Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Philosophy/religion

Join our Philosophy forum to discuss religion and spirituality.

Original poster

Blood transfusions and jehovas witnesses

89 replies

mykidsmum · 22/09/2005 22:56

Have had a long and indepth dicussion with a friend of mine tonight who unknown to me has spent the last two years studying the Bible and having a couple who are Jehovas witnesses visit every week. He and his wife who is also a good friend of mine have decided this is the path that they want to follow. We discussed many aspects of religion, and as he has read the Bible from cover to cover he feels rightly or wrongly that ihis faith cannot be questioned. I like to question everything, not to cause an arguement, we did not row, but because i like to see others view points and try and understand where they are coming from. However i just cannot get my head round the fact that if he needed a blood transfusion tomorrow he wouldn't have one, and that i am in some way sinning because i have had one during childbirth. he also said he would find it very hard to make a decision if his children needed a transfusion and would therefore let his wife make it as he wouldn't want blood on his hands??? Now i do not want to denounce any type of religion but i really just can't get this and am finding it hard to see things from his POV. Please can someone explain this who knows more than i do, and do i have the right to be concerned. I feel that he is very blinded by his new faith but am also amazed at his hypocrisy, ie he won't be baptised yet as he can't give up smoking.AArrgghh am quite confused, i care about my friends deeply but know nothing i say can make a difference and what right do I have anyway

OP posts:
Rhubarb · 22/09/2005 22:58

There is a very good book all about JW's, I'm sorry I can't remember what it is called, but you might find it on Amazon if you type in Jehovahs Witnesses.

I think you need to know everything about a religion before you decide that it's the one for you, good and bad points.

Original poster
mykidsmum · 22/09/2005 23:02

Thanks Rhubarb will check it out, he admitted that he is easily lead, he once bought 7 grands worth of double glazing he didn't need! But he doesn't feel he has been influenced in anyway in his decision. He also used to be very supportive of gay people to the extent where he at times thought he may be bisexual, now he feels very strongly that it is wrong, it is just a very extreme shift in attitude, which he backs up with passages from the bible.

OP posts:
crunchie · 22/09/2005 23:07

My understanding of this from a lay persons point of view (eg not JW) is that JW's are not afraid of death as they are then at one with GOD. Therefore as long as they haven't 'sinned' they will go straight to sit by the side of Jesus. This means they are not afraid to let their childrendie as they will be in a better place.

I also had it explained why blood is so important. It is due to the blood of christ thing and wine. JW really believe that the wine they drink is the blood of christ.

I still find it hard to fathom, but I am not a christian and don't believe in Jesus at all so JW seem alien to me in a lot of ways.

Skribble · 22/09/2005 23:08

I think to change religions you have to be dedicated and go for it whole heartedly. Perhaps when the situation arises he will question his fate. I can't understand a religion that would leave most of my family for dead and my brother struggling with a blood disorder. Mind you most religions have there little strange bits I suppose.

Caligula · 22/09/2005 23:10

I don't think you can get your head around the fact that he would let his child die, anymore than you get your head around the idea that suicide bombing as a path to paradise.

You can't reason with faith.

Rhubarb · 22/09/2005 23:11

They do tend to get people when they are at their most vulnerable. I had them coming to me for a year, whenever I made a valid point to them, they just changed the subject. Their Bible translations are different to ours, yet they claim theirs is the most accurate.

Had a quick look on Amazon for you, quite a few books there but not sure that the one I read is one of them. Will do a Google search for you.

Rhubarb · 22/09/2005 23:12

Crunchie, JW's do not think that the wine is the blood of Christ, that is Catholics. They think this is cannabalism.

Rhubarb · 22/09/2005 23:13

Just found this site.

edam · 22/09/2005 23:14

There's a saying about 'the devil quoting scripture for his own ends'. The Bible is a long and complex book, written by many different authors over hundreds of years (if you are a believer you'd obviously say they were divinely inspired, but it's a fact that it was humans who set it down on the page). You can pretty much find a quote to suit your point, whatever that point is. You can find both 'you may not marry your late brother's wife' and an instruction that you SHOULD marry your late brother's wife (to make sure she's looked after).

Long-winded way of saying, just because your mate can quote from the Bible, doesn't mean that particular quote is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Rhubarb · 22/09/2005 23:15

this is the book I read.

