I am myself a jehovahs witness and have asked the question again and again. what exactly is wrong with birthdays. I understand why we dont celebrate christmas or haloween or any of the other holidays but i do not understand why celebrating a new time in your life is so wrong. And if birthdays are against the religion than why arent anniversaries or any other event like it against are religion. if anyone can explain it to me i would appreciate it.
128271
:})\n"mcrgirl5851" I feel sorry for you, the truth is that Jehovah's witness are no kinder, or more understanding to its own members, who ask questions, than Islam was to the young man who converted to Christianity recently.\n I'm not JW but have no problem with their disdain of celebrated days, if that is what you believe, as long as obedience doesn't become so strict that you begin to depend on your works as a means of earning salvation.\n  The problem you have experienced is not uncommon. Many pseudo-Christian religions use authoritarian control to keep newer and younger constituents in line. Free thought and spiritual guidance are often discouraged in favor of a supposedly more authoritive source like the priesthood or the organization or the pope or what ever.\n A normal part of maturation is questioning those things we accepted without question as children. We begin to become responsible for our own belief system. Our belief in a higher power must be our own or it isn't’t our belief , A religion which is not our will not save us.\nLet me encourage you to remain obedient to your parents, to others with more knowledge but not to allow your inquisitive mind to be silenced. G-d is able to defend himself. He dosen't’t mind questions. Some of the greatest characters in scripture went Through periods of questioning. G-d gave you that fertile mind use it. But use it to his glory. Be a witness of the true Jehovah.\n\nBless you.\n\n\nBy the way bronxgirl, you don't want her to celebrate his death either. Easter is also off limits.\nthe fact that other pagan groups use the same day does not mean they win and Christ looses.\nthe victory belongs to Christ,taking control of their celebrations to the glory of Jehovah is a good thing.
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Why do people celebrate month aniversaries anyways?\n\nAnniversary means to return to YEARLY. That's one YEAR not one MONTH!\n\nI suppose a celebrating each month would be called a luniversary. Thats sounds dumb though, and I don't think there is such a word.\n\nI don't get all that excited about months. It's the YEARS that matter.
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Thank you for the birthday wish, and song\nMine is the 26th. Talk about being lost in the holiday shuffle. I was 21 before I ever had a birthday cake. Finally had a party at 30. Love the fact that my birthday is spent cleaning up the mess from Christmas ! ! \n\nNephews is the 24th (I try to make his day special) \nGrandson is the 13th (Will make his day special too, this year will be his first birthday)
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First, Jesus was born in September, 4BC. So the feast day of Christmas was to replace a pagan holiday.\n\nSecond, I don' t recall Jesus being materialistic and giving gifts to his disciples on his birthday.\n\nWhat is this fuss for a feast that replaced a pagan holiday? If you think it is Christian, you need to reevaluate your belief.\n\nGod is spirit. We worship him in spirit and in truth. Not with Christmas trees.
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My husband and I don't celebrate Christmas in any way. When possible, I offer to work for those who are scheduled to work so that they can celebrate their holiday.\n\nWe are neo-pagans but we don't celebrate a religious holiday in December.  Since our religion is Celtic, we would be correct to have a feast, a holiday tree, wreaths and mistletoe--even though we choose not to.  The Romans occupied the Celtic lands (before Christianity was introduced) and lived with the Celts, so it would also be acceptable for us to burn candles and exchange gifts---even though we choose not to.  So if you take away all of the pagan parts of the season, how much is left?  How do Christians celebrate the birth of their god?  How ever you do it, we don't choose to do that either.
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Good point.\nHowever, the Jews don't have the practice of B.C. / A.D.\nThey are in the year 6 thousand and something.\nImagine how important a person must be considered to divide historical eras based on his birthday.
