jehovah witness?

Question

can u explain and justify why you dont celebrate birthdays- i can understand why you personally chose to not celebrate your own-- but dont u think its just rude to refuse to even say happy birthday to a close friend

i ask this because at work- a birthday card was sent around for a sick (dying) coworker- and he refused to put anything in the card-- i sd its not celebrating ANYTHING just to write "have a great day" or "hope u are feeling better" but he refused as it was a birthday card- i dont care what religion you are or where you come from- that is just plain rude-i am not religious at all but i know that neither jesus nor god would approve of such ignorance

Answer 1

I'm not one but I do know that Jehovah's Witnesses choose not to celebrate birthdays because it is insignificant and is viewed as a form of worship, whereas they believe that worship is reserved for the one true God.

Answer 2

Jehovah's Witnesses are quite thankful for the gift of life, and regularly thank the Almighty for life in their prayers. Witnesses are also taught to honor their parents, partly because of the parents' role in giving life. But a birthday celebration does not honor the true God or parents, it honors oneself.

A Witness would be very likely to take special note of such birthdays as 16, 21, 30, 40, etc. His family and perhaps a few close friends would likely take note as well and perhaps even congratulate him privately.

However, Jehovah's Witnesses would not stage an ego-centric gathering around such an occassion. Bible students are encouraged to consider:

: 0% of faithful biblical Jews celebrated birthdays
: 0% of first century Christians celebrated birthdays
: 100% of birthdays celebrated in the bible were by debauched enemies of God (See Mark 6:17-29; Gen 40:19-22)

Bible historians (M'Clintock, Strong, and others) have noted that faithful Jews of the bible did not celebrate birthdays, and that ancient pagan birthday celebrations were at least partially intended to honor the patron gods of the particular day.

By comparison with such paganisms, the bible does not even tell us the birthdates of Jesus or ANY of his apostles!

Admittedly, the bible doesn't specifically forbid birthday celebrations, which is why they rarely results in 'disfellowshipping'. Still, the practice is certainly 'frowned upon' and against the consciences of most Jehovah's Witnesses.

Learn more about Jehovah's Witnesses:
http://watchtower.org/library/jt/index.htm

Answer 3

Jehovah's Witnesses use God's Word the Bible as their guide for life. We study it, read it regularly, and try to live as best we can according to its laws and principles. Where the subject of birthdays is concerned, however, it takes some reasoning on the matter to come to the proper conclusion.

Where birthdays are mentioned in the Bible (only 2 instances), both occasions are spoken of in a very negative light. In both instances the celebrations were being observed, not by those who worshiped Jehovah God, but by those worshiping false gods. In both instances, a murder took place. In the second instance, it was the murder of one of God's own prophets, John the Baptizer. The scriptures, in no way, endorse the celebrating of anyone's birthday, including that of Jesus Christ. If birthday celebrations were proper, don't you think that God would have had the exact date of Jesus birth listed in his word along with the command to observe it? If Jesus' birthday isn't to be celebrated, why should we celebrated anyone else's? For these reasons, and a few more, it is reasonable to conclude that birthday celebrations are wrong and as such, true Christians would not get involved in them in any way, including signing one's name to an office birthday card.

It is not plain rude, it's being obedient and respectful of the Bible and how it portrays birthday celebrations. It's more important that we obey God, rather than go along with the crowd who ignore the Bible's viewpoint on birthdays.

Answer 4

Misunderstandings may even arise with celebrations that appear to have few, if any, religious connections. This is true of birthdays. Although Jehovah’s Witnesses respect the right of others to celebrate birthdays, you are no doubt well aware that they choose not to share in such celebrations.

Le livre des religions (The Book of Religions), an encyclopedia widely distributed in France, calls this custom a ritual and lists it among “secular rites.” Although considered to be a harmless secular custom today, birthday celebrations are actually rooted in paganism.

The Encyclopedia Americana (1991 edition) states: “The ancient world of Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Persia celebrated the birthdays of gods, kings, and nobles.” Authors Ralph and Adelin Linton reveal the underlying reason for this. In their book The Lore of Birthdays, they write: “Mesopotamia and Egypt, the cradles of civilization, were also the first lands in which men remembered and honoured their birthdays. The keeping of birthday records was important in ancient times principally because a birth date was essential for the casting of a horoscope.” This direct connection with astrology is a cause of great concern to any who avoid astrology because of what the Bible says about it.—Isaiah 47:13-15.

Not surprisingly then, we read in The World Book Encyclopedia: “The early Christians did not celebrate His [Christ’s] birth because they considered the celebration of anyone’s birth to be a pagan custom.”—Volume 3, page 416.
With the foregoing in mind, Jehovah’s Witnesses choose not to share in birthday festivities. To be sure, the birth of a child is a happy, glorious event. Naturally, all parents rejoice as their children grow and develop with each passing year. Jehovah’s Witnesses also find great joy in demonstrating their love for their family and friends by giving gifts and having good times together. However, in view of the origin of birthday celebrations, they prefer to do so at other times throughout the year.—Luke 15:22-25; Acts 20:35.

The Bible specifically mentions only two birthday observances, both involving men who did not serve God. (Genesis 40:20-22; Matthew 14:6-11) Since the Scriptures do not reveal the birth date of the perfect man Jesus Christ, why should we give special attention to the birthdays of imperfect humans? (Ecclesiastes 7:1) Of course, godly parents do not await a special day to show their children love. A 13-year-old Christian girl remarked: “My family and I have lots of fun. . . . I’m very close to my parents, and when other kids ask why I don’t celebrate holidays, I tell them that I celebrate every day.” Said a Christian youth aged 17: “In our house, gift-giving is all year long.” Greater happiness results when gifts are given spontaneously.

If you would like further information, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit http://www.watchtower.org

Answer 5

I'm not a Jehovah Witness, but I have friends who are.
I'm pretty sure that your request for them to "justify" why they don't celebrate holidays would put them off a little!
Anyway, the other answers regarding Pagan celebrations is correct.
And, no, they don't think it's rude to not celebrate your birthday with you.
I actually tend to think that, socially, I prefer their method of celebration. There is no set specific date in which you are required to appear with a gift for a "special occasion". You can gift whenever you want to for no reason at all, and THAT is more special than the required obligatory gifting that takes place at designated holidays. Our holidays seem to be all about the commercialized purchasing of materialistic crap so that we may appease the person we give the gift to. Not so much about the gesture.
Good question

Answer 6

A Jehovah Witness doesn't celebrate birthdays because they think it is a pagan tradition. They say the only birthdays that were celebrated in the Bible were of pagans.

Answer 7

I am not a Jehovah's Witness but I have a question for you. Don't you think it is rude to expect a friend that is a Jehovah's Witness to wish you a happy birthday?


Blessings )O(

Answer 8

Perhaps you might consider reading the Bible where it tells
you not to celebrate birthdays...
This will explain to you why these Christians do not celebrate
birthdays..
This does not mean that you yourself must follow the Bible but
it should explain why others choose not to celebrate birthdays.

Answer 9

I have debated them for years and they endorse many falshoods. The Bible has been twisted and rewritten to support their views. King Herod, who sent Jesus to his death was celebrating his birthday at the time, it is for that reason they support non celebration of birthdays.

Answer 10

birthdays, holidays, christmas all take away from the celebration of jesus life and teachings.

I'm sure JW's think some of the things that other christian organizations do is quite wacky also.