why the Jehovah's witnesses are not celebrating, birthdays even Christmas day?
349200
JWs are not cult, JWs are Christians which basically means to follow Christ, which is what they do.  They use Christ as a model for thier lives because who would know what Jehovah God wants better, than his own son Jesus Christ, whom he sent to earth to die for ALL of us.  \nSome of you are correct in that JWs dont celebrate holidays because as "ScrappieLouie" brought out most of these holidays come from "other gods" ex. she brought out is the Roman God, in doing research you will find most holidays are in celebration of other gods or made up of a Human's viewpoint.  True back in history JWs used to celebrate holidays because they didnt have as much understanding of the bible....through the years they do more and more research to try to gain Knowledge that will lead them to live thier lives according to what the bible says which is believed to be Yes written by Man but Inspired by God.  Such as someone dictating what or how he wants a letter to be written.  So again, they Try to stick closely to what the Bible says and if the Bible says No or its not mentioned then they try not to participate; Some stuff though is left up to ones Bible Trained Conscience....so you cant always say well I saw this JW doing it...etc.  And as in all religions you have rebels, or people who dont really follow the teachings so you wouldnt want to judge them on one bad person....\nHope I was of some help...please dont discriminate against my answer.  Thanks.
763916
They know Christmas is pagan but just do not care. They do not realize what a slap in the face to God and Jesus these celebrations are. They are mixing true worship with pagan worship.\n\nDo you think that Jesus Christ would consider it an honor to have his name attached to a “pagan holiday, partly Christianized”? How could this be so when his faithful disciples recognized that there should be no mixing of the darkness of paganism with the light of Christianity? The apostle Paul, for example, reminded fellow Christians at Corinth: “What sharing does light have with darkness? Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? . . . ‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing.’”—2 Cor. 6:14-17. \n\nWhen Moses came down from the mountain and found the people worshipping the golden calf, they told him it represented God.  They were celebrating to this statue.\nDid Moses say "good idea, lets party". No! but God destroyed over 2,000 people that day for daring to celebrate to an idol.  Just like people do today. Since these holidays are so insulting to God, you can bet Satan has a hand in it.  He will make sure that people keep celebrating these holidays.
618934
For one thing, the leaders of the JW church have been false prophets since the church was founded.  They have prophesized that Jesus was returning on this date or that date many times without it coming true.  They finally said that Jesus returned 'spiritually' which ended their predictions.  God tells us to test the spirits and false prophets are not to be listened to.  In addition, the belief of the JW church that Jesus was not ressurected bodily from the dead goes against Scripture and is an essential tenet of the Christian faith.  They do not believe that Jesus was fully God and fully man.  They only believe that Jesus was a man until He was ressurected ad divine spit creature.  Another essential of the Christian faith.  They believe in Annihilationism rather than eternal hell.  They do not believe in the Trinity doctrine but believe that Satan instigated the belief in the Trinity.  Another essential.  There are many, many more issues that come in conflict with Christianity that are too many to mention here.  This is aside from issues like not going to war because human government is not to be followed, not celebrating birthdays because every reference in the Bible that refers to a celebration results in death and things like refusing life saving blood transfusions.  The main things that concern the Christian Church are the essentials, a few of which I have mentioned.  Those, and other things that are in direct conflict with the Bible, are the things that make the JW church unchristian.  Hope this helps.  Blessings.
588819
Some of these answerers are mistaken. JWs DO believe in Jesus and, therefore, ARE Christians. They don't believe that Jesus is God(but they are not the only ones). They believe that Jesus is the son of God. They don't believe that Jesus is a god at all. The main difference, in my opinion, is that they disagree with the dates of Jesus' birth and death. That's why they don't celebrate Christmas. ie. because they don't think Jesus was born at that time. In fact, I don't know why some Christians do celebrate Christmas as Christ's birth, surely they should know by now that this date was taken from Pagans to encourage conversion to Christianity. JWs also believe that there will be 144000 people going to Heaven and the others will live on Earth.\nAlso there are certain differences in their Bible, but you will find that Bibles differ between most, if not all, Christian sects. They are not the only ones who go door knocking but they are the ones who have the reputation for it. BTW, I think you will find that the Bible has been rewritten many times by many "cults". It has been translated in so many different ways but most likely from the same original source. Any religion follows their own doctrine, which for many, does all their thinking, whatever the religion. How can you say they don't follow Christian doctrine anyway? There are so many different versions, it's no wonder there are so many "non-believers".
