tom sheepandgoats

Do you truly mean to suggest that I might go to hell if my understanding of Matt 2:9 is faulty?

And the point that should stand out from the excerpt I quoted is: “It is not claimed that explanations in this publication are infallible.” Do you claim that everything that appears in whatever church literature you read IS infallible?

Our not doing Christmas is a detail of our faith, no where near close to the main thrust. And this star is a detail as to why I don’t celebrate….I’ve already told you my three reasons. So what you are harping on is a detail of a detail.
A verse by verse commentary of Revelation (Revelation….It’s Grand Climax at Hand) states on page 9: “It is not claimed that explanations in this publication are infallible. Like Joseph of old, we say ‘do not interpretations belong to God?’ (Genesis 40:8) At the same time, however, we firmly believe that the explanations set forth harmonize with the Bible in it’s entirety.”

So I’m not sure what you mean by your comment that the Watchtower “says they do know.” As the above quote shows, any explanations offered represent their best understanding at the present time. There’s no claim of infallibility. Views have been revised before. All of Jehovah’s Witnesses are aware of that. We respect them for their faith, their work, their track record. But no one imagines they’re not human.
So I don’t know that they are wrong about this point….I suspect they are right. Chris’s reasoning doesn’t seem especially persuasive to me. But since it’s a very minor point on a subject for which no infallibility is claimed, I can’t work up too much interest….certainly not for the sake or arguing the point with you.

I don’t know. it doesn’t really interest me.

Just because you don’t lead off with something does not mean that it’s “hidden.”

I know nothing of your private life. Even if we personally knew each other, that would still largely be the case. Is it because you’ve “hidden” it from me?

“If it was true, it would be something to think about.”

Lots of things would be something to think about if they were true.

The point is, whether JWs feel it is true or not, it’s not going to be something they will bring up at the doorstep (unless they are specifically drawn out on that point) They focus on what they think are the larger issues of God’s purpose and kingdom.

I am a real Jehovah’s Witness. If you like, you can speak with me so you do not have to simulate conversations.

We don’t really have a “fear” of Christmas. We just don’t celebrate it, that’s all. Jesus wasn’t born on that day, he never said anything about celebrating his birth anyway (he did his death), and most Christmas customs come from non-Christian sources.

But when we visit, it is not our aim to get other people not to celebrate. We’ve no desire to spoil it for those who want to observe it (unless explaining our reasons for not celebrating constitutes spoiling it)