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Philosophy/religion

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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:
flamebat · 23/09/2005 15:27

Socci how sad

Surely the whole no contraception is about it being God's will if you fall pregnant or not, so leaving the child to die would be taking god's gift and then disregarding it completely!!!

Rhubarb · 23/09/2005 15:30

My mum is one of these people who takes religion and the Bible out of all context and she uses it to justify her own horrible actions. I could easily become an atheist based on what she has done and said in the name of religion, but I realise that she would be like that anyway, regardless of her beliefs.

tissy · 23/09/2005 15:30

I can hear my Hooter going loud and clear as well....

mojomummy, unfortunately, your link, gives examples of how blood products can be avoided in ELECTIVE surgery. A planned operation. If you are bleeding to death then (apart from measures to stop the cause of the bleeding )you need blood, or you will die. Full stop.

JWs accept this and are happy to die in these circumstances.

Rhubarb · 23/09/2005 15:53

I really don't get all this hooter business. You think that just because you don't like a thread you can judge to 'hoot' it? And achieve what exactly? This thread is not nasty so far,it's interesting and debateful, I really object to all these people going around hooting threads they don't like!

Phooey to you all!

misdee · 23/09/2005 15:55

good job i'm no longer a jw and didnt convert peter, he has had about 5 transfusions so far.

flamebat · 23/09/2005 15:56

As far as I saw it, the hooter was for yourself, to back away from threads that are going to get you worked up and upset. Like some people get very irate over Kate Moss, if their hooter sounds then they know they should step away from the thread and not post because it will work them up more than anything constructive.

Sooo... some people are getting too worked up by this to be constructive, whereas I am still at the enjoying the debate stage, and therefore not hooting.

Rhubarb · 23/09/2005 15:59

Fair enough, it's just that on the Hooter Thread it seems to have degenerated into a 'let's take the piss out of the threads we think are stupid' kind of thing.

misdee · 23/09/2005 16:00

i dont get the hooter thing. whats the point of putting a [hoot][parp] etc o na post thats gonna wind u up, why just not post?

Rhubarb · 23/09/2005 16:02

Good point!

flamebat · 23/09/2005 16:02

Can't answer that. The original idea was wanting one to sound for you, then it went into critising all threads ever made....

tortoiseshell · 23/09/2005 16:09

I heard radio 'moral maze' type program about this subject. I believe the issue with blood is that there is a line in the bible that says 'Do not partake of blood'. Clearly (to me) this means don't drink/eat it - how could it mean anything else when transfusions weren't conceivable then.

This program was talking about cases of people suffering from leukaemia, when a two prong attack of chemo/transfusions is the accepted treatment, and many JWs have requested the chemo without the transfusion (as God requires them to do their best to preserve life), which is actually the worst thing they could do - I think the idea is the chemo kills good and bad cells, and the transfusion puts good back, so by refusing the transfusion but having the chemo you will actually kill yourself more quickly and more painfully.

Will see if I can find a link!

tortoiseshell · 23/09/2005 16:11

here is is

tortoiseshell · 23/09/2005 16:11

"it is" clearly!

Mojomummy · 23/09/2005 16:27

Is there a doctor in the house ? can they advise us on blood use etc ?

I think this is a great thread - very interesting & informative

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