942168
Bible students are encouraged to consider:\n\n: 0% of faithful biblical Jews celebrated birthdays\n: 0% of first century Christians celebrated birthdays\n: 100% of birthdays celebrated in the bible were by debauched enemies of God (See Mark 6:17-29; Gen 40:19-22) \n\nBible 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.\n\nBy comparison with such paganisms, the bible does not even tell us the birthdates of Jesus or ANY of his apostles!\n\n\nJehovah's Witnesses practice strict political and nationalistic neutrality, so they do not celebrate nationalistic holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day.\n\nOther 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:\n(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.”\n\nSeemingly 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.\n\nSince 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:\n\n(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.\n\nLearn more:\nhttp://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/article_01.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/library/rq/article_11.htm\nhttp://watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm
697488
They don't celebrate the idea behind christmas, they don't celebrate the birth of out Lord and savior. They celebrate a holiday without the meaning of it. They celebrate the gathering of family and friends for a good meal and a great party.
480762
Excellent question!  Especially since my father is a used car salesman.  haha.\n\nAnyways, I know that certain people will not celebrate things like Christmas and Easter because they are not in the Bible, and the reason for this I believe is two-fold.  First of all, the Bible actually prescribes a very specific list of holidays that it requires.  These are the Jewish holidays, such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Shavuot, among some others.  Within this law it is stated that no one may add nor take away from the Law.\n\nTherefore, a strict interpretation might seem to indicate that these holidays, AND ONLY THESE HOLIDAYS should be celebrated, at least as RELIGIOUS holidays.\n\nHowever, Jews do celebrate some other holidays besides these because they are believed to be "within the spirit" of the Law.  For example, the Bible teaches that one should rejoice in the great things that God does in history.  So, Hanukkah celebrates a miracle that God performed for the Jewish people, and is considered to be acceptable to celebrate.  But it never is given the high status of the holidays which the Bible specifically describes.\n\nOn the part of Christians, I think it is noteworthy that Jesus seemed to accept the holiday of Hanukkah, even though it was post-Old Testament.  His disciples celebrated it, and Jesus told them to do so.  \n\nMost Christians however do not make this connection though I think, because they are not familiar with Jewish custom, and do not realize that Jesus was referring to Hanukkah when he mentions it.  (I'll get you a verse if you'd like, just ask and I can look it up).\n\nSo some Christians think that no holiday should be celebrated if it is not in the Law.  Christmas and Easter and Birthdays are not mentioned therein.\n\nOthers would say that birthdays are ok because they are not religious.\n\nOthers would say that Christmas and Easter are not permissible because they derive from non-Christian holidays that they believe embraced ideas contrary to their faith.\n\nThere are many things which have become custom and the people tend to assume it is biblical, when really, it is not necessarily.  Even the idea of getting married in a church or place of worship is not mentioned, and yet many would say firmly that a marriage done in a courthouse is not a marriage "in the eyes of God."\n\nI don't know why they would hold this view except that they must be ignorant of what is in their scriptures and what is not.
326805
Most people dislike them because they see that the Witnesses are doing exactly the kind of work that THEY themselves should be doing, and aren't. They can see that Jehovah's Witnesses speak the truth from the Bible, and it bothers their conscience just to a small enough point that they get irritated, not so much with the Witnesses, but with themselves. When you think about it, their reasons for disliking them are absolutely stupid. You want to know why they disfellowship people? Look it up. You'll see that every ground is scriptural. You want to call those grounds stupid? Take that up with Jehovah God, who wishes to have clean people in his organization, not gross sinners. You don't like that they don't celebrate birthdays and holidays? Try doing some research into the backgrounds of those celebrations and see if they measure up to Godly principles or standards and then think about whether or not they'd be acceptable in God's eyes. \n\nAsker, you're very correct in saying that we're a "religion that very few people understand", and you'll get further proof of that by some of the other comments that people will leave regarding your question. People who haven't a clue about Jehovah's Witnesses will call us a "cult", which certainly isn't true. They'll say other trash like we don't believe in Jesus, which is just absurd, and so on.
