WatchTower Society Requirement: Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse blood transfusions
November 5, 2007 | Filed under Featured Comments
Following on from the post earlier today about the Jehovah Witness “Emma Gough” who died after refusing a blood transfusion, we had a comment from Georgia which was very long and informative about The WatchTower Society Requirement and why Jehovah Witnesses refuse blood transfusions.
Here is Georgia’s comment:
This WatchTower Society requirement that Jehovah’s Witnesses must refuse to accept any blood transfusions dates back only to 1945. Misinterpreting the Old Testament prohibition against eating animal blood as a routine food item, the WatchTower Society began teaching in 1945 that receiving a blood transfusion was “eating human blood”. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that receiving an infusion of human blood into their body’s circulatory system is scientifically the exact same thing as eating or ingesting blood into their body’s digestive system.
“A patient in the hospital maybe fed through the mouth, through the nose, or through the veins. When sugar solutions are given intravenously it is called intravenous feeding. So the hospital’s own terminology recognizes as feeding the process of putting nutrition into one’s system via the veins. Hence the attendant administering the transfusion is feeding the patient through the veins, and the patient receiving it is eating through his veins.” — The WATCHTOWER magazine, July 1, 1951.
Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to acknowledge that when human blood is transfused into their body’s circulatory system that the transfused human blood remains to be human blood and continues to function as human blood. Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to acknowledge that if blood is eaten, then the ingested blood enters the body’s digestive system, where the blood would be treated by the body exactly the same as it would treat a hotdog, a potato chip, or any other food item. Ingested blood would be completely digested and broken down into proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and waste; which are then either assimilated or excreted by the body.
The WatchTower Society uses scriptures which speak about the blood of slaughtered animals to teach Jehovah’s Witnesses that blood is “sacred” because blood is the “symbol of life”. Then, the WatchTower Society turns around and requires Jehovah’s Witnesses to sacrifice their own “life” to maintain the alleged “sacredness” of a “symbol” of the very thing they are sacrificing — their life. Jehovah’s Witnesses refuse to acknowledge that the WatchTower doctrine on blood moronically places a higher value on the SYMBOL than it does on the THING SYMBOLIZED.
In fact, the Old Testament scriptures permitted the eating of unbled animal meat, which the Bible treats exactly the same as eating animal blood itself. In isolated occasions, when humans needed to eat unbled meat in order to sustain their own human life, the Mosaic Law permitted such, but then required the eaters to fulfill the requirements of being “unclean” for a few days. Thus, the Bible recognized that the sustaining of human life was more “sacred” than maintaining the sacredness of animal blood. To do otherwise would be doing exactly what the moronic WatchTower Society does. It would make the SYMBOL more SACRED than the THING SYMBOLIZED.
In fact, the WatchTower Society is leading Jehovah’s Witnesses to disobey GOD and violate the Holy Scriptures in one of the most serious ways possible. Because humans were created in GOD’s image, GOD considers human life sacred. A Jehovah’s Witness who sacrifices their SACRED LIFE in order to maintain the sacredness of a SYMBOL of that SACRED LIFE varies little from those who profane life by committing suicide. Those Jehovah’s Witness Elders who teach and police this moronic doctrine vary little from common accessories to murder. The Bible is fairly clear in how GOD views murder, and how He deals with Murderers.
This moronic twisting of scripture would be laughable if not for the fact that it has lead to the pointless deaths of numerous Jehovah’s Witnesses in the past, and it will continue to lead to the pointless deaths of many more Jehovah’s Witnesses in the future.
SUMMARIES OF 300 JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES LAWSUITS & COURT CASES
The following website summarizes over 315 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah’s Witness Parents, including 200+ cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:
DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com
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Jehovah’s Witnesses elders will investigate and disfellowship any Jehovah Witness who takes a blood transfusion,to say the issue is a ‘personal conscience matter’ is subterfuge to keep the Watchtower out of lawsuits.
Many Jehovah’s Witnesses men,women and children die every year worldwide due to blood transfusion ban.Rank & file Jehovah’s Witness are indoctrinated to be scared to death of blood.
FYI
1) JW’s DO USE many parts aka ‘fractions’ aka components of blood,so if it’s ’sacred’ to God why the hypocritical contradiction flip-flop?
2) They USE blood collections that are donated by Red cross and others but don’t donate back,more hypocrisy.
3) The Watchtower promotes and praises bloodless elective surgeries,this is a great advancement indeed.BUT it’s no good to me if I am bleeding to death from a car crash and lose half my blood volume and need EMERGENCY blood transfusion.