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Examine the Biblical account regarding the "gift of the Magi". You will find it recorded in Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 2. There is no mention of any birthday celebration, nor is any specific time given, though obviously it was some time after Jesus’ birth. In verse 1, Matthew calls the visitors “astrologers [Greek, ma´goi] from eastern parts,” hence pagans with no knowledge of Jehovah God. The star these men followed led them, not directly to Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem, but to Jerusalem, where King Herod ruled.\n\nWhen this wicked ruler heard them inquiring about “the one born king of the Jews,” he sought out the priests to find exactly “where the Christ was to be born” so that he could have the child killed. The priests answered by quoting Micah’s prophecy that located Messiah’s birthplace in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2) Herod hypocritically instructed his visitors: “Go make a careful search for the young child, and when you have found it report back to me, that I too may go and do it obeisance.” The astrologers went on their way, and the star “went ahead of them, until it came to a stop above where the young child was.” Notice that he is described as a “young child,” not as a newborn baby.—Matthew 2:1-10.\n\nAs befitted Oriental magnates visiting a ruler, the pagan astrologers fell down and “presented [the young child] with gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew adds: “However, because they were given divine warning in a dream not to return to Herod, they withdrew to their country by another way.”—Matthew 2:11, 12.\n\nFrom this brief Scriptural account, some people might attempt to find support for their Christmas gift giving. Nevertheless, Discovering Christmas Customs and Folklore explains that the current custom of giving gifts finds its roots in the Saturnalia gifts that Romans offered their poor neighbors. “The early church . . . cleverly transferred its significance to a ritual commemoration of the gifts of the Magi.” What a contrast this is to the true worshipers—such as the humble shepherds—who simply praised God at Jesus’ birth!
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hmm, i guess cause of how special your place in this universe is, the wonder and the joy your birth must of been to people who created you. Its also a day to remember your happy days and your sad days on this year, the friends you now have and the ones you have lost. Its special as a marker to, how much you have grown and how much you need to grow. I hope on this day you take time to reflect, be thankful, cry maybe, but mark it because of your special place in this universe and how you touched everyone in it. Also its a day if you can, to wish your mom a lot of love because without her this day would not of been possible.
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You know, i've seen this question many times on  Y! answers and often within the media.  And, to date, i still say the same thing:\n\n1. Saying Happy Holidays is being inclusive of all faiths, and persons.\n2. Saying Happy Holidays does not mean that christmas doesn't exist.  It means that you should have a happy holiday for whatever holiday you celebrate.\n\n3. Christ was not born on Christmas, he was born in March or April (dependant on what calendar you look at).\n4. Putting Christ back in Christmas is perhaps the most idiotic thing i've ever heard.  Not only did this holiday start as a Pagan Festivle, Christ wasn't even close to being born on this day.\n\nIf you have a problem being inclusive, perhaps you shouldn't celebrate the holiday.  The spirit of christmas is to be giving, to work for harmony and peace on that one day, and do our best to have an enjoyable time in an otherwise harrowing time.  Non christians still celebrate christmas.  Many other's celebrate other holidays within that season and day.\n\nI personally celebrate christmas, but moreso the traditional yule celebration.  And, i still say happy holidays to whomever is concerned.\n\nBeing inclusive is very important.  If you want to exclude non christians from the holiday, then you should make it illegal to sell christmas trees, ornimants, wrapping paper, ect to anyone except churches, and churches should pass such items out :)  I doubt, for a single minute, that this type of action will take place; christmas means too much for retailers in our economy :)  So, since it can't be that way, try and be a bit more inclusive eh :)\n\nI twinge, yes, whenever anyone wishes me a merry christmas, and then spouts off christian bias.  It offends me because i'm not a christian.  I don't turn to the same person and tell them about the goddess or the harvest, so what's the point of being so rude like that :)
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I believe you are overacting, it is your birthday and usually only children celebrate them unless it is a 0 birthday, so unless you are turning 20 or 30 it is no big deal, as for your friend she is single and her priorities are some what different than yours, I guess the question how has she been in the areas that really count,
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Great question. Birthdays are a celebration of one person's birth by all who surround her or him. It's an annual way of saying it's great to have you around, to share life with you, we love you and hope to celebrate again year after year.
