2007-12-12 11:27:05 · 11 answers · asked by joconfidence 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
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!
Jehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.
Other holidays derive from false religion, and so are incompatible with pure worship as adulterating interfaith. For example, Easter derives from the pagan god Oestre and celebrates "rebirth" and "fertility" instead of commemorating Christ's Last Supper and death as Jesus commanded:
(Luke 22:1-22) [Jesus] dispatched Peter and John, saying: “Go and get the passover ready for us to eat.” ...14 At length when the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them: “I have greatly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it again until it becomes fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.”
Seemingly innocuous holidays may have only a tangential connection with false worship, such as Mother's Day and Father's Day (although arguably derived from ancestor worship). Understated observance of these is not generally considered interfaith by Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is too easily misunderstood in some cultures.
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
2007-12-12 18:38:29 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Christmas supposedly commemorates the birth of Jesus. Yet there is no evidence that the first century disciples of Jesus observed such a holiday. For two centuries after Christ's birth no one knew when he was born. Even if they had known they would not have celebrated it anyways. Because the early christians "considered the celebration of anyone's birth to be a pagan custom." The only two birth days celebrated in the bible were held by two rulers who did not worship Jehovah (God). Jesus and his disciples likely knew that birthday celebrations were connected to superstition. People say Jesus's birth day was on December 25th which is not the birth day b/c evidently it was in October. Some who later said to be christians likely "wished the date to coincide with the pagan Roman festival marking the "birthday of the unconquered sun"" So there are connections with christmas and false religion. This is why Jehovah's witnesses stay away from christmas (and birth days). jhdh-Jehovah's witnessess do not belive in hell. In the bible there is no proove that there is hell
2016-05-23 07:16:41 · answer #2 · answered by virgina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to keep things simple I will take Christmas, it is a pagan holiday.
It is true that we used to celebrate Christmas, it's a matter of public record. Thankfully we saw the error of that.
Ultimately the reason we don't celebrate Christmas is the same reason Jews don't eat pork. Because it would violate their beliefs.
2007-12-14 12:13:10 · answer #3 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a great explanation as to why christmas isn't celebrated by them. http://www.garnertedarmstrong.ws/christmas.htm
As for birthdays, only two celebrations were mentioned in the Bible, and there were murders committed at both. It's really a vanity issue.
2007-12-12 11:37:44 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because, according to them, God will think that we are celebrating the pagan festivities in which those celebration are based on.
Like if God were not able to see through us and see what's really inside us. If we have never belonged to those pagan religions, how are we celebrating exactly what they were celebrating?...nonsense.
2007-12-12 11:32:08 · answer #5 · answered by Millie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why did they celibate it one year then not the next year then go back to celebrating it then stop celebrating it again is what I would like to know. cant the people in Brooklyn make up their minds.
2007-12-12 11:36:22 · answer #6 · answered by Benny 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Celebrating birthdays is not a Biblical practice. Celebrations which glorify people or human organisations are not accepted by Jehovah.
"As Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet and did obeisance to him. But Peter lifted him up, saying: “Rise; I myself am also a man.”" -- Acts 10:25,26
There are mentioned only 2 birthdays in the Bible, those of Pharaoh of Egypt and Herod Antipas (men who didn't serve Jehovah). During these celebrations 2 men were killed (Pharaoh's chief baker and John the Baptiser).
"Now on the third day it turned out to be Pharaoh’s birthday, and he proceeded to make a feast for all his servants and to lift up the head of the chief of the cupbearers and the head of the chief of the bakers in the midst of his servants... But the chief of the bakers he hung up, just as Joseph had given them the interpretation." -- Genesis 40:20,22
"But when Herod’s birthday was being celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced at it and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked... and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. " -- Matthew 14:6,7,10
The origins of the many customs associated with birthday celebrations belong to religion and realm of magic.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm
Christmas has its roots in ancient pagan festivals.
“The birth of Christ was assigned the date of the winter solstice (December 25 in the Julian calendar, January 6 in the Egyptian), because on this day, as the sun began its return to northern skies, the pagan devotees of Mithra celebrated the dies natalis Solis Invicti (birthday of the invincible sun).” -- New Catholic Encyclopedia
“Pope Liberius [in the fourth century] decided to absorb pagan observances by declaring Dec. 25 the official birthday of Jesus. The change of name made little change in form.” -- New York Times
The Bible doesn't mention when Jesus was born. But it gives us a clue.
"There were also in that same country shepherds living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks. And suddenly Jehovah’s angel stood by them, and Jehovah’s glory gleamed around them, and they became very fearful. But the angel said to them: “Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to you good news of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ [the] Lord, in David’s city." -- Luke 2:8-11
There are no "shepherds living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks" in December in Bethlehem because the weather is rainy and cold. So, Jesus was not born in December.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20001215/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19981215/diagram_01.htm
2007-12-12 11:57:02 · answer #7 · answered by Alex 5 · 4⤊ 2⤋
Foolishness
2007-12-12 11:30:15 · answer #8 · answered by BOC 5 · 2⤊ 3⤋
SIMPLY Because tHEse Celebrations R of "Pagan" Origin !
AND if tHEy R of Pagan Origin tHEn tHEy SIMPLY R NOT "Christian" ! ! !
Learn MORE at http://www.watchtower.org
=====================(I AM)=====================
2007-12-12 18:45:46 · answer #9 · answered by . 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I'd be happy they pretend my house has no doors to knock on
2007-12-12 11:29:25 · answer #10 · answered by phule_poet 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