I was raised atheist and I became a Christian in college. I remember the first Christmas that I attended a church service. I was equally ridiculed by my JW friend as my atheist parents. I was the worst human being imaginable. I was compared to NAZIs. Al because I wanted to worship Jesus. on Dec 25 with twinkle lights. It’s about control, not truth.
Yes!!! Originally this video was going to have a section going over everyday things JWs do that have pagan origins. I had to cut it because it was making the video too long 😂!
Keep digging through all the layers! Find the origin of these “pagan origins”. Every origin has its own origin! Congratulations to anyone celebrating their very first Christmas this year!
Hi. While you were a JW I'm sure you were taught that Christmas was fully pagan in origin. I believe the watchtower has been pushing a very narrow narrative. Dr. Andrew Mark Henry did a very good break down on the known evidence of the origin of Christmas as well as why some narratives are based mostly on rumors. It is a very good watch and very informative. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-mWgzjwy51kU.html
In my congregation one of the elders who was pretty well off and rich always had some of the friends go over to his house on Thanksgiving Day with total meals with turkey etc. and their excuse was..."oh well we just happened to have all this food and wanted to invite (the tight click of friends) some friends and enjoy our day off with food. Then they would have us on Christmas and of course they had presents in the corner by a plain tree and their excuse was oh we just happened to have presents over time and left it at that. Of course this elder always gave about $400 a month to the congregation so no one ever questioned him because he tipped off lots of cash to the society and he was untouchable. If you have money to give to the Watchtower...youre cool and free and not questionable. True story from the Riverside Congregation in El Paso, Tx.
Unbelievable! The hypocrisy of these people. You are right about the “cliques” within the congregations. Their message is to have “love among yourselves” but it’s quite the contrary. If you are not up to their standards, you’ll be ignored. Another ridiculous thing JW forbid you is to say “God bless you” or “gesundheit” or “salud (Spanish for health) when somebody sneezes. Also, you could not have any type of figurines, books, picture frames, toys, etc. . . , that depicted “an angel or angels”. This was so you would not worship them or draw your attention away from Jehovah. You had to remove all that from your house. Now, they’re saying it’s ok to keep your angels in your house, as long as it’s just considered “art”. Clearly, man-made orders. Fading PIMO here.
He was prob a freemason. Theres often one in every cong usully the weslthiest. The governing body are aldo lucerferian freemasons. They wear the rings on rright hand.
Thank you for this! We celebrate the birth of Christ even though we know He was born on a different month. We have a house full of family on Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's love and togetherness. 🎄✝️❄️☃️
@@exjwdiaries Thank you for clarifying this topic 👏 Years ago, after my 1st D (from a jw).. I met a man who had been a minister. He was probably one of the MOST humble men I'd ever met! We dated, as I believe true Christians should.. he was very caring! He not only cared for me but for my gf and her g'son, also jw, who was kind enough to take me in to her humble home! 🫂💞 Anyway, this Christian man, had lots of conversations, with me, about both his and my beliefs. He, didn't count time either! Lol 🙄😮💨 Several discussions on holidays occurred and for once, it made sense! He understood, even as a "worldly" minister, that Christmas wasn't Jesus' birthday! He did say however, that it was for each Christian to decide how they wanted to see it, celebrate or not! Exactly the things you're saying here! Thank you! 💞
I notice the only things you ARE allowed to celebrate are very closely tied to the religion's doctrine and control. Though I too thought the prohibition on Mother's and Father's day was bizarre as obident as they expect you to be to your parents. Happy Holidays (if you partake) Justin 😎
Winter solstice: light and warmth coming back eventually; sol invictus, the invincible sun, was celebrated by the Romans; Christ’s birth got to be celebrated on that day to attract pagans, yes, but also because of the symbolism: Christ is the light, the sun that will never cease to shine. Thanks, Justin, I love your videos.
Thank you, Justin. Such an important topic around this time of year. The subject about the whole Christmas Season came up for for discussion with my JW cousin. He pulled out the Pagan origin argument right away. I knew I couldn't deny that fact but what you said is so true, for me it's also about intent, absolutely. Excellent point.
