What is wrong with celebrating birthdays?

[Daisies4me]

So sorry that you feel my asking questions about your beliefs is an attempt to 'crush' you. I won't assume in the future that you're on this site to share and debate your views.

(quote)

You won't crush me. But your attempts to denigrate all Christian believers shows your desire to crush all whom you can, as it appears to me.
And twisting words and attempting to change what was actually said into something not stated at all, is unacceptable.
Honest persons who sincerely wish to discuss what the Bible teaches will not be deceitful, imho.

 

[QuestioningMind]

(quote)

You won't crush me. But your attempts to denigrate all Christian believers shows your desire to crush all whom you can, as it appears to me.
And twisting words and attempting to change what was actually said into something not stated at all, is unacceptable.
Honest persons who sincerely wish to discuss what the Bible teaches will not be deceitful, imho.

So sorry that you think that me claiming that I find as much reason to believe in the Hindu Vedas as the Christian bible to be 'denigrating' all Christian believers. And please, point out to me how I attempted to 'twist' anyone's words. I'm not aware of having done so.

 

[Daisies4me]

So sorry that you think that me claiming that I find as much reason to believe in the Hindu Vedas as the Christian bible to be 'denigrating' all Christian believers. And please, point out to me how I attempted to 'twist' anyone's words. I'm not aware of having done so.

(quote)
Again---please stop attributing to me things that I have NOT said.
This is the second request to you asking you to cease and desist , please do pay attention .

 

[arthra]

Someone stated that celebrating Birthday is bid'ah (heresy), and they don’t celebrate birthdays. Yes, birthdays can be a bit childish because when people grow up they tend not to celebrate birthdays like they did when they were younger, and early European believers thought that birthdays were pagan rituals. If one were to turn 60 years old that means one went around the sun 60 times, so, what is wrong with celebrating ones 60th turn around the sun, or should I say what is wrong with those people who celebrate their birthdays? Nothing wrong? Or, does this practice have something to do with pride, arrogance, and entitlement?

In my view when we celebrate someone's birthday it's more a case where we honor them and show our love for them... that we're happy they're still with us and we show our respect and care for them.

It can also be a time when we recognize the maturity of a child .. say their fifteenth birthday.

 

[Sammeleh]

Jehovah's Witness do not celebrate their birthdays.
This is acknowledge fact on their website
Why Don’t Jehovah’s Witnesses Celebrate Birthdays? | FAQ

But for me, I love birthdays!

I don't love birthdays. They are silly and portray vanity, in my humble opinion.

 

[Grandliseur]

(quote)

I thought the definition of 'heresy' to be the adherence to a religious opinion that is contrary to the accepted church dogma...or a denial of a revealed 'truth' upheld by the religious organization adhered to. ....

I also had that opinion until I listened to a lecture by a professor on the subject. Here is Dictionary.com's definition:
"1175-1225; Middle English heresie < Old French eresie < Latin haeresisschool of thought, sect < Greek haíresis, literally, act of choosing, derivative of haireîn to choose"

When the church went from being a congregation to becoming a seat of control of countries, it began to view 'choice' the deliberate personal study and Sola Scriptura method as something that should be punished by death and other such punishments. (Inquisition) Thus verifying on one's own what scripture taught, this choice, this heresy, became forbidden. Even today, several other churches call such people who verify on their own - apostates. In this sense, if indeed I verify on my own what is truth and good worship and being obedient to God and Christ - I am proud to be called a heretic.

 

[Darkstorn]

I think the real question is:

What is wrong with Sovietchild?

 

[Daisies4me]

Yes, I know. But if its the name is important, than we would expect JW's to make the necessary changes to their Bibles when writing in modern English so as to reflect the new pronunciation.

4549, member: 16455"]I also had that opinion until I listened to a lecture by a professor on the subject. Here is Dictionary.com's definition:
"1175-1225; Middle English heresie < Old French eresie < Latin haeresisschool of thought, sect < Greek haíresis, literally, act of choosing, derivative of haireîn to choose"

When the church went from being a congregation to becoming a seat of control of countries, it began to view 'choice' the deliberate personal study and Sola Scriptura method as something that should be punished by death and other such punishments. (Inquisition) Thus verifying on one's own what scripture taught, this choice, this heresy, became forbidden. Even today, several other churches call such people who verify on their own - apostates. In this sense, if indeed I verify on my own what is truth and good worship and being obedient to God and Christ - I am proud to be called a heretic.[/QUOTE]



(quote) Ah, yes. when the pope became the head of the church and also the ruler of the nation, When the apostasy took over and set up their own laws and became the Roman CHurch, they would put to death the ones who refused to follow them, rather than the teachings of Jesus, So Christians had to go underground, because they were being fed to wild animals in the Roman arena as entertainment. That Apostate 'Church' was Catholic, and then the orthodox stepped in to claim it for themselves, so they spit apart. Each one thinking that they were the 'universal Church', down to this day. any who didn't agree with their manmade doctrines and rituals were indeed considered heretics and burned at the stake,
Those who refused to take the newly written trinity doctrine were considered heretics and put to death. John Calvin was one who would enjoy burning people slowly, putting wet sponges on their heads, so as to make them suffer more and delay death. All who were loyal to Jesus now were being persecuted to the death. You are correct.

