In the Feb 2009 KM there is a 10 minute part entitled "Answering Questions about Blood Transfusions"
Notice the part I've highlighted in red. Exacty what transfusions do JWs allow their children to have? Their whole reasoning is a pathetic attempt to appease the householder without saying they flat out refuse blood.
rs p. 74 - p. 76 Blood If Someone Says—
‘You let your children die because you refuse blood transfusions. I think that’s terrible’
You might reply: ‘But we do allow them to have transfusions—the safer kind. We accept the kind of transfusions that don’t carry the risk of such things as AIDS, hepatitis, and malaria. We want the best treatment for our children, as I am sure that any loving parent would.’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘When there is severe blood loss, the greatest need is to restore the fluid volume. No doubt you realize that our blood is actually over 50 percent water; then there are the red and white cells, and so forth. When much blood is lost, the body itself pours large reserves of blood cells into the system and speeds up production of new ones. But fluid volume is needed. Plasma volume expanders that contain no blood can be used to fill that need, and we accept these.’ (2) ‘Plasma volume expanders have been used on thousands of persons, with excellent results.’ (3) ‘Even more important to us is what the Bible itself says at Acts 15:28, 29.’
Or you could say: ‘I can understand your point of view. I suppose you are imagining your own child in that situation. As parents we would do everything possible to safeguard our child’s welfare, wouldn’t we? So if folks like you and me were going to refuse some sort of medical treatment for our child, there would certainly have to be some compelling reason for it.’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Do you think that some parents might be influenced by what God’s Word says here at Acts 15:28, 29?’ (2) ‘So the question is, Do we have enough faith to do what God commands?’
‘You people don’t believe in blood transfusions’
You might reply: ‘The newspapers have published stories about some situations in which they felt that Witnesses might die if they did not accept blood. Is that what you have in mind? . . . Why do we take the position we do?’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Do you love your wife (husband) enough that you would be willing to risk your life for her (him)? . . . There are also men who risk their lives for their country, and they are viewed as heroes, aren’t they? But there is someone who is greater than any person or thing here on earth, and that is God. Would you risk your life because of love for him and loyalty to his rulership?’ (2) ‘The issue here really is loyalty to God. It is God’s Word that tells us to abstain from blood. (Acts 15:28, 29)’
Or you could say: ‘There are many things that are rather common today and that Jehovah’s Witnesses shun—for example, lying, adultery, stealing, smoking, and as you mentioned, the use of blood. Why? Because we govern our lives by God’s Word.’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Did you know that the Bible says we should “abstain from blood”? I would like to show it to you. (Acts 15:28, 29)’ (2) ‘Perhaps you recall that God told our first parents, Adam and Eve, that they could eat from every tree in Eden except one. But they disobeyed, ate that forbidden fruit, and lost everything. How unwise! Now, of course, there is no tree with forbidden fruit. But after the Flood of Noah’s day God again set out one prohibition for mankind. This time it involved blood. (Gen. 9:3, 4)’ (3) ‘So the real question is, Do we have faith in God? If we obey him, we have before us the prospect of eternal life in perfection under his Kingdom. Even if we die, he assures us of a resurrection.’
‘What if a doctor says, “You will die without a blood transfusion”?’
You might reply: ‘If the situation is really that serious, can the doctor guarantee that the patient will not die if he is given blood?’ Then perhaps add: ‘But there is someone who can give a person life again, and that is God. Don’t you agree that, when face to face with death, turning one’s back on God by violating his law would be a poor decision? I truly have faith in God. Do you? His Word promises a resurrection for those who put faith in his Son. Do you believe that? (John 11:25)’
Or you could say: ‘It may mean that he personally does not know how to handle the case without the use of blood. If possible, we try to put him in touch with a doctor who has had the needed experience, or we engage the services of another doctor.’
This is not the sort of reasoning that an average brother or sister comes up with out of their own originality. What makes it worse are the GB and those in the writing dept. who have to think of all these excuses to make their disgusting doctrine palatable. I'll never forget the brochure, "How can blood save your life?"
Any thinking person who didn't know about JW blood doctrine and saw this booklet would conclude that blood can save your life when ironically, it is just the opposite considering that taking blood incurs Jehovah's wrath and could end your prospects of everlasting life.
7 comments:
i believe the wts and a majority of the jws know that the blood doctrine is based on nonsense. but still the wts know they cant step down easily from it and the average jw tried to swallow the excuses as good as they can for not stumple upon their own thoughts.
Actually when it comes to children, the parents do not make the decision, the state does. But the parents will try for the best care which involves not using blood.
Sorry, but blood is bad medicine and Jws and doctors know it.
No, blood transfusions are tissue transplants and doctors know it.
There is no scriptural basis for the ban on blood transfusions. The difference between a blood transfusion and eating blood is the same as the difference between a liver transplant and eating a human liver.
If the Watchtower Society really believed blood was sacred, they wouldn't allow any use of blood fractions. They only started allowing blood fractions after they started getting sued.
BTW, parents do have rights regarding the care that their children get. The state only steps in when the parents impose restrictions on doctors that endanger the lives of their children.
The Watchtower Society has put JW parents in the position where they have to choose between obedience to the governing body who determine Watchtower Society doctrine and the lives of their children. What a disgusting, morally reprehensible thing to do!
The Watchtower Society is actually proud of all of the Witnesses who have committed suicide by being loyal to them. Getting the best care possible doesn't really matter when the Watchtower Society tells you not to get the best possible care. Here are some quotes from the Watchtower about children who have died because their parents would not consent to the best possible care and taught their children to prefer death over getting well.
