Do jehovah witnesses celebrate fathers day

Scarlett Helfer, Margaret Moran, Sasha Blakeley

Learn the rules and worship practices of Jehovah's Witnesses. Discover what holidays Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate, and if these include Christmas and birthdays. Updated: 05/03/2022

Table of Contents

  • Jehovah's Witnesses: History, Holidays, and Worship
  • What Holidays Do Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate?
  • Jehovah's Witnesses: Other Holidays, Rules, and Discipline
  • Lesson Summary
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Jehovah's Witnesses: History, Holidays, and Worship

Jehovah's Witnesses began as a Bible Student movement branch established in the US in the 1870s by the Christian restorationist followers of minister Charles Taze Russell. In this perspective, Jehovah's Witnesses are deemed as an outgrowth emanating from the International Association of Bible Students that emerged in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1872. However, in 1881 missionaries of the Bible Student association were sent to England, and there was an opening of the first branch in oversea at London in 1900. Moreover, in 1916 there existed a splitting of the group into various rivals following the passing on of Russell. One of these rivalry groups was led by Rutherford, and it maintained the control of the Watch Tower. Also, this group retained the control of the Pennsylvanian Tract Society and the Watch Tower Bible. Russell had founded the Watch Tower Society to act as a publishing house.

Jehovah's witnesses use the 'watchtower' as a symbol within their kingdom halls even up to date. Also, this symbol has been inscribed within their publications and affluent Jehovah's Witnesses' websites. Watch Tower has no associated meaning within the witnesses, but it is essential for end-watching among the Jehovah's Witnesses. The focus of the witnesses is on God the Father, and they do not believe in the holy trinity. They affirm that Jehovah, the name for their God, is the highest. However, Jehovah's Witnesses view Jesus Christ as an agent of God who was used to reconcile the sins of humankind. Holy Spirit is deemed the term for God's active force within the universe. Their worship is focused on Jehovah. Kingdom halls are used as dwelling places among the Jehovah's Witnesses. Additionally, the Witnesses hold the belief that Jehovah was the creator of all. Furthermore, they do not celebrate birthdays or religious and national holidays. The major Jehovah's Witnesses holiday memorializes the day when Jesus Christ died comes around Passover and Easter moments.

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The holidays celebrated by the Witnesses include; the Memorial of Christ's Death and wedding anniversaries. The celebration of Christ's Death Memorial is honored during the Jewish Passover. This day is regarded as acceptable in this denomination since Jesus was involved in it, and he requested his disciples to commemorate his death. In this perspective, the Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate this holiday because they view it as Christ sanctioned other than a pagan holiday. During the celebration of this holiday, the Jehovah's Witnesses share the communion. They ensure the celebration of this holiday every year on Nisan 14 based on the lunisolar calendar of the ancient Jews. Furthermore, affluent Jehovah's witnesses observe wedding anniversaries because they are not prohibited within the scriptures, and they involve the discussions regarding continuous loving and long-lasting marriages. However, during the performance of these celebrations, they eliminate the incorporation of various traditions that entails pagan origins.

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Christmas?

Jehovah's Witnesses refrain from celebrating Christmas. This is because they argue that Jesus did not direct his followers to commemorate his birthday. Christmas is a Christian festival celebrated annually on 25th December in western churches. This feast is practiced to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

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Do jehovah witnesses celebrate fathers day

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Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate holidays since they hold the belief that holidays violate biblical principles. Thus, Jehovah's witnesses believe that some holidays do not portray true Christianity. In this case, Jehovah's witnesses consult the Bible to determine whether certain holidays are acceptable. Also, Jehovah's witnesses fail to celebrate holidays because they associate holidays to be rooted with the belief in other gods. In addition, Jehovah's witnesses believe that some holidays, for instance, Kwanzaa holidays practiced by African Americans, are a way of expressing gratitude to ancestors rather than Jehovah. Also, the witnesses believe that holidays are linked with superstition. Furthermore, witnesses believe that holidays are associated with occult practices such as magic.

