When did the ban on "birthday" celebrations begin? Why did "they" do this?
On 5 November 1944, Gustaw Baumert, a member of the International Bible Students Association, prisoner 81994 at Auschwitz wrote a letter to his family. The following is a translation of part of his letter:
"My dear wife and children,
I wish Danusia blessings from our Lord for her birthday. May God lead her so that she can dedicate her little heart to him and serve him, so that our joy of today is full. With most affectionate greetings. May peace be with you. Your husband and your father".
When did the "birthday" ban start?
by Doug Mason 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Doug Mason
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yesidid
In time honoured fashion they did it in a question from readers.
I remember it well. I was preteen and my birthday was due in a few days. My faithful mother broke the sad news that I would not be having a party or presents because the latest Watchtower had forbidden it as pagan. I still remember the disappointment.
I know it wasn't before because my parents were srtict in obeying their earthly masters every command.
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w5110/1p.607QuestionsFromReaders***?
Isitpropertohaveorattendcelebrationsofbirthdayanniversaries?—F.K.,Nevada.Such celebrations have their roots in pagan religions, and not Scriptural grounds. Some Bible commentators suggest that birthday celebrations may have had their origin in the "notion of the immortality of the soul". Astrologers and stargazers laid great stress on offering sacrifices to the gods each year when the stars and planets were in the same position as when one was born. In Egyptian mythology the "birthdays of the gods" were celebrated on certain days, and in Chinese mythology individuals offered special sacrifices on their birthdays to Shou Hsing, the god of longevity. The ancient Anglo-Saxons celebrated the birthday of the "Lord Moon", spoken of as meni at Isaiah 65:11 (margin), by making cakes "called Nur-Cakes, or Birthcakes"; and candles also are of pagan origin.—See Hislop’s TwoBabylons, pages 95, 191-196.
After telling us that December 25 was the traditional birthday of Nimrod, and not of Jesus, the new book WhatHasReligionDoneforMankind? states: "The inspired Scriptures do not give the birth date of Jesus, and it does not matter, for neither Jesus nor God his Father nor the inspired apostles instructed us to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. The only birthday celebrations that the Holy Scriptures mention are those of pagans, those of Egypt’s Pharaoh and of Herod Antipas who marked his birthday by having John the Baptist’s head chopped off. (Gen. 40:20; Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21) Christ’s disciples of the first century shunned birthday celebrations as being pagan, unchristian!"
Doubtless many things practiced by Christians today were also practiced by pagans; but when these practices are steeped in false worship contrary to Bible principle they become objectionable. The celebration of birthday anniversaries centers the mind on the creature and exalts the creature, giving him and his birth undue importance. Romans 1:25 (NW) warns of those who "venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created". Birthday celebrations could tend to take on this objectionable quality. If Christians wish to come together occasionally for profitable fellowship and relaxation, they do not have to await a day reminiscent of pagan religion. If they wish to present a brother with a gift, they do not have to await the anniversary of the day of his entry into the world, as though that were such a memorable occasion. If the precise day of Jesus’ birth and its remembrance were of no such noteworthiness, whose are?
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Gopher
The birthday ban for JW's started in 1951.
Here's a February 1, 2006 thread discussing this: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/106913/1.ashx (I see the previous poster YESIDID was on this thread as well...)
In the thread, different dates were batted around but the weight of evidence shifted to the year 1951.
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Junction-Guy
Grandma has a pic of my mom with a birthday cake in about 1953, however news does take awhile to reach deep Eastern Kentucky, they probably hadnt heard the new light yet.
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Sunspot
The celebration of birthday anniversaries centers the mind on the creature and exalts the creature, giving him and his birth undue importance. Romans 1:25 (NW) warns of those who "venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created". Birthday celebrations could tend to take on this objectionable quality.
What clever wordmasters the WTS writers are when it comes to giving out their opinions and making JWs feel that these opinions are now required from GOD!
Correct me if I am wrong here....but I cannot think of anyone I ever knew....whose birthday was "sacred service" or that really veberates one ABOVE the creator! What nonsense! The fact that EVERY PERSON on the earth HAS a day they call their birthday....gives everyone his own date and does not "take away" this time from anyone else! We all have equal time with this!
Yeah..birthday celebrations COULD take on an "objectionable quality", but it doesn't mean that they automatically DO!
The WTS, as usual, is stretching things to promote whatever it is they are trying to tear down, and are MASTERS at "going ahead of the scriptures" while insisting that their OPINIONS are worthy, and must be obeyed without question!
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blondie
Christmas was considered the celebration of Christ's birth. Even in Russell's day they knew that December 25 was not the correct day but celebrated anyway. Starting after 1926, the WTS no longer celebrated Christmas or Christ's birth.
ZION'S WATCH TOWER, Dec. 15, 1903, pg. 457:
"This review is perhaps as appropriate a lesson for the closing
Sunday of the year as any, especially when we remember that all
of these glories and blessings and priviledges are ours because
of the great redemption work accomplished by him whose entrance
upon the work is celebrated by Christmas day. Although we cannot
agree that this is the proper day for celebrating the birth of
dear Redemeer, but must insist that it was about October first,
nevertheless, since he did not intimate his desire that we
should celebrate his birthday it is quite immaterial upon what
day that event, of so great importance to all, is celebrated.