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The fact that the date of Jesus’ birth is not mentioned in the Scriptures, although they are explicit about the date of his death, should be a warning to Christians. It is not that this date was not known to Bible writers. Instead, it is as if it were deliberately ignored, almost as if it were purposely hidden. \nNothing in the Sacred Scriptures—not even one word—indicates that we should celebrate Christ’s birthday. Indeed, had it been intended that we do so, the Divine Record would at least have given the date. Nor is the lack of that date an oversight. These Bible writers had the holy spirit that Christ had promised, and that spirit reminded them of all the necessary things. \nJesus had told them: “But the helper, the holy spirit which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.”—John 14:26.\n\nExactly to the contrary of this day that owes so much to paganism is the one celebration that Christians are told to keep. That celebration is not of Jesus’ birth, but of his death. The date is precise—the date of the Passover, Nisan 14 according to the Jewish calendar. It comes, not in the winter, but in the springtime. \nRegarding this new celebration that Jesus instituted, he said: “Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) That statement was never made about Jesus’ birth. The commemoration of his death, in the springtime, is the only ceremony the Bible commands Christians to keep.\n\nAuguste Hollard truthfully says in Les Origines des Fêtes Chrétiennes: “The first Christians did not even have the idea of celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Jesus: the anniversary of his death interested them much more, as well as that of his resurrection, that is to say of his victory over death.”
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Jehovah's Witnesses only celebrate one day a year, the day of Jesus Christ's death. Why? Because this is the ONLY celebration that true Christians are commanded to observe. On these days, we do have special arrangements for going into our field ministry at certain times, but other than that these "holidays" as celebrated by the country or the world is viewed as nothing more than another ordinary day. \n\nHolidays such as Christmas, Halloween, and others have strong roots and origins from pagan, false religious worship. As such, we have no share in these god-dishonoring events. Our heavenly father is well aware from where these celebrations and customs began, and would not be pleased by our taking part in them. These holidays can be viewed in this way: suppose you see a lollipop in a trash heap. Would you pick up that lollipop and eat it? Definitely not. In the same way, the lollipop may still seem sweet as the celebrating of such holidays may seem good and "sweet" to many, but consider where it came from. It came from the trash, from the dirty false religious ideals and practices that are out of harmony with Bible truth.
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why would i want to change anyone's mind? if i were a jehovah's witness, then it would be part of my spiritual job, wouldn't it? you sound like you're venting and maybe you're angry--perhaps you should check it out and see what's bothering you about this forum. Peace
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I say Merry Christmas because it is the day of Christ!  I really don't understand people who take offense to people saying Merry Christmas.  I wouldn't get all mad if someone wished me Happy Hannukah.  I'd just politely say "thank you, and to you as well", and be done with it.  What's so hard about being tolerant of the religious practices of others?
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Um, I'm not sure if I'll count but I celebrate Yule (as I'm Pagan) without presents etc etc, but a few days later I do the whole present thing as well. I personally dont see whats wrong with spoiling loved ones at that time of year. (I know its becoming more and more commercial but nothings gonna change that), to me Yule/Christmas is a time for family and friends!
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i have never heard that but i do not believe the jehovah witness ways either.. i have listened to them before and they just take the scripture and interrupt it the way they want...i do not think there si anything with honoring our father or our mother.. one of the 10 commandments was to honor our father and our mother.. as far as christmas i think that it is just to put more joy in our childs life.. i also believe it teaches them to give and i do believe they should know the true meaning of christmas...but giving gifts just shows love for people.. i think sometimes some may take it to far and not have the lord in mind.. i  was raised baptist and i had christmas but we also had scripts at church and i remember very happy times at church functions.. i married a man that did not believe in chirstmas trees, and he was really a very mean , abusive man.. i now love christmas and trees and lights.. my children now enjoy christmas and let there children have what they did not have.. and joyous memories of your childhood i think is very important...i do not think these holidays are something satan created at all.. remember in the bible when jesus was born all the shepherds and people that came with gifts for the baby jesus even in the manger in a barn...i do not like halloween myself and i think it is a dangerous night any more.. i do not celebrate witches or anything of that sort...i hope this has helped you some... i know of some churches that will not even talk to the jehovah witness people...