896946
first of what is of importance is the fact that no where in the bible did Jesus command anyone to celebrate his birthday. he said to celebrate his death but not his birth.  in the third century of our common era as the roman empire was in decline . Constantine in order to solidify his power over the empire merged the Christian faith and the pagan faith, into one, a lot of the false doctrine that we now claim as christian came into being.  Jesus was born when the sheep where in the fields history has shown that DEC is still to cold to keep the flocks out at night.  the Christmas tree came into being in The 19th century, and Santa Claus as we know him today was started in the 17th century, the English oxford dictionary published in 1904 under Santa Claus says see Old nick. under old nick it says Satan the Devil.  the pagans in  Constantine time celebrated the winter solace, and a lot of its pagan roots are in Christmas today the giving of gifts , the mistletoe, etc
989621
Rev. Barry Lynn is a member of the United Church of Christ, see http://www.auok.org/who_is_barry_lynn.htm This is one of the evangelical churches that see any association of Christianity with the government as evil  or bad. Like the Jehovah Witnesses will not celebrate any holidays, even birthdays, some evangelical groups feel that any involvement of government with religion corrupts religion. I do not share this view, but that is where he is coming from.
166279
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!
782137
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.
13251
Jehovah's Witnesses base their beliefs solely on the scriptures. For the most accurate explanation, you wouldn't check Wikipedia, you would check their official website at www.watchtower.org. \n\nAs far as birthdays are concerned, the Jehovah's Witnesses believe that everything in the Bible is there for a reason. Now, the only 2 mentions of a birthday celebration in the Scriptures are not put in a very positive light at all. Both were celebrated by those who did not worship the true God, Jehovah. And both involved a murder. In the case of the second mention, it was the murder of one of God's prophets, John the Baptizer. Another reason that they do not is because the ONLY celebration that Christians are Biblically commanded to observe is the DEATH of Jesus Christ, not his birth. If Christians aren't to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, why would they want to go ahead and celebrate their own or anyone else's?\n\nMost holidays can be traced back to origins in false religious, pagan worship, which tended to include many sinful practices. God is well-aware of the origins of every celebration that is being practiced today. Just because some try and change a holiday to be "Christianized" doesn't change the fact that it's origins are not scriptural and that they are in fact not originated with God. There are Biblical examples, in the book of Exodus for one, in which the nation of Israel tried to take a false religious Egyptian celebration and turn it into "a festival to Jehovah". Jehovah's response? Many were killed. \n\nThat's the short of it. If you would really like the answers to why Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate such things, then go to the link below which can expound on what I just stated.
1022376
They don't celebrate the Christian holidays, because they are all based on Pagan holidays:\nAll Souls (saints) Day, Halloween/Samhain\nChristmas/Yule, WInter Solstice\nEaster/Oestre\nGroundhog Day (I know, not Christian)/Imbolc\n\nRejection of Holidays\n\nOne of the more well-known practices of the Jehovah's Witnesses is their non-celebration of holidays. All holidays, including birthdays, are considered "pagan holidays" and may not be observed by Witnesses. The official website of the Jehovah's Witnesses explains:\n\n    Jesus never commanded Christians to celebrate his birth. Rather, he told his disciples to memorialize, or remember, his death. (Luke 22:19, 20) Christmas and its customs come from ancient false religions. The same is true of Easter customs, such as the use of eggs and rabbits. The early Christians did not celebrate Christmas or Easter, nor do true Christians today.\n\n    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. {1}
877403
That's because now that it's a federal holiday, it has turned into a secular celebration. Christians have stolen practically all of their holiday traditions from pagan ritual.\n\nDo you honestly think Jesus was born on December 25th?\n\nChristmas isn't an exclusively Christian holiday, little miss possessive. Do you want us to stop eating, drinking, having parties, and being merry simply because you don't like the idea of us non-believers celebrating a pagan holiday?\n\nFor a Christian, you sure are spiteful. Tsk tsk.
744412
I see nothing wrong with honoring a person with a cenotaph, so neither do I see anything wrong with honoring Jesus on a day that was not his birthday.  Not that Christmas is only about Jesus or Christianity anymore.  I personally like some of its secular aspects, though, like most people, I regret that it has become so commercialized.
752818
Well, there is Yule AND there is Christmas.\nYule, which I celebrate, has been around longer and yes, Christianity came along and tried to convert us hethens by creating their own holiday around the same time. But that doesn't make Christmas any less significant. Those that celebrate it have every right to celebrate their beliefs; just as those pagans out there have every right to still celebrate Yule and the solstices. \nChristians celebrate Christmas as Jesus's birthday (and we all know he wasn't actually born on that day, but it was just picked as a day to celebrate it) and that is a beautiful tradition. Christians of today had no hand in the Church's actions of the past; therefore should not be punished for it.\nPeace to all and Blessed be!