Greetings All!!

I have heard rumors on here and other places that JW's are now allowing birthdays to be observed/celebrated.  Is this true?  I hope so.  I never saw anything wrong with them, and missed that day more than anything else growing up as a JW.  I celebrated my first b-day this past summer.  I am 25.  I am going to allow b-days and Thanksgiving to be observed by my son.  I never missed other secular holidays at all to be honest.....just alot of BS "holiday cheer" that ended the day after, and the unnecessary spending of money.  I give gifts through the year.  Even my wife (a non-JW) envies me for that, and is quite honestly fed up with every month being another holiday.  (it's all BS made up to con people) 

So someone give me the full story, are B-days now allowed?  Considered ok?  Or just a "matter of conscience" for each to decide upon? 

Thanks in advance,

Wing Commander 

So someone give me the full story, are B-days now allowed? Considered ok? Or just a "matter of conscience" for each to decide upon?

Birthdays allowed? Hold on a second while I clean myself (laughed so hard I pissed my pants).

Celebrating a birthday would cause a JW to be bannished from eternal paradise and struck down without mercy by God at Armageddon. While they wait for that to happen they would be disfellowshipped and shunned. Now you tell me that the policy has changed from what has been occuring for the last hundred years? ....sorry....laughing again.

I don't know the answer to your question. Someone else here might. I guess anything is possible with the JWs and their leadership at the Watchtower. I mean, if they can tell you JWs for decades that the generation who were alive and witnessed the events of 1914 will also witness Armageddon, and, now that this generation has passed without Armageddon occuring, can tell you JWs that Armageddon really happened but it's just invisible.......well I guess they can change anything they want, any time they want, and do whatever they want regardless of how inconsistant it is. The donations will just keep rolling in.

BTW I just love decorating my Christmas tree and getting the house all lit up and pretty with the white snow as backdrop at Christmas time.  It only happens once a year.  Such a beautiful time of the year for family and friends for those who enjoy it.

 There was an article not too long back about how christians need not worry about the origin of something that has no relevence today.....I don't remember where it was. Many took this as a green light that birthdays were  ok, but it seems the article hinted that those celebrations "directly" mentioned in the bible were not ok.

Imagine the confusion to school teachers if birthdays were allowed......"little Tommy couldn't stay in the classroom and eat cake with the kids last year.....but this year he can"

Birthdays are not allowed as far as I know.....you just do it quietly.

Gumby

Imagine the confusion to school teachers if birthdays were allowed......"little Tommy couldn't stay in the classroom and eat cake with the kids last year.....but this year he can"

Imagine the confusion for little Tommy.

and Sasquatch: Good post your dead on including the last comment...I personally experienced the scenerio you painted when I went through that a little over a decade ago. It was done to act as a "we are normal and celebrate b-days to" measure in court and it was sanctioned by the HQ lawyers in Canada who represented her just because it would be a good legal counter-point.

I don't think there is a new stance...as someone mentioned a few months back there was an article that basically said if something no longer had pagan connections it is OK. It's main example was the use of Pinatas and how that is OK nowadays. The article then went on to specifically mention B-Days as things to avoid, so as usual it was quite contradictory.

We were "reported" for letting our kids go to a b-day party, the funny thing is, when the elders met with us, they barely mentioned it. They were more interested in our service time and meeting attendance.

Can anyone scan that article from July? Or send one to me? I haven't seen it.

thanks,

Randy Watters

Net Soup! http://www.freeminds.org

 

 

*** g03 9/22 pp. 23-24 The Piñata?An Ancient Tradition ***

The Piñata Today

Later, the piñata became part of the festivities of the posadas during the Christmas season and continues as such to this day. (A star-shaped piñata is used to represent the star that guided the astrologers to Bethlehem.) Breaking the piñata is also considered indispensable at birthday parties. Indeed, piñatas have become so traditionally Mexican that Mexico even exports them to other countries.

We found that for many people in Mexico, the piñata has lost its religious significance and is considered by most to be just harmless fun. In fact, piñatas are used in Mexico on many festive occasions, not just for the posadas or for birthdays. And piñatas can be purchased in many forms other than the traditional star shape. They are sometimes made to resemble animals, flowers, clowns.

When considering whether to include a piñata at a social gathering, Christians should be sensitive to the consciences of others. (1 Corinthians 10:31-33) A main concern is, not what the practice meant hundreds of years ago, but how it is viewed today in your area. Understandably, opinions may vary from one place to another. Hence, it is wise to avoid turning such matters into big issues. The Bible says: "Let each one keep seeking, not his own advantage, but that of the other person."?1 Corinthians 10:24.

 

The large bolded phrase above is the most interesting statement ever made by the Society regarding "pagan" or "religious" customs.  The article explained the origination of piñatas and how they are very much tied to Christmas and birthday celebrations, particularly Christmas.  BUT, as the phrase mentions above, it doesn't matter how the piñata was tied to Christmas hundreds of years ago.  It is how it is viewed today by the general population of Mexicans.  It is just a fun thing to have and do.

Similarly, you can easily apply this phrase to just about ANY other worldly celebration that witnesses do not participate in.  Birthdays included.  What did the practice of birthday celebrations mean hundreds of years ago?  How are they viewed in your area today?  It is not how they are viewed by witnesses in your area today, it means the general population of the area in which you live.

Personally, I think they allowed piñatas because the Mexican contingient of brothers and sisters is one of the fastest growing segments of the organization.  Any converts which come from Mexico are most likely Catholic and they tend to want to keep some of their traditions that have been part of their families for generations.  Christmas is HUGE in Mexico.  Piñatas are HUGE during Christmas.  Christmas just isn't Christmas without them.  Even at witness get-togethers, piñatas were banned.  The reason for the ban was because of their Christmas background.  Now it is OK?  Go figure.

My kids were quite good at confusing teachers.  For example, when Harry Potter was being read to the class, a JW boy in my daughter's school had to sit in the hallway, whereas we allowed our daughter to stay.  I told to her explain that they were orthodox JWs and we were reformed.

someone post the july 04 QFR it addresses B-days directly.

If a Jehovah's Witnesses are aloud to celebrate their wedding anniversaries because marriage is "God's institution", then I can celebrate the anniversary of my children's birth because child birth is also "God's institution".

Corvin