5: Jehovah’s Witnesses and Catholics

who formed an independent group to study the bible in 1870 ?

Charles Taze Russell

1881

zion’s watch tower tract society

1896

watch tower bible and tracy society

1955

watch tower bible and tracy society of Pennsylvania

1917

Joseph Franklin Rutherford elected as the next president of the Society

1931

group named “Jehovah’s Witness”

what ministry are Jehovah Witnesses ?

person-to-person

what is required of Jehovah’s Witnesses ?

they are to reach-out and share God’s Word w/their community once a yr

where is the international headquarters ?

Brooklyn, New York

what do Jehovah Witnesses believe ?

following the bible’s teachings gives purpose to life, strengthens family and creates honest human beings

what are JW dietary requirements ?

• abstain from blood

• no drugs

• special food for Memorial

• healthy food habits

can animal flesh be eaten by JW ?

yes

blood is for…

sacrificial use only

some food coloring agents use…

blood

some cultures use blood directly in food:

• blood sausage

• blood pudding

• blood soup, stews, sauces

• throughout Asia and Europe

• places in Africa, Mexico, South America - and is often used as a thickener

is blood transfusion the same as eating blood ?

• blood removed from the body should be discarded

• auto-transfusion must already be prepared by getting their own blood drawn prior to surgery if needed

• bloodless surgeries exist as well

bible prohibits drugs…

• used for pleasure

• used to help a person feel good

• marijuana

• tobacco smoking

• excessive alcohol use

JW can only celebrate…

• weddings

• anniversaries

• funerals

restrictions for Catholics

• fasting

• lent

• mass

• allergies/special needs

food restrictions for Catholic’s

none

• all types of food is allowed

• all types of meat and vegetables

• alcohol is allowed in moderation

• no drugs or addictions

fasting occurs:

• every Friday

• during Lent, everyday except Sunday

• before Mass

• Ember days

• Certain Vigils

fasting

imposed limits on kind or quantity of food or drink

fasting only options are:

fish or seafood

what size meals are eaten during fasting ?

one regular sized meal and 2 small snacks; total of 2 small snacks can’t be greater than the 1 regular sized meal

why is eating fish okay when fasting ?

it’s seen as going back to our roots; after Jesus died Catholics and Christians were being persecuted and if you didn’t know who you could talk to w/out being persecuted you could draw a fish on the ground

Lent

• 40 days, preparation for Easter

• “Last Supper” meal was during Passover

what meat is allowed during Lent ?

• no meat except fish or seafood every Friday for the entire 6.5 weeks

• until 1966, only fish and seafood during the entire Lenten season except Sundays

historically some dispensations regarding classification of “seafood” during Lent:

• teal duck (South Louisiana)

• capybara (South America)

• beavers (Canada)

lenten fasting of no meat is also on:

• Ash Wednesday

• Good Friday

• Saturdays (not heavily practiced)

in addition to no meat, Catholics should also:

• give up food(s) or habit(s)

• increase prayer or almsgiving

what’s common on Easter ?

to eat food that was given up for Lent

egg

• a pagan symbol of rebirth of the Earth

• many cultures regards the egg as a symbol of the start of new life

• symbol of the resurrection of Jesus

• many cultures incorporate eggs into religious celebrations

how to calculate the start date of easter

the first Sunday after the full moon on or after the vernal (spring) equinox usually on/around March 21

how to calculate the first day of Lent

Wednesday, 6.5 weeks earlier; the day before is the last day of the Mardi Gras season

mardi Gras

celebration of the “3 wise men” finding baby Jesus

when is the first day of the mardi gras season

january 6; “12th day of Christmas” (last day of Christmas season); King’s day

mardi Gras 3 colors

• purple

• green

• gold

purple

justice, passion of Jesus

green

faith, hope

gold

power, rewards for following Jesus

mardi gras season

carnaval; latin for kiss your flesh goodbye

mardi gras is french for…

fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras Day is the last day of…

carnaval

mardi gras facts

• over 5000 yrs old

• Pope Gregory XIII made it a Catholic celebration in 1582

• mouth of Mississippi River was discovered on March 3, 1699 (mardi gras day that yr)

• parades began in 1838

mass

• Eucharistic fast

• Sunday

bread during mass is…

unleavened

wine during mass is…

fruit of the vine (grapes only) and good quality

gluten free hot was developed in 1999 by ?

a nun who attended Texas A&M in the mid 1990s, Lynn D’Souza

mustum

can be used by priests’ for alcohol issues