2007-09-04 12:27:52 · 13 answers · asked by Steph. 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
NO! It is forbidden. The reason is that there is only 2 birthday parties mentioned in the Bible, and both turn out that some one was killed. So they say that Birthdays should not be celebrated, and that they are pagan origins.
2007-09-04 12:34:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is not just something Jehovah's Witnesses just dreamed up. Notice how birthday celebrations have it's origins with pagan gods and idolatrous worship:
"It is thought that the large-scale celebration of birthdays in Europe began with the cult of Mithras ("a Hellenistic and Roman GOD"; "the central GOD of Mithraism") which originated in Persia but was spread by soldiers throughout the Roman Empire. Before this, such celebrations were not common;" -Wikipedia; Topic: "Birthday"; Heading: "History of celebration of birthdays in the West"
The Jews "regarded birthday celebrations as parts of IDOLATROUS worship . . . , and this probably on account of the IDOLATROUS rites with which they were observed in honor of those who were regarded as the patron GODS of the day on which the party was born." -M'Clintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia (1882, Vol. I, p. 817)
But notice how EXCLUSIVE the worship of THE ONLY TRUE GOD must be: "Be careful to do everything I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips." - Exodus 23:13, NIVSB.
So, if pagan ceremonies or customs are really mixed in with ceremonies or customs that we use today, they are not merely unacceptable - - - they are detestable to God. We must completely get away from these unclean things and not even "touch" them. "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." - 2 Cor. 6:17.
If a holiday or custom is being deliberately participated in by a Christian, it must have absolutely no known pagan religion associations.
2007-09-04 20:20:48 · answer #2 · answered by tik_of_totg 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah's Witnesses believe strongly in God Jehovah and in his Son Jesus Christ.
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
2007-09-05 10:03:47 · answer #3 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
My sister in law is one and no they don't celebrate birthdays the celebrate wedding anniversary's and they she has PRESENT DAYS for her and the children.
2007-09-04 19:34:17 · answer #4 · answered by itsjustme 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
We are wise to follow in Jesus footsteps.
Did Jesus celebrate his birthday? No. Did his Apostles celebrate their birthdays? No.
Did the Apostles celebrate Christmas? No.
The date of Jesus birth is not written in the scriptures. If God would have wanted us to celebrate these days he would have told us so.
2007-09-05 15:38:56 · answer #5 · answered by Jason W 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Jehovah God or YHWH created humans w/ free will.
We (humans) can celebrate anything we want to.
(recorded history shows this to b true)
We (J'sW's) choose not to.
We choose to obey the laws,
principles and commands of God
in all aspects of our life.
So.....we could, 'we choose not to' go against the Word of God.
2007-09-05 13:19:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Nope...Never
2007-09-05 21:06:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, according to them it is a pagan ritual
2007-09-04 19:35:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
They don't observe birthdays.
2007-09-04 19:33:01 · answer #9 · answered by JN 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Oh come on
2007-09-04 19:33:34 · answer #10 · answered by I.J. Riley 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