I've decided to celebrate Christmas for the first time after leaving. Thanks for the explanation and reasoning that I have to be in total agreement with.
Congratulations! Hope your first Christmas is enjoyable! If you feel any guilt afterwards just remember that all pagan origins have a deeper origin that 9/10 ends up being about agriculture, astronomy or nature in general. From there people made myths and legends which then became religious sects. Nothing to fear.
@@exjwdiariesThank you. I love each video you make and enjoy listening to your calm voice in presenting the information that makes me think I am not crazy for leaving. I did wonder about the holidays you mentioned but never dug deeper except believing they have pagan origins. It turns out to be control tactic used by Watchtower. Thank you so much for helping save lives with your videos.
They feel that spinning a piñata is not a bad thing and say in their publications that even though it was considered a pagan origin decades ago, it is not how it’s looked at today. But they can’t seem to look at other celebrations the same way. But if they looked at breaking a piñata and what it means (destroying evil spirits and other things), they might think twice. You can’t be a hypocrite on beliefs. If you say that for one celebration, you have to address all of them that way. My spouse studies and his mom is a witness. I did my research first before considering even going to one of their meetings and I didn’t like what I saw.
Work places are a challenge during the holidays, family members living with you now since the pandemic is an whole new level. You can't stop people from celebrating.
Brenda Gordon, I agree👍 The pandemic definitely placed a twist on things! Isolation! Almost like being df'd, esp if you're single and or without any family members living with you who are jw's. I was basically forced to live with my mom and son whom celebrated all holidays. Although I didn't "participate" in some stuff, such as gift giving or putting up the tree and decorating it... I did, help my elderly mom to cook a nice meal and eat with her! She herself was lonely and I felt zero harm in doing so! 💞 Did anyone of the bros check on me much during the worst of those daze (yes, it was a daze!) Not so much! I had, maybe 2 JW friends who were also single and struggling who kept in contact with me mainly! Even one of my 3 son's (the only one baptised) whom was married as well (to a jw) barely kept in contact! I really could have used his help and encouragement as well! It was my other 2 son's who helped and encouraged me! (Not JW's) They, even came and got me out of the last abusive marriage!! They both, are kind, loving and supportive men whom each have their own beliefs, but also love me very much! I could NEVER see shunning them bc of it either!! 😤
"When I was little I asked my grandma 'why don't we have holidays?" She said "we do hace holidays. The convention is like our holiday! 😃" So I gave her that look 😑 and said "you can't compare this btween a holiday"
I am working on learning more about the seasons and those changes in the natural world and appreciating them vs celebrating arbitrary dates on a calendar.
Today everyone celebrates Christmas even most Muslims, why? quite simply because this celebration has long since lost its religious character. If Mexican JWs can do the Pinata then I don't see why JWs can't make a Christmas dinner too. The Pinata is a very old pagan practice and particularly rooted in South America. This practice is so closely linked to the history of its countries that it is now an integral part of their cultures. In Mexico, the origin of this custom goes back to the Aztecs who celebrated at the end of the year the birthday of Huitzilopochtli, god of the sun and of war. A clay pot adorned with colorful feathers and filled with small treasures was placed in her temple. By breaking the pot with a stick, the treasures spilled on the ground as an offering for their god. Today, this practice has become child's play. The clay pot is replaced by papier-mâché and the treasures by multicolored candies. This pagan custom that is found in all celebrations (Christmas, birthdays, etc.) is so rooted in the minds of Mexicans that the Watchtower will avoid advising against its practice. To justify its position, the Watchtower will strive in its Awake 09/22/03 p.22-24 to minimize the religious significance of this custom. “We found that for many Mexicans, the piñata has lost its religious meaning… The most important thing is not what this practice meant centuries ago, but rather how it is viewed today… why it's wise not to raise such a question... If you're considering including a piñata in a get-together with friends, consider the conscience of others. » Today, so as not to put off the vast majority of JWs in South America so attached to this practice, the Watchtower will minimize the pagan impact of this custom so as not to prohibit its practice. If it is now acceptable for the Watchtower to practice the pinata, on the grounds that it no longer has any religious