Know this,the reason that JW refuse blood is because of their spin on the 3000 year old Biblical old testament,modern medicine will eventually make blood donations and transfusions a thing of the past.When this technology happens it won’t vindicate the Jehovah’s Witnesses and all the deaths that have occured so far.
The Watchtower’s rules against blood transfusions will eventually be abolished (very gradually to reduce wrongful death lawsuit liability) even now most of the blood ‘components’ are allowed.
In 20 years there will be artificial blood and the Red Cross will go on with other noble deeds.
None of these changes will absolve the Watchtower leaders or vindicate their twisted doctrines
Are there dangers from blood?There are over 500 aspirin deaths in USA yearly.
—
Danny Haszard born 1957 3rd generation Jehovah’s Witness
Let it also be pointed out that the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society also at one time forbid organ transplants, calling them “cannibalism.” They reversed that position about thirty years ago and now permit organ transplants: those organs are filled with BLOOD.
Blood is a “liquid organ.” When will faithful JWs be permitted to receive a “blood organ” transplant without being expelled from their congregations, ostracized and shunned for their conscientious choice?
After so long I am sometimes still surprised at my emotional reaction to stories like this. All I can think of is that poor man and those two newborn babies having to deal with that loss. To top it off, this was a 22 year old woman with her whole life ahead of her. This is so tragic. What makes such cases even more tragic is that it simply does not have to happen! The prohibition against blood transfusion is man-made and not Biblical doctrine.
The Orwellian Watchtower world.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are brainwashed by watchtower cult indoctrination from 12 senile old men in New york city.
The problem is they are forbidden to use critical thinking skills.
Actually in this case it was the medical profession that slipped up. Emma had the twins and was sent home by doctors thinking everything was fine. She actually died because the doctors didn’t notice that she was bleeding internally, by the time they found out nothing would have saved her. And i know all this because i knew her.
The term “bloodless surgery” does not mean that a
surgical procedure can be performed without blood loss. It is in reference to finding ways to reduce the need for a blood components beginning weeks ahead of surgery and during the procedure itself. In the event of a trauma, blood may be necessary for survival. It amazes me that Jehovah’s Witnesses would die for a lie.
Jehovah’s Witnesses DO TAKE BLOOD products, yet claim they abstain from blood. They can take Hemoglobin, Albumin, cLotting Factors, Immunoglobulins, etc. In fact, these blood products, if added with water, with equal a whole unit of blood! see http://www.ajwrb.org
Jehovah’s Witnesses DO TAKE WHOLE BLOOD, yet they claim that blood which leaves the body is never to be reinjected. They approve of “current therapy” and “cell tagging”. These procedures require blood taken out of the body, mixed with chemicals, and retransfused back into the body.
Since Jehovah’s Witnesses take all blood products and allow blood therapies, they are not sincere in the belief that they “abstain from all blood.”
If all of blood, taken separately or as whole blood, can be used to save a life, why not a blood transfusion?
These were some of my questions.
I wrote a legal treatise, “Jehovah’s Witnesses, Blood Transfusions, and the Tort of Misrepresentation” in the Journal of Church & State from Baylor University. It details the hypocrisy within the Jehovah’s Witnesses own policies. It also details how the Watchtower Society distorts the medical facts by misquoting secular doctors, scientists, and historians.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are also under “coercion” when the make the blood decision. They fear: 1) exommunication & loss of family & business associates; 2) that other Jehovah’s Witnesses who work in the medical community will head the Watchtower’s advice to break man’s confidentiality laws & turn-in the sinning patient; 3) the Hospital Liasion Committee patrols the hospital’s hallways & sits bedside to ensure the patient remains strong; and 4) if a Watchtower lawyer is appointed for the patient - that the lawyer/elder will also break patient confidentiliaty in favor of church loyalty.
A Jehovah’s Witness elder recently compared the blood ban to Adam & Eve’s eating the forbidden fruit.
Were Adam & Even allowed to eat apple sauce, baked apples, apple cider, and apple pie made from the forbidden tree? Of course not.
As explained above, Jehovah’s Witnesses take a myriad of blood products and blood therapies. If blood is the forbidden fruit, then these items should likewise be forbidden
Someone died for something they truly believed in. A belief they held dear and true to them.
If on your death bed you can say that you stayed true to what you believed, despite the pressures and criticism of those around you, then you will know that you lived a life that meant something and was an inspiration to those who loved you.
Darrell Wood said:..”Someone died for something they truly believed in. A belief they held dear and true to them”.
Vinny replies:
That belief is WRONG! Just as the prohibition against vaccinations and organ transplants was wrong before!
Imagine how you would feel if your parent, spouse or child DIED rather than accept a new kidney as was the case (and JW laws) from 1967-1980. Only then to see that ban lifted completely without any apologies made.
