Jehovah's Witnesses on Christmas

[Catholic_Diva]

I am a devout Catholic but my best friend is training to become a JW, having officially left the Catholic Church. He maintains that JWs teach that the star that led the magi to the baby Jesus was in fact sent by Satan for Herod to find him. He also says that the christmas tree has evil, pagan connotations. Can someone tell me where they get any foundation for these claims?

 

[DianJo]

Where they get their ideas comes from misinterpreting scripture to their own distorted ideas.

Anyway, go the the home page of Catholic Answers, there is information there on the beliefs of the JWs that you can talk with your relative with.

Good Luck!

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Catholic Diva:

I am a devout Catholic but my best friend is training to become a JW, having officially left the Catholic Church. He maintains that JWs teach that the star that led the magi to the baby Jesus was in fact sent by Satan for Herod to find him. He also says that the christmas tree has evil, pagan connotations. Can someone tell me where they get any foundation for these claims?

There is a ex jw here and he can help you. His member name is Jschwehm. Email him. His www is catholicxjw.com/

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Catholic Diva:

I am a devout Catholic but my best friend is training to become a JW, having officially left the Catholic Church. He maintains that JWs teach that the star that led the magi to the baby Jesus was in fact sent by Satan for Herod to find him. He also says that the christmas tree has evil, pagan connotations. Can someone tell me where they get any foundation for these claims?

Sure, its locked up in the archives of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, with the rest of their religious fabrications.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

DianJo:

Where they get their ideas comes from misinterpreting scripture to their own distorted ideas.

Anyway, go the the home page of Catholic Answers, there is information there on the beliefs of the JWs that you can talk with your relative with.

Good Luck!

Oh no, they take misinterpretation to a whole new level. They wrote their own bible to support their anti-christian ideology. Its called the New World Translation.

 

[ProudArmyWife]

Catholic Diva:

He maintains that JWs teach that the star that led the magi to the baby Jesus was in fact sent by Satan for Herod to find him.

I would ask him to support this one before trying to refute it. They are a 'Bible “church” so it should be in the Bible somewhere! It may take him awhile to get back with you though - LOL!

 

[catsrus]

I remember that “star put there by Satan” routine of their’s. No, it is not in the Bible anywhere but they (jws) will tell you that it is “logical”. Logic is a big thing with them. Their logic, of course. It’s even “explained” that way in their book of children’s Bible stories.

As to Christmas, they say that only one feast was commanded in the Bible and that is the passover or last supper. They do a rememberance service once per year where bread is passed around and only those that think they are of the 144,000 eat it.
They will tell you that Christmas is a pagan holiday, 12/25 being the saturnalia, blah, blah. All of which you can read in any encyclopedia.

 

[PatThompson]

It is ignorant to say that celebrating the birth of Jesus is “pagan”, but they do have a point that much associated with the date and non-religious aspects of Christmas pre-date Christianity.

There is nothing evil with having a Christmas tree, but understanding that there WERE people who worshipped trees, and this is where the tradition comes from, is probably good to know (and accept).

Was the person who invented the wheel Christian? Does that mean you shouldn’t drive to Church?

 

[Little_Mary]

catsrus:

I remember that “star put there by Satan” routine of their’s. No, it is not in the Bible anywhere but they (jws) will tell you that it is “logical”. Logic is a big thing with them. Their logic, of course. It’s even “explained” that way in their book of children’s Bible stories.

As to Christmas, they say that only one feast was commanded in the Bible and that is the passover or last supper. They do a rememberance service once per year where bread is passed around and only those that think they are of the 144,000 eat it.
They will tell you that Christmas is a pagan holiday, 12/25 being the saturnalia, blah, blah. All of which you can read in any encyclopedia.

OK somebody help me out here - but wasnt the fact that 12/25 was a pagan holiday of some sort - isn’t that the reason the Church set Christmas on that day - to draw pagans?

