Our grand daughter is graduating from high school. She and her family are witnesses. We could not celebrate her birthday because it would supposedly place her as the center of attention etc... BUT, we have all been invited to her house for a backyard barbecue to celebrate her graduation. Gifts are accepted, etc... she obviously will be the center of attention. So, what's the difference between a birthday and a graduation celebration ?? Sincerely looking for an answer so we can make sense out of all this. Thanks
2007-06-13 09:12:04 · 28 answers · asked by pianoart62 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Graduations are not associated with god-dishonoring pagan false worship.
Regarding birthday celebrations, 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!
Since such celebrations are not required in true worship, and can easily become a distraction, so Jehovah's Witnesses focus their attention elsewhere. In particular, they are focussed on the preaching work which *IS* a requirement for Christians:
(Luke 10:1-17) [Jesus] the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.
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/article_01.htm
2007-06-13 10:16:28 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 15⤊ 0⤋
YEY! Congratulations!!!
Its always really nice to see children grow up :)
Now regarding the difference between the birthday celebration and Graduation. There is a difference and why we dont celebrate birthdays and we do celebrate graduations
Graduations: are not a celebration of any god, any person, or Pagan. it is a celebration of someone graduating from school. Its a steping stone to life.
Jehovah's witnesses do not celebrate birthdays merely because the person is the "center of attention" but because Birthdays were not celebrated by Christ, nor did he instruct us to do so. I have attached Part of an article that talks about the origin of birthdays and gives a reason why we dont celebrate it.
Birthdays: The German periodical "Schwäbische Zeitung" (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt) of April 3/4, 1981 on page 4 stated: "The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have a long history. Their origins lie in the realm of magic and religion. The customs of offering congratulations, presenting gifts and celebrating - complete with lighted candles - in ancient times were meant to protect the birthday celebrant from the demons and to ensure his security for the coming year. . . . Down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom."
The book The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952) by Ralph and Adelin Linton, on pages 8, 18-20 had this to say: "The Greeks believed that everyone had a protective spirit or daemon who attended his birth and watched over him in life. This spirit had a mystic relation with the god on whose birthday the individual was born.
So, just go have fun and enjoy the time and celebrate the hard work your granddaughter has done!!! :)
2007-06-14 04:43:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
There are several reasons not to celebrate birthdays. Only one of them is that it is associated with false worship. It was a pagan celebration that early Christians did not observe and neither should we.
Being the center of attention and having people tend to your every wish is quite self-centered (in my ever-so-humble opinion). This is a quality that Jesus never displayed. In fact, he said that in order to follow him, we must disown ourselves.
A graduation is quite an accomplishment and we should offer congratulations when this is completed. Getting a basic secular education is necessary in being a viable part of any work force. So, acknowledging this accomplishment is appropriate.
But if you want to know more (specifically about birthday and holiday celebrations) look at the other links that some other witnesses have given you you'll be able to see the complete history of how/when these celebrations were accepted by mainstream religions and intertwined in modern-day life.
You are commended for doing what 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says: "Make sure of all things. Hold fast to what is fine."
2007-06-14 08:25:39 · answer #3 · answered by Roxie J Squared 3 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Grandpa, congratulations on your grandaughter's high school graduation.
To answer your question, celebrating a birthday is different from celebrating because of an indivuduals achievements. Birthdays originates with pagan worships and the only 2 birthdays mentioned in the Bible were actually celebrated by 2 individiduals that were not worshippers of Jehovah but worshippers of idols and pagan gods. It is not about bringing attention to one's self.
Gradutation on the other hand has nothing to do with pagan roots or pagan gods. Graduation is not an act of worship nor' is it bringing honor to idols/gods that is commong to pagan worship. That is the reason why a graduation party is not an issue to Jehovah's witnesses. It is the same with BABY SHOWERS, Weddings. Bridal/bachelor's party or wedding anniversaries.
I hope this makes sense.
So, please, enjoy the graduation party and be proud of your granddaughter's achievements!
2007-06-13 11:53:17 · answer #4 · answered by Agape 3 · 14⤊ 0⤋
Do you know where birthday celebrations originated from? Most people dont know, but if they did, i wonder if they would want any part of it, I mean those who claim to be true Christians...Birthday celebrations' origin lie in the realm of magic & religion...down to the fourth century Christianity rejected the birthday celebration as a pagan custom...candles on a cake started with the Greeks, & it was rooted in MAGIC, it was meant to grant special wishes....also some cultures believe that the candles on a cake were lit to protect the person from demons & to make sure they had another year of life...so all of this does not originate with the Bible or what the Bible teaches...that is why Jehovahs Witnesses do not celebrate Birthdays...I wonder how many who call themselves Christians would continue to do this if they knew the true origin behind birthday celebrations, or just overlook it like everything else....hmm
2007-06-13 10:53:40 · answer #5 · answered by Redd 3 · 13⤊ 0⤋
Actually, her being the center of attention isn't the reason she can't celebrate her birthday. Jesus said nothing of celebrating one's birthday in the Bible, nor did he celebrate his own, therefore Jehovah's Witnesses don't celebrate it. I believe there is another reason behind it, but I can't be sure if I'm accurate about it, and I don't want to give you incorrect information. As for her graduation, it's fine if you attend and celebrate and even give a gift since times have changed so much since biblical times, nothing was ever said about not celebrating a graduation.
2007-06-13 09:15:30 · answer #6 · answered by tinythesp 4 · 11⤊ 1⤋
trinitybombshel what does the issue of blood have anything to do with the persons question?
Putting a person in the center of attention has nothing to do with JWs rejection of birthdays. JWs are unique in rejecting all forms of paganism.
Jesus and his disciples never did birthdays, they knew from history that birthdays came from pagan traditions. The bible gives us examples of persons that DID birthdays that did not worship God. (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21, 22, 24-27)
2007-06-15 05:11:00 · answer #7 · answered by keiichi 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I never actually became a Witness, but I know the answer.
The difference is that the Bible doesn't tell about any graduation parties at which something bad happened. There are 2 birthday parties mentioned in the Bible. At both, someone was beheaded. Could have happened at a grad party just as easily, but they didn't have them back then.
I think the center of attention thing is about not showing honor to anyone. They seem to believe that showing respect and honor is akin to "worship". I can't explain why they make exceptions for honoring graduates and couples who have wedding anniversaries. Straining the gnat, perhaps?
2007-06-14 17:59:31 · answer #8 · answered by browneyedgirl 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
We are taught to honor our parents on the day we are born,due to the pagansystems the world has JW's don'tcelebrate alot of holidays. But we are allowed to recieve gifts any other time.Respecther family by not celebrating the birthday but you can make the graduation openhouse something special if you feel like you are being left out of holidays and celebrations that are worldly that we do not celebrate.
2007-06-13 11:29:40 · answer #9 · answered by Icyelene R 4 · 11⤊ 0⤋
I celebrated my graduation too!!!
Birthdays are present in the Bible and they were celebrated only by Jehoveh's ennemies, moreover there were some murders !!! That's why we don't celebrate birthdays!!!
There is nothing to compare with graduation!!! Your grand daughter has to feel that her family is united and love her!!! That's good occasion I think!!!
2007-06-14 20:40:05 · answer #10 · answered by pirouette 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