Was Jehovah behind those bans only to then change his mind afterwards?
The fact is that a few old men sitting around in some Brooklyn office, thinking God has chosen them exclusively, erroneously made those policies and then forced them on all JW’s.
This is what has happened with blood today. People are dying NEEDLESSLY, due to following the demands of a few old men sitting around some Brooklyn office.
How sad to continue to read stories like this again and again.
The JW’s have been brainwashed to die without just reason.
This entire debacle was totally avoidable.
Who are Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Dissident Jehovah’s Witness speaks out.
No tolerance,the Jehovah’s Witnesses are a cult because they try to cut you off from others who do not have the same beliefs, including family. The Watchtower is an oppressive organization if there ever was one!
The ‘message’ is their false Gospel that Jesus had his second coming already in 1914.The problem with this,is it’s not just a cute fairy tale, Jesus warned of the false prophets who would claim “..look he is here in the wilderness,or see here he is at the temple”
The Watchtower’s Gospel “kingdom” is a man-made “different version”.(Gal.1:8)
The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world.
—-
Danny Haszard Jehovah’s Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation
Darrell Wood said:..”Someone died for something they truly believed in. A belief they held dear and true to them.”
A lie is certaninly not a cause to believe in… much less die for. Jehovah’s Witnesses hold the icon of life (blood) more precious than life itself. If only they were allowed to read the literature the Watchtower prohibits them to read.
Emms was never released from hospital, she breastfed the babies before she took ill, the JW dr at the hospital ordered dr’s to give increased iron which stabilised her but once her family went home her condition got worse, a blood transfusion would not of saved her life, she had a haematoma having blood may well of made her have a heart attack and she would of lost her life anyway.
The Changing Watchtower Blood Policy; Why?
That is, why are some fractions ok, some not, some converted into a “conscience matter”?
*Hedge against Legal Liability
*Shifts more responsibility to the “believer”; see #1
*To move a controversial, and increasingly unpopular (especially in secular courts), doctrine more to the “center”. [They can't change this all at once; too many legal consequences, and bad publicity. This hideous, death-dealing teaching will change again, but It must be done incrementally; this way they can "re-write" the "believers" memories just as they did with 'allowing' fractions. Few JW's now hardly remember a time when fractions weren't "allowed". See Orwell's "1984" for details on how this all works...]
*Helps perpetuate the existence of the “Organization”; see #1
*A more “Liberal” “policy looks more attractive to secular Societies and countries where the WT is trying to get established
*Easy to doublespeak; while telling believers one thing, the WT can tell courts and governments another, and “technically”, “legally”, be “right” in both instances.
http://jehovah.net.au/blood.html
http://propmin.blogspot.com/
I was born a 3rd generation Jehovah’s Witness in 1957 and endured the Watchtower’s no blood commandment with longstanding bleeding Crohn’s disease.The Watchtower leadership expects followers to die for their dogma and many have.The medical staff get blamed and are ‘damned if they do damned if they don’t’.
—
Danny Haszard
I knew a little girl who had leukaemia, her parents were Witnesses and objected to a so-called ‘life-saving’ blood transfusion. The decision was over-ruled, but guess what? That little girl died anyway, more to the point, it was the blood transfusion that killed her. This story didn’t make the news, what a surprise. But if someone dies when they refuse a transfusion this makes front page headlines. There is no reason why someone should die from not having a blood transfusion.
Anon……Can you expand on your story regarding the little girl with leukemia? What kind of leukemia did she have? Why do you say the blood transfusion killed her? When did this happen and where? Do you work in the medical profession? Please understand that we can all tell a story but unless it can be objectively confirmed, it is just a story.
Your statement “There is no reason why someone should die from not having a blood transfusion” tells me you do not understand the purpose of blood. There are literally thousands of people alive today or others that added years to their lives because they had a blood transfusion.
You said:
“In isolated occasions, when humans needed to eat unbled meat in order to sustain their own human life, the Mosaic Law permitted such, but then required the eaters to fulfill the requirements of being “unclean” for a few days. Thus, the Bible recognized that the sustaining of human life was more “sacred” than maintaining the sacredness of animal blood.”
Where is this found in the Bible? I want to use it to show my JW friends…
Iam not a jehovahs witness…….i wanna be one and i will..let me just say thus, blood is sacred and i do believe persnally that blood transfusion are wrong and may even lead to what they try to prevent death. With the increase of tatoos, viruses ect blood transfusion are extremly dangerous and need much consideration. Most person from what i have read fer death… prolonging life is stupid………… if u so much believein god let him do his work if a person is meant to die the will not even blood transfusion can sve them.. i wish pplz would leave the jehovah witness organization alone and quit trying to prolong live u cant live this life for ever so stop fearing the unknown .build a bridge and get over it..death is normal if u are perfect which u are not u must die. it is in dying that u are born to etenal life according to catholics so see death as a positive………. why prolong life in these current conditions..death is must!!!!!!!!!
denieca jehovah’s witness wanabee say’s–”why prolong life in these current conditions..death is must!!!!!!!!!
