@Blotty
The claim that birthdays
and Christmas "have origins in pagan worship" oversimplifies and
distorts the historical context. Many ancient customs, such as wearing rings or
using calendars, originated in societies with pagan beliefs. However, the mere
adoption of a cultural practice does not mean participating in pagan worship.
Using a calendar or wearing a ring does not equate to venerating a pagan deity,
just as celebrating Christmas or a birthday today does not retain any pagan
religious meaning. Jehovah’s Witnesses themselves acknowledge this principle. The
Watchtower (Jan. 15, 1972) states:
“Even if it were a fact
that pagans first used wedding rings, would that rule such out for Christians?
Not necessarily.”
The meaning of a practice
or custom is not permanently tied to its origin. For example, Christmas today
is centered on the birth of Christ, not pagan deities. Similarly, birthdays are
personal celebrations of life, not linked to ancient pagan rites. This argument
commits the genetic fallacy, which assumes that something is
inherently bad or wrong because of its origin. If this logic were consistently
applied, Jehovah's Witnesses would need to reject practices like using names of
days and months (e.g., Thursday—Thor’s day), wedding rings, and even the
division of hours into minutes, which are rooted in ancient Babylonian culture.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
selectively reject certain practices based on their alleged pagan origins while
accepting others with similar backgrounds. This double standard undermines
their argument. Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrate wedding anniversaries but reject
birthdays, even though neither is explicitly mentioned in the Bible and both
could be argued to have historical links to pagan customs. If pagan origins are
the sole criterion for rejection, consistency would demand the rejection of
both. The Watchtower itself acknowledges:
“Admittedly, true
Christians today are not preoccupied with the roots and possible ancient
religious connections of every practice or custom.” (The Watchtower,
Oct. 15, 1998).
The
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ own literature states:
“The
question is not so much whether wedding rings were first used by pagans but
whether they were originally used as part of false religious practices and
still retain such religious significance.” (The Watchtower, Jan. 15,
1972).
Using this
reasoning, birthdays and Christmas should be permissible, as they no longer
carry pagan religious significance in modern practice.
Origen’s critique of
birthdays is often misrepresented. Origen viewed earthly life and its
milestones as distractions from spiritual growth. His opposition to birthdays
stemmed from his personal ascetic philosophy, not from a biblical command or
universal Christian teaching. Origen’s claim that “only sinners celebrate
birthdays” (citing Pharaoh and Herod) reflects his interpretation, not biblical
doctrine. The Bible neither condemns nor prohibits birthday celebrations. Jehovah’s
Witnesses often cite Origen selectively to support their rejection of
birthdays, yet they disregard other early Christian views and practices that
contradict their teachings (e.g., belief in the physical resurrection,
veneration of saints, or the Trinity). The omitted context of Origen’s
statement shows that his critique was not about birthdays being inherently
sinful but about avoiding materialism and focusing on spiritual life. This
nuance is ignored in the JW argument.
The argument against
Christmas focuses on its alleged pagan origins, but this oversimplifies
historical evidence. The claim that Christmas is derived from the pagan
festival Sol Invictus lacks historical evidence. Early Christians
celebrated December 25 as Christ’s birth based on theological reasoning (the
"integral age" theory), not to Christianize a pagan festival. In
fact, the first recorded celebration of Christmas predates the establishment of
Sol Invictus in 274 AD. Even if certain customs were adapted from
pre-Christian cultures, they were reinterpreted to honor Christ, not pagan
gods. For example, the use of light during Christmas symbolizes Christ as the "light
of the world" (John 8:12).
Jehovah’s Witnesses argue
that practices with pagan origins are unacceptable when tied to worship.
However celebrating Christmas or birthdays does not involve acts of pagan
worship. Modern celebrations are entirely secular or Christian in their focus. As
The Watchtower (Oct. 15, 1991) admits:
“Still, all kinds of
objects, designs, and practices have, at some time or place, been given a false
interpretation or have been linked with unscriptural teachings. Trees have been
worshiped, the heart shape has been viewed as sacred, and incense has been used
in pagan ceremonies. Does this mean that a Christian must never use incense,
have trees in any decoration, or wear heart-shaped jewelry? That is not a valid
conclusion.”
Jehovah’s
Witnesses confuse cultural practices with acts of worship. Decorating a tree or
giving gifts is not equivalent to religious veneration. These are cultural
expressions, not acts of idolatry.
The argument against
birthdays and Christmas appears to be less about historical accuracy and more
about reinforcing Jehovah’s Witnesses’ distinct identity. By rejecting
mainstream cultural practices, Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain their separation
from “the world” (misinterpreting John 17:16). This creates a distinct identity
but lacks biblical support. The New World Translation exaggerates John 17:16 by
translating it as "no part of the world," whereas most
translations use "not of the world," which emphasizes
spiritual distinction, not cultural isolation.