Original poster
mykidsmum · 22/09/2005 23:15

Its not really a little strange bit though, its such an extreme belief to hold. I wouldn't mind so much if he could back it up a bit more but he said its the one thing he trule y doesn't understand, hence my needing to find answers on here. And although he doens't understand it in his words because the people he has met are so great and he trusts them implicitly then he knows its right. Thanks crunchie and skribble.
Also doesn't it kind of mean then, going back to your point Crunchie that their life is somewhat meaningless whilst here, that i cannot fathom. think i may be trying to work this out for as long as i live, if i can be bothered

OP posts:
Original poster
mykidsmum · 22/09/2005 23:20

edam, try telling him that!!! thats what i find most scarey, i asked him if he thought the bible was contradictory and he wouldn't have it. i also asked him about interpretation and how we could all read the same novel and interprate it differently, doesn't mean any of us are wrong. but like you say he just kept saying that it was written by god through apostles or whatever (excuse my ignorance, I am trying!). I also but that very arguement to him Caligula re suicide bombers, i think you are right there is no reasoning.
Thanks for the sites rhubarb will definately check them out.

OP posts:
Original poster
mykidsmum · 22/09/2005 23:27

That site is so interesting Rhubarb thanks, I have a fwe hours worth of reading there!

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 22/09/2005 23:39

You might find some more answers at the JW's own website here

Original poster
mykidsmum · 22/09/2005 23:54

Thanks WWB,I am finding it quite difficult reading, their views on medicine are so alien to me. I just read about transplants and how it is down to the individuals conscience what decesion they make regarding this, what a burden to carry. This is particularly personal to me as a family member as a baby had a liver transplant and i find it incredible that in the name of religion this may not have took place thus denying his wonderful existence.
Religion is just so wierd, i believ just not in any formalised way.
BTW to any JW that are reading any of my comments please do not take offence i am just trying to understand.
One more thing is the JW Bible in anyway different to The Bible. Thanks

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 22/09/2005 23:57

They don't see it as a burden, because of their faith in God. It's hard to understand if you've never been around Witnesses, but their faith is so strong that they don't question it or see it as a burden.

They use a version of the Bible called the New World Translation - it's the same Bible as other Christians use, just a different translation of it (in the same way that The Good News Bible and the New International Version are different translations).

Original poster
mykidsmum · 23/09/2005 00:03

See I can understand that if that is the faith you have always had been brought into etc, its the transistion into those beliefs I find particularly difficult to understand, particularly in that they are a million miles from my friends former beliefs. Do you see what i mean? So are there no chapters missd out or anything in the New world translation, and if its the same but a different translation then why is it necessary (sorry i know i sound all jumbled)

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 23/09/2005 00:04

I was brought up as a JW. They don't think the wine is Jesus' blood, they believe that blood is unclean and shouldn't be transfused. They also will not eat an animal that has not been properably drained.
The witnesses are kind and lovely people, who only want to help as many people as possible, and if its not for you, then they will leave you alone. My parents are witnesses and I am not, in fact none of my sibling are either.
Re; transplants, this is a personal decision that a witness will make for themselves. There is no right or wrong in the answer for that for a witnesses, as long as it can be done without blood.
And before anyone says it, JW is not a cult.

Original poster
mykidsmum · 23/09/2005 00:09

Hi Sparkly, thansk for that insight. can i ask a couple of questions please?? How do your parenst feel about you not being a JW, I was of the understanding that a dim view is taken of those who do not follow, particularly those who leave. Also are there extremes like in other religions where some kind of take it more seriously, follow it more closely etc than others?

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 23/09/2005 00:18

I was given the choice at 16, as my parents believe that if we felt it was right, we would choce it or not. I was never forced to go once I made my decision, i moved out of home at 18 anyway. I wasn't baptised as this is a decision you make when you are old enough to make it, so I wasn't disown or anything, if you are baptised that you will be shunned
Yes some people are very 'into' the regilion, one family I know are very dedicated and follow it to the tee. The daughter told my teacher that I wasn't allowed to do after school activities and I was removed from the netball team, I never told my parents this as I thought she was right. I told my parents last year about it and mum said that if I had told her, she would have had a word with the teacher.
My parents are dedicted and they would like us to go back to 'the truth' but know that as an adult I have to make my own decsions.
Sorry about any spelling mistakes its late.

sparklymieow · 23/09/2005 00:21

There is actually a few witnesses around on this board, I can't remember their names though.

Original poster
mykidsmum · 23/09/2005 00:24

Thanks sparkly, your parents sound lovely I have many more questions but will ask another time when its not so late, could go on about this all night!!I am finding it all very interesting!

OP posts:
sparklymieow · 23/09/2005 00:42

I found this thread it gives a huge insight to the witnesses, there is a few witnesses on it and a few of us who left when we were younger on it. You will need about a hour to read it all.

RnB · 23/09/2005 01:26

Message withdrawn

sparklymieow · 23/09/2005 09:55

and also the fact that you can't go out clubbing I left because I thought I was missing out on fun things, but seeing and knowing what I know now, the world is a scary, nasty place. I wouldn't go back but I do believe in god.

Swipe left for the next trending thread