General Christmas - to celebrate or not?

[Lori Jane]

Personally I choose not to but I don't look down my nose at others that do. I think some things related to paganism like wedding rings are ok to accept because it is a minor thing and rings don't represent that today. But videos like this make me more firm in my personal decision to not celebrate Christmas.

I do enjoy this time of year tho to spend more time with family and friends. And if my kids are at school and they are watching a Christmas movie I'm not going to be extreme and say they can't participate and have cookies and treats with the others.

So I am all for honoring Christ whenever I can and I am happy for his miraculous conception and birth. We're told in the OT we

​

 

[Eyesontheprize]

I found this video super interesting and something I've never heard before about Jesus birth and Christmas, and how December 25th is possible along with other significant parallels. (Migdal E'der)

 

[Eyesontheprize]

Personally I choose not to but I don't look down my nose at others that do. I think some things related to paganism like wedding rings are ok to accept because it is a minor thing and rings don't represent that today. But videos like this make me more firm in my personal decision to not celebrate Christmas.

I do enjoy this time of year tho to spend more time with family and friends. And if my kids are at school and they are watching a Christmas movie I'm not going to be extreme and say they can't participate and have cookies and treats with the others.

So I am all for honoring Christ whenever I can and I am happy for his miraculous conception and birth. We're told in the OT we

​

I'm not sure how to completely feel about anything. We do a present day over winter break with our kids...(even as witnesses we did)...not sure how to handle it all or what to believe about what's right and "wrong". Guilt in every direction and I feel at times we are messing up the kids a bit while trying to figure it out

 

[Lady Em]

Personally I choose not to but I don't look down my nose at others that do. I think some things related to paganism like wedding rings are ok to accept because it is a minor thing and rings don't represent that today. But videos like this make me more firm in my personal decision to not celebrate Christmas.

I do enjoy this time of year tho to spend more time with family and friends. And if my kids are at school and they are watching a Christmas movie I'm not going to be extreme and say they can't participate and have cookies and treats with the others.

So I am all for honoring Christ whenever I can and I am happy for his miraculous conception and birth. We're told in the OT we

​

This was SOOO interesting!! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Very informative, would love to translate to Spanish.

 

[Glop65]

I am thankful beyond words for The Birth of Christ and the Resurrection everyday. I do celebrate The Birth of Christ,
I hang a few lights, set up my nativity. I do not put up a tree, and I don't acknowledge Santa. I exchange gifts with a few close relatives because I love them dearly. I also have no problem having dinner with friends. The food is made with love that I make and they make. I send cards, but I chose cards geared toward the birth of Christ. I am a card sender, I send a lot of card each month just say I'm thinking of you, good well, what's new!

 

[London]

Glop65
I think that sounds lovely and cozy!

 

[London]

I'm not sure how to completely feel about anything. We do a present day over winter break with our kids...(even as witnesses we did)...not sure how to handle it all or what to believe about what's right and "wrong". Guilt in every direction and I feel at times we are messing up the kids a bit while trying to figure it out

I don't know how long you have been out or faded but from experience it gets easier and easier. I was born in as a JW. What really helped was reading the book Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan the 2018 edition. Mr. Hassan was not born into the Moonies but got involved while he was attending college. All of these other cults have similar themes- On pg 74 He states that when he left he "studied the Bible and sorted out which things Moon said about it were true, which ones weren't and what was taken out of context. I established my own belief system." He continues at the top of page 75 "I decided that I needed to figure out who I was again."

If you were born in like me then what he states on pg 78 you may find comforting like I did. He says "I recognized that what helped me most was my own internal voice and my own first-hand experiences, buried beneath all the emotional suppression and the thought-stopping rituals...Underneath, the real me wasn't dead."

You have an authentic you inside. You can do this...take it slow and try to find out why you feel guilty. I had to do that and the journey was amazing! I'm still on it... If you need someone to support you...I'm here. Feel free to email me and I would be happy to send you the book as a gift!

