tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post8186691456705473024..comments2024-03-28T22:55:23.525-07:00Comments on Foster's Theological Reflections: Birthdays and CircumcisionEdgar Fosterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-74948731384420386492014-12-28T20:28:33.035-08:002014-12-28T20:28:33.035-08:00For the record I typically forgo cake on my birthd...For the record I typically forgo cake on my birthday and only have ice cream. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-33910847881831750852014-12-28T20:23:35.009-08:002014-12-28T20:23:35.009-08:00Romans 14:5 likely refers not to Jewish festivals ...Romans 14:5 likely refers not to Jewish festivals but to self imposed days of fasting and abstinence from meat. That is why the immediately preceding verses deal with vegetarianism rather than the Mosaic law.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-8277543199719999802014-01-11T09:14:05.483-08:002014-01-11T09:14:05.483-08:00LOL, Nathan. Good one. LOL, Nathan. Good one. Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-30354140312895774712014-01-10T23:59:27.541-08:002014-01-10T23:59:27.541-08:00Hi Edgar,
So someone wants to celebrate a day in ...Hi Edgar,<br /><br />So someone wants to celebrate a day in honour of God's gift of life to them? Sounds good. Just change the date and ditch the ritual and I'll drink to that (without clinking). ;)<br /><br />NathanNathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-28775184921050434162014-01-10T09:33:57.593-08:002014-01-10T09:33:57.593-08:00Thanks, Philip and Nathan. You're correct abou...Thanks, Philip and Nathan. You're correct about birthdays still being associated with superstition although a number of people I know would try to deny that their birthday celebration has anything to do with magic or superstition. As a matter of fact, someone once told me that birthdays promote God's glory since they commemorate the gift of life bequeathed to us by our Creator. They might also contend that the candles or making wishes have nothing to do with superstition, although that is stretching things.<br /><br />It's funny how we're supposed to live in a "disenchanted" time period when people have/are moving away from superstition, belief in spirits, and more toward a secular and technological world (i.e. the Enlightenment period and beyond). Yet people still have their birthday cakes with candles as they make their various wishes. Moreover, we still find people clinking glasses as a sign of "good cheer." But that practice also has traditionally been a form of superstition. However, if we took a survey of why people say "cheers!" while having a drink with friends, most would likely deny any link with spirits or good luck. Having said all of the foregoing, I still must agree that birthdays still have those elements of superstition and magic. <br /><br />Edgar Fosterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280475259670777653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-7089286613445872442014-01-09T21:10:02.276-08:002014-01-09T21:10:02.276-08:00Hi Edgar,
As usual your comments have helped make...Hi Edgar,<br /><br />As usual your comments have helped make a difficult (and touchy) subject easy to understand.<br /><br />If I may, I would only add one thing - something that I usually lead with when discussing this subject with others. Namely, that contemporary birthday celebrations involve customs which are *still* superstitious in nature and thus would fall under any scriptural condemnation against the belief in or practice of pagan ritual.<br /><br />For instance, blowing out candles and making a wish is something that is obviously and unquestionably superstitious in nature – even when done in jest. Therefore, the argument that the modern birthday celebration has lost its pagan roots within western culture is moot, since there are still practices that emulate paganism in both form and function.<br /><br />NathanNathannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13958708.post-80009086217162223982014-01-09T16:52:07.175-08:002014-01-09T16:52:07.175-08:00I like this very much. I also like the simplicity ...I like this very much. I also like the simplicity of your answers. It helps to answer questions about birthdays in a way even children can understand. Excellent<br /> PhilipPhilip Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06423325210695384048noreply@blogger.com