The witnesses refrain from celebrating Christmas since their belief holds that the Christmas feast is rooted in pagan religions and customs. Also, witnesses believe that Christmas is renamed sun worship. Furthermore, Jehovah's witnesses argue that Christmas celebrations ritualize sinful behaviors such as heavy drinking and indecent dressing. Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses avoid the celebrations of Christmas to worship Jehovah appropriately.

Do Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays?

The witnesses refrain from celebrating birthdays since they believe that birthday celebrations don't please Jehovah. Jehovah's Witnesses refrain from celebrating holidays due to reasons such as; they believe that Holidays are rooted in the notion that the human soul is immortal, whereas the Bible states that the human soul is mortal. They refrain from celebrating holidays since they propagate the belief in the immortality of souls. Also, Jehovah's witnesses believe that holidays promote interfaith, and their religion avoids celebrations that encourage interfaith. This is because they believe that a believer cannot share commonality with an unbeliever. Furthermore, Jehovah's witnesses believe that holidays exalt humans and organization and bible scriptures stipulate that Jehovah says cursed is a man who places her trust in mere humans.

The Witnesses refrain from celebrating birthdays because they believe that birthday feasts have pagan roots. Jehovah's witnesses believe that evil influences and spirits get the opportunity to attack the celebrant during birthdays. Also, Jehovah's witnesses argue that early believers never celebrated their birthdays. In this perspective, they believe that a birthday celebration is a pagan custom. In addition, Jehovah's witnesses believe that Christians should only commemorate the death, not birth. This is because the Bible teaches that the day when one dies is better than the birthday.

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Jehovah's Witnesses: Deeper Dives

Now that you have a basic understanding of how the Jehovah's Witness religion functions, it's time to learn more based on your own interests.

History

Research the history of the religion and write a short essay detailing your findings. Look for key figures in the religion, turning points, and how the church gained its global audience. Compare the early days of Jehovah's Witnesses to their worldwide presence today.

Debates and Dilemmas

Like all religions, the Jehovah's Witnesses have strongly held beliefs that impact their worldview and their actions. Some of these beliefs may be in conflict with cultural norms in many countries, or take firm stances on topics that are up for debate. In a journal entry, explain the place of these opinions with regard to national or international debates. Topics to write about may include homosexuality, abortion, gender equality, modest dress, and blood transfusions.

Compare and Contrast

Jehovah's Witnesses are one of many groups with different interpretations of the Bible. They are part of an even larger group as well: that of all religions on Earth. Using either an intra- or inter-faith perspective, compare and contrast Jehovah's Witnesses' beliefs and practices with either another branch of Christianity or with an entirely different religion. What similarities and differences can you find? Did any surprise you? Write your findings in an essay or journal entry.

Can Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate the 4th of July?

Jehovah's witnesses cannot celebrate 4th July. These followers believe that the holiday is an event done for individuals who are not Jesus.

Do Jehovah's Witnesses have any celebrations?

Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses have some celebrations. For instance, they celebrate the Memorial of Christ's Death and wedding anniversaries. However, they are opposed to many celebrations celebrated by other denominations.

What are Jehovah's Witnesses' holy days?

The holy days for Jehovah's Witnesses are the day for memorization of Jesus Christ's Death and during Wedding Anniversaries. These days are observed because they are not associated with a pagan origin.

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Does JW celebrate Fathers Day?

Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate Father's Day.

Why don t Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day?

Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate most holidays or events that honour people who aren't Jesus. That includes birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day and Hallowe'en. They also don't celebrate religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter in the belief that these customs have pagan origins.

What holidays do Jehovah's Witnesses celebrate?

Jehovah's witnesses do not celebrate national or religious holidays or birthdays. The only day they do memorialize is Jesus Christ's death around the time of Easter and Passover.

What traditions do Jehovah Witnesses have?

The denomination requires adherence to a strict moral code, which forbids premarital sex, homosexuality, gender transitioning, adultery, smoking, drunkenness and drug abuse, and blood transfusions.