(1990), Lasting Peace and HappinessHow to Find Them (1996, 2009), You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth (1982, 1989), The Pathway to Peace and Happiness (2010), What Is the Purpose of Life? In 2017, Russia's Supreme Court declared the group an extremist organization, lumping its non . I hope by this comment I am adding to this thread, not hijacking it. Did Jesus disciples use the cross in their worship? Worship Jesus Did Jesus die on a cross? In many countries, such meetings would be nothing unusual. Jehovah's Witnesses are likely to want to have their personal copy of the. expulsion for insubordination), "PIMO" (short for "physically in, mentally out"), and the "Two Witness Rule," a scriptural decree which states that no Jehovah's Witness can be officially accused of committing a sin . The corporation members and directors assist the Governing Body of Jehovahs Witnesses. Cover of Watchtower's Studies in the Scriptures - Thy Kingdom Come, 1923 Edition. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. 1925 - "Millions Now Living Will Never Die!" This belief appears in Studies in the Scriptures, Series 3, Thy Kingdom Come Memorial Partakers Increase & 1935 . Why Dont Jehovahs Witnesses Use the Cross in Their Worship? The jw.org website allows people to read the Bible online without cost in more than 160 languages and to get answers to such Bible questions as, What is the Kingdom of God?. A few weeks ago I was in DC and took the opportunity to visit the holocaust museum, where JWs are mentioned. For more information about the history of the requirement that Jews wear a distinctive marking or sign, including during the Nazi period, see the entry "Badge, Jewish" in the Encyclopaedia Judaica, Volume 4 (Jerusalem: Macmillan, 1972), pp. page 327. This is very interesting, because our JW friend wore some kind of purple sash thing at our school's high school graduation, that no one else had. M0nk3y Growing up as a Gay Jehovah's Witness in Australia. Here are 4 Reasons to Share with a Mormon Why Mormonism is not Christian! So they think it is controversial because they think it goes against our stand on idols or the cross. Answer (1 of 15): That depends on who you ask. The cross, for example, is probably the oldest religious symbol in the world. What Is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society? Christmas, Birthdays & Flag Salute These columns have Masonic origins, as explained at sacred-texts.com; The Pleiades are a dipper-shaped cluster of stars situated in the "shoulder" of the constellation Taurus. I guess you dont find that out until you die. Good works are necessary for salvation. 11. ", Medical Advice - Vaccinations, Blood, Transplants. (2018), Reasoning From the Scriptures (1985, 1989), Theocratic Ministry School Guidebook (1971, 1992), All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial (1963, 1990), Spirits of the DeadCan They Help You or Harm You? The crown symbolises the heavenly reward and the cross is for the trials of life endured as a Christian. A Masonic reference work describes the winged sun disk it this way; The Rosicrucian Order, AMORC (Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis) is an occult organization that uses the Winged-Disk as their logo. category Bible Student at times apparently included a few members from small Bible Student splinter groups, as well as adherents of other religious groups which played only a secondary role during the time of the National Socialists regime, such as Adventists, Baptists and the New Apostolic community". The following are Masonic images and a 9 inch Model Temple at the Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania. Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group with more than eight million members around the world. 1914 Predictions - Failed Doctrine They say that God's Kingdom (mentioned (thy Kingdom come) in the Lord's prayer) will restore God's original purpose for the Earth: bringing about peace for . The question to ask a Jehovahs Witness from Isaiah 43:10 is Jesus a true God or a false God? (1993), RevelationIts Grand Climax At Hand! Let's learn more about their beliefs! Thank You. | Berean Perspective Apologetics & Evangelism Ministry, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, One Bible Verse That Debunks All Jehovah's Witnesses Beliefs and Crushes the Watchtower, Finally the Best Verse in the Bible that Proves the Trinity Doctrine is 3 Persons in One God. Did God raise Jesus from the dead? What Is a Cult? It is difficult to reconcile these teachings with Watchtower statements that they are the only channel the Lord uses to feed his members with truth, and that there has been no significant change in the truths they have promoted. A "heathen" is also called a "pagan" according to the dictionary. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20) We believe that God is backing our work and that he will continue to be the one who makes it grow.1Corinthians 3:6, 7. (1988, 2006 printing), Real FaithYour Key to a Happy Life (2010), Pure Worship of JehovahRestored At Last! stitched in the middle. Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. Next to his grave is a pyramid erected as a memorial. Shia Islam: Overview, History & Sunni Division | What is Shi'ism? One reason is that the Bible indicates that Jesus did not die on a cross but rather on a simple stake. Inclusion of pagan symbols in its worship until the 1930's raises the question as to why God directed, or even allowed, symbols of this kind to identify his people, even well after the claimed cleansing of his spiritual temple in 1919. They reject the use of the cross for several reasons. Long after Jesus is said to have inspected and cleansed his organization in 1919, Jehovah's Witnesses continued to promote these pagan views as truth. One of the biggest things left out of the Jehovah's Witness religion is the usage of symbols. A Wreath surrounds the Cross and Crown that appeared on The Watch Tower cover. I feel like its a lifeline. While they are a Christian faith, they reject the doctrine of the Trinity and abstain from using the symbol of the cross, considering it biblically inaccurate and a form of idolatry. They don't believe in military service, national anthems or voting. Significantly, Jesus said: By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves. (John 13:34, 35) Jesus thereby indicated that self-sacrificing lovenot the cross or any other imagewould identify his true followers. changed teachings> freemason, Your browser does not support the audio element. friends. But I wanted to share something I recently learned about the JW experience during the holocaust. Chastised, accused, HATED! 726 Followers. How Is the Work of Jehovahs Witnesses Financed? If I were to, God forbid, return to the fold, I would have to divest myself of all pagan accoutrements, knowing how what they symbolise work on our psyches from our collective unconscious regardless as to whether or not we consciously are aware of them or what they symbolise. (1992, 2001), Pay Attention to Daniels Prophecy! The Watchtower subtly blames the members, saying 'some attribute striking qualities', but does not refer to the fact that the reason the members had this belief was that it had been taught in Watchtower publications. It would be KNOWING youre separated from God forever. You must resign your old faith. ALL GLORY TO GOD! 3. Second is the un orthodox building design of the Kingdom Halls. Change). https://www.symbols.com/symbol/jehovah%27s-witnesses. The symbol of the Jehovah's Witnesses is the Watchtower. LOVE GOD, LOVE JESUS AND LOVE THEY NEIGHBOR! But you are right- A purple triangle is a symbol! 3:14) and has the exact same divine nature as the Father (John 5:18; 10:30; Heb. Carefully notice the Masonic cross at the upper left corner of the photo below. PRIVACY SETTINGS. They believe that the Holy Spirit is the power of God, but not its own being. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 Learn how your comment data is processed. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The wreath symbol also is used in the United Nations and Star Trek logos, both heavily influenced by Freemasons. Read why Charles Taze Russell was not the founder of a new religion. For instance, for the skeptic, the symbols can reflect certain mathematical beauty (e.g. Is proselytizing effective? Listen to the audio version of this content. The symbol has been implemented into their Kingdom Halls (churches), inscribed on their publications, and included on most websites associated with Jehovah's witnesses. Also that they promoted globalism. I clicked on one of the Google-Ad sponsors on JWN, and saw the purple triangle on the http://www.servicesupplies.net/ website. The Hebrew word for formed is yastar which means to be made, created, formed, fashioned, framed. Learn about their background, explore their beliefs, understand some practices and symbols, and why they do not celebrate some holidays. Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian denomination with an estimated 175,000 followers in Russia. The one thing you dont do is HATE! The Bible teaches Jesus is God in John 1:1, John 5:18-23, John 8:24, John 8:58, John 10:30, John 14:9, John 20:28, Romans 10:13, Philippians 2:5-11; Titus 2:13, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 John 5:20, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 1:17-18, Revelation 22:12-13, and other Scriptures from the Old Testament (Genesis 1:26-27; Genesis 19:24; Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 48:16). This teaching was absolutely torn apart and discarded by Rutherford in the Watchtower 1928 Nov 15 pages 339-344. There are many false teachings and false