Classmate "doesn't celebrate birthdays"

[Anonymous]

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

Maybe when you're 43, but not 7.

[Anonymous]

That's one way to get your children to leave the religion when they're adults - make it as un-fun as humanly possible. No birthday for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Maybe when you're 43, but not 7.

Try being told at 4 no more birthdays, and growing up that way. You'll cherish your and your friends celebrations if you manage to escape the belief system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get so tired of religion.

ALL religions.

Oh come on, what happened to tolerance and acceptance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Maybe when you're 43, but not 7.

NP. True, but honestly, if the WORST thing a religion does is not allow its kids to celebrate birthdays--which, most of the posters on this web site act like are huge burdens anyway (don't give my kid PRESENTS! No CAKE, it has SUGAR!, etc.) I don't really think it's some huge deal. I'm sure they have fun in other ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Maybe when you're 43, but not 7.

NP. True, but honestly, if the WORST thing a religion does is not allow its kids to celebrate birthdays--which, most of the posters on this web site act like are huge burdens anyway (don't give my kid PRESENTS! No CAKE, it has SUGAR!, etc.) I don't really think it's some huge deal. I'm sure they have fun in other ways.

Just saying here, so you know.
No birthdays, Christmas, thanksgiving, Easter, fourth of July, etc.
You have no idea how it is growing up like that. They have picnics n such to try and make it up, but it's church only, it's not like you can invite your classmates, or whatever. Nothing like a school friend handing you a present and having to return it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Jehovah's Witness does not celebrate birthdays.

Or any holidays. No Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc. I'm not sure about thanksgiving.

My aunt's family is JW. I always thought it was weird that they celebrated wedding anniversaries. You can celebrate the anniversary of the day someone got married but not the day someone was born?

Also, they won't go in churches or any room with a cross hangings...even when it's a very close family member's funeral. I learned that the hard way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could understand not celebrating their own bdays but a friend's?

Still forbidden. Some religions do suck all the joy out of life.

[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.

She probably assumed you knew what she meant and wasn't being purposely vague. As soon as I read your title I assumed JW. It's fairly common knowledge (I mean that nicely, not to be rude).

[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.

I'm glad you got out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Would you mind linking to it? I would enjoy reading it. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get so tired of religion.

ALL religions.

Oh come on, what happened to tolerance and acceptance?

Both have been worn out.

[Anonymous]

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/471623.page

Here's the ama link, pp.

[Anonymous]

My dad grew up in a family that didnt celebrate birthday because of their religion - Church of the Bretheren.
i really dont know much else about it but they went to church often three times a week.

[Anonymous]

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

I agree completely. Kids get to pick what the family has for dinner on their birthday, they don't need to take a sweet to school. They also help me make a cake and pick out what they want in it (one wanted zucchini, tomato and banana... we did it, but with lots of spices and cream cheese frosting).