Hebrews 12: 1, 2 "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith..." NIV

If you are/were in the JW religion you know the WT says to keep our eyes on Jehovah but Jehovah told everyone to listen to His Son. WT has us looking the wrong way and making us feel guilty about EVERYTHING. They are good at loading us up....I decided to join Jesus under his yoke...Keeping you in my prayers friend...

 

[GraceMade]

I can rationally engage all of your views sans any implicit bias. I was fascinated that for as long as Ive owned Edersheims book that fact about the "Migdal eder" had evaded my perception. I do concurr with the highly cogent and well cultivated thinker, Dale Tuggy, that in post modern culture there is a need to disambiguate "pagan in form vs pagan in function". Also, I do recall Mr. Buzzard once expressing something to the effect that It didnt seem congruent to observe a celebration of the incarnation while spending so much time debunking it. At this juncture I wouldnt dogmatically hyper moralize over anyones decision. Do peep out "Scroogenomics"....lol

 

[Glop65]

I don't know how long you have been out or faded but from experience it gets easier and easier. I was born in as a JW. What really helped was reading the book Combating Cult Mind Control by Steven Hassan the 2018 edition. Mr. Hassan was not born into the Moonies but got involved while he was attending college. All of these other cults have similar themes- On pg 74 He states that when he left he "studied the Bible and sorted out which things Moon said about it were true, which ones weren't and what was taken out of context. I established my own belief system." He continues at the top of page 75 "I decided that I needed to figure out who I was again."

If you were born in like me then what he states on pg 78 you may find comforting like I did. He says "I recognized that what helped me most was my own internal voice and my own first-hand experiences, buried beneath all the emotional suppression and the thought-stopping rituals...Underneath, the real me wasn't dead."

You have an authentic you inside. You can do this...take it slow and try to find out why you feel guilty. I had to do that and the journey was amazing! I'm still on it... If you need someone to support you...I'm here. Feel free to email me and I would be happy to send you the book as a gift!

Hebrews 12: 1, 2 "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith..." NIV

If you are/were in the JW religion you know the WT says to keep our eyes on Jehovah but Jehovah told everyone to listen to His Son. WT has us looking the wrong way and making us feel guilty about EVERYTHING. They are good at loading us up....I decided to join Jesus under his yoke...Keeping you in my prayers friend..

I'm not sure how to completely feel about anything. We do a present day over winter break with our kids...(even as witnesses we did)...not sure how to handle it all or what to believe about what's right and "wrong". Guilt in every direction and I feel at times we are messing up the kids a bit while trying to figure it out

I certainly can identify with guilt and confusion about what is or isn't True. It takes times to undo the systematic brainwashing of the JW organization. With all due respect your user name is a systemic phrase that is used by the org, it was sang and repeated often. I was able to purge the JW teachings through research and education. This is how I determine what I personally would and would not do when Christmas rolled around. Country dweller in Latin means Pagan. I live in the country does that make me a pagan? Paganism aka polytheism means they worshipped more than one God and they were self-indulgent. I celebrate Christmas and I am not worshipping more than one God and giving gift is not self-indulgent, and I am not performing any unnatural sexual acts. My mind is on the birth of Jesus who was sent forth to save the world, giving to those in need, cooking and baking for others. I don't put up a tree or hang Santa decorations because I do not have small children. If I choose to celebrate a holiday it is only to take the opportunity to give to others and spend time with others in fellowship. Time is a gift and it does heal. Affectionally Gloria

 

[Lori Jane]

If I choose to celebrate a holiday it is only to take the opportunity to give to others and spend time with others in fellowship. Time is a gift and it does heal.

