my aunt is an jehovah witness i asked her why they dont celebrate christmas or birthdays she answered Jesus told us to celebrate his death not his birth. okay i understand that so why cant they celebrate other birthdays?
2007-12-27 10:58:20 · 19 answers · asked by Nena87 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
2007-12-27 17:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
There is no place in the Bible that any Jews celebrated their birthdays, Jesus didn't either. There are only 2 birthdays that are celebrated in the Bible and one was when John the Baptists was beheaded. Both were celebrated from people that did not live according to Jehovah's Standards, not Jewish. In other words, they were pagan.
2016-04-11 04:05:50 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do Bible references to birthday celebrations put them in a favorable light? the bible makes only two references to such celebrations.
Gen 40:20-22; "now on the third day it turned out to be Pharaoh's birthday, and he proceeded to make a feast...Accordingly he returned the chief of the cupbearers too his post of cupbearer...But the chief of the bakers he hung up."
Matt. 14:6-10: "When Herod's birthday was being celebrated the daughter of Herodias danced at it and pleased Herod so much that promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. then she, under her mothers coaching, said: 'Give me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.'...He sent and had John beheaded in the prison."
Everything in in th Bible is there for a reason. (2Tim. 3:16,17)
Jehovah's Witnesses take note that God's Word reports unfavorably about birthday celebrations and so shun these.
How did early Christians and Hews of Bible times view birthday celebrations?
"The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general."
"The later Hebrew looked on the celebration of birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship,a view which would be abundantly confirmed by what they saw of the common observances associated with theses days."
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?
"The various customs with which people today celebrate their birthdays have long history. Their orgins line 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."
2007-12-28 21:32:47 · answer #3 · answered by Vivimos en los Ultimos Dias 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Each religion that exists on our planet is separated and defined by its superstitious beliefs, and even more amazing are all the people that subscribe to such childlike nonsense and fairytales.
Every being in the universe knows right from wrong, and the Christians' bible is written and marketed by nothing more than persistent word of mouth. There is actually more scientific evidence that disproves Adam and Eve, that leaky boat that Noah built, and all the other Harry Potterish stories.
Every religion will tell you that their beliefs are the only way to go and everyone else is sinful and should cease and desist from their current religion and join in on their congregation. The Catholics will tell you not to use condoms, the Lutherans will say it is okay to get divorced, the Jehovah's Witnesses will tell you not to celebrate birthdays. If you honestly feel that wishing someone a happy birthday, giving them a present and acknowledging them on the day they were born is sinful, then don't do it. Otherwise, learn to think for yourself.
The Christians will tell you that their God and their Christ is loving and compassionate, and that their religion is based on love and not fear. (*snickering) Well if that is true then wouldn't their God and their Christ judge them based on their character as a human being rather then if they followed the man-made rules from a book written with no references?
Okay, here comes the part where the Christians start preaching about their bible and how their religion is the only way to go and how we all need Jesus. Good thing I brought my shovel with me.
2007-12-27 19:06:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
WOW!! I almost see the verbatim response from the reasoning book. The only two birthday in the bible................What about the birth of Jesus when the angels rejoiced?
The never mentioned scripture at Luke 2:13,14. Was this not a celebration of a birth? What about Job 1:4, 5, what is occurring here? A Birthday celebration in the bible never mentioned by the wbts. The preceding answers are some-what correct, but a few key points were omitted.
Concerning items of pagan orgin, we all wear wedding rings, do you know their orgin? They are of pagan orgin, yet it acceptable to exchange them in the KH.
Is it ok to be selective in choosing pagan celebrations and symbols? Birthdays bad, piniata and wedding rings are OK.
huh???
.
Many have to read the bible as a book on it own, without the FILTERED INFORMATION. Many elders I have worked with through the years were unaware of this additional information regarding birthdays and rings.
I respond this way because MANY prefaced their answers with, "The only two birthdays in the bible.........................."
