Birthdays (looking for)

Gordy

I saw a posting not long ago stating that the WT link birthdays or similar, with "creature worship.

Been looking for it. Can anyone direct me to it.

thanks

Creatures in the form of spirit helpers are associated with ones birth in Shamanism. The Shamans send these spirit helpers or darts into the victims bodies to make them ill or to kill them. At other times they may suck spirits sent by enemy shamans or witchcraft induced illness. These spirit helpers also create shields that protect their shaman masters from attack. Many Shamanism cultures use the day of birth as a ritual day for training and trances of candidates for the role of practitioner.

Insomniac

So, Gordie, does that answer your question?

Patrick

Problem with the answer though because in Shamanism they do not worship the animal spirit helpers; they have respect for them but not worship. Even in Hindu faith it is only respect for the cow as a mother figure. In Witchcraft they also have great respect for the creatures of nature, even to the bending of one knee as you would to a Queen or King. To worship any deities; divinity; supreme being you are open to the concept of "brain washing."

Gordy

What I was looking for was a posting, if I remember right. Quoting from a Watchtower that, singing "Happy Birthday, giving presents etc." to a person on their birthday, was equivilent to creature worship.

Country_Woman

"singing "Happy Birthday, giving presents etc." to a person on their birthday, was equivalent to creature worship."

That is what I remember too.

But, since birthdays are family-gatherings for me, I have always attended those days (even as a JW).
I think the main reason for the org is to separate their flock from the "world"

Latte

Awake 7/8/1976

A birthday party, however, is a day set aside regularly, each year, to honor a human. Could not such a procedure easily result in excessive adulation of sinful creatures? (Rom. 3:23) When the apostle John fell down to worship before a sinless heavenly angel who had shown to John visions of future events, the angel cautioned: ?Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of your brothers . . . Worship God.? (Rev. 22:9) Are not we today even more inclined toward adulation of created persons?

Hope that the above help!

mizpah

I guess John should not have been celebrating the angel's birthday...haha

blondie

Is that sort of like asking for a GB member to sign your new WT publication?

Latte

W/T 1952

?

Does the Society approve of well-meant showers held preceding weddings or childbirths? Should the gifts be displayed along with an identification of the givers??M. F., New York.

The Society does not disapprove of properly conducted showers. But it is not good to get shower-minded, and involve the Lord?s people in a spree of them. It is easy for one or two to touch off a series that can become an endless circle of showers. It can burden the brothers, take their time, and their money for gifts they cannot always afford. You may say no gifts are necessary, but the custom calls for gifts and the majority will bring them, and it would be embarrassing to come empty-handed. Now there is certainly nothing wrong with giving gifts. Done spontaneously, it is commendable brotherly kindness and sometimes shows real Christian concern. There is some Scriptural obligation to note those of our brothers who are in need and to help them. We may use a shower as an occasion to help, but we do not have to wait for such occasions, we do not have to fit our giving into such customary times and seasons. Help is sometimes needed at other times. We should give when the need arises, and to those for whom the need is acute, and do so spontaneously, unsolicited by shower invitations that obligate us to give, whether the recipient is in need or not.

Should the givers be identified with their gifts? Why should they? Surely those giving the more expensive gifts do not seek public acclamation. It might embarrass the poorer brothers who must give more modest gifts, and perhaps cause them to spend more than they can really afford. So why magnify the rich and humble the poor, even if it is unintentionally done? (Jas. 2:1-4) It is not Scriptural, this publicity to gift and giver. ?When you start making gifts of mercy, do not blow a trumpet ahead of you, just as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, They are having their reward in full. But you, when making gifts of mercy, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing.? (Matt. 6:2, 3, NW) If anonymous giving were practiced, would the gifts be as expensive? Would the giver spend beyond his means, if he were not identified with the gift? That would truly measure the unselfishness behind the gift. Such giving pleases God.

One final point of utmost importance, whether it is a shower or wedding or reception or just a friendly gathering of witnesses. Control the activities so that some edifying results. Silly games are for babyish people; mature Christians have advanced beyond them, left them behind. Sexually suggestive or passionate dancing to blaring jazz is not for Christians, though proper dancing and music cannot be condemned. When Jesus attended a wedding feast he used the occasion to glorify God, performing his first miracle, the turning of water into wine. (John 2:1-11) And we can be sure that he did not get in any line to kiss the bride either?so we leave such woman-exalting practices back in the creature-worshiping world, where they belong. Instead of any such looseness of conduct or excessive use of food or drink, we should control activities and regulate entertainment into profitable channels, such as the singing of Kingdom songs, playing Scriptural quiz games, relating field experiences, and so forth. Not only will such things be a proper relaxation for us and get us better acquainted with one another, but they will be helpful to persons of good will that may be present and impress them favorably with Jehovah?s people.

Birthdays (looking for)

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