What Happened Regarding Blood Doctrine in 1945

Many commentators have cited 1945 as the date Watchtower announced its religious position against blood transfusion. That assertion is wrong. More importantly commentators often miss the import of what Watchtower did publish in 1945 regarding blood transfusion as it relates to belief held by the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

1. It was first in 1944 that Watchtower articulated a position against blood transfusion. This presentation we find in the following statement[1]:
See The Watchtower, December 1, 1944 p. 362

2. The oft cited 1945 Watchtower presentation was a response to objection from the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses about what Watchtower had published in 1944, which is a very important fact that should not be overlooked because of its significance then and now. This objection we find in the following statement[2]:
See The Watchtower, July 1, 1945 p. 199.

1945 marked the year in which the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses began objecting to Watchtower’s teaching that it is wrong to accept blood transfusion. Despite decades of Watchtower teaching otherwise and finally imposing its religious view under pain of its organized communal shunning program, things have not changed.

To this day the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses has not wholly accepted Watchtower’s doctrinal position opposing blood transfusion as wrong, and to this day individuals in the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses voice their discontent with the doctrine, See The Watchtower, March 1, 1950 pp 79-80,The Watchtower, May 1, 1950 pp 143-144,The Watchtower, May 15, 1950 pp 158-159.

Lack of support for Watchtower’s blood taboo among Jehovah’s Witnesses is observed by the Watchtower organization and medical researchers who consistently find a significant minority that is, despite the dire social consequence for accepting blood transfusion, willing to and does accept blood transfusion.

● Watchtower admits this observation by testifying that Witness have accepted blood transfusion despite the potential consequence of being disfellowshipped. See The Watchtower, October 15, 1987 p. 14. Secular news sources have also recorded this.

● Medical researchers have shared their observations based on review of records and direct surveys, which in both instances consistently finds a 10-12% minority that holds a view contrary to Watchtower’s doctrine. See Larry J. Findley, MD and Paul M. Redstone, MD, Blood Transfusion in Adult Jehovah’s Witnesses A Case Study of One Congregation, Arch Intern Med, March 1982; Vol. 142 pp. 606-607, Kaaron Benson, Special Article: Management of the Jehovah's Witness Oncology Patient, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute Cancer Control Journal, Vol. 2, No. 6, November/December 1995, Cynthia Gyamfi, MD and Richard L. Berkowitz, MD, Responses by Pregnant Jehovah’s Witnesses on Health Care Proxies, Obstet and Gynecol Vol. 104, No. 3, September 2004 pp 541-544.

● Internal Watchtower documents also demonstrate that the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses has never embraced Watchtower’s blood taboo as Watchtower would have it embraced. See: Blood — How Resolute?

So what happened at Watchtower in 1945?

1945 witnessed the beginning of Watchtower's now 55 year effort to force a doctrine onto the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Watchtower began teaching its blood transfusion taboo in 1944.[1] When simply teaching it did not work, Watchtower began imposing its teaching under pain of disfellowshipping, which enforcement technique remains to this day under the term “disassociation”.

In 1945: Watchtower decided to force a teaching onto the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses whether it wanted to accept it or not. That decision is what happened at Watchtower in 1945.

In 1945: the community of Jehovah's Witnesses began objecting to this teaching by Watchtower, and have persisted in that objecting as best they could under threat of Watchtower’s harsh shunning policy. This resistance is what happened in 1945, and it persists.

Only when Watchtower ceases its policy to excommunicate Jehovah’s Witnesses for conscientiously breaching its blood doctrine will a clear picture emerge to answer whether a majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses accept or reject Watchtower’s blood doctrine.

April 15, 2011 Discourages Internet At Home

The subheading is "Guard Your heart by exercising self-control. On page 27 paragraph 17 it says "One way a person could wonder into the foolish course of the "young man in want of heart" is by aimlessly flipping though television channels or surfing the Internet. Whether intentionally or not, he might chance upon sexually stimulating scenes. He could gradually develop the unclean habit of viewing pornography, with devastating consequences to his conscience and his relations with God. It could involve his very life."

It than says in paragraph 18 "Of course, we can and should exercise self-control by taking immediate action if we are confronted with a provocative image. But how much better if we avoid the situation in the first place. Setting appropriate safeguards and adhering to them involve the exercise of self-control.

Here is where it gets strange and bizarre (at least to me it does.) It goes on to say "For example, keeping the computer in an open area can serve as a protection. Some find it best to use the computer or watch television only when other are present. Other have decided not to have access to the Internet."

