Why don't Jehovah's Witnesses attend funerals, weddings, or birthday parties of their family members who are not of their same faith?

For the most part, regarding funerals and weddings, this would be up to the conscience of the individual whether they would attend or not.

They would not take part in any religious ceremony.
They could be there as non participants, as respectful observers.
Unfortunately, in Christendom, many ancient pagan rituals have crept in to these ceremonies making many witnesses feel very uncomfortable in these church settings.
Jehovah's Witnesses funerals and weddings avoid any such pagan customs that God condemns.

The Watchtower Magazine of October 15, 2007, pages 27-28 has some good information to consider in factors that an individual can weigh in their conscience as they consider as to attend a particular event or not.

My husband used to be a JW, so I'll have a go at answering your question.

A lot of JWs are discouraged from associating with 'worldly' ie non-JW people. They are also not allowed to go to churches/temples/mosques etc.

The reason they do not celebrate birthdays is because every time there is a birthday mentioned in the bible, something bad happens. At Jesus' birth, Herod ordered the slaughter of the babies, someone asked for the head of John the Baptist at a birthday, there are probably more as well.

Of course not all JWs are this strict, some do attend weddings, birthdays etc. It is the same with any religion, some are stricter than others.

I hope that helps a little, I am no expert though!

JW'S CAN GO TO FUNERALS AND WEDDING'S WAT ARE YOU TAKING ABOUT AND IM NOT LYING, IM A A JW,OH AND NOT BRTHDAY PARTIES ,AND IF PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ALL THESE QUETSIONS WHEN A JW COMES TO YOUR HOUSE ,LET THEM COME IN AND TALK ABOUT IT.AND SINCE PEOPLE WANT TI KNOW SO BAD,STOP BEING MEAN AND AKS ?????!!!!

Another falsehood spread about J.W'S of course we attend funerals and wedding of family members, but we do not attend birthdays as this is not a Bible teaching .

Well attending a funeral or a wedding inside of a church is a personal decision. Personally i feel comfortable doing so. Bday parties we do not attend because the only 2 Bdays mentioned in the bible was celebrated by non servers of Jehovah. So we don't observe bdays ours or others.

Let me get this straight...As a JW you are not supposed to celebrate the life that God gave to you? Life is a gift. The fact that we have life and can serve God should be celebrated. Just look at the alternative....If we were not alive we would not have the opportunity to learn about or to serve God. I seriously doubt that God would condemn people for being happy that someone is alive and with them....

Jehovah's Witnesses are not commanded/or told what to do. We are, however encouraged to befriend those of the same faith. Which, is hardly wrong. We try to surround ourselves with other who have the same beliefs.

The 'Guidelines' which we adhere to are in the bible. Bible Principles. If anyone of your picks up a bible, you will read the same things we do.

Jehovah's Witnesses do attend funerals and weddings. Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays, but it doesnt mean they are not allow to give and get gifts any other days. They just do not only do it once a year.

I haven't read anything in the bible that God specifically condemned Birthdays...

Not a thing, but you only reasoned out that the two birthdays mentioned in the bible were celebrated by Pagans... But still God didn't condemned the celebration itself right?

After all, why wouldn't you celebrate they day you are born? The day when God has given you the gift to serve him in this world?

Intolerance?

Col 2:16 has nothing to do with birthday or national holidays, but has to do with the JEWISH holidays like passover and such. Remember who is speaking there and who he is talking to. He was talking to JEWS who were converts at the time and some of them still did those things that they were no longer required to do.

I don't know why. Of course Jesus attended both. Funerals- He was raising the dead, and weddings He was changing the water into wine. Jesus frequently used parables, including those about a wedding.

This requirement to abstain from weddings, funerals, etc... is another mind-control, fear tactic to keep their subjects under control. And it is fear. They could be disfellowshipped for participating in these kinds of things. Jesus ate with the sinners, he touched the unclean, he saved and forgave the wretched. What that says to me is... participate in life! Keeping the faith through all things through Christ who strengthens me. Jesus family thought He was a little crazy. Jesus continued to love and speak to them anyway about salvation, about His Father, etc.

Jesus said love your neighbor as yourself. If they're hurting, comfort them. If they're happy, rejoice them. Just as you would want to be treated. Too much legalistic mumbo jumbo. MHO.

● Why is it that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays?

Basically, it is because they respect the Word of God and are keenly interested in responding to its indications.

Birthday celebrations are popular world wide and have been for millenniums. Often there will be a party, with presents being given. But does the Bible say anything about birthdays?

It can be said at the outset that the Bible does not discourage generous giving to a loved one. (Gen. 33:10, 11; Luke 15:22; 2 Cor. 8:19) Nor does it discourage enjoying a feast or party, for eating and drinking in moderation are recommended as one means of enjoying life. (Eccl. 3:12, 13) Jesus shared in a wedding feast. Job’s children held what may have been harvest feasts that occasioned family reunions. Abraham had a feast when Isaac was weaned. (John 2:1, 2; Job 1:4, 5, 13; Gen. 21:8) And even though it was not commanded by God, the Jews held an annual festival on the anniversary of the rededication of the temple, which feast Jesus attended.—John 10:22, 23.