doctrines that the Jehovahs Witnesses have been taught to believe about God, the Trinity doctrine, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel. Jehovah's Witnesses strictly refuse treatments such as blood transfusions. latest So ask yourself, why? Although Jehovahs Witnesses are Christians, we do not use the cross in our worship. but it was a forsed symbol- meaning they did not choose it at the time, and I personally have never seen a JW wear one. You must read at least two books and answer nearly 100 questions before you qualify for baptism. But in 1928 it was emphasized that not a decorative symbol but one's activity as a witness showed he was a Christian. The second JW who came, answered, Youre separated from God forever. Then I asked, So, whats wrong with that? And she reacted like she was horrified, put her hand on her chest, and said, I cant imagine anything worse than being separated from God forever! I said, Well, I can. Does God Approve the Use of Images in Worship. Lion of the Tribe of Judah in the Bible | Overview, Symbol & History, What is Hinduism? Though Rutherford claims it was from Satan's Bible, he himself had written about it, and Russell had introduced it under the guise of being directed by Holy Spirit as God's chosen "mouthpiece.". And also, their religion didn't allow them to "Heil Hitler". Russell took this idea from Seiss. watchtower Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom p.64. Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate Flag Day. Jehovah's Witnesses are a Christian religious sect rooted in the Adventist movement of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Prior to that, the cross was more directly a solar symbol. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the tradition of celebrating birthdays is rooted in paganism, according to the FAQ. If you want to know what to say when a Jehovahs Witness comes and knocks at your door this is the one Bible verse that completely crushes the Watchtower theology! . They also see Christmas and Easter traditions as rooted in the customs and religious calendars of pagan faiths. Jehovah's Witnesses pride themselves on being the only true Christians and accuse all other religions of being pagan or occult, under the control of the Devil. In addition to birthdays, Jehovah's Witnesses also don't celebrate Christmas and Easter . There is a vast difference. They were worked as slaves, barely fed, etc., but not taken to the gas chambers. On the other hand, Jehovah's Witness portrays Jesus as the son of the Almighty God Jehovah. "Listed below are offenses that may require review by a judicial committee . Jehovah's Witnesses This page is about the meaning, origin and characteristic of the symbol, emblem, seal, sign, logo or flag: Jehovah's Witnesses. Some people mistakenly see it as us allowing an idol or a cross to be warn. I did some other reading and found that these two men were up to their necks in the Occult. | Hinduism Major Beliefs, Origin & History, What was the Great Schism of 1054? Since reading C.G. Jung's Man and His Symbols many years ago (and really, before), I've been interested in the various symbols man has used in his religious practice, their history, and what they mean to him. Prophecies - Revelation and Daniel However, Jehovah's Witnesses do have a symbol identifying their faith, just not one that is worshiped or made into part of religious practices. What Is the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society? Web. I'm sure it was not his idea, JUST ONE MORE THING TO MAKE HIM FEEL WEIRD AND DIFFERENT after all he went through in high school. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6Odd6osxak&t=, Exposing Jehovahs Witnesses False Teachings & The Bible Proves Jesus is Jehovah God in Revelation 1:8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6r3WT6WcK0, Berean Perspectivehttps://rootedinchrist.org/on Christian Apologetics, Bible Doctrines, Cults, Discipleship, Evangelism. (LogOut/ Again, I am not a JW, but its interesting how this one religion is completely disregarded? This information exposes the false teachings and false doctrines of the Watchtower Organization and the false Jesus of the Jehovahs Witnesses. Uranus and Jupiter meet in the humane sign of Aquarius every 80 or so years, and this occurrence is held as a powerful sign by Astrologers. Perhaps you did not read the rest of the post? (2012, 2014), Gods Word for Us Through Jeremiah (2010), Jehovahs WitnessesWho Are They? 3- Luke Evans. ), Benefit From Theocratic Ministry School Education (2001), What Does the Bible Really Teach? According to Isaiah 43:10 there was no God created before Him and there will be none created after Him. They believe that there will be some sort of kingdom on earth that will be a wonderful place to live, but they cant be sure that they will be there. Edit this symbol More symbols in Religious Symbols: Of course, a crucifix immediately clears up this mistake. Most of the resurrected will live an eternity free of suffering on a transformed Earth, ruled over by Jesus Christ. Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. I THink it did have a triangle too! Learning How to Communicate the Gospel toNonbelievers, Don't Be Turned Into a Pretzel the Next Time Talking to Jehovah's Witnesses When They Come Knocking at Your Door Talking about Jesus! There are some other religious groups who engage in the same practice, known as proselytizing. 4 Mar. The constellations of the Zodiac were regarded in 1914 as of Divine origin, with each of the 12 Zodiacal signs having corresponding statements in the Bible. The first noticeable feature is no windows. The reason Freemasons use this symbol invokes Biblical connotations, yet has pagan origins. It involves false profits. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Jehovah's Witness Holidays & Rules | What Holidays do Jehovah's Witnesses Celebrate? For questions about health services, your entitlements, or how to access HSE health or social services in your area? A great deal of discussion has centred on whether Russell, the founder of the Watch Tower Society, had connections with Freemasons, due to the many Masonic symbols introduced under his leadership. | Religion, Beliefs & History, Religious Tradition: Definition & Examples. Who Was the Founder of Jehovahs Witnesses? I have found something that stopped JWs in their tracks the two times Ive used it when theyve come to my home, (If there is a way to refute this from their point of view, Id like to know what it is.) The Bible teaches in the Old Testament and the New Testament that Jesus is God, the Trinity doctrine is true. . Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. The JWs have the hottest Son of God. No Christian or other icons should be displayed in the mortuary areas when in use for the funeral of a Witness. I think a better argument along these lines is Jn 1:3 All things came into existence through trough him, and apart from him not even on thing came into existence. If Jesus is created, did Jesus create himself? If your belief is GOD JESUS & HOLY SPIRIT are all one in the same? This statement may sound unlikely, and even strange, but it can only be denied if you ignore all the evidence. Those who failed to wear the star were subject to arrest and deportation, a fate that frightened most Jews into compliance even though the patch subjected them to restrictions, harassment, and isolation. The point is that the idea that Christ died on the cross changed the symbolism for the cross to include that. Neither did Jesus cleanse Watchtower of this teaching when he came to his spiritual temple in 1919, as Rutherford continued to promote it until the late nineteen twenties. According to its charter, the corporation's purposes are "religious, educational, and charitable," in particular, to "preach and teach the gospel of God's Kingdom under Christ Jesus." But that information was news to me and I thought it might be to others as well. We may remember them as the people who often come to our homes in order to evangelize, but do we actually know what they believe? IE. | The Great Schism Timeline & Causes. (1986), The Watchtower Announcing Jehovahs Kingdom (study edition), When Someone You Love Dies (1994, 2000, 2005), Will There Ever Be a World Without War? In 1859, John Taylor published The Great Pyramid: Why Was It Built? You can phone HSELive to speak to one of our agents on: Get more information about this service including opening hours, Social Inclusion, Asylum Seekers, Travellers. Among these are the following: Using the symbol of the sun god Raon the cover of his books. What purpose does it serve? However, they do not believe in the Trinity, the doctrine that God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are all aspects of one God. Pleiades was discussed in more detail in the 1928 book Reconciliation. Like the Quakers, another Christian religious group, they are conscientious objectors regarding military service, a distinction excusing them from being drafted during times of war. Charles Taze Russell was a 33rd Degree Freemason; as was Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon cult. Download Audio Many people view the cross as the universal symbol of Christianity. Kevin - PDF Kevin came out in 2013 at the age of 19. Catholics always use the Bible that excludes the name of God- Jehovah. 