 

[QuestioningMind]

(quote)
Again---please stop attributing to me things that I have NOT said.
This is the second request to you asking you to cease and desist , please do pay attention .

Again, please do point out to me where I'm attributing to you things you have not said.

 

[Sammeleh]

To me, is it so much the getting of gifts because a person is alive ( after all what would give gifts to the dead ), but more like the giving of gifts because of: social pressure. I'll give you a gift on your special day and you give me a gift on my special day.
The 'gift exchanging standard' connects to one's birthdays besides the Christmas exchange gifts.

That's very interesting. So you're telling me that if you knew that when you die that would be the end, you would be unable to find any joy and happiness and would have no reason to celebrate your life? I find that rather sad. It sounds as if unless you know that you can experience joy and happiness FOREVER that you can't experience joy and happiness at all. Does the fact that you know a rose won't last forever mean that you can't see and appreciate the beauty it has to offer for whatever short time it may exist? I suppose that if that's true then I understand why you cling to your fantasy so tightly. Personally I can find joy and happiness and reason to celebrate my life even if I know it will come to an end some day.

No need to celebrate one day a year by getting gifts just because I'm alive

How many times do I have to tell you that I celebrate my life on a daily basis, NOT just one day a year?

What I am saying is that when you're gone, you're gone. To say you are celebrating life on your birthday is not really true. You are celebrating your life and want others to celebrate your life by giving you gifts for being alive. The Giver of life is who should be celebrated.

 

[Sammeleh]

I also had that opinion until I listened to a lecture by a professor on the subject. Here is Dictionary.com's definition:
"1175-1225; Middle English heresie < Old French eresie < Latin haeresisschool of thought, sect < Greek haíresis, literally, act of choosing, derivative of haireîn to choose"

When the church went from being a congregation to becoming a seat of control of countries, it began to view 'choice' the deliberate personal study and Sola Scriptura method as something that should be punished by death and other such punishments. (Inquisition) Thus verifying on one's own what scripture taught, this choice, this heresy, became forbidden. Even today, several other churches call such people who verify on their own - apostates. In this sense, if indeed I verify on my own what is truth and good worship and being obedient to God and Christ - I am proud to be called a heretic.

Really definitions matter to those to whom they apply.

 

[QuestioningMind]

What I am saying is that when you're gone, you're gone. To say you are celebrating life on your birthday is not really true. You are celebrating your life and want others to celebrate your life by giving you gifts for being alive. The Giver of life is who should be celebrated.

Yes, since I celebrate life on a daily basis when I say I celebrate life on my birthday as well, that's true. As for wanting others to celebrate my life by giving me gifts, that's completely false. Not so sure why YOU appear so obsessed with the gift giving aspect of birthdays. Personally I enjoy GIVING gifts to people I love and respect in celebration of their lives, but the physical gifts are all just secondary to a celebration of the LIFE of the individual.

Not so sure why the Giver of Life you refer to is so against people getting joy out of their lives by celebrating the ones they love. I mean, this Giver of Life wants me to find joy in my life, right? Why would this Giver of Life be offended that I celebrate this gift that's been bestowed upon me? I know that when I give someone a gift it's always nice to hear that they enjoy and appreciate it. Wouldn't this Giver of Life be overjoyed to see people celebrating the fabulous gift they've been given?

 

[URAVIP2ME]

What I am saying is that when you're gone, you're gone. To say you are celebrating life on your birthday is not really true. You are celebrating your life and want others to celebrate your life by giving you gifts for being alive. The Giver of life is who should be celebrated.

I agree, birthdays are Not really celebrating life. The 'Giver of Life' is Not the One celebrated but put into second place or even lower. To me, the creation should Not be singled out to take first place - Romans 1:25

As for saying 'when you're gone, your gone', to me that would be correct except that my understanding of the Bible is that there ' is going to be ' a resurrection...... according to Acts of the Apostles 24:15
So, the dead are only gone for a temporary amount of time until Resurrection Day meaning Jesus' coming millennium-long day of governing over Earth when enemy death will be No more according to 1 Corinthians 15:24-26

 

[Jonathan Ainsley Bain]

Someone stated that celebrating Birthday is bid'ah (heresy), and they don’t celebrate birthdays. Yes, birthdays can be a bit childish because when people grow up they tend not to celebrate birthdays like they did when they were younger, and early European believers thought that birthdays were pagan rituals. If one were to turn 60 years old that means one went around the sun 60 times, so, what is wrong with celebrating ones 60th turn around the sun, or should I say what is wrong with those people who celebrate their birthdays? Nothing wrong? Or, does this practice have something to do with pride, arrogance, and entitlement?

