece or lump of excrement!)
😂🤣😂😂🤣😂
I bet the GB watchdog wants to know who I am! 🤭🤫🤐😏👎
You know the saying; what goes around, comes around! Give me another round of Scotch please!!!
Remember Morris the turd song?
I Drink Alone!!! 🍸
And there you have it.....a thinking person who can easily reason away the absurd tactics of the Governing Body!! And I love that you dropped in a reference to Nabal and Abigail.....King David's entire arc is so fun! LOL
Happy Holidays Stacy!
Thanks for the sobering reminder that we are now officially 109 years into the last days 😢😅
Edit: I was never a born in JW but over the 27 years as a baptised JW, I missed more and more being around the rest of my family and friends for Christmas one of the best holidays I used to celebrate before becoming a JW. I was not convinced in my heart that Christmas was wrong or that celebrating my birthday was wrong. I even made peace with the idea that I was never going to be resurrected because I was secretly a hypocrite. Another idea I was not convinced about was only the “anointed” should partake of the “Memorial emblems”. Finally I also think often about the story of Jesus birth in the Bible and why the details surrounding it were included in the Bible
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible????
Happy Holiday's Dantoinette! All good things for everyone to consider....while they have some eggnog, open a gift and enjoy precious moments with loved ones. Like all those things you mentioned, just fabricated crap from the Governing Body.... they're all insulting!
@Vusi Mngomezulu Hi Vusi!!👋 You're STILL asking the same question you been asking for a year!
Why?
@@terridovey7648 😂🤣
@@survivingparadisepodcast 👍 Exactly! 👌😅
Thank you Stacey for more informative information did you know they did celebrate Christmas way back in Charles Taze Russell day. Food for thought
Thanks Cecilia, I sure did! See the photo in the episode tile....that is from a Bethel Christmas 🙄
Watchtower is like a fish out of water. They be flip-flopping all over the dang place with the rules and guidelines
This is funny, when I was a JW, a number of witness families we knew celebrated Christmas for their children, so they wouldn’t feel left out. One family I spent a lot of time with, wrapped their gifts in newspaper, I’m guessing in an effort to minimize the Paganism they were actually participating in…
I never witnessed anyone celebrating Christmas in secret, but I saw it many times with birthdays!
I always loved Christmas and so did my JW sister who gave up the celebration around 1968 when she joined the cult. She has all but erased the memories of our family gatherings prior to the time she became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It must have been difficult for her children and husband to accept her change in attitude towards the Christmas celebration but in time she eventually drew them in. Three of her sons left the cult and for the most she has disowned them. She now has grandchildren who have not joined the cult and she has nothing to do with them. She forgets the times when she, her husband and children (of the time) visited my parents during Christmas and how loving my parents were to their grand children. After she drew me into the cult I found it to be very difficult to ignore the season of Christmas. During the Christmas season the members were encouraged to never allow Christmas music to play on their radios at home or in their cars. What was the encouragement to counteract this? It was to always have kingdom songs playing at home and in the car. I am so happy I only wasted 10 years of my life in the cult. I am single and alone today but I have a tree up and my house is decorated for the season. I have many friends who celebrate the Christmas holiday and I value their friendship. According to my sister; we are destined to destruction.
I'm so glad you're FREE....and just reading that made me so SAD!! Think of all she has missed out on....for WHAT??? Imagine what they have done to her soul.....it's evil. I'm so glad you're out and enjoying life!
@Joe Publisher :( I'm so sorry Joe. So many have lost out on precious family
@Surviving Paradise, can you maybe do a video on average life expectancy of JW? Is it longer or shorter than in general population? Life in poverty, lack of joy in the life (many things which people find joyful are forbidden - holidays, birthdays, etc), constant stress and low education level can have damaging impact on life expectancy.
Great idea elven! I'll add that to my notes!
It took me years to finally become comfortable and without guilt for slowly easing into something that felt so good. I started out with Xmas dinners at my non witness husband’s family, who is a very good and honest person in the “world.”
I realized that this isn’t about what I was always taught to feel, it was love and family time and gift giving. It felt good!! And then each year I started decorating more and more and became so into it my kids and husband didn’t even know who I was!! Ha
Let’s say I’m so happy I didn’t make my kids and family miss out on this for most of their lives and woke up when it was the right time. Merry Xmas and happy new year!! 🎉
You sound like the guy who does the Reese’s candy commercials. Happy Holidays
Thank you, I'm going to have to go find that....I'm not sure I've seen those commercials, but I love Reeses!!!