2. Was that just a slip, please or did they say "cross" at the holocaust museum? While their practices broke with the Adventists when their group formed its own religious body, the founder, Charles Taze Russell, worked closely with Adventist groups in publishing the magazine The Herald of the Morning before founding Zion's Watch Tower. They have never said Jesus is God. Apparently they were not considered racially inferior, therefore requiring extermination, but were deemed to be troublemakers and disloyal to the regime. They even give an example that if you had a loved one killed by a gun, would you wear a symbol of a gun around your neck? Many people view the cross as the symbol of Christianity. Because the Bible says: "Guard yourselves from idols." ( 1 John 5: 21) Some people today do not consider a flag to be an idol an object of worship but historian Carlton J. H. Hayes wrote: "Nationalism's chief symbol of faith and central object of worship is the flag." Most commonly, the letter indicated nationality, e.g., "F" for franzosisch (French), "P" for polnisch (Polish), "T" for tschechisch (Czech), etc., but it could also denote special sub-categories of prisoners. He used what he called Greek text translation of NT, Hort and Westcott I was suspicious because they rarely use outside materials to prove any point. Moreover, the Bible strongly warns Christians to flee from idolatry, which would mean not using the cross in worship.1Corinthians 10:14; 1John 5:21. Resurrection - for whom Sylviane is a relationship coach for women . They talked about the purple cross being the symbol for JWs. For example, a Jewish criminal would wear a yellow triangle overlaid by a green one; Jewish homosexuals wore pink triangles over yellow.Outside the camps, the occupying Nazi forces ordered Jews to wear patches or armbands marked with the star of David, though the specific characteristics of the badge (size, shape, color) varied by region. They also said that while a full one-third of all JWs who were imprisoned in concentration camps died due to the brutal conditions, they were not systematically executed like the Jews and Gypsies were. We also conduct literacy classes and have produced a textbook in 120 languages that teaches people to read and write. Many non-members take issue with this practice as it usually means death for any Jehovah's Witness involved in a car accident or who experiences complications from surgery. Watchtower magazine's mission statement explains that like a watchtower of old, the Witnesses' Watchtower allows us to. They interpret the Bible's prohibition against consuming blood to include blood taken in by any means, not just drinking it. Witnesses believe the crucifix to be a pagan symbol, and that Jesus was instead pinned to an upright stake with a nail long enough to go through both hands. Using the Masonic Knights Templar logoof the Cross and Crown on his issues of Zion's Watchtower. TERMS OF USE That's assuming that the cross is a "pagan" symbol and not a representation of an intsrument of toture. It is known to have been Satanist Aleister Crowley's favourite symbol. History of Major World Religions Study Guide, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Jehovah's Witnesses: Definition, Beliefs & Symbol, Jehovah's Witnesses: Origin, Founder & History, Jehovah's Witnesses: Holidays, Rules & Worship, Charles Taze Russell: Biography, Books & Predictions, Intro to Music for Teachers: Professional Development, Introduction to Humanities: Certificate Program, World Religions for Teachers: Professional Development, NYSTCE Music (075): Practice and Study Guide, AP Music Theory Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Native West African Religions & Traditions, George M. Cohan: Biography, Music & Songs, Hello, Dolly! Russell was not only into Egyptology, but also referred to Astrology for confirmation of his predictions. . They were generally used as temples and played an important part in the belief of the afterlife. Research which groups these are, and compare their proselytizing practices with those of the Jehovah's Witnesses. There are many false teachings and false doctrines that the Jehovah's Witnesses have been taught to believe about God, the Trinity doctrine, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel. Religious symbols are often tied to holidays, many of which they do not celebrate -- including Easter and Christmas -- because they believe them to have pagan origins. If you want to be effective in how to share the gospel and witness to Jehovahs Witnesses on who Jesus is according to what the Bible teaches then it is important to know what Isaiah 43:10 teaches about Jehovah God, the LORD. George Storrs went on to run a series of articles on the Pyramid and its prophetic significance in the Herald of Life and the Coming Kingdom. 