~~~
This is why you cult members are forbidden to come on my property and forbidden to talk to any of my family.
If blood is sacred, then why allow fractions?
Why not mix the Kool-Aid now, if this life is so wicked?
What about children, granchildren, and other relatives who will benefit from your being here?
What about these twins, who do not have a mom?
Denieca, I was a witness for 20 years. You have a lot to learn about the organisation… and you have a lot to learn about the meaning and value of life. The reason why people “won’t leave the Jehovah’s Witness Organisation alone” is because their unbiblical policies cause so much damage to human life. Bible scriptures are taken and their meaning is bent to fit in with the policy of the governing body. The authors of their books misquote well-known (and less well-known) experts and scientists. For example, the Creation book contained hundreds of misquotes and quotes out of contaxt.
The organisation hides things from their members and trains (brainwashes) them to ignore any negative comment about the organisation, eg. Child-abuse scandal, UN-NGO scandal, the 607BC lie.
Thousands maybe millions of people like me have been cut off from their families, not because of any arrogance on our part, but simply because we don’t believe what we used to believe, and try to rationally and logically put forth our queries. The JW Organisation is as whitewashed grave. It appears perfect when you are in it, because you are not able to see. When you lift the veil, the full sinisterness of the organisation is revealed.
I heard of a case of witness parents kidknapping their baby from the hospital to protect it from a blood transfusion. Of course, the baby died away from proper medical care. Do you not see how the organisation can twist your thinking and make evil look righteous?
I am proud to say that I am one among millions of Jehovah’s witnesses that mourn the loss of our sister. Let us remember the source of death. If you truly believe God’s word you will recognize that it resulted from the first man and woman’s disobedience to God’s law and the desire to be independent of God’s law. So, I say to all you apostates who jump on the “ambulance chasing” when these types of tragedies befall Jehovah’s witness families, damn you. You are from your father, the despoiler, the rebel. Crawl back into your snake dens and leave us alone so that we can mourn the loss of our dear loved ones in peace. Has your heart been hardened so that it has no fellow feeling? All life is sacred to God. He even notices the death of a sparrow. So how do you think he feels about the purposeful taking of millions of lives in abortions each year? Millions compared to 200 to 300 cases of so-called child protection cases. How do you reconcile this in the legal and medical community?
How many children are sacrificed to the “god of war” of each year? How emotionally charged is that patriotic issue? Yet there are those of you who stand ready to condemn Jehovah’s witnesses for their Bible based neutral stand, and willingly sacrifice your own children’s lives? Then when something like this happens you hypocritically jump on the condemnation bandwagon. I could say that your son, your daughter has died for nothing, needlessly, and scripturally that is true since this system of things is passing away. However, I know that you sincerely believe that the cause for which their life was sacrificed was a worthwhile cause. I respect that. Why do you find it so difficult then to respect our belief? Do you seriously think that the loss of the life of any of my family, father, mother, brother, sister, son, or daughter, for any reason, whether it be due to blood loss, or from murder, or tragic accident is any less heart wrenching than what you feel? The comments I have read in these posts thus far betray a sorrowful lack of fellow feeling for the human condition. I don’t know the “rest of the story” on the loss of Emma’s life, but I suspect that based on the one post from a friend that knew her there is more to it then what any of the rest of you are willing to readily acknowledge. Jehovah’s witnesses, like the rest of the population, want the best medical care possible for their family. It is suspect whether Emma received the best medical care possible. Personally, I have lost a number of friends to incompetent local surgeons who have simply just let their patients bleed to death. It was and is criminal negligence, and the local medical community knows the facts. Recently, one of these same quack doctors (a.k.a. by the local nursing staff as “Lucky Larson”) let a non-witness nearly bleed to death resulting in gangrene, the loss of most of my friends bowels and both of his legs. What has been done to this butcher so far? Nothing. He’s still “practicing” surgery today. So, get off your unstable soap box before you fall flat on your ass.
What a fantastic article about the mind freezing “doctrines” of the Jehovah’s Witnesses (WatchTower Bible and Tract Society).
The Sooner these people are listed as a highly dangerous cult and a brainwashing device of Satan the better. Until then we will never be safe.
Don’t speak to them without researching all avenues of their “doctrine” including their history and their very own Bible Translation.