significance, then why are the Wathtower still refusing JWs to toast? From a long time, this widespread practice no longer has any religious significance. So how will the Watchtower justify itself to dissuade any JWs from toasting: “… For many people, this is a commonplace custom, even a mark of politeness. However, the JWs have good reason not to take part. The Watchtower in French of 11/01/68 (Questions from readers) reproduced this extract from the Encyclopædia Britannica (1910), volume XIII, page 121: in honor of the gods and the dead… Drinking to someone's health is no longer considered a religious gesture today. However, Christians have good reason not to do so, because of the religious origins of this gesture, which today can still be seen as a request for a blessing from “heaven”, as an appeal to a superhuman force. -Exodus 23:2. » The Watchtower 02/15/07 p. 30 We fall on the head! Who today while toasting could see a request for a superhuman blessing? the WT artificially reactivates a religious meaning lost and ignored by 99% of the population to justify the ban on toasting, but conversely, will stifle the still significant religious meaning of the Pinata so as not to prohibit its use. Two weights, two measures. The arbitrary in all its glory. Why not also prohibit the pagan gesture of covering a yawn with your hand? Today, it is a mark of politeness that allows you to hide the inside of your mouth from the sight of others. Yet this gesture is of pagan origin. This use took root in the Middle Ages by the monks. Devotees had noticed the contagious nature of yawns and believed that they were caused by the devil. The evil spirits would take advantage of the opening of the mouth to extract the soul of the one who is yawning or to enter his body and possess him. The parade ? Cover open mouth with hand. In the 19th century, in Europe, Catholics reinforced this gesture by crossing themselves. In addition, at that time, when people yawned they apologized to those around them, not out of politeness as today, but for having thus exposed them to the dangers of evil spirits.
I used to be a Christian and even got into Torah observant Christianity and Christmas was totally off limits. Glad I woke up from that b.s.. Great video.
I really miss celebrating holidays. Christmas was (and still is) my favorite one. And Halloween is also coming up, which I also miss- choosing the costumes, getting candy, talking about it with my friends. About 6 years ago my mom started going back to the hall. My happiest memories were before that and nothing that has come out of us becoming witnesses has reciprocated that feeling for me ever since.
Very good points. However, there are other aspects involved with holidays such as Xmas that are based on spiritism or superstition, such as the tree, yule log, holly, lights, colors... There are actually other Christians who also choose not to celebrate. It's one of those things based on each individual's conscience(if they're Christian) as you said, considering the intent or even how much of the customs they choose to consider. It's also a very commercial holiday, so there's that too😄
Very true but I’m sure even with those things, if you dig into the origins of those origins you will find no spiritism or superstition. Every origin has an origin of its own.
😂😂😂 Origin inception is exactly what I mean! As JWs when we saw that something had pagan origins, we automatically assumed it was bad. We were never allowed to dig into the origins of those pagan origins. When you dig deep enough most of these customs stem from a place of agriculture, seasons and astronomy. It’s only later in human history that paganism and spiritism come into play. Doing this kind of research is important. If you don’t do the deep thinking yourself then someone else will come along who will be more than happy to give you their version of the truth. Been there done that! 😂
@@exjwdiaries Haha. I do like to analyze things & not simply settle for basic answers presented by others. I tend to question EVERYTHING... sometimes I over do it, I end up getting into some conspiracies, haha. Yet, somehow I was still bamboozled by the Watchtower🙄 Of course, I grew up in it & at first, the "truths" made sense, everything seemed to be about gaining "accurate" bible knowledge & I "made the truth my own." Also, I didn't realize I was using a bible translation that had been tampered with😒 I'm just glad they're putting themselves on TV now because now it's pretty obvious they're all complete clowns feeding us BS. I just woke up this past year. I first saw you on the exjw critical thinker channel, I love their videos & personality 😊 I enjoy your content as well👍😁 I'm also thinking about doing some videos...but the time just ain't quite right for me just yet
Hi Justin 👋🏾 this video was deep with a lot of information. I had to watch it 3 times to really understand jt 😀 Thank you so much for digging deep and sharing this information with us. My little ones are so excited for their first Christmas 🎄 merry Christmas to you and your family!
