Separate Episcopalian, Jehovah’s Witness traditions make for interesting Christmas

By Maddi Bourgerie
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For many families Christmas is a time to come together, enjoy one another and celebrate the Christian holiday. But for junior Emily Edelen and her family, they see Christmas in a different light. While Edelen’s father is an Episcopalian and celebrates the holiday, her mother, a practicing Jehovah’s Witness, does not.

“A Jehovah’s Witness is a Christian religion teaching in the Bible. We don’t celebrate Christmas because it is not scriptural; it never says Jesus was born on Dec. 25,” Bonnie Edelen, Emily’s mother, said. “We don’t celebrate any holidays for that matter. We are compared to first country Christians; most holidays are not in the Bible and most of them have non-Christian traditions; therefore, our religion doesn’t celebrate them.”

The one holiday Jehovah’s Witnesses do have is a religious observance. “It’s an observant of Jesus’ death, (the) only day the Bible commands to follow,” Bonnie Edelen said.

But despite Mrs. Edelen’s beliefs, the rest of the family still celebrates Christmas with their father. “We still have traditions just like everyone else on Christmas like decorating our tree,” Emily said. “My Dad does all the shopping and the family exchanges gifts; my mom just isn’t around.”

According to watchtower.org, the official Jehovah’s Witness Web site, as a practicing Jehovah’s Witness Emily’s mother cannot follow two religious traditions. In other words, her faith prevents her from practicing her religion and also celebrating Christmas or other holidays. Jehovah’s Witnesses contend that the Bible has always condemned the mixing of religions on the basis that there can only be one truth from God. According to the Web site, they believe only their religion represents true Christianity and that all other religions fail to meet all the requirements set by God and will be destroyed. They are opposed to “councils” that unite or combine different religions.

Emily said her mother is still around for the holidays; she just excludes the religious part and planning. Her mother is kind of in the shadows observing, she said, and is there but not involved. “I do choose to be there,” Mrs. Edelen said, “I am home on Christmas day and usually spend the day with the family, excluding the gift giving, but I always make dinner.”

Stephanie Harleman, a volunteer at Kingdom Hall said, “Jehovah’s Witness is an international organization and all who practice the faith have an understanding that while some passages in the Bible can be translated differently, there is no dispute about the celebration of holidays. Others are very black and white, like murder. Including the holidays, we are all on the same page.”

Mrs. Edelen said she doesn’t feel left out during the holidays because everyone needs to make their own choice on beliefs, and this is hers. “As for Emily, she said, my mom makes up for it in other ways during the year. She buys us little gifts randomly which I think is to make up for Christmas. I also think during the holidays she is comforted by her Bible and beliefs, she doesn’t feel like she is missing out.”

Harleman said being in a family with different faiths can be challenging. “Having a family that is split between two different religious beliefs is certainly difficult,” she said, “But impossible? Certainly not.” She said for those who are more accepting to other views, the degree of difficulty are reduced.

For the Edelens, Mrs. Edelen said their different beliefs work for them. “Some advice to families made up of different religions is, (that they) all need to respect others’ beliefs. I think it is good to ask about the other beliefs. Don’t make assumptions. Just ask,” Mrs. Edelen said. “Two religions have been presented to my kids with two very different opinions. They have been to Kingdom Hall as well as church with their father. Our children have the right to believe what they want.”

Even though Mrs. Edelen doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Emily said, in the end, it all works out. She said, “Even though she doesn’t decorate the Christmas tree, I am happy she feels she is doing what is right, and so is she.”

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COMPARING FAITHS

Jehovah’s Witness

• Jehovah is the Almighty God.
• Jesus Christ is God’s Son, who came to Earth to give his life for humankind.
• The Kingdom in the ‘Our Father’ is a heavenly government that will take away all suffering and pain
• Everyone who does the will of God has the opportunity to enjoy the Kingdom’s blessings eternally.
• Christians must mold their behavior by what the Bible says.

WATCHTOWER.ORG / SOURCE

Episcopalian

• Episcopalians believe in One God,
• the Father who creates us and all things,
• the Son who redeems us from sin and death
• the Holy Spirit who renews us as the Children of God.

EPISCOPALCAFE.COM / SOURCE