I should know I had 7 years of being one. They are forbidden to speak to me. Either in public or secret. I remeber when they said 6 years ago :
“We are in the Last Days of The Last Days”
Yeah right, I’ll see you in Hell.
Hello MJ,
I read your comments regarding the death of Emma Gough. I understand that you are very dedicated and sincere in your belief in the Watchtower Society. The next question begs to be asked…What authority does the Watchtower have that decides the life or death of its followers? If their doctrine dictates a no blood policy, then why are some parts of blood accepted and others are not? Why is this doctrine so inconsistant? Every idividual has a right to believe as they wish but shouldn’t that right be based on truth and not a man made organization that is responsible for the deaths of thousands of men, women and children over the years.
I am not a member of the Watchtower Society and never have been. I do however have a special interest in the blood issue as I perform the procedure commonly known as cell saving. I would like to engage in further conversation with you and get more of your opinions.
I am sorry for the loss of Emma, a loss that could very well have been prevented.
Here is what the “inspired” leaders of the WTB&TS said about aluminum cookware:
Aluminum cookware BAD:
“If the organs [of your body] are diseased, heal them by correcting your diet. Avoid the use of aluminum cooking utensils and alum baking powders as they are injurious to your health, poisoning your blood stream.” - The Golden Age, Nov. 12, 1929, p. 107
“As a result of the publication of wholesome truth on the subject, there are fewer people now purchasing aluminum cooking utensils than heretofore. There is also a pronounced drop in the cancer death rate. Much aluminum used: many cancers. Less aluminum used: fewer cancers.” - The Golden Age, 1930 p.650
Aluminum cookware GOOD:
“What about the aluminum cooking utensils?…At present the great majority of authorities in medical and scientific fields gave aluminum a rather clean bill of health.” - Awake! June 22, 1962 pages 8-10 ‘What About Aluminum Cooking Utensils?’
Here is what the “inspired” leaders of the WTB&TS have said about the medical profession in general:
“We do well to bear in mind that among the drugs, serums, vaccines, surgical operations, etc., of the medical profession, there is nothing of value save an occasional surgical procedure. . . . Readers of The Golden Age know the unpleasant truth about the clergy; they should also know the truth about the medical profession, which sprang from the same demon worshipping shamans (doctor priests) as did the ‘doctors of divinity.’” (Golden Age, August 5, 1931 pages 727-728)
Here is what the WTB&TS leaders taught about vaccinations:
forbidden in 1931 —
“Vaccination is a direct violation of the everlasting covenant that God made with Noah after the flood.” - The Golden Age, January 4, 1931, page 293.
OK in 1952 —
“The matter of vaccination is one for the individual that has to face it to decide for himself….And our Society cannot afford to be drawn into the affair legally or take the responsibility for the way the case turns out…” After consideration of the matter, it does not appear to us to be in violation of the everlasting covenant made with Noah, as set down in Genesis 9:4, nor contrary to God’s related commandment at Leviticus 17:10-14. Most certainly it cannot reasonably or Scripturally be argued and proved that, by being vaccinated, the inoculated person is either eating or drinking blood and consuming it as food or receiving a blood transfusion.” - The Watchtower, December 15, 1952, page 764
In 1945 the leadership of the WTB&TS began equating blood transfusions with “eating blood.”
By the year 2000 the same leadership was hedging their bet, saying that blood FRACTIONS could be a matter of conscience. Presently, nearly all blood components are permitted as long as they are not in the form of whole blood.
In the not too distant future, the WTB&TS leadership will once again throw one of their “doctrines of men” — thier idolatrous blood policy — on the scrap-heap, and they’ll call it “New Light,” just as they did when the teachings on aluminium cookware, vaccinations and organ transplants (1967-1980) were reversed.
MJ, please, just do a little bit of research about some of the issues before coming here with such vitriol and CURSING us for jumping on the bandwagon and coming from our “father the devil”.
Just because a person does not accept the Watchtower’s blood policy, it does not mean that they support war, or that they uphold the abortion of foetuses.
When the death of an innocent person happens, the community has a right to decry it, and defend civil society against beliefs which it does not hold. For example, many innocent Muslims are killed by Jews and vice-versa in Israel. Should we just stand back and let it happen, saying “well, it’s their religion, they have a right to practice terrorism so we’ll respect their freedom of religion. We won’t say anything bad about them because we might offend them”? Of course not, and the Watchtower certainly doesn’t hold back from criticising other religions as the “Scarlet Whore of Babylon”. However it cannot take any criticism; it is a whitewashed grave.