That statement is incorrect. I am not defending the celebration of birthdays, just correcting what I believe to be incorrect information.
Being versed in selective, filtered knowledge is not a sign of great intelligence, just great repitition and memory techniques.
Question the knowledge!!!
2007-12-28 19:05:36 · answer #5 · answered by Beautiful Death 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Jesus said better the day a person dies than the day he is born,meaning when a baby is born you dont know what kind of person it will be .when a person dies you know if that was a good person or not, what kind of life they lived. also rulers years ago would sacrifice Christians on their birthdays for their enjoyment...out of respect for those Christians you wouldn't want to celebrate..in a more newer term, we know that the columbine school or 911 was some horrible events, now if we were to have a party on those dates every year, that would not go well for the family of those victims.. plus in time everyone would forget what they were celebrating anyway...I have not celebrated my birthday in 38 years and have not missed a thing. my family and I do gift exchanges all the time not just one or 2 days a year and we have fun.
2007-12-27 11:42:01 · answer #6 · answered by Norman S 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
Because they are unscriptural.
The only two birthday celebrations spoken of in the Bible were held by persons who did not worship Jehovah. (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21, 22, 24-27) The early Christians did not celebrate birthdays. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions. True Christians give gifts and have good times together at other times during the year.
2007-12-27 11:02:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 4⤋
Do Bible references to birthday celebrations put them in a favorable light? The Bible makes only two references to such celebrations:
Gen. 40:20-22: “Now on the third day it turned out to be Pharaoh’s birthday, and he proceeded to make a feast . . . Accordingly he returned the chief of the cupbearers to his post of cupbearer . . . But the chief of the bakers he hung up.”
Matt. 14:6-10: “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. Then she, under her mother’s coaching, said: ‘Give me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ . . . He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.”
Everything that is in the Bible is there for a reason. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Jehovah’s Witnesses take note that God’s Word reports unfavorably about birthday celebrations and so shun these.
How did early Christians and Jews of Bible times view birthday celebrations?
“The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church, During the Three First Centuries (New York, 1848), Augustus Neander (translated by Henry John Rose), p. 190.
“The later Hebrews looked on the celebration of birthdays as a part of idolatrous worship, a view which would be abundantly confirmed by what they saw of the common observances associated with these days.”—The Imperial Bible-Dictionary (London, 1874), edited by Patrick Fairbairn, Vol. I, p. 225.
What is the origin of popular customs associated with birthday celebrations?
“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.”—Schwäbische Zeitung (magazine supplement Zeit und Welt), April 3/4, 1981, p. 4.
“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. The Romans also subscribed to this idea. . . . This notion was carried down in human belief and is reflected in the guardian angel, the fairy godmother and the patron saint. . . . The custom of lighted candles on the cakes started with the Greeks. . . . Honey cakes round as the moon and lit with tapers were placed on the temple altars of [Artemis]. . . . Birthday candles, in folk belief, are endowed with special magic for granting wishes. . . . Lighted tapers and sacrificial fires have had a special mystic significance ever since man first set up altars to his gods. The birthday candles are thus an honor and tribute to the birthday child and bring good fortune. . . . Birthday greetings and wishes for happiness are an intrinsic part of this holiday. . . . Originally the idea was rooted in magic. . . . Birthday greetings have power for good or ill because one is closer to the spirit world on this day.”—The Lore of Birthdays (New York, 1952), Ralph and Adelin Linton, pp. 8, 18-20.
2007-12-27 11:17:29 · answer #8 · answered by delux 2 · 6⤊ 2⤋
who in their right mind would want to celebrate being one year closer to death now saying this make me a hypocrite for I still celebrate my birthday every year with cake presents and parties but hey what can I say to want is to be human.
2007-12-27 11:07:00 · answer #9 · answered by eugendes 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was told (by several relatives who are/were JWs) that because of Herod's stepdaughter's request for John the Baptist's head that's why they don't celebrate birthdays.
2007-12-27 11:10:55 · answer #10 · answered by helives75 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