😂😂😂 glad you enjoyed it! This is definitely a video that has to be watched all the way through. The whole point is to show that even “pagan origins” have their own origins that actually have nothing to do with paganism. I think that knowledge will help a lot of new EXJWs to free themselves from guilt when it comes to holidays like Christmas.
Loved the video . Thanksgiving a time when friends and family get together . I love Thanksgiving . I think it is the reason you celebrate . Thanks for sharing 😊.
Thank you for this one. I’ve gone half a century feeling odd and guilty this time of year. Not celebrating with family or coworkers. Thanksgiving makes since to me as it relates to food. The others are just about making money for me. Since I work😅
Thank you! Hopefully this video helps you feel less guilty. The Christmas customs extend far back in history long before paganism. As JWs we never went back far enough…
I didn't understand about Christmas or Easter growing up and totally left out as a child but I know now Christmas and Easter are based on the gods but birthdays wtf and like I have commented before why didn't the " cult" build a separate community away from the evil worldly people to protect themselves .This religion has caused so much heartbreak and division in the family and friends that it's disgusting .
The base. Holidays involve practices and traditions that some choose not to support. Whether you agree or disagree, there is no argument that some choose not to support a practice or tradition that’s covered with glamour and glitter for the population.
The Jehovah's Witness organization has much to answer for. Isn't it enough that people have a common tradition to celebrate--regardless of what that celebration means to them? This business of over-thinking and needlessly complicating things has done serious damage to people. The beautiful thing of leaving Watchtower (and I left in 2013--I was 4th generation on my mother's side, 3rd generation on my fathers, and my father, brother, grandfather, uncle and great-uncles were all elders--so you all KNOW what that means) is that a person doesn't have to take its ideas, opinions, or preferences into consideration every again. Isn't that nice--we literally have the option of putting all that baggage down--and walking away. It clings to us only so long as we cling to it. Congratulations on those who have found their freedom--may your lives be joyous and prosperous.
The apostle Paul said that no ones should judge you on the celebration of a new moon, or a festival, I don't celebrate Christmas, or Ester. I don't see anything wrong with Thanksgiving, birthday. I believe the imposition from the GB to not have any kind of celebration, is just a way to tighten the control over the flock
Excellent information, I did not know about wine fermentation. I wonder about the hours of the day. Is there a “pagan” origin of the 7:00am or is it arbitrary. Is 7:00am actually 9:45am but it was changed for the benefit of a pagan king. I do know there are hours observed by monks and ancient soldiers. Worrying about the holidays without understanding the deity of Christ is like a swimmer buying cleats to run in the water.
Thank you! That’s a good question about the 7am thing. Even if it does have a pagan origin, I’m sure there’s also a deeper origin that has nothing to do with paganism at all.
Yes indeed it's so understanding why they celebrate in what they did, on the other hand we need to understand why God doesn't want for us to celebrate such a holidays, each to their own from two different understanding one from the world of this system, and for those that go with God's understand. One thing am not a Jehovah's witnesses or either involved in any religion just the biblical teachings.
Technically solstice is an astronomical event, not pagan. It had significance for pagan religions, but also for non pagan religions. However, we have plenty of pagan things such as our language, culture, customs, clothes, etc. and that cannot be avoided, and that is OK because we are Gentiles anyway. God bless.
Because most holidays are based around remembering when to grow crops. This means we should go back to horticulture and hunting to avoid idolatry. If you love bread you love persephone
While december 25 is not Christs birthday theres nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of Christ on that day because no one knows the exact day. As far as it being a pagan celebration there are many pagan beliefs in the old and new testaments. The Jewish religion itself has some traditions that predate their leaving of egypt. Basiclly JW's want to separate themselves from traditional Christianity and they succeed admirably for all the wrong reasons.
