Classmate "doesn't celebrate birthdays"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up as a JW. They have a very literal way of viewing the bible. Since the bible only mentions two birthdays and they both end badly, the stance is no birthdays- obviously God doesn't want his worshipers celebrating the day of their birth. They only celebrate wedding anniversaries and their version of passover.

It's a lonely childhood and I'm glad I choose to leave the religion, even though it meant losing my family. I think birthdays are a wonderful time, when a person can feel special for one day.

You should do an AMA thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up as a JW. They have a very literal way of viewing the bible. Since the bible only mentions two birthdays and they both end badly, the stance is no birthdays- obviously God doesn't want his worshipers celebrating the day of their birth. They only celebrate wedding anniversaries and their version of passover.

It's a lonely childhood and I'm glad I choose to leave the religion, even though it meant losing my family. I think birthdays are a wonderful time, when a person can feel special for one day.

You should do an AMA thread.

I never thought about that. I always feel so ordinary but I did have an abusive and chaotic childhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's another Christian sect that does this as well. Maybe seventh day Adventists?

Not true I'm a seventh day Adventist and we celebrate birthdays and Easter and Halloween, all of it

[Anonymous]

I'm the pp with the JW childhood. I'd like to add that this child needs compassion. Some of the children seem devoted, but they're young and being told what to do, which excludes them and make them targets. Many witness children are miserable, but have no choice, seeing that leaving carries the penalty of shunning.

[Anonymous]

I get so tired of religion.

ALL religions.

[Anonymous]

I befriended a girl in 6th grade who was JW, and had written "happy groundhog's day" on a paper of hers (we'd swapped to grade or something). I was so confused when she made me erase it and explained she doesn't celebrate that or birthdays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's another Christian sect that does this as well. Maybe seventh day Adventists?

Not true I'm a seventh day Adventist and we celebrate birthdays and Easter and Halloween, all of it

m

Maybe it's Pentecostals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up as a JW. They have a very literal way of viewing the bible. Since the bible only mentions two birthdays and they both end badly, the stance is no birthdays- obviously God doesn't want his worshipers celebrating the day of their birth. They only celebrate wedding anniversaries and their version of passover.

It's a lonely childhood and I'm glad I choose to leave the religion, even though it meant losing my family. I think birthdays are a wonderful time, when a person can feel special for one day.

You should do an AMA thread.

I never thought about that. I always feel so ordinary but I did have an abusive and chaotic childhood.

Please don't. Most JWs I know are extremely boring. AMA threads are boring too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why couldn't the mother have simply RSVP'd "no" already? Being a Jehovah's Witness doesn't stop you from being polite.

OP didn't say the mom was impolite.

[Anonymous]

How could you "not know what to say?" "Oh, ok, sorry you can't make it. Maybe another time if we host a different type of event." Then move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up as a JW. They have a very literal way of viewing the bible. Since the bible only mentions two birthdays and they both end badly, the stance is no birthdays- obviously God doesn't want his worshipers celebrating the day of their birth. They only celebrate wedding anniversaries and their version of passover.

It's a lonely childhood and I'm glad I choose to leave the religion, even though it meant losing my family. I think birthdays are a wonderful time, when a person can feel special for one day.

You should do an AMA thread.

I never thought about that. I always feel so ordinary but I did have an abusive and chaotic childhood.

Please don't. Most JWs I know are extremely boring. AMA threads are boring too.

My guess is that you are not a very interesting person yourself. People who find everything/everyone "boring" are usually lacking in creativity and understanding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up as a JW. They have a very literal way of viewing the bible. Since the bible only mentions two birthdays and they both end badly, the stance is no birthdays- obviously God doesn't want his worshipers celebrating the day of their birth. They only celebrate wedding anniversaries and their version of passover.

It's a lonely childhood and I'm glad I choose to leave the religion, even though it meant losing my family. I think birthdays are a wonderful time, when a person can feel special for one day.

You should do an AMA thread.

I never thought about that. I always feel so ordinary but I did have an abusive and chaotic childhood.

Please don't. Most JWs I know are extremely boring. AMA threads are boring too.

My guess is that you are not a very interesting person yourself. People who find everything/everyone "boring" are usually lacking in creativity and understanding.

I started the ama but certainly, you don't need to read it. I love reading about other people's lives and thought maybe someone might want to hear what my childhood was like. There's a whole lot of recovering Jehovah's Witnesses in the world. It's a sad way to grow up.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, she could have RSVPed no and I wouldn't have said anything to her today. I don't know why she couldn't have added "we are Jehovah's Witness and so we don't celebrate birthdays." No different than an Orthodox Jew saying, "we don't drive on Saturdays and can't make it to the venue." Done. Instead it was so vague and her girls seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the conversation. Now I get why. I respect a religious belief but didn't know this actually was a thing. Thank you all for helping me sort that out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yes, she could have RSVPed no and I wouldn't have said anything to her today. I don't know why she couldn't have added "we are Jehovah's Witness and so we don't celebrate birthdays." No different than an Orthodox Jew saying, "we don't drive on Saturdays and can't make it to the venue." Done. Instead it was so vague and her girls seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the conversation. Now I get why. I respect a religious belief but didn't know this actually was a thing. Thank you all for helping me sort that out.

I would imagine Jehovah's Witnesses are used to people looking at them strangely and she just didn't feel up to it or something. Who knows. I am Jewish and always feel awkward telling non-Jews I am taking off for Rosh Hashanah or not eating bread products during Passover, stuff like that. It's not that I feel embarrassed about it, but I don't want to make the other person feel uncomfortable or embarrassed (often the reaction is "oh, sorry, I didn't know!" when of course they had no reason to know and I didn't expect that they would). I wouldn't avoid the question if asked directly, but if someone offers me a cupcake during Passover I just say "no thanks." I don't give a reason unless they ask. She probably felt like it was rude to just say no, and maybe she didn't want to outright lie by saying she had another engagement, so she offered a half reason. No big deal really and now you know not to be hurt when your kid is not invited to her kid's birthday party!

[Anonymous]

Birthdays are overrated anyway and have gotten completely out of hand.