The fact is, MOST of the deaths associated with blood transfusions stem from NOT having them administered. There is a small number who die of negligence, a small percentage of people who die *IN SPITE* of blood transfusions, and only a very, very small percentage of people who actually die *BECAUSE* of them. I’m very sorry for your loss, but the existence of “quack doctors” has no bearing on whether a blood transfusion saves lives or not.
I have a lot of fellow-feeling, which is the reason I criticise the Watchtower policy. If I had no fellow-feeling I would not care about it. The problem, is not just that people have chosen not to have a blood transfusion and chosen to die, the problem is that she has died leaving two young children. This is what I care about, it is not a “soap box” it is a genuine statement from someone who has spent 20 years in the organisation, and also lost many friends to complications involving blood.
Many people are afraid of coming out of the Organisation because they know their family will stop talking to them if they reveal their true feelings. They will be ostracised as “bad association”, and if they even dare to whisper a word that doesn’t agree with the society, they are labelled “apostates”, and told they are “of their father the devil”. I know of 5 such frightened people in just one congregation… and they don’t know about each other. They try to believe, but they are too intelligent to just swallow what the society says. They are scared because the Watchtower society is like the Orwellian Big Brother, always keeping an eye out for the slightest non-conformity; not handing in a report on time, missing 1 of the 5 meetings each WEEK etc. They are scared because they can’t force themselves to have faith, because they have an analytical mind, and the whole belief system of Jehovah’s Witnesses doesn’t stand up to questioning; that’s why its forbidden to question things directly in meetings as opposed to the open discussions in the early Christian congregations. When the Watchtower society stops being fundamentalist, intolerant of other views and dogmatic that it alone is right, then most so-called “apostates” will leave the organisation alone, because they will have got back their children and brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers which they lost simply because they couldn’t ignore their conscience and make themselves believe.
My advise to any Jehovah’s Witness is: Think, use your power of reason, and don’t be afraid of analysing and taking apart your whole system of beliefs to see if they hold water.
Where in the Bible does it say that eating blood is permitted in special, desperate circumstances and mandatorily followed by a period of ceremonial uncleanness? Does such a scripture exist?
If you people hate the WT so much, why are you so concerned about those who choose to adhere to its doctrines? They’ve chosen this course. What do you care? So you hate the WT, but ‘love’ those who adhere to the doctrine enough to warn them to keep away?
Why?!
Heroin users make a choice every time they put the needle in. You might be more concerned about them (as well as everyone else who makes a choice to do something that harms or COULD harm their bodies –smokers, extreme sports enthusiasts, reckless drivers, etc.) than about your ‘WT people’.
Unless this is a vendetta.
But that still makes no sense. It is the equivalent of suing a cigarette company for the death of a loved one; or McDonald’s for keeping their coffee hot enough to burn you if you spill it on yourself. Your reasoning is specious; your fight is frivolous.
Adhere to the truth and live. Defy Jehovah and his word and your eventuality is sealed.
To answer jamph, I can only speak for myself. I hate the sociopathic teachings of the WTB&TS because they are FALSE.
To put it another way, “When persons are in great danger from a source that they do not suspect or are being misled by those they consider their friends, is it an unkindness to warn them? They may prefer not to believe the warning. They may even resent it. But does that free one from the moral responsibility to give that warning? - THE WATCHTOWER January 15,1974 “
Nobody need answer to ME, but you WILL speak for yourself.
“As for those intensely hating Jehovah, they will come cringing to him…” (Psalm 81:15)
As long as you continue down this path, the Creator of all things (the goodness that you claim to represent) HATES you for maligning His namesake organization.
Repent, beg the Almighty for forgiveness and worship him in spirit and truth.
[There will be no response]
Jamph, yes, there will be a response.
First you said that people hate JWs, and I corrected you, explaining that what I hate are the FALSE TEACHINGS of the WTB&TS.
So then you came back and accused me of hating Jehovah. Are Jehovah and the WTB&TS the same thing?
Are the teachings of the WTB&TS the same as the people who follow those teachings?
You seem confused, jamph. You do understand what IDOLATRY is, don’t you? One example of IDOLATRY would be directing your worship to a man-made organization instead of directing it to God.
I’m disappointed in you, jamph. I thought maybe you had a backbone and could debate the many errors and false teachings of the WTB&TS, but apparently you’re a weak sister who runs away when the going gets tough. The record will show that it was YOU who called it quits, not me.
Having no respect for a religious organizational policy and having no respect for those in a religion-2 separate issues.
Leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses/WTS is a separate issue from leaving God.
Jehovah’s Witnesses need to learn the difference between the WTS and God. The first is not the same as the second. And hating our president doesn’t mean that a person hates all Americans. You leap so much I suspect you have toe shoes and deformed ballerina feet.