This guy who I went to high school with told me that Jehovah's Witnesses will someday will learn this the hard way that Jesus was born on December 25th and he also told me that he thinks that the Jehovah's Witnesses religion is a totally weird religion and he also said he thinks he's better off being a catholic than being in the Jehovah's Witnesses religion
I wonder how much coal they get per year..
a lot! :)
18 Dec '23. Just seen a statement at the top of a newspaper. " I will not be buying any presents for anybody this year , I can no longer afford it". Another article seen on the TV, stated that some families get into debt which lasts till the next Xmas with buying gifts, debt which they could well do without, with the costs of feeding and heating families rising so dramatically !
In regard to Christs birth, if the angels can celebrate, and the magi can a couple of years later, so can we. The date in December has an historical basis. Zachariah’s rotation served in the Temple in the fall and had vision. 6 months later - March - Mary saw Angel visited Elizabeth, John born in June, Jesus in December. The idea the date was based on paganism is silly.
FANTASTIC points!!! Proving how ridiculous their 'four reasons' truly are
@@survivingparadisepodcast Newbie groups always like to make up stuff on their own and twist history and facts, instead of just checking with the Church and asking why or how we know. :)
Major trigger for me. I missed every Christmas of my childhood. Damage done. Thanks Joe Rutherford!
I hear you brother. BIG time trigger.... it kept us from every having extended family, cousins, grandparents, etc. Horrible. I'm numb to it now....ambivalent. Thanks to them.
How can there be damage if you never involved yourself? You do know that gift can be given any time.
Those of us who had spiritually weak parents got to experience some holiday joy from time to time when mommy was inactive she engaged in bad associations that spoiled our useful habits and we did gift giving 🎄
I remember a holiday at my grandparents when I was very, very young....
@@survivingparadisepodcast yea ☺
I have been a bible student (i tried to end bible study multiple times but JW didn't want to recognize that bible study is finished - i don't want to get baptized and don't want to preach). I wrote "Merry christmas and a happy new year" on soc media. JW who was studying bible with me, noticed it and asked me "What do you think Jehovah thinks of you? How do you think Jehovah fells?" I felt so heartbroken when they tried to ruin my christmas celebration. Do JW ruin christmas celebration of every bible student?
This is how they are trained to pressure people into conforming!
Good for you....yep, as soon as they know they're losing you, the guilt trips begin! FEAR....it's all they know
Awesome! We went through school with kids who were allowed to think, and they threw all kinds of logic at us that we had to deflect so we could defend our parents' stupid religion. We had our own thoughts when we'd read the 'poor' Jesus' family that got 'GOLD' FRANKINCENCE and MIRRH, extremely expensive products on Jesus' birthday/baby shower. We also have 20 years of Jesus' life that we know not from the specially chosen pages of the 'holy scriptures' what he did or did not celebrate (BIG BLANK SPOT). It's all so incredibly insulting, as you also say to defend these jackass excuses. Thank you again. I love to revel in your criticism **of the NewWorldReligion world-leader-aproved cult,** and laughter each Sunday.
So true Penny, thank you!!
@@survivingparadisepodcast delighted. My pleasure. You're welcome. Enjoy any moment you can.
The money spent on Christmas can go directly to the GB, if you celebrate that's money you can give to the organization.
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible???????
absolutely, a very important point!
Once again Thanks for saying it out loud. Jws state your beliefs out loud. Then reflect on them.
Thanks brother.....just saying it like it is.....so important for JW's try to find their gray matter again
You are doing an awesome job. I honestly can't listen to some of your podcasts because I get way too emotional but I know it helps many. Be assured of my absolute support of your channel. I know there are 10s of thousand people who grew up jw who need healing! Thank you Brother.
@@ooklathemok7322 Thank you so much ookla! I know how you feel....I'm sure it's evident on several subjects. It takes me weeks to work up the emotion to talk about a few; I want to lose my temper on anything with kids. So many triggers!
That was such a good video… I love listening to you it’s like listening to a story book… The longer I’m away from the organization, the more clearly I can see that this is just a bunch of nonsense!… This Christmas for 2023 I’m going to start celebrating early!
Thank you so much Nadine! I'm VERY glad to hear you've come out of the fog. Please be good to yourself as you heal....never to early to celebrate!!
What I see is that the gb doesn't want the jw's to learn or know who the real Jesus is, or how important His birth was.
They celebrate a created archangel that cannot save their souls from damnation. Maybe that's why they celebrate only its death and not its invisible rising from the death?
