How did you feel about 'fake' witnesses?

Simon

I'm sure you know the ones I mean ... they decided to have a family 'present day' on Dec 26th each year so that the kids could announce what presents they got while the rest of us 'zealots' were getting the piss taken out of us.

At the time, I could not understand how or why they did it or got away with it - it seemed obvious to me that thwy were celebrating Christmas and we were not supposed to. But hell, what did I know ... I was only a kid ... not an elder

Now, I kind-a-think "yeah, do what's right for your kids" but also "you're not fooling anyone! If you want to celebrate Christmas then DO IT".

Why bother going to a pretence when they obviously didn't believe in things (they can't really have thought they "got one over on God" did they?)

What do you think? Did you have these in your cong (was it you !?) and how did you feel about it?

IronGland

I liked myself quite well.

JH

In my first years as a dub, I had a neighbor witness, who invited about 10 brothers for a supper at his place. It was on the 25th of December. They never once mentioned the word christmas. But why on that day.... That brother was a very spiritual brother on top of that. Now imagine if I would have done that. I would have been &?%$%

dsgal

The congregation I attended had a "Talent Show" on December 15 last year.(Only 10 days away from Christmas!How did that happen?)It was supposed to be for the entire congregation but my son and I were not invited.However,I did see a video of it and they had Christmas lights all around the floor for a stage.Everyone brought food and they danced afterward.All that was missing were the tree and presents.Just more proof of hypocrisy is what I think.

joenobody

<P>The last couple of years I was in (and appointed at the time) we instituted "Giftsmas" in our home.</P>

Solace

Simon,

We didnt have a "present day" on Christmas but my family always took advantage of the holiday sales. We usually had a "Kids Party" in January where the all of the kids were given gifts from our parents which were probably half off items from the after Christmas sales.

To answer your question, my family was ULTRA fake and continues to be on a daily basis. No, I didnt like it and still dont, especially since they believe I am SOOO pagan and worldly. (Gagging noises)

reubenfine

We had one of those families and I thought our congregation was the only one! Yikes!!

ThiChi

I saw this happen with birthdays too. Not to sound sexist, but it seemed to come more from the sisters than the brothers. Sentimentalism and fair treatment of their kids seemed to play a major roll in providing excuses for doing this. Looking back, I think we were all crying out for something that we all knew, inside, was missing....

At the time, I was mostly judgmental, and hard lined about anything to do with celebrating anything worldly (except our Thanksgiving Turkey day...).

There is a couple Dubs that work where I work, and it is funny to see them at the employees holiday pot luck lunches or see them play in the football pool.......However, now, good for them! (They still shun me, mostly).

Edited by - thichi on 27 November 2002 18:50:3

Edited by - thichi on 27 November 2002 19:30:0

kelsey007

My maternal grandparents were part of the original Bible Studants before they called themselves JWs. Though my grnadmother dies in 1975 I always will remember how, though she was strong in her JW faith always kinda liked the holidays. She never quite adapted to the "new light" on the subject. I always stayed i at her house as a jw kid because we had fun on halloween!

pettygrudger

For the first few years of my life, having a non-JW father & JW mother - they would often compromise and we were allowed to open our "Christmas" presents on December 15th - don't know why that day was picked. But after a few years, this was too much for my mother's conscious as well, so we were allowed to open NO presents w/Xmas wrapping paper or anything in the month of December or January.

Course my mom was kinda whacked anyways - but as kids we surmised that sucked!

How did you feel about 'fake' witnesses?

Share this