 

[lacoloratura]

Little Mary:

OK somebody help me out here - but wasnt the fact that 12/25 was a pagan holiday of some sort - isn’t that the reason the Church set Christmas on that day - to draw pagans?

In a way, yes, it was to “draw” pagan peoples, but more in the sense of easing the transition from their old ways of life. By superimposing Christian holidays over the pagan ones, they turned them into something holy and avoided (well, tried to avoid) any unrest from newly converted peoples. It also helped wipe out the practices associated with those holidays.

 

[lacoloratura]

Scott_Lafrance:

Oh no, they take misinterpretation to a whole new level. They wrote their own bible to support their anti-christian ideology. Its called the New World Translation.

The New World Translation of the Bible was done by committee - none of whose members were experts in ancient Greek or Hebrew. As I understand it, only one person on the team had any knowledge of MODERN Greek (and even that was minimal), and no one else knew ANY.

 

[PatThompson]

Little Mary:

OK somebody help me out here - but wasnt the fact that 12/25 was a pagan holiday of some sort - isn’t that the reason the Church set Christmas on that day - to draw pagans?

That is certainly one theory. Take a look at The Theories regarding the origin of the date of Christmas for a list of all the other, pre-Christian significance of December 25th. You are probably referring to Mithras’ birthday, which was celebrated on the 25th as well.

 

[carol_marie]

Something else you may want to ask your JW friend…
If Christmas is so horrible and evil, why are people MORE generous to charities and the poor in general at that time? I think even people who aren’t Christians get that “peace on earth goodwill toward men” sort of feeling. But your JW friend couldn’t care less about poor people or charities because JW’s are not allowed to support any charitable organization. No giving to the Red Cross - no quarters for the Salvation Army Bell ringers - NOTHING. So much for feed my sheep…

 

[catsrus]

originally posted by **carol marie **
so much for feed my sheep…

They believe that they are giving to charity and sheep feeding by knocking on doors…seriously!

 

[Maccabees]

Catholic Diva:

I am a devout Catholic but my best friend is training to become a JW, having officially left the Catholic Church. He maintains that JWs teach that the star that led the magi to the baby Jesus was in fact sent by Satan for Herod to find him. He also says that the christmas tree has evil, pagan connotations. Can someone tell me where they get any foundation for these claims?

Where does the Bible indicate Satan had the power to control the sun and the stars? That is something only God can do the JW"s are equating the power of Satan to God making Satan equal to God.
God foreknew the actions of the Magi and Jesus was not killed so what kind of logic is this its illogical if anything.
The christmas tree is a postive pagan tradition the pagan Germans brought them into homes to celebrate the soltice as a symbol of new life. Hmm Jesus is the incarnation and real life incarnate what better symbol than a tree of life!
IT has nothing to do with tree worship that goes way back further and has nothing to do with the solstice celebration.
Christiantiy baptized pagan holidays and traditions nothing wrong with that. We are called to transfrom the world and the culture we live in and to be a shining light on a hill for all to see we arent’ supposed to withdraw from culture and hide from it like the JW’s.

Ask him why do JW"S have wedding rings in their wedding ceremonies?
That is pagan symbol used in pagan marriage ceremonies?
Why do JW’s celebrate wedding anniversaries?
Hypocrites!

 

[scylla]

This also comes down to authority. Who has the authority to interpret the scripture. How do can you know that your interpretation is correct.

Did the correct interpretation first come up with Charles Taze Russel? Or was it Chuck Smith? Or what is Martin Luther?

As someone said Catholic Answers has some good stuff on this site for Jehovahs Witnesses, also Jschwehm. I checked out his website, it is pretty good.
Again his www is catholicxjw.com

Why would they suddenly have the truth after all these years. Do they think that Jesus didn’t do a good job teaching his disciples? After he died everyone forgot what he said and only the scriptures survived. Did Jesus write the scriptures, or did the disciples (guided by God) pen them.