The gb is definitely keeping people from the real Christ Jesus. And we all know satan is the one that wants that to happen.😢😔
This is a great video! Thank you for putting it all out there.👍👍👍
@john c. Good morning John!🌞
Anyone who was raised in the wt has been raised in the wrong religion according to the Bible. It's terrible and damning what the gb is teaching people. They are not the Christians' mouthpieces, that's for sure. Especially when the Bible says that God talked to prophets in different ways in times past, but now talks through His Son Jesus. And the Bible is about what Jesus is, who He is, what He's done, will do, and why. Amen!
Love always, and have a beautiful day my friend!
❤️✝️❄️☃️
@john c. 👍👍
Blaspheming the Holy Ghost is an unforgivable sin. But that doesn't mean that person's other sins will not he forgiven. I don't remember if the gb teaches that or not...
I guess some equate that one sin with the person not being able to be saved to go to heaven when they die. That's a very false teaching.
I'm thankful Jesus has forgiven me of my past sins, and the sins I have every day of my fleshly life here. Every one of us sin without even knowing it. But it's the forgiveness Jesus offers that makes a difference in a person's eternity.
You're right... God has given us two choices where we can spend our eternity... heaven or hell. And He's made it clear too. That's why I don't understand why the wt is teaching soul-sleep then waking up on a paradise earth. Jesus never taught that, nor did any of His disciples.🤔 It must be a control thing...😔
I'm glad you're born again/saved to brother.
Love always to you and your family!❤️✝️❄️☃️
@john c. Oh! And I found a channel yesterday called Heretic Jonathan where he said he's going to do a video on the similarities between the wt/jw's and the Jim Jones' cult.
It might be a good one! 👍👍
@john c. People damn and degrade God and Jesus everyday. But the Holy Spirit is sent to a new saved person to dwell in them forever. So He teaches, corrects, comforts, helps, gives the person peace, understanding of God and Jesus and He illuminates the Scriptures. And we know what the fruit of the Spirit is too. The gb blasphemes the Holy Spirit everyday, and in them doing so, has the jw's doing it also.😢
Keep praying everyday that the jw's wake up to the lies and deceptions they're being taught brother. You're a good Christian, and you're doing great!
Thank you... stay strong in the Lord.
❤️✝️❄️☃️
Thank you Terri. Unfortunately, the JW's truly ignore Jesus for the most part. It shifted to Jehovah and away from Christ
Merry Christmas. I attended my first midnight Christmas Mass at my local Catholic church and it was leaps and bounds more beautiful and more moving than any Jehovah's witness meeting or assembly or memorial
@jordanissport this is what I missed about Christmas during my 27 years as a JW. The early morning service (the church I was raised in did it that way) the carols, reading or enacting the Nativity story and then the food and fellowship with family and friends afterwards. It was more about Christ and less about the festivities. Watchtower leaders who banned Christmas had no concept of the “Christ” in Christmas approach to the celebration. It was very spiritual and moving as you said
That's fantastic Jordan! Congrats on finding beauty and Merry Christmas to you too!
. Children are full of imagination, let them enjoy their childhood. You only have one childhood. Celebrate Life, Celebrate Happy Times, any time. Rebel and celebrate Christmas and Birthdays. Don't let anyone destroy your family happiness. Thank you for your time, Surviving Paradise, Merry Christmas.
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible???????
@Vusi Mngomezulu what is your point? There's a lot of things people do including jws that isn't in the bible.
@@Adjacentred Your ignore my simple questions 😂 🤣, what is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible?????
@Vusi Mngomezulu they aren't in the bible. They are celebrations to respect and honor Jesus's birth and death.
@@vusimngomezulu2500 what are wedding anniversaries according to the bible? What is the proper way to drive a car according to the bible? What does the bible say about shaving your beard?
Love listening to your content! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank you Julie, you too!!
Considering Earth´s rotation, how can a star stay in the same place?!?!? Help me please! I need some "light" on this...
I’m not religious anymore, more of just spiritual, certainly not christian... but this year we have our first full size christmas tree and I love it and the vibe it gives during these dark days of the year. Not feeling any guilt or other uncomfortable emotions.
I loved listening to your down to earth deconstructing of why we wouldn’t celebrate christmas, or why we should if we wanted to!
We do us!
I LOVE that you find enjoyment on this day!!! That's all that matters!!
@Joe Publisher I had blocked my mind and memories for roughly 14 yrs, so using this podcast for one, to bring back memories to get familiar with the young girl I carry inside of me and understand my conflicts. But I do recall a pamflet regarding higher education. Luckily my parents saw I have a smart brain and let me choose what I wanted to do.