Upon this day, so generally celebrated, we may properly enough
join with all whose hearts are in the attitude of love and
appreciation toward God and toward the Saviour.
The habit of giving little remembrances one to another at this
time of year seems to us specially appropriate."
ZION'S WATCH TOWER, Dec. 01, 1904, pg. 364 :
"Even though Christmas is not the real anniversary of our Lord's
birth, but more properly the annunciation day or the date of his
human begetting (Luke 1:28), nevertheless, since the celebration
of our Lord's birth is not a matter of divine appointment or
injunction, but merely a tribute of respect to him, it is not
necessary for us to quibble perticularily about the date. We may
as well join with the civilized world in celebrating the grand
event on the day which the majority celebrate - "Christmas day.""
ZION'S WATCH TOWER, Nov. 15, 1907, pg. 351:
" "SCRIPTURE STUDIES" AS CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Dear Friends :-
It might interest you to know that we are already
offering the books for "Christmas gifts." We find that
many secure their Christmas presents several months
ahead, and that this month is the one in which many
are very please to secure "such a beautiful, appropri-
ate, and above all such a reasonable [in price] gift !"
Often we can get orders for several sets in one home,
in view of the fact that the books make such splendid
gifts. Today we got more than one order on this ac-
count. We mention this because we think it might
help wonderfully during the next six weeks in securing
orders from people who would perhaps not buy for
their own use. We say "Many are taking them for
gifts, and it is of course a compliment to a friend's in-
telligence to give him a book, especially a work of
this kind, and you get the entire three for only 98 cents!""
THE WATCH TOWER, Jan. 15, 1919, pg. 32 :
" A MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE
To THE DEAR FRIENDS EVERYWHERE:-
Grace, mercy and peace be multiplied unto you!
Am taking advantage of an opportunity to dictate this note
to extend to all the dear friends throughout the United Sates
and Canada my heartfelt thanks for the great love bestowed
upon us and manifested in the numerous Christmas presents
which I and my associates have received, as well as cards,
letters and messages of love. May the Lord bless you one
and all !
I am unable to write you personally, and so am asking that
this general message be given you. I am overwhelmed by
you expressions of love, dear brethren. May the Lord re-
ward you richly !
Your brother and servant by his grace.
J. F. RUTHERFORD."
NOTE - J.F. Rutherford was the President of the Watch Tower Bible
and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, when the above letter
was printed in the pages of The Watch Tower.
THE WATCH TOWER, Dec. 15, 1926, pg. 371:
"Students of the Scriptures also know that the birth of the
babe Jesus did not take place in December; yet because of the
general belief upon this point by most people, it seems to be
an appropriate time to speak the truth concerning his birth
and the purpose thereof. The Scriptural testimony, supported
by extranous facts, shows that the birth of Jesus occured
approximately October 1st. The event is so important that it
is always appropriate to call it to the minds of the people,
regradless of the date."In the Proclaimers Book it says this which seems to indicate that they stopped celebrating birthdays when they were still called Bible Students which would have been prior to 1931 when Rutherford renamed them "Jehovah's Witnesses."
*** jv chap. 14 p. 200 "They Are No Part of the World" ***In their "Daily Manna" book, Bible Students kept a list of birthdays. But after they quit celebrating Christmas and when they realized that birthday celebrations were giving undue honor to creatures (one reason that early Christians never celebrated birthdays), the Bible Students quit this practice too.
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VM44
The Watchtower writer wrote: "they do not have to await the anniversary of the day of his entry into the world, as though that were such a memorable occasion."
When the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society CORPORATION turned 100 years old, there were at Bethel talks and taking note of the anniversary of the day of entry into the world of the WATCHTOWER, as though it was some sort of memorable occasion!
Everything is for the WATCTHOWER, individuals are of no importance at all.
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R.Crusoe
Yes what an absolute evolution of spiritually uninspired legality. When Christ came JWs were still freely doing these things and only 'THE OPINIONS' of a few men changed the way of life for generations of followers. I don't know if this is true of anyone else, but with a young JW family, there were never any communal functions to look forward to and enjoy apart from 'door knockin' gatherings which I didn't find especially conducive to getting to know people! What a stifler of human emotions and healthy association - a complete stiffler! The Stiffling Bible and Tract Society!
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horrible life
Everything is for the WATCTHOWER, individuals are of no importance at all.
VM44 You didn't finish your statement. Since it has been over an hour, I will help you.
Everything is for the WATCTHOWER, individuals are of no importance at all. Unless you are over 25 and have a penis.
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ldrnomo
Does this mean that I can't build an alter, sacrifice a pig, and burn the fat in the fire for a sweet bacon smell to God this year for my birthday? Darn, and I was also planning on bumping off a few cooks and cup bearers this year too.