They are not talking about children here they are talking about adult members of the religion and having the computer in the open and not watching TV by yourself because you might not be able to resist temptation? They have to tell adults this? I was thinking who is in this religion that is so out of control? If adult member of this religion have to have this spelled out to them then Jehovah help us. No wonder there is such a problem with child molesters in the halls.

Does Jehovah thinks that his people are so stupid, so foolish, so weak that they cannot control themselves? The internet is an integral part of life today and not having access to it is simply ridiculous. The entire article was incredibly insulting.

Is There Any Evidence That It Is The Truth?

When Christ inspected’ the faithful and discreet slave’ in 1918, he found those anointed ones on earth (Joseph Rutherford and his associates) to be faithful in providing spiritual ‘food at the proper time.’ Hence, Jesus was pleased thereafter to appoint them ‘over all his belongings.’ (Read Matthew 24:45-47) Page 24 of the January 15, 2008 Watchtower
First question everyone interested in, or associated with, the religious order known as Jehovah’s Witnesses should ask:

What was it about the “food” (ie. publications and content therein) that Jesus judged it to be “spiritual” and “at the proper time”? Clue: being able to read and evaluate these publications, and content therein, will help you answer this question.

Second question everyone interested in, or associated with, the religious order known as Jehovah’s Witnesses should ask:

Where is the evidence that Christ made any inspection at any of any kind in 1918 (or any other year, for that matter)?

Could it be, perhaps, that the religious order known as Jehovah’s Witnesses just is like any other man-made religion making grand claims of being the ultimate truth and the only way to God?

Peddling Watchtower Magazines More Important Than Education

12 THE WATCHTOWER ? MAY 15, 2011

5 What good results there can be when
children are trained to keep a simple eye!
Consider the example of a teenage girl in the
country of Ethiopia. She did so well in her
schoolwork that upon completing her basic
education, she was offered a scholarship for
further education. Having her eye focused
on serving Jehovah, however, she turned
down the scholarship. Soon thereafter, she
received a job offer that would pay her 3,000
euros a month-a high amount in comparison
with the average wages in her country.
But the girl's "eye" was set on pioneer service.
She did not need to consult her parents
to turn down the job. How did her parents
feel on learning what their daughter had
done? Why, they rejoiced with her and told
her howproud they were of her!

(So, to be a good Jehovah's Witnesses one must not only turn down a free education but also turn down a lucrative job as well. She will probably be dependent on her parents forever just so that she can go and peddle the Watchtower magazines. And remember, what is taught in the Watchtower today will surely change.)

Fred Franz's Draft Registration Cards from WW1 and WW2

Fredrick William Franz was the President of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society from 1977 to 1992.

Exposing The Watchtower's Stance on Blood

Does that religious position make sense to you? If so, then explain the following:

The Commissary at Patterson Bethel

2002 Handout on Blood

This is a copy of a very rare handout[1] provided by Watchtower to Hospital Liaison Committee members for their own use and to distribute for others to use as needed.

The handout above also contains an admission that, so far as I know, is not found anywhere else in printed documents distributed by Watchtower. It presents the fact that the product known as cryoprecipitate contains plasma. This piece of information, small though it may seem, shows Watchtower’s blood doctrine is not true to itself in “a very small matter”. Watchtower tells everyone that Witnesses refuse transfusion of plasma.But this is a false claim as shown by admission of the 2002 handout document. It is also false for other, perhaps even greater reason.

Bethel Entrants' School Lecture

The Watchtower organization requires that all new full-time workers at its world headquarters or other facilities attend an entrant school. Attendees are provided worksheets that are outlines for lectures at these events.

Top 10 Differences Between Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses (lol)

10. Mormons abstain from coffee. Witnesses take frequent coffee breaks.

9. Brigham Young said to be “filled with the Spirit.” Judge Rutherford said to be “filled with spirits.”

8. Mormon Tabernacle Choir ---- Pre-recorded Kingdom songs

7. Joseph Smith discovered gold plates. Charles Russell discovered printing plates.

6. Mormons established BYU, a world-class university. Witnesses established Theocratic Ministry School.

5. Mormons urged to form close-knit family. Witnesses urged to shun family.

4. Mormons abstain from wine all year. Witnesses abstain from wine once a year.

3. Mormons have “Divine Revelation.” Witnesses have “New Light.” (Okay so that’s not actually a difference)

2. Prominent Mormons include doctors, lawyers and governors. Prominent Witnesses include janitors, pool cleaners and multi-level marketers.

1. Mormons don’t stand in front of deserted strip malls at 6:00 AM mutely displaying the Book of Mormon and try to convince you they’re “preaching.”