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Analyze structure in the History of Christmas
Analyze structure in the History of Christmas
Analyze structure in the History of Christmas
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What does Christmas mean to you? Some might say that Christmas revolves around family, presents, and religion. Why then do Jehovah’s Witnesses abstain from participating in Christmas? Contrary to popular opinion, Jehovah’s Witnesses are Christians. However, after thorough research of the origins of Christmas, they have found that many aspects of Christmas have pagan origins and are not supported by the Bible.
Jehovah’s Witnesses endeavor to base their beliefs on the Bible, and the Bible does not support many Christmas features. For instance, the Bible does not reveal the exact date of Jesus’ birth. Instead, the Bible gives ample reason to conclude that Jesus was not born in December. Luke 2:8 says, “There were also in the same region shepherds living out of doors and keeping watch in the night over their flocks”(New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures). The Jewish months that correspond to December are noted for their rainy weather as well as the lowest temperatures of the year. Therefore, shepherds would not have been living outside on a December evening. (What Does...
There are quite a number of people who believe that Jehovah's Witnesses are prudish for their differences in their morals and standards. For example, many find it difficult to believe that they do not celebrate Christmas or birthdays, or any other festive holiday. Many don't understand what's so wrong about standing for O Canada or singing anthems for any other country. The fact of the matter is, there are quite a number of festive holidays that people around the world celebrate that they may or may not know have pagan backgrounds, or are quite obviously based on its influences. To Jehovah's witnesses, it is very important to stay away from such kinds of celebrations because they feel that it's a necessity to worship God with their whole soul and in the way he wants them to. This would not be possible while participating in celebrations that have paganism as its origin.
Christmas is a holiday celebrated by most of the world. Christianity is very popular in the US and Hispanic cultures. In the US, Christmas is celebrated with going to Church on Christmas Eve, spending time with their families, and many other things. People also reenact the nativity scene, sing Christmas carols, and do
... Religious Customs, History, Legends, and Symbols from around the World; Supplemented by a Bibliography and Lists of Christmas Web Sites and Associations. Detroit, Mich: Omnigraphics, 2003. Print.
Christmas was originally supposed to be a celebration of the birthday of Jesus Christ. Modern historians suggest that Christ was actually born sometime in April, but that is hardly the point; the point is that a day on which to celebrate his birth and life was needed, and so one was chosen. During the season surrounding this holiday -- especially since it coincided with that of other, similar holidays -- it was thought right to honor Jesus by acting as he did, i.e., in a kind, generous, and forgiving manner. Out of this sprung the custom of giving gifts to loved ones on this holiday.
According to dictionary.com (n.d.), Jehovah witnesses are a part of a Christian Sect. Henslin (2012) states that a sect is like a cult, but larger than the cult. Dictionary.com (n.d) states that Jehovah Witnesses were founded in the late nineteenth century, which believes in the imminent destruction of the world’s wickedness and the establishment of a theocracy under God’s rule. Henslin (2012) says that there are one thousand, six hundred members in the United States; this is point seven percent of United States adults. Jehovah witnesses expect a millennium to begin in a couple of years (dictionary.com, n.d.). Jehovah is the only God of Jehovah Witnesses. According to dictionary.com (n.d), Jehovah Witnesses deny the Trinity and consider Jesus to be the greatest of the witnesses of Jehovah.
Moreover, many people like to place a display of a crib. It is a model
Jehovah witnesses use the name Jehovah as God’s name necessary to serve him. They do not celebrate holidays and birthdays. They do not worship religoues statues or believe in wearing crosses. They do not salute the flag.’
Christmas is a special time of year that deserves to be remembered for its true meaning. Every year, Christmas becomes more and more commercialized and society forgets the origin of Christmas. It was not started with cookies, toys, and a fat man that delivers them, but instead it started with a humble inn where our Savior was born. The definition of Christmas is “a holiday on December 25 celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.” Nowhere in that definition does it say anything about the outrageous pressure society has set on consumers to buy, buy, buy during the Christmas season. Christmas is about presence not presents.
While much of the rest of the world begins its transition into the festive Christmas and New Year holiday seasons, one wonders what a relatively smaller community such a Aurora, ON has to offer. Well, the answer is simply, a great deal. Let's look at how this community enters into the true spirit of giving at this time of year. Beginning In November Having started the holiday season earlier in November, various civic groups, organizations and religiously affiliated communities provide several events open to the public.
Many people in American society assume that the main purpose of Christmas is the supposed coming of Santa Claus. Their assumption however is far from the truth. The origins of Christmas, which literally means "Christ mass," actually lie in Christianity-not in the fat man with a stomach that jiggles like a bowl full of jelly. Centuries ago, Christians developed a tradition of celebrating Jesus Christ's birthday. Although Christians were unsure of the exact date of Christ's birth, they officially declared December 25th as the day they would celebrate it. The holiday began simply as a day in which families would spend quality time together, reflecting on Jesus' life, giving thanks to God for sending his "one and only son."
First, let’s take a look at a few beliefs of a Jehovah’s Witness. A Jehovah’s Witness does not believe that Jesus is Jehovah God. He or she believes that Jesus was the first thing that Jehovah created (Martin). A Jehovah’s Witness believes that Jesus is “the archangel Michael”, who was Satan’s brother (Lewis). He or she also does not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus- he or she believes He was “raised from the dead, not with a physical body, but as a mighty Spirit creature” (Martin). However, if Jehovah God had created Jesus first, and Jesus, or in the Jehovah’s Witnesses eye- Michael, created all other things, it would make Jesus Satan’s father, not Satan’s brother. (Defending) All these beliefs are very different from what Christian’s believe. When witnessing to a Jehovah’s Witness, it is important for Christians to bold, but not offensive, so we may stil...
What is Hanukkah? Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights. In Hanukkah it is a way to celebrate the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah is also a celebration kind of like a Jewish Christmas, but a different meaning. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus being born the Messiah where in Judaism, Jesus is not to be believed to be the Messiah. The Messiah is the Savior, but
...ch out only for themselves, we lose sight of what Christmas is truly about. Forgetting the being of Santa Claus only makes us slight the kindness on which this holiday is based. Not believe in Santa! You may as well not believe in the very gifts laid under the tree on Christmas morn. Without your faith, Santa Claus would be nonexistent. There would be no yearning in your soul to give of yourself to others, no example to follow. Thank God, Santa Claus exists and exists forever, lightening the heavy heart as the sight of the snow blankets the soul and defines the heart of childhood.
Although it was never celebrated in biblical times, Christmas is celebrated in local churches here in Visalia, California in praise of the fact that God loved us so much; he sent his one and only son to earth. He was wholey god and wholey man. Whereas we have succumbed to the temptations of this earth, Jesus was able to overcome all temptations and live a sinless life. He was then crucified as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. One cannot understand why we celebrate the birth of Christ without seeing the other end of his life. He was crucified for our sins and resurrected.
Countries all have their own distinct holidays, although some can be seen as equivalents, all are still run by ideology. Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa are all seen as equivalent holidays even though they are celebrated differently, and celebrate different things. The ideology behind Christmas is that it