How do you tell a Jehovah Witness follower?

Question

Happy Birthday? My sisters 44th birthday is today and I usually don't send her anything (presents/cards), but do try to make a phone call. I usually tell her to have a 'special day' or 'hope you can do something nice on your day'. I am not a Jehovah Witness and find somethings a little confusing about certain beliefs they hold compared to other Christians.
My sister says she was not baptized in the Kingdom Hall yet because she is not able to live up to their standards right now-so does that mean she is not a true Jehovah Witness if she doesn't attend their services? She holds Bible studies in her home, which I think is a good change for her and her daughter because they do that together. She believes about the same as I do about God and Jesus in most things except the 2nd coming...it becomes frustrating talking to her and I don't know what to say, so I usually don't and just keep her in my prayers.
Is saying Happy B-day really all that offensive for her when I'm happy she was born.

Answer 1

well i was raised a jw when i was younger and its ok to behappy for them on there bday its really how they take it you should be understanding about there faith and they should understand yours so it depeneds on the person but you didnt do anything wrong by saying it

Answer 2

First I would like to say, I take expressions such as "happy birthday", 'merry christmas" in the spirit they are given.

I won't return the expression, but I will acknowledge it.

Have said this though, If you review most of the complaints about JW's, it is that they force their religion on others.

Yet these same people don't think twice of 'forcing' their beliefs on us.

If you know a person is a JW and you insist on expressing a 'holy'day on us, aren't you forcing your beliefs?

I can assure you that your sister is happy to be alive. I can assure you that Jehovah is happy your sister is alive.

Notice how Jehovah felt when his people mixed false religion with true religion at

Ex 32:4 Then he took [the gold] from their hands, and he formed it with a graving tool and proceeded to make it into a molten statue of a calf. And they began to say: “This is your God, O Israel, who led you up out of the land of Egypt.”

7 Jehovah now said to Moses: “Go, descend, because your people whom you led up out of the land of Egypt have acted ruinously.

Answer 3

my brother is a catholic and usually calls me on my birthday to remind me I'm getting older.we don't celebrate birthdays only because there is no recorded birthdays celebrated by true followers of Jehovah and Jesus in the bible. the only two ended up in someone dying, john the baptist lost his head because a pagan ruler gave it as a gift at his party.i would just ask your sister to help explain to you exactly what she believes in.and send her a card when shes not expecting it.

Answer 4

Disfellowshipped JW
1982 Corning, CA Congregation
For cause, but not the ones some ex-JWs who want to put themselves on a pedestal, want you to believe, and know you will without question.

JWs follow the example of Christ, who didn't observe his birthday. Of interest, the churches of Christendom deny their followers the knowledge of the day Christ did say to observe.

You received a good answer from the JW above. If you are really interested in making her feel good on this day, ask her why JWs don't observe man made holidays. Listen to her without judgment. If nothing else, you may learn something.

Answer 5

A non-Witness who insists on saying "Happy Birthday" to a Jehovah's Witness is being somewhat selfish, but the vast majority of Witnesses would not be terribly offended at such sincere good wishes. Jehovah's Witnesses do NOT believe that acknowledging a birthday is a paganism, but they do believe that CELEBRATING a birthday is a form of pagan false worship.

Jehovah's Witnesses are well-aware that they are a religious minority, and they understand that their friends, relatives, and colleagues will discuss things of general interest. Witnesses actually are quite capable of discussing a wide range of topics beyond just eschatology.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=eschatology

Please do not be overly concerned about saying "the right things" in casual conversation with a Witness. In all things, of course, Jehovah's Witnesses do not seek to restrict the religious freedoms of their workmates, classmates, or neighbors and do not seek to impose Witness religious sensibilities on the non-Witness community.

(John 17:15-18) [Jesus prayed to Jehovah] “I request you, not to take [my disciples] out of the world, but to watch over them because of the wicked one. They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world. Sanctify them by means of the truth; your word is truth. Just as you sent me forth into the world, I also sent them forth into the world

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/

Answer 6

we are christian and we are not a cult. learn what the word cult means. a cult worships man and live together. we live in our own homes and work on jobs. a cult don't work. we may be your next door neighbor. we pay bills also. as for as her birthday, just don't say anything. it is another day for us. we annoy the day. just makes us another year older (yuck). I just wish people would stop calling us a cult and that we are brainwashed. visit a Kingdom hall and learn what we are all about. we worship Jehovah and Jesus Christ. www.watchtower.org. when the holidays come and someone wishes me a happy holiday, I just say thank you or don't say anything.

Answer 7

Generally speaking.
As long as you understand her position regarding certain celebrations, it shouldn't cause her any difficulties.

She is not trying to control what you believe. She is just trying to bring her life up to God's standards.

Oh, I've been one of Jehovah's Witnesses for a few years and when someone wishes me a 'Merry Christmas' or whatever, I usually just thank them for the thought. Sometimes, if the opportunity is their, I will explain why I don't return the greeting.

Answer 8

My husband is 4th generation JW, with incredible strength of spirit he was able to remove himself from that ..."religion".
He had to lose his family and his job to do so. Now he is the head of his own family and a master of his trade so it all worked out.

I realize that was a non-sequitur yet I felt it important to share because I want to convey that I do not have respect for JW's for various, valid reasons.

When he was growing up his mother would celebrate with him his "special day" how this is different from a birthday I'll never know.

One theory on why they do not celebrate holidays is because events such as birthdays build self esteem. Self esteem is a dangerous thing for a "religion" that is interested in mind control.

Tell your sister happy birthday, tell her you are glad that she was born and that you love her, build her up and maybe she too will have the strength of spirit to remove herself from the group of people who are currently telling her she is not good enough for God or worthy of baptism.

Answer 9

She is brainwashed. She really isnt a wittness for Jehovah. Because if she was then she would believe I John 5:7 , Matthew 28:19 and a host of others

Answer 10

They are afraid of birthday celebrations because the Watchtower tells them. Perhaps for a birthday present you can send her is a book showing the errors of the Watchtower.