Totally correct.
Its amazing how many people claim not to believe in astrology, and
then go to ridiculous lengths and dramas to compulsively live entirely for
the astrological superstition of their birthday right up until the day they die.
They get resentful when others 'forget' their special day, and scorn the gifts
if they're not up to their standards.

Birthdays should be shunned by anyone who rejects astrology.

 

[Sammeleh]

Yes, since I celebrate life on a daily basis when I say I celebrate life on my birthday as well, that's true. As for wanting others to celebrate my life by giving me gifts, that's completely false. Not so sure why YOU appear so obsessed with the gift giving aspect of birthdays. Personally I enjoy GIVING gifts to people I love and respect in celebration of their lives, but the physical gifts are all just secondary to a celebration of the LIFE of the individual.

Not so sure why the Giver of Life you refer to is so against people getting joy out of their lives by celebrating the ones they love. I mean, this Giver of Life wants me to find joy in my life, right? Why would this Giver of Life be offended that I celebrate this gift that's been bestowed upon me? I know that when I give someone a gift it's always nice to hear that they enjoy and appreciate it. Wouldn't this Giver of Life be overjoyed to see people celebrating the fabulous gift they've been given?

I agree, birthdays are Not really celebrating life. The 'Giver of Life' is Not the One celebrated but put into second place or even lower. To me, the creation should Not be singled out to take first place - Romans 1:25

As for saying 'when you're gone, your gone', to me that would be correct except that my understanding of the Bible is that there ' is going to be ' a resurrection...... according to Acts of the Apostles 24:15
So, the dead are only gone for a temporary amount of time until Resurrection Day meaning Jesus' coming millennium-long day of governing over Earth when enemy death will be No more according to 1 Corinthians 15:24-26

Yes, since I celebrate life on a daily basis when I say I celebrate life on my birthday as well, that's true. As for wanting others to celebrate my life by giving me gifts, that's completely false. Not so sure why YOU appear so obsessed with the gift giving aspect of birthdays. Personally I enjoy GIVING gifts to people I love and respect in celebration of their lives, but the physical gifts are all just secondary to a celebration of the LIFE of the individual.

Not so sure why the Giver of Life you refer to is so against people getting joy out of their lives by celebrating the ones they love. I mean, this Giver of Life wants me to find joy in my life, right? Why would this Giver of Life be offended that I celebrate this gift that's been bestowed upon me? I know that when I give someone a gift it's always nice to hear that they enjoy and appreciate it. Wouldn't this Giver of Life be overjoyed to see people celebrating the fabulous gift they've been given?

When I hear of someone celebrating his life or the life of someone else, I think of it as foolish, vain, and self-exalting.

 

[Sammeleh]

I agree, birthdays are Not really celebrating life. The 'Giver of Life' is Not the One celebrated but put into second place or even lower. To me, the creation should Not be singled out to take first place - Romans 1:25

As for saying 'when you're gone, your gone', to me that would be correct except that my understanding of the Bible is that there ' is going to be ' a resurrection...... according to Acts of the Apostles 24:15
So, the dead are only gone for a temporary amount of time until Resurrection Day meaning Jesus' coming millennium-long day of governing over Earth when enemy death will be No more according to 1 Corinthians 15:24-26

I see your point and if this life is all there is, let us eat, drink, and enjoy life, for "tomorrow we die." Yes! There will be a resurrection of the dead. At which point we can truly celebrate.

 

[QuestioningMind]

When I hear of someone celebrating his life or the life of someone else, I think of it as foolish, vain, and self-exalting.

How very sad that you don't find this wonderful gift of life to be worth celebrating. You're missing out on what life is all about.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

When I hear of someone celebrating his life or the life of someone else, I think of it as foolish, vain, and self-exalting.

To me, ' foolish, vain, and self-exalting ' falls into the category of: Ego.
Which ties into Philippians 2:3-4 mentioning we should do nothing out of vainglory or contentiousness, or out of egotism, but with humility or lowliness of mind considering others as superior to You, as You look out for ....... the interest of others.

 

[URAVIP2ME]

I see your point and if this life is all there is, let us eat, drink, and enjoy life, for "tomorrow we die." Yes! There will be a resurrection of the dead. At which point we can truly celebrate.

I agree. Perhaps because people do Not think there will be a resurrection for them, as mentioned at Acts of the Apostles 24:15, that there ' is going to be ' a resurrection.......' is why there are people who stress ' eat,drink and be merry.....' because for them it is only the grave that awaits them.
With a hopeless outlook like that, then personal happiness, personal satisfaction, comes 1st in their life.