I'm a christian and I dont celebrate Xmas God forbids his children to learn the way of the heathens. In Jeremiah 10 God speaks about the xmas tree which was celebrated way before Jesus was born. The children of Israel tried celebrating God with a golden calf and God killed 3,000 of them. Plus Christmas comes from the Catholic church. If you want to celebrate God however you want go ahead I choose to follow and celebrate God everyday without following him with man made traditions.
6:56 just a random thought....arent the org incorporating the equivalent of pagan practices with a purpose to draw more pagans into their Christianity - I am thinking all the recent "new light" eg allowing beards and skirts. I know these were never technically pagan, but you know what I mean. 😂😂😂
If you were to go through your home and throw out everything with pagan origins you would throw out half the stuff. Holidays have pagan origins but so do baby showers and weddings. Instead of religions being dogmatic about these things let each christian use their conscience as to whether they will celebrate or not.
Yes I think witnesses could be correct about Holidays coming from paganism,but they are wrong on Jesus being Michael the archangel..so they witnesses may be right on irrelevant issues and wrong on Jesus which is the most important part of reconciliation between God and Humanity..
Everything in the Bible is pagan. For instance, redemption. When Assyrian king died, and kings were seen as gods, it was a liberation for all the people.
We all know we can have celebrations anytime you like if you celebrate as pagans you take sides against your heavenly father everyone is allowed to make his own choice I choose not to and give no excuse to side against God I have the whole family over at different times it works. Don't choose to make the Demons happy honour your heavenly father not the Devil.
Should Christmas be celebrated? What does the Bible say? Remember 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight….. Christmas tree?? Jeremiah 10:1-5 says do not learn the way of the nations….for the customs of the people are a delusion……it is a tree of the forest that is cut down……they adorn it silver and gold….and fasten it with hammer and nails so it won’t fall over. What about the star of Bethlehem that is normally placed on top of the Christmas tree? This ‘miraculous’ star first led the astrologers to King Herod, who wanted to kill Jesus. After Herod, the star immediately led the astrologers straight to Jesus. After Jesus, they started back to Herod, but one of God’s angels told them to go a different way. Matthew 2:1-12 What about Santa? Are we telling false stories? 2 Timothy 4:4 1Timothy 4:7 2 Peter 1:16 1 Timothy 1:4 What about birthdays? Ecc 7:1 says that your day of death is better than your day of birth. Did you know that there are 2 places in the Bible where someone was celebrating a birthday? Phar’aoh celebrated his birthday. Was he a worshipper of God? Genesis 40:20 Herod celebrated his birthday. Was he a worshipper of God? Matthew 14:6 In both of these accounts, someone died, one of them being John the Baptist, Jesus’ own cousin. Please remember 2 Timothy 3:16.
But ”Jehovah’s witnesses” isn’t Gods words… So if you belive what’s in the bible you shouldn’t celibrated,those holidays… Otherwise it dosn’t matter… I prefer not to do it… Because almost everything that’s coming from Egypt/Babylon is not something good… Just look at the elites… And their bloodlines all the way trough Egypt… And how they have people in slavery now and then. Why be like them! It’s their s holidays… I shouldn’t support that at all… You can celibrated good things… And give love,gifts every day ❤️🎁
Wow, you gave us a lot to unpack. Well done! Here is something to think about. You went below the surface and even then, you can not separate people's false gods from their beliefs. Some of these gods are really disgusting-especially the gods of Easter traditions. I think Thanksgiving has become very political. Birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day--those are defendable. But I love your point at the end! Each one must render an account for himself alone. We must keep in mind 1Cor. 4:3,4: 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙮 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙒𝙝𝙮, 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛; 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧. (Byington) We may excuse ourselves, but the question is, Will God excuse us? Each person must sort that out for themselves. Personally, I hate false gods. We have to stop judging--Christ will handle that!