It’s via an NLP training that I started to understand I was in conflict with my past. Strangely enough, I wasn’t triggered by the language they familiarise you with in NLP. Then when I finally opened up to hearing about JW again via those horrible, satanic apostates (sarcasm), hearing the quotes from the literature and the GB in the broadcasts... damn! That’s some mindcontrol the WTS is using!!
I now also remember I didn’t take everything completely black / white, but with some nuances. In retrospect I think sometimes the elders had their suspicions, but I never voiced my thoughts out loud to keep myself under the radar. JW’s who are still in, can say in public that they don’t shun, but growing up as one, I knew that was definitely happening. I still recall a chat with my mom when I was little, where she said that one who is DF’ed, we shouldn’t even say ’hello’ to. To this day I’m happy that my parents, who are still in, are not in to the extreme and put actual love towards me, first.
Can you share a source for the 1904 watchtower about Christmas?
Watchtower, Dec. 1st, 1904 page 364
Hey! Have you done an episode on whether or not Witnesses are discouraged from doing talk therapy or marriage counseling?
Hi LOH, not yet, but it's on the list. It was HIGHLY discouraged in the 1980-2005....soon!
I am catching this episode a little late but I agree. My never JW husband and I always have a large Christmas party with his family and our friends and coworkers too. My active JW mom stays with us in the winter months. I always laugh inside when we have our party because she comes out and speaks with everyone and eats with us and sits through the whole party. We have a Santa that passes out small gifts for everyone too that she refuses but for all intents and purposes she is at a Christmas party. When I asked her about it she said well I have to come out and eat and I can’t be rude to people. I don’t mind she comes out and enjoys the party and tells herself what she needs to. I think she gives herself a pass because she just happens to be in the home and it’s not under her control. The mental gymnastics of JW’s sometimes lol.
@survivingparadise
Now Stacy, that was not a birthday celebration because there was no booze and a piñata so it’s not a birthday parteeeeeeeee!
LOL LOL....okay, you got me ;)
There’s a watchtower or awake discussing piñatas which were said to be pagan in origin. However the org says in the publication that it’s ok to participate in the custom of piñata because the intention behind it has changed. However that goalpost of intention gets moved for Christmas. You don’t have to come to ex JW channels to study yourself out of this organisation just focus on the publications and you will mentally leave if not physically.
Yes! Referenced in a past episode as well!
@@survivingparadisepodcast This was a great episode! Jesus shouldn’t have a baby shower - that was a fresh perspective. I never thought of it in that way😂. Good quotes too about not quibbling about the dates giving tribute to Jesus’ birth from the publications. You know that SAME thing people would tell you on the doors!.
On a somber note you heard about the ex witnesses who turned up Xmas smashed hall window and a murder suicide took place outside the hall in Denver Colorado? Keep the podcast going some can’t deal with the fallout from leaving!
@@broncosbest6441 Thanks my friend, just a peek into my brain LOL. I did hear about that! TERRIBLE!!! I need to go back and read the background. How awful and in your home state!
@@survivingparadisepodcast No I’m in the U.K. but the news reached here!! Internet makes the 🌍 smaller! Look after yourself all the best in the New Year 🍺
@@broncosbest6441 What's wrong with killing Jehovah's Witnesses. The great German leader Adolf Hitler once said: "Diese Brutt der internationalen Bibelforscher muss aus Großdeutschland ausgerottet werde!" 🤣🤣🤣
I have heard of the selling if this oil, which is still around, and according to some former Bethelites, the GB still makes and sells this patented product, or has financial interest in this product. 🤔 I do not Remember the name of the Bethelite who left the organisation that gave this info, but I know it was made for profit.
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible???????
WOW, if that is still around....along with the Miracle Wheat.....I'd love to hear more about that!
I joined in 1987 from "The World"-- the nihilism towards holidays almost emotionally killed my worldly family. They tried to understand the Christmas objection... o.k... then, my birthday was slain... o.k... then, Mother's Day... not o.k... then, Thanksgiving!!!!! That was the one where my family was sure the JW's had lost their every living minds. My Dad was like, "What in the hel! is wrong with being thankful to JW's?!!!!!!!!!!"
I’ll never forget the year my JW great uncle told me Santa was dead and would never be coming again. Naturally, I being a kid not raised a Witness, started bawling and immediately ran to ask my parents if it was true. My great uncle laughed his ass off and my parents pretty much told him he was an asshole and to leave. This was after my parents had forbid him and my great aunt from preaching to me and my siblings, so I guess this was his way of getting back at us.