The Bible does, though, indicate that certain caution is needed, for it would not be proper to share in just any celebration regardless of its reason or nature. (Ex. 32:1-6; 1 Pet. 4:3; 1 Cor. 10:20, 21) What about noting and celebrating birthdays?

Obviously, many true worshipers kept record of birth dates. Priests and others knew their ages. Such a matter was not left to guesswork. (Num. 1:2, 3; 4:3; 8:23-25) But there is nothing in the Scriptures to suggest that true worshipers had annual birthday celebrations.

The Bible reports only two birthday celebrations, both of persons who were not servants of the true God.

The first was that of Pharaoh of Egypt. It was marked by the hanging of Pharaoh’s baker, who had been in prison with Joseph. (Gen. 40:18-22) Commenting on Genesis 40:20, Dr. Adam Clarke observes: “The distinguishing [of] a birthday by a feast appears from this place to have been a very ancient custom. It probably had its origin from [the] notion of the immortality of the soul, as the commencement of life must appear of great consequence to that person who believed he was to live for ever.”

The second, some 1,800 years later, was the birthday of Herod Antipas. The account in Mark 6:21-24 reads:

“But a convenient day came along when Herod spread an evening meal on his birthday for his top-ranking men and the military commanders and the foremost ones of Galilee. And the daughter of this very Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and those reclining with him. The king said to the maiden: ‘Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’ Yes, he swore to her: ‘Whatever you ask me for, I will give it to you, up to half my kingdom.’ And she went out and said to her mother: ‘What should I ask for?’ She said: ‘The head of John the baptizer.’”—See also Matthew 14:6-11.

Regarding the account of Herod’s birthday, Dr. Richard Lenski comments: “The Jews abhorred the keeping of birthdays as being a pagan custom, but the Herods even outdid the Romans in these celebrations, so that ‘Herod’s birthday’ (Herodis dies) came to be a proverbial expression for excessive festival display.”

How are we to look at these two birthday celebrations? Is it just coincidental that they are mentioned and that both were for persons not having God’s approval? Or could it be that Jehovah deliberately had these details recorded in his Word, which he says is “beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight”? (2 Tim. 3:16) At the very least it can be said that these two accounts Biblically put birthday celebrations in a bad light, as a practice of those estranged from God.

Also, it is worth noting that God did not record the exact date of Jesus’ birth, which certainly would be the most important birthday if God’s servants were to celebrate birthdays. Instead, the Bible indicates the date of Jesus’ death and instructs Christians to commemorate that as an anniversary each year. (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26) This harmonizes with the fact that the Bible says that the day of a person’s death is more significant than the day of his birth if he has made a good name with God during his lifetime.—Eccl. 7:1, 8.

Consistent with the Scriptural indications, the early Christians did not hold birthday celebrations.

“The notion of a birthday festival was far from the ideas of the Christians of this period in general.”—The History of the Christian Religion and Church During the First Three Centuries, by Augustus Neander.

As time passed and there was a falling away from pure Christianity, what began to be commemorated was the death, not the birth.

“The reverence in which the martyrs were held led to an undue attachment to the scene and day of their death. By a happy thought the day of a martyr’s death was called his birthday. The places where the martyrs had died were regarded with a holy awe. . . . On the anniversary days the services [in the churches] were largely devoted to recalling his services and character. . . . It must be remembered, however, that these [annual] memorial services were no part of the general order of the Church.”—History of the Christian Church, by Dr. John F. Hurst, Vol. 1, pp. 350, 351.

So even though the Bible does not contain a specific prohibition against birthday celebrations, Jehovah’s Witnesses have long noted the Scriptural indications and have not celebrated birthdays. In this, they harmonize with the pattern of the earliest Christians.

Also, while there is no Bible justification for annually celebrating the date of a Christian’s death, we can agree that the day of death is better than the day of his birth. Thus we should concentrate, not on the day of birth but on each day imitating Christ and reflecting God’s image. Should we die, then we will have glorified God by our way of life, and he will surely remember us.—Heb. 5:9; 11:6; Phil. 3:8-11.

They are not allowed to attend funerals of
dis fellowshipped Jehovah Wittnesses even if they
are family members. Sounds like they worship a loving
God doesnt it. Actuall their god is still resting. They can pull scripture out of the Bible to affirm this even to the extent of changing
some (NWT) to affirm what they are told or allowed to believe. If you are not a Jehovah Witness and are
resurrected after armeggidion. (You pay your sin debt
by dieing) If you agree then to be a witness. They
will build you a house. Sounds real fair to them. Huh

Wow. They didnt ask for a bedtime story. Hope you turned that time in. Shesh...... Anyway I think your question was answered. Birthdays and Holidays are a no because they are considered pagan. Weddings and Funerals can be attended although they would prefer you not enter a church or any religious building not their own. I on the other hand am a free thinking person so I do as I please. I let my heart and my brain lead the way. Im a spiritual person but most organized religion is completley baffling to me. Life is not meant to be this complicated. No offense to anyone just my personal opinion. I got some JWs in my fam that would beg to differ also but I dont mind being a black sheep.

i just dont know why we can celebrate the birth of our children. why cant we have a party an giv gifts to them is it that much of a bad thing. an if it is than why didnt jehovah say do not celebrate anyones birthday. why didnt he make that clear if it is such a wrong thing?