15 Replies Note: Some direction given in older referenced material is no longer current. Religions view religious texts, rituals, and works of art as symbols of co read more . In the Bible we find prophecies about the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world. Finally, they see the mark of the faithful as coming from their actions, not a symbol of their faith. The Jehovah's Witness religion is not so much well known for its symbols but rather for its lack and rejection of symbols which are adopted by almost all religions. What Is Catholicism? | Berean Perspective Apologetics & Evangelism Ministry - March 20, 2020. To benefit from the payment, a person must be a believer, get baptized, and change their lives in a way that their works reveal their new path. In addition, the word Blod on a black triangle marked mentally impaired inmates, and a red and white target symbol set apart those who had tried to escape.For Jewish offenders, triangles of two different colors were combined to create a six-pointed star, one triangle yellow to denote a Jew, the second triangle another color to denote the added offense. Rutherford continued with the teaching, with mention of Pleiades in the 1927 book Creation. A look at the history of Jehovah's Witnesses show Russell was greatly influenced by Masonic teachings, partly due to the views of Adventist teachers around him. Jehovah's Witnesses Proclaimers of God's Kingdom (1993) Book. In its current, Christian, form, it also symbolises the balance of forces within the human mind-body-soul system, North (divinity), South (earthly), East, and West (alternatively, depending upon tradition, the masculine and feminine energies, or aspects). jw Rosicrucians are said to have existed for millennium and the AMORC organization started in 1915. Jehovah's Witnesses interpret Christ's death and the afterlife differently from mainstream Christianity. Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh. by daystar We avoid the methods used by many churches. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that exactly 144,000 faithful Christians from Pentecost of 33 AD until the present day will be resurrected to heaven as immortal spirit beings to spend eternity with God and Christ. If youre annihilated, you no longer exist. Baptism Questions Sunday earned a PhD in Anthropology and has taught college courses in Anthropology, English, and high school ACT/SAT Prep. Jehovah's Witnesses Founder, History & Church | Who Are Jehovah's Witnesses? i read that a few modern versions NIV etc. Why is their (the symbols') influence a bad thing? Many people view the cross as a symbol of Christianity. Learn about their background, explore. If his death benefits us, how exactly does it do so? Was Jesus Separated from the Father on the Cross? 34, No. Jehovah's Witnesses 138 lessons. Education. But, I asked, What if I dont believe in God or the Bible or anything youre telling me? Ive heard two responses: The first lady said, Youre annihilated. So I asked, If you cant promise Ill make it into the kingdom, but you can promise theres no Hell, then, why bother? She had no answer and was off my porch in a flash. In addition to the coloured triangle Jewish prisoners were made to wear a yellow triangle sewn on to the coloured triangle in such a way as to form the hexagonal Star of David. This goes as far as the cross. Russell used the all-seeing-eye in the 1914 motion picture, The Photo Drama of Creation. succeed. Religious Icons and Symbols- Jehovah's Witnesses - HSE.ie Skip to main content our health service Home Services All Health Services Apply and Register Everyday Care Care when you need it Community and Social Care Specialist Care Latest News Media Centre News Features My health my language French Lithuanian Mandarin Chinese (Simplified) Romanian The Jehovah's Witness religion is not so much well known for its symbols but rather for its lack and rejection of symbols which are adopted by almost all religions. (LogOut/ It helped me pass my exam and the test questions are very similar to the practice quizzes on Study.com. Watchtower magazine's mission statement explains that like a watchtower of old, the Witnesses' Watchtower allows us to view the . There are many questions to ask Jehovahs Witnesses when they come and knock at your door, and there are many Scriptures in the Bible that prove that Jesus is God. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica DVD 2002: Russell's interest was particularly in the Great Pyramid of Gizeh, built for Cheops. Many of the beliefs and symbols included in Watchtower publications during the leadership of Russell are what Jehovah's Witnesses now claim to be of pagan and even occult background. They tie together religious thought throughout the centuries (millennia even) and are just as powerful today as they were back then. To understand why Russell had an interest in the All Seeing Eye, we can look to the meaning Freemasons bestowed upon it, as explained by Albert G. Mackey, M.D. Most people learn about the Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs about celebrating Christmas, Easter, and birthdays in grade school if they have a classmate who belongs to that faith, watching them sit out of certain class activities or celebrations.