The JW’s cannot distinguish between the voice of God and the voices of the Governing Body of Jehovha’s Witnesses because they have been indoctrinated into believing that they are one and the same:
It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the “slave” as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision (June 15, 1957 Watchtower page 370 paragraph 7).
Similarly, we will be blessed if we recognize and obey the prophet greater than Moses, Jesus, as well as “the faithful and discreet slave” appointed by him (August 1, 2004 Watchtower page 11 paragraph 12).
They must be “in subjection to one another” and also to the Governing Body representing the faithful and discreet slave class, which, in turn, is accountable to Jesus, the enthroned King (December 1, 1993 Watchtower page 22 paragraph 12).
Jesus said that during his royal presence, he would identify a faithful body of followers, a “faithful and discreet slave,” and would appoint it over all his belongings. (Matthew 24:45-47; Isaiah 43:10) In 1919 that slave was identified as the remnant of anointed Christians. Since then, as represented by the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it has been the center of theocracy on earth (January 15, 1994 Watchtower pages 16-17 paragraph 5).
These poor misguided souls need our prayers. Their path is being lit by the strange fires of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society instead of the illuminating truth of God’s Word.
I was a Witness for many years and used to cringe when the blood issue came up at the doors.
Despite studying the WTB&T teaching I could never intelligently defend it from the Bible or using some short quotes from obscure medical people.
Now that JW’s are allowed to use nearly ALL the blood in fractionated form I’m more confused than ever!
I know a few brothers who have been completely thrown by this change in policy.
The only benefcial result of this horrific tragedy….is that this has been brought to public attention and more responsible people will be able to SEE what what the Watchtower teaches and realize just what a ludicrous teaching this is that Jehovah’s Witnesses must abide by.
jamph said: “If you people hate the WT so much, why are you so concerned about those who choose to adhere to its doctrines? They’ve chosen this course. What do you care? So you hate the WT, but ‘love’ those who adhere to the doctrine enough to warn them to keep away?”
I *CARE* because some of those people who “choose to adhere to its doctrines” are FAMILY members and close FRIENDS. I *CARE* because my mother too died when I was 3 years old mainly because of lack of a blood transfusion. I *CARE* because I do not wish anyone to go through the pain and suffering that I have experienced because of Watchtower doctrine. This is not a vendetta. This is an honest attempt at trying to make people think rationally, so that tragidies like that of poor Emma Gough do not ever happen again.
You also said…… “Adhere to the truth and live. Defy Jehovah and his word and your eventuality is sealed.”
This is an overdramatic, pseudo-biblical, apocalyptic catchphrase used by District Convention speakers to stir Watchtower memebers into an irrational emotional state. Think of how *YOU* would react if a Muslim said: “Adhere to the faith and live. Defy Allah and his word and your eventuality is sealed.”
Do you see now how irrational that statement was? As an advanced civilisation we should once and for all leave behind the kind of irrational thought that has lead to such needless tragidies and countless unecessary deaths over the centuries. The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ blood policy is just another in a long line of policies based on dogmatism, fundamentalism and superstition that has caused so much suffering and death since the dawn of time.
Only through education and rationalism can we finally rid the world of the kind of dogmatism which produces religious policies like the blood policy which disrespects our life here and now, infavour of some kind of Paradise, afterlife, or Heaven. Only this way can be finally see the back of terrorist suicide bombers, an Africa riddled with AIDS due to anti-contraception initiatives, and organisations which encourage their members to ignore their own family members just because they have a different point of view to them. The situation really is so, so sad. Only genuine people can see the damage that religious dogmatism has done to the world. If poor Emma Gough had looked at her situation in a rational light…… What choices would she have made? Would she have put herself and her religion first, or would she have elevated her children and their future to first place?
Dear Kind Hearted Readers and seekers of truth,
Please condider the following and not people who have an agenda that they seem to profit from in some way:
For a more accurate understnding of all that is involved please examine thoroughly the following and use the first site for many different Bible versions:
http://www.geocities.com/onlinebibletranslations/?200720
http://www.watchtower.org/ & make good use of the search strip & index
http://www.watchtower.org/e/archives/index.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000108/article_01.htm & all links at left of articles.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/archives/index.htm#medical
http://www.watchtower.org/e/hb/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19960122a/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/e/medical_care_and_blood.htm
1611 KJV Rom 12:-17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
1Tim2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Warm Christian Love,
doofus hayhauler
TO:doofus hayhauler you are a spamming jehovah witness troll
“A spamming Jehovah Witness troll”??
And here we see absolute confirmation that these message bords belong to apostates. At least THEY think so.