Joke’s on him though, I’m now not only not a Witness, I’m an actual, literal, polytheist, honest-to-gods pagan! I guess those darn evil pagan Christmas/Yule demons got me after all. Lol.
That's a terrible thing to do to a little kid!!!
@@survivingparadisepodcast yeah, it was the first thing that really made me think, “Wow, these Jehovah’s Witness folks may not be as nice as they claim…”
Gula, goddess of dogs, thank you for my little Maltese lap dog, who is unfortunately devoid of any terrier behavior, can we hang out some time???
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible????
Get a copy of "Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop if you really want to know why. It seems that December 25 is the birthday of Tammuz the re incarnated god of Nimrod.....(actually Tammuz is the illegitimate son of Nimrod's wife, Issis, born after Nimrod's death).
Read it, great book! That entire book is filled with very interesting history!
There was no room at the inn. It was Xmas
Yeah but you got to knock on doors
How about "Christmas fractions"? I remember when the cult came out with "blood fractions" allowed, according to conscience, but not whole blood. Made me giggle about Christmas-- can a JW hang house lights, but no tree? Accept a gift from one's boss, but not give one? Eat a ham on Christmas, but no Christmas decor on the dining table? LOL
35:45
🎶This is not the greatest birthdate in the world (no)
This is just a tribute
Didn't discover the greatest birthdate in the world (no)
This is just a tribute
To the great birthday in the world
All right
It was the greatest birthday in the world allright
🎶
I am happily not a Christian, but the Apostle Paul said that eating the meat from temples was not an endorsement of paganism. Yeah, if your unsophisticated brother was losing his sh!t about it, you might reconsider, but it was not inherently a problem.
The JW's should have just kept the holidays, but transform them into JW-style holidays.
Just leave out the overtly pagan stuff.
Besides, I can't tell you how many "not Thanksgiving" thanksgivings I went to as a JW.
(I'll give them bowing out of Halloween-- that one would be hard.)
1. Celebrating Jesus’ birthday: “The early Christians did not celebrate [Jesus’] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”-The World Book Encyclopedia.
2. December 25: There is no proof that Jesus was born on that date. Church leaders likely chose this date to coincide with pagan festivals held on or around the winter solstice.
3. Gift-giving, feasting, partying: The Encyclopedia Americana says: “Saturnalia, a Roman feast celebrated in mid-December, provided the model for many of the merry-making customs of Christmas. From this celebration, for example, were derived the elaborate feasting, the giving of gifts, and the burning of candles.” The Encyclopædia Britannica notes that “all work and business were suspended” during Saturnalia.
4. Christmas lights: According to The Encyclopedia of Religion, Europeans decorated their homes “with lights and evergreens of all kinds” to celebrate the winter solstice and to combat evil spirits.
5. Mistletoe, holly: “The Druids ascribed magical properties to the mistletoe in particular. The evergreen holly was worshiped as a promise of the sun’s return.”-The Encyclopedia Americana.
6. Christmas tree: “Tree worship, common among the pagan Europeans, survived after their conversion to Christianity.” One of the ways in which tree worship survived is in the custom of “placing a Yule tree at an entrance or inside the house in the midwinter holidays.”-Encyclopædia Britannica.
Great summary Ron!!
Christmas as a whole is confusing, you guys says thats when jesus was born but I looked everywhere in the bible and it said nothing about his date of birth and I didn’t know where Santa and the elves came up 😂, and I love how you guys act like it’s an important day for family so do you guys not have family time at all? Just once a year? Like all the kids in my school that I’ve talked too only like Christmas because it’s about the toys never about Jesus, I don’t think kids would say that straight up to their parents 💀
What is Christmas and goodfriday according to the Bible??????
Huh?
Would jesus troll a comment section like this?
@@Adjacentred 🤣🤣 great question Tommy!
The holiday has pagan origins. You don't have to be a JW to recognize that. Also, holidays are just secular cash cows now, not religious.
Agree. All pagan....like almost everything else ;)
There are a lot of things that are pagan that are practiced today from JW’s!!!
I like celebrating Christmas happy holidays🎉🎉🎉
Galatians 6:7
Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked. For whatever a person is sowing, this he will also reap;
You need a Bible study and pray!! Because you wasn't paying attention add focusing on your selfish life you have no knowledge of the Bible I will pray for you and hopefully you will get yourself together
Thanks Dee, student of the Bible and read it seven times, know the scripture well.... Thanks for praying for me.... let us know when you get an answer!