why JWs doesn't celebrate birthday?

by vientotz 60 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • BroMac
    BroMac

    they also forget that Joseph 'interpreted' the 2 dreams of the baker and cupbearer. the baker would be killed. it was actually part of Gods plan.

    (Genesis

    40:5-23) 5 And both of them proceeded to dream a dream, each one his own dream in the one night, each one his dream with its own interpretation, the cupbearer and the baker who belonged to the king of Egypt who were prisoners in the prison house. 6 When Joseph came in to them in the morning and saw them, why, here they were looking dejected. 7 And he began to inquire of the officers of Phar′aoh who were with him in the jail of his master’s house, saying: “For what reason are YOUR faces gloomy today?” 8 At this they said to him: “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter with us.” So Joseph said to them: “Do not interpretations belong to God? Relate it to me, please.” 9 And the chief of the cupbearers went on to relate his dream to Joseph and to say to him: “In my dream, why, here there was a vine before me. 10 And on the vine there were three twigs, and it was apparently sprouting shoots. Its blossoms pushed forth. Its clusters ripened their grapes. 11 And Phar′aoh’s cup was in my hand, and I proceeded to take the grapes and squeeze them out into Phar′aoh’s cup. After that I gave the cup into Phar′aoh’s hand.” 12 Then Joseph said to him: “This is its interpretation: The three twigs are three days. 13 In three days from now Phar′aoh will lift up your head and he will certainly return you to your office; and you will certainly give Phar′aoh’s cup into his hand, according to the former custom when you acted as his cupbearer. 14 Nevertheless, you must keep me in your remembrance as soon as it goes well with you, and you must, please, perform loving-kindness with me and mention me to Phar′aoh, and you must get me out of this house. 15 For I was in fact kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews; and here also I have done nothing at all for which they should put me in the prison hole.” 16 When the chief of the bakers saw that he had interpreted something good, he, in turn, said to Joseph: “I too was in my dream, and here there were three baskets of white bread upon my head, 17 and in the topmost basket there were all sorts of eatables for Phar′aoh, the product of a baker, and there were fowls eating them out of the basket on top of my head.” 18 Then Joseph answered and said: “This is its interpretation: The three baskets are three days. 19 In three days from now Phar′aoh will lift up your head from off you and will certainly hang you upon a stake; and the fowls will certainly eat your flesh from off you.” 20 Now on the third day it turned out to be Phar′aoh’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. 21 Accordingly he returned the chief of the cupbearers to his post of cupbearer, and he continued to give the cup into Phar′aoh’s hand. 22 But the chief of the bakers he hung up, just as Joseph had given them the interpretation. 23 However, the chief of the cupbearers did not remember Joseph and went on forgetting him.

  • vientotz
    vientotz

    What makes me listen and willing to learn about what JWs teaches is that they are all kind. I'm not saying their super kind, perfect but as I observerd compared to other belief's or religion's their in. That's why I want to know what the bible really teaches. What bother's me is their does and don't,i mean they don't celebrate birtday, christmas etc. I dunno how to adjust myself. That's why I'm really asking them big "WHY" their not celebrating it, then their going to read some text in the Bible but for me it doesn't convince me hundred percent. Gimme advices please im confused!

  • Free!!
    Free!!

    Vientotz... here is my advice (from the bottom of my heart and after battling depression, anger and betrayal).... RUN

  • GLTirebiter
    GLTirebiter
    That's why I want to know what the bible really teaches.

    What the Bible teaches isn't what the Watchtower Society prints in their booklet of that name!

  • BroMac
    BroMac

    there is no biblical/scriptural reason to not celebrate yours or somebody else's Birthday. because some 'custom' had pagan origins many years ago, does not make it 'pagan' now. one example is the wedding ring. originally a pagan symbol and there was superstious reasons for placing it on the 3rd finger. (something to do with a vein from the 3rd finger to the heart). i can't think there is too many brides at the KH who would not have a big sparkler and a wedding ring, even though they have pagan origins.

    whatever reasoning you get from your bible study teachers to show you how birthdays are in opposition to Jehovah will be very weak at best. I know JW's of 40-50yrs who cannot tell you why they dont celebrate birthdays, "because its pagan" is the usual response.

    BroMac

  • vientotz
    vientotz

    Thanks BroMac =) your right!

    I thought this is JW's site, i guess not =P even so, i really want to learn what is right. I'm not comparing my 'since birth religion' to JW's BUT i really want to learn. I like their way in praising Jehovah God but I think they over understood what in written in the bible ( is my english right? xD sorry ) that' what I think. They promote deep understading of the bible which is not GOOD! =)

  • MrMonroe
    MrMonroe

    That's right. The Watchtower suggests it's implied that birthdays are bad, since both birthday celebrations in the Bible had a beheading occur, and both were birthdays of pagan people.

    Someone somewhere made the point that using the same logic, Jehovah's Witnesses would never keep dogs. There is not one positive mention of dogs in the Bible; every mention is negative and pejorative.

  • ScenicViewer
    ScenicViewer

    What makes me listen and willing to learn about what JWs teaches is that they are all kind.

    Yes, this is true of most Witnesses and it attracted me to them as well, about 35 years ago. But you should know, it is a very controlling religion. You are not allowed to disagree with any teaching, and if you do you will be disfellowshipped (kicked out).

    Regarding pagan based observances, they have a double standard here. Some pagan based practices are completely banned, like celebrating birthdays, Mother's Day, and Father's Day. Other pagan based practices are ok, like sending flowers to a funeral, wearing a wedding ring, or having a pinjata at a party.

    Here is one example of their double standards. When discussing the pinjata the Awake magazine of Sept 22, 2003 said:

    "A main concern is, not what the practice meant hundreds of years ago, but how it is viewed today in your area."

    Since some pagan practices don't mean the same thing today that they did originally, they are permitted.

    However, the same can be said of birthdays, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, but they are still forbidden. It doesn't make sense to allow one observance, but ban another, when neither one means what it originally did.

    Please be aware, these nice people will completely shun and ignore you if you get disfellowshipped for doing something they don't agree with, even if it really isn't a bad thing.

  • ScenicViewer
    ScenicViewer

    @ MrMonroe who said,

    ...using the same logic, Jehovah's Witnesses would never keep dogs.

    Very good! Thank you for that. I'd be interested in knowing more things that are mentioned in a bad light in the Bible, but are actually harmless and accepted by Witnesses.

  • vientotz
    vientotz

    You guys are JW's before right? Then u quit? @scenicviewer I like your reason why we should not consider them just because their nice and I can say 'yes its true' even if I'm not yet a JWs that its a very controlling religion..

    But still, I really want to listen to them, even my mom disagree of having a bible study with them I still entertained them every week because I don't want to judge them coz' of what I've heard (not good) about JW's. The more you criticized them, the more I want to know JW's! XD

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