Jehovah the protocol breaker

An interesting topic!

Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination, have a unique approach to biblical interpretation and worship. One aspect of their beliefs is their rejection of traditional Christian practices and institutions, which they consider to be rooted in paganism or human tradition rather than the Bible. This has led to some interesting protocol-breaking practices, which I'll outline below:

  1. No Christmas or Easter celebrations: Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Christmas or Easter, considering them to be pagan holidays with roots in ancient fertility rituals. Instead, they focus on celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on October 3, which they believe is the actual date of his birth.
  2. No use of crosses: Jehovah's Witnesses do not use crosses in their worship or symbols, considering them to be a symbol of idolatry and a representation of the worship of false gods.
  3. No use of instrumental music: Jehovah's Witnesses do not use instrumental music in their worship services, believing that music should be limited to the human voice and that instrumental music is a form of idolatry.
  4. No blood transfusions: Jehovah's Witnesses have a strict policy against blood transfusions, considering them to be a form of blood sacrifice and a violation of their biblical beliefs.
  5. No participation in military service: Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in military service, considering it to be a form of idolatry and a violation of their biblical beliefs.
  6. No voting: Jehovah's Witnesses do not vote in political elections, considering it to be a form of idolatry and a violation of their biblical beliefs.
  7. No celebrating birthdays: Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays, considering them to be a form of idolatry and a focus on self rather than God.
  8. No use of greeting cards: Jehovah's Witnesses do not use greeting cards, considering them to be a form of idolatry and a focus on materialism rather than spiritual growth.

These protocol-breaking practices are a result of Jehovah's Witnesses' unique interpretation of the Bible and their desire to separate themselves from what they consider to be pagan or idolatrous practices. While some may view these practices as extreme or unusual, they are an integral part of the Jehovah's Witnesses' faith and identity.