Bye
Beth,
Why was your response to my post so arrogantly vicious in it’s nature?
Please all interested in accurate knowledge, as spoken of by the medical community , view this streaming video clip and also the links at the top left of the page:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/vcnb/article_01.htm
No Blood—Medicine Meets the Challenge
This program will be of interest to all who want to be fully informed of the options that are available in the field of bloodless medicine. See why some leading experts have called bloodless medicine the new standard of health care.
Warm Christian love for all of mankind,
doofus hayhauler
Ahhhh, the utter hyprocrisy of the Watchtower cult. For 100 years they declared they had NO TOLERANCE for other beliefs.They disfellowshipped and ‘treated as dead’ a million loyal members who dared to question in good faith.
Now,that their false prophecies have been exposed, they do a passive/aggressive bait and switch and whine how they should be treated no worse than the other “false religions”.
Yes,now admiiting they’re false too,1914 generations issue,whole blood issue,United Nations involvement coverup scandal…
The Watchtower leaders are the ‘evil slave’ that beat their fellow slaves.
Jeff
well u got die sometime ……. death is the only thing u are sure of
Perhaps it is true that “we all got to die sometime”….but it need NOT BE at the hands of an antiquated dietary law that was not written or meant for Christians.
It was a hideous and grossly immoral action to ALLOW this young mother of newborn twins… with her entire future in front of her….to die in this manner.
Thank you, Annie G. I was going to say about the same thing, but you’ve described my feelings on the matter perfectly. Your post is a compliment to mine above.
One of the ‘big ten’ laws can be broken to save the life of a sheep, but that law must be followed to death? And it ISN’T EVEN IN THE BIBLE!!! It is totally man’s law, not Gods. I bet her kid’s will think her life is more valuable than that of ‘even’ a sheep! That family is going to be having some hard regrets soon.
It is not necessary to attack people such as “doofus”. If you do a lot of research in the Watchtower publications, the Bible AS WELL AS elsewhere, the unscriptural nature of the Watchtower policy will soon come to light. If it looked at with an honest unbiased view, it will all fall into place for you.
Commemnts such as “troll” are not necessary, and on the other hand, neither are comments such as “apostate”. These are both emotionally charged words which add nothing to the arguement.
If someone posts something that is silly, either (1) logically refute it, or (2) let it alone and look silly in its own right, instead of stooping to the level of insults.
People who post comments such as “you JW troll” are often JWs themselves, trying to invent some kind of phantom persecution. So if we all vow not to post silly comments like that, those who do will be exposed into the open as trouble makers.
It was pointed out that: “1Tim2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses EVER claim to “be saved”? Not as far as I know.
They are not even sure they will “make it” into the New Order unless they have an outstanding record of mandatory meeting attendance and a healthy amount of “hours” to fill in on their mandatory time slip every month!
Speaking of the “Knowledge of truth”……we are taught that JESUS CHRIST is the truth and NOT that Watchtower Society. It puts an entirely different spin on things, doesn’t it?
Mr. Doofus:
You asked us to read a page from the Watchtower website on how the Watchtower meets the medicla challenges. This is very similar to the Society’s booklet “How Can Blood Save Your Life?”
I independantly researched this booklet. If fact, I published a paper (”Jehovah’s Witnesses, Blood Transfusions, and the Tort of Misrepresentation”) on the veracity of this booklet. My paper discusses the Society’s quotes of secular doctors, historians, and scientists, against these people’s original writings.
Have you read my paper? I think you’ll find it interesting. I invite you to visit the Journal of Church & State out of Baylor University’s website. They have an order form. My paper will only cost you a few dollars. I make no money from this paper.
The Journal of Church & State is a peer reviewed law journal. The Society likes it so much, that its own attorneys also publish papers in it.
I look forward to your thoughts after reading my paper.
In Matt 19:28 Jesus says to come and follow HIM. Nowhere does he indicate that they should follow the Watchtower’s Faithful and Discreet Class.
In John 8:12 Jesus tells us that “He that follows ME shall possess life.” He never said “He that comes into the Watchtower Society shall possess life”.
At Acts 1:8 we see that Jesus said “YOU WILL BE WITNESSES OF ME” to the distant parts of the earth. Notice he never said you will be “witnesses of Jehovah”.
Acts 11:26 tells us that Christs disciples were first called CHRISTIANS way back from in the days of Antioch. Jehovah’s Witnesses didn’t “decide” to tack on the name of Christian for themselves until the years 2000.
The MOST Faith & Discreet Slave is Christ who says at Matthew 12:7 that God wants MERCY not SACRIFICE.
1 Samuel 14:32-35 shows God forgave all Saul’s men who ate unBLED meat to stay alive.