birthdays

cr1234

does anyone know where the article is in the awake that says birthdays are a conscience matter?

I read with interest the article "The Piñata—An Ancient Tradition." (September 22, 2003) It left me with some questions. The ties to false religion are well-documented. But the article seemed to take the position that as long as it doesn’t bother someone’s conscience, it is OK. What about birthdays and holidays such as Christmas?

S. W., United States

"Awake!"

responds: Christians refrain from any celebrations or customs that continue to involve false religious beliefs or activities that violate Bible principles. For example, the Bible definitely puts birthday celebrations in a bad light. (Genesis 40:20; Matthew 14:6-10) However, if it is very obvious that a custom has no current false religious significance and involves no violation of Bible principles, each Christian must make a personal decision as to whether he will follow such a custom.

peacefulpete

Christians refrain from any celebrations or customs that continue to involve false religious beliefs or activities that violate Bible principles. For example, the Bible definitely puts birthday celebrations in a bad light.

The article most definately did not allow for birthdays as a conscience matter. Some are misreading it by isolating the sentence highlited by Atlantis.

garybuss

Awake! July 8, 2004 p. 30

TheListener

Birthdays are not a conscience matter.

Any active believing witness who read the pinata article and the resulting letter to the editor and response knew that birthdays are forbidden but some other customs are a conscience matter.

2112

The Bible puts Birthdays in a bad light? How by talking about two birthdays, celabrated by evil men, who did evil things. Well at a wedding party Jesus turned water into wine, and did so after many barrels of wine were already consumed. Further people then drank that wine, and it was the best wine. So I guess since the Bible puts wine in a good light we should all indulge.

AlmostAtheist

Document refuting the Watchtower's birthday position: http://thebentinel.com/jw-birthdays.html

Article showing that embalming has pagan, false-religious origins, yet is described in the Bible as ok: http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/3/15/article_01.htm

Dave

garybuss

The Bible puts nude bathing in a much worse light than parties. By the way, the bad light was on the PARTY not the day. Tell a Witness parties are in bad light not days, and nude bathing is in bad light, so are ya gonna rip out yer bathtub?

peacefulpete

The Pharoah in the story is not depicted as evil in any way. He executes a treasonous baker and exonnerates the cupbearer and Joseph.

drew sagan

I agree that the Bible in all reality says nothing about birthday parties. The scriptual evidence given from the Watchtower is very weak. More than anything else, they are another way the Watchtower tries to make itself "differant" from everybody else, helping "prove" they are the only ones serving God.

birthdays

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