As many people know, JWs do not celebrate birthdays, or holidays. Their reasons are always backed up by the Bible, according to them. Whatever. Now that I am free from their kind of thinking, I realize what a horrible thing it is to raise a child without teaching them the traditions of the people around them, celebrating with them, especially on Birthdays. Birthdays are happy occasions! Even the angels celebrated on the day Jesus was born. I don't see how remembering the day a beautiful child was born, could possibly be considered as wrong. Everyone deserves to be remembered, and everyone deserves gifts from their loved ones. Even if the child or adult being celebrated is not the nicest person in the world, it is still a good thing in my opinion, because then at least you're celebrating the fact that they made it one more year, and still have the opportunity to better themselves, or their relationships.
JW's also do not accept blood transfusions. Of course, now they have a whole department that goes around talking to doctors, hospitals, etc. giving presentations about why non-blood treatments are so wonderful. Blah, blah, blah. While non-blood treatments may work well for all I know, or even be less risky as far as passing diseases to the patient, the JW's stand on this issue is a religious one, not a medical one, even though they try to confuse everyone into thinking it is. Even if it was not a healthy choice, which in some cases it isn't, they would still stick to it, because of the Bible's statement to the effect of: "you must abstain from blood". (and how they interpret it) They actually would let their child or family member die, rather than have a blood transfusion. Sure, they say they don't want their loved one to die, but what is more important to them? Their loved one - or sticking to their religious belief which they will think will please God so that they will be rewarded in the future? That's not hard to figure out. I am not a doctor, so I can not claim to know enough about blood or non-blood treatment to recommend either one over the other. But I do know that it is my right to decide, not the right of some fanatical religion to decide for me. I know that if my son's life was in danger, and a doctor told me that they recommended a blood transfusion, or he would die, I sure as hell would let them give him a blood transfusion rather than risking the death of my precious son! I am thankful that I was never put in that position when I was a JW, or Jordan might not be around; I was trained well. For those JWs who do allow their child to have a blood transfusion, or have one themselves, they are considered unfaithful, or weak, or bad associates. JWs even believe that children can make this choice to not accept blood transfusions, if they are a 'faithful' witness, or associate. Aren't we parents supposed to protect our children, keep them safe? How can they justify teaching their children to decide to die rather than accepting a medical treatment? One that is not condemned by any other christian religion that I know of?