Sounds reasonable to me! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Bvenski]

I certainly can identify with guilt and confusion about what is or isn't True. It takes times to undo the systematic brainwashing of the JW organization. With all due respect your user name is a systemic phrase that is used by the org, it was sang and repeated often. I was able to purge the JW teachings through research and education. This is how I determine what I personally would and would not do when Christmas rolled around. Country dweller in Latin means Pagan. I live in the country does that make me a pagan? Paganism aka polytheism means they worshipped more than one God and they were self-indulgent. I celebrate Christmas and I am not worshipping more than one God and giving gift is not self-indulgent, and I am not performing any unnatural sexual acts. My mind is on the birth of Jesus who was sent forth to save the world, giving to those in need, cooking and baking for others. I don't put up a tree or hang Santa decorations because I do not have small children. If I choose to celebrate a holiday it is only to take the opportunity to give to others and spend time with others in fellowship. Time is a gift and it does heal. Affectionally Gloria

☝ That! Bam! Right on Gloria!

 

[Bvenski]

Personally I choose not to but I don't look down my nose at others that do. I think some things related to paganism like wedding rings are ok to accept because it is a minor thing and rings don't represent that today. But videos like this make me more firm in my personal decision to not celebrate Christmas.

I do enjoy this time of year tho to spend more time with family and friends. And if my kids are at school and they are watching a Christmas movie I'm not going to be extreme and say they can't participate and have cookies and treats with the others.

So I am all for honoring Christ whenever I can and I am happy for his miraculous conception and birth. We're told in the OT we

​

I have been meaning to tear into this video. Maybe some other time. There are many like it on YouTube. There's some truth to it and some false statements. I'm out for the day. Have a good day Laureen

 

[Bvenski]

My apologies. Now I am out for the day.

 

[Lentil]

I can rationally engage all of your views sans any implicit bias. I was fascinated that for as long as Ive owned Edersheims book that fact about the "Migdal eder" had evaded my perception. I do concurr with the highly cogent and well cultivated thinker, Dale Tuggy, that in post modern culture there is a need to disambiguate "pagan in form vs pagan in function". Also, I do recall Mr. Buzzard once expressing something to the effect that It didnt seem congruent to observe a celebration of the incarnation while spending so much time debunking it. At this juncture I wouldnt dogmatically hyper moralize over anyones decision. Do peep out "Scroogenomics"....lol

I will check that out. Thankyou.

 

[Lentil]

I certainly can identify with guilt and confusion about what is or isn't True. It takes times to undo the systematic brainwashing of the JW organization. With all due respect your user name is a systemic phrase that is used by the org, it was sang and repeated often. I was able to purge the JW teachings through research and education. This is how I determine what I personally would and would not do when Christmas rolled around. Country dweller in Latin means Pagan. I live in the country does that make me a pagan? Paganism aka polytheism means they worshipped more than one God and they were self-indulgent. I celebrate Christmas and I am not worshipping more than one God and giving gift is not self-indulgent, and I am not performing any unnatural sexual acts. My mind is on the birth of Jesus who was sent forth to save the world, giving to those in need, cooking and baking for others. I don't put up a tree or hang Santa decorations because I do not have small children. If I choose to celebrate a holiday it is only to take the opportunity to give to others and spend time with others in fellowship. Time is a gift and it does heal. Affectionally Gloria

I really respect your position & experience with Christmas, Gloria. We light up the house & give gifts to our nearest & dearest. But for us it's enjoying the time as an international holiday. I feel a personal strong avoidance of linking what we have in our house & up & down the town's streets with remembrance of our Saviour (plus I don't think that's what Christmas means for most today). I think it is possible today to make 'Christmas' time whatever you personally feel moved to (hence why atheists join in too). Christmas, whatever we do or do not do over this time, is an expression of our own journey & heart & circumstances & not in & of itself an outright act of worship of Jesus or pagan idolatry. It isn't (in my considered opinion) an unequivocal 'sin'. Any sin will be in our motives & direct actions at that time (as at any other time of festive or celebration (IMHO).
We have no one thing up in our house that is there as an act of pagan glorification & worship!
May Jesus be glorified in how you praise him this month x