*** g94 5/22 pp. 9-10 Youths Who Have “Power Beyond What Is Normal” ***
So it seemed for 12-year-old Lenae Martinez. Her hope was to live forever on a paradise earth. This hope was bolstered by the Bible training she had received from her parents, who are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Had not she herself read in the Bible that the earth would continue forever, that it was created to be inhabited forever, and that the meek would inherit it forever?—Ecclesiastes 1:4; Isaiah 45:18; Matthew 5:5.
Now she was in the Valley Children’s Hospital in Fresno, California, U.S.A. She had been admitted there for what appeared to be a kidney infection. Tests revealed, however, that she had leukemia. The doctors treating Lenae determined that packed red blood cells and platelets should be transfused and chemotherapy started immediately.
Lenae said that she wanted no blood or blood products, that she had been taught that God forbids that, as shown in the Bible books of Leviticus and Acts. “For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you, except these necessary things, to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication.” (Acts 15:28, 29) Her parents supported her in this stand, but Lenae stressed that it was her decision and it was very important to her.
The doctors talked several times with Lenae and her parents. Even so, they came again one afternoon. Lenae said concerning this visit: “I was feeling very weak from all the pain and had been vomiting a lot of blood. They asked me the same questions, only in a different way. I told them again: ‘I don’t want any blood or blood products. I would rather accept death, if necessary, than to break my promise to Jehovah God to do his will.’”
Lenae continued: “They were back the next morning. The platelets were dropping, and my fever was still high. I could tell the doctor listened to me more this time. Even though they didn’t like my stand, they did say I was a very mature 12-year-old. Later my pediatrician came in and told me he was sorry but nothing would help me but the chemotherapy and transfusions. He left and said he would be back later.
“When he left, I started to cry very hard because he had taken care of me all my life, and now I felt like he was betraying me. When he came in later, I told him how he had made me feel—that he didn’t care about me anymore. This surprised him, and he said he was sorry. He did not mean to hurt me. He looked at me and said: ‘Well, Lenae, if that is the way it has to be, then I will see you in heaven.’ He took his glasses off and, with big tears in his eyes, said he loved me and gave me a big hug. I thanked him and said: ‘Thank you. I love you too, Dr. Gillespie, but I hope to live on a paradise earth in the resurrection.’”
Then two doctors and a lawyer came, told Lenae’s parents that they wanted to talk to her alone, and asked the parents to leave, which they did. Through all this discussion, the doctors had been very considerate and kind and were impressed with Lenae’s articulate way of speaking and her deep conviction.
When alone with her, they told her that she was dying of leukemia and said: “But blood transfusions will prolong your life. If you refuse blood, you will die in a few days.”
...
After a long, difficult night, at 6:30 a.m., September 22, 1993, Lenae fell asleep in death in the arms of her mother.
***
*** g94 5/22 pp. 12-14 Youths Who Have “Power Beyond What Is Normal” ***
Lisa’s first night in Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children was worse than a nightmare. She checked in at four in the afternoon and was immediately given a series of tests. She didn’t get to her room until a quarter past eleven that evening. At midnight—well, let Lisa tell what happened. “At midnight a nurse came in and said: ‘I have to give you some blood.’ I cried out: ‘I can’t take blood because I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses! I hope you know that! I hope you know that!’
....
Lisa and her family left the hospital that day. Lisa did, indeed, fight her disease with dignity and peace of mind. She died peacefully at home, in the loving arms of her mother and father.
***
*** g94 12/8 p. 30 From Our Readers ***
Faithful Youths I was touched by the series “Youths Who Put God First.” (May 22, 1994) When I was a teenager, I had a brain tumor. As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I told the doctors: “I don’t want to take a blood transfusion.” Although a court order was obtained to force blood on me, the surgery went well without it. As I read about these faithful young servants of God, I had tears in my eyes. They had been through the same experience as I! Their stories have touched my heart and strengthened my love for God.
M. P., United States
***
*** g94 10/22 p. 30 From Our Readers ***
Youths Resist Blood Transfusions I am 12 years old, and I have just read the series “Youths Who Put God First.” (May 22, 1994) I was very impressed by the courage that these young Christian brothers and sisters showed, facing death with such confidence in Jehovah and in the resurrection. Their courage and faith in Jehovah made me weep with joy.
B. C. R., Spain
***
People should be crying about children dying over an unscriptural doctrine against tissue transplants. This is child abuse.
Sick that they turn their children into martyrs over a twisted misapplied doctrine.
I believe that every JW who refuses to allow their minor child to get a blood transfusion in a life or death situation should lose parental rights and be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I mean who chooses death for their child? Sick.
Theocratic Joker, I think you may have misunderstood the point they were making. They did not suggest that they allow their children BLOOD transfusions, just transfusions. They could be talking about saline, scotch, chicken soup, who knows, just transfusions in general.
"The safe kind," is offensive though. It implies that the medical profession purposely give us dangerous blood to harm us, instead of giving us life-saving other transfusions.
One word: Idiots.
Shawn said "They only started allowing blood fractions after they started getting sued."
Don't forget also that they started things like this because they had to get missionaries and others to some countries and started to allow some of the not allowed things for a few important ones.
It's like how it is at Bethel. There it is Bethel first and meetings second. Not the same rule as in the ordinary congregations.
Do all at Bethel have the same room standard? No. Do all have the same income. No.
Double standards!
I am astonished that they use the word "transfusions" in English Reasoning book. The German versions says "Behandlungsmethoden" ("procedures" or "methods of treatment"), not transfusions.
Seems to be "theocratic warefare".
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