Would anyone not donate organs for religious reasons?

Question

Even Jehovah's Witnesses now accept organ donation (although not blood transfusion), so if you would accept a donated organ if you were ill, why is there a problem in donating them?

If, according to Christianity, you lost any organs, then surely they would be replaced in your resurrection body.

Answer 1

Individuals among Jehovah's Witnesses have both donated organs and accepted organ donations for decades.

Their publications have clearly explained how the religion previously reasoned incorrectly in applying certain bible principles to organ transplants. Interestingly, however, their reasoning on blood transfusions has always been entirely independent of their reasoning on organ donation.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Scriptures demonstrate a clear pattern indicating the sacredness with which Jehovah God (and thus god-fearing humankind) views all creature blood.


Predates Mosaic Law.
For example, over a thousand years before the birth of Moses, the pre-Israel, pre-Jewish, pre-Hebrew man Noah received what the scriptures record as only the second restrictive command on humans (after Garden of Eden's tree):

"Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. For your lifeblood I will surely require a reckoning; of every beast I will require it [that is, lifeblood] and of man" (Genesis 9:3-5)


Jewish Law.
Later, God's feeling regarding blood was codified into the Mosaic Law. This part of the Law dealing with blood was unique in that it applied, not just to Israel, but also to non-Jewish foreigners among them. It's also interesting that besides forbidding the consumption of blood, the Law also mandated that it be 'poured out on the ground', not used for any purpose.

"No person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. Any man also of the people of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any beast or bird that may be eaten shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust." (Lev 17:12,13)

By comparison, it's significant that the Law also forbid the consumption of ceremonial animal fat, but that didn't apply to non-Jewish foreigners and it DID allow the fat to be used for other purposes.

"The LORD said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, You shall eat no fat, of ox, or sheep, or goat. The fat of an animal that dies of itself, and the fat of one that is torn by beasts, may be put to any other use" (Lev 7:22-24)


Early Christian era.
The Christian era ended the validity of the Mosaic Law, but remember that the restriction on eating blood preceded the Mosaic Law by over a thousand years. Still, does the New Testament indicate that Jehovah God changed his view of blood's sacredness?

"[God] freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (Eph 1:6,7)

"[God's] beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins... and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood" (Colossians 1:13-20)

"we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the pollutions of idols and from unchastity and from what is strangled and from blood." (Acts 15:19,20)

"For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from unchastity." Acts 15:28,29


Modern times
Some will claim that the bible's command to "abstain" from blood only applies to eating it, and does not apply to the use of blood for other purpose. If that form of respect for blood were common among Christendom, one might wonder then why so many (who ostensibly follow the book of Acts) so happily eat their blood sausage and blood pudding if they truly respect blood according to some limited understanding of Acts 15:20,29. In fact, respect for blood and for Acts and for the Scriptures themselves is too rare among even supposedly god-fearing persons.

An honest review of the Scriptural pattern over the millenia from Noah to the Apostle Paul teaches humans that blood is to be used for a single purpose: acknowledging the Almighty. Otherwise, for centuries the instruction was to simply dispose of it; 'poor it upon the ground'. When Jehovah's Witnesses pursue non-blood medical management, they are working to honor and obey their Creator.


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/library/hb/index.htm
http://watchtower.org/library/vcnb/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Im not religous and there shouldnt really answer this question. However The way I see things is Im not a spare parts shop for others. I have long debated where to carry a donor card and am concerned the unless I state that my oragns are not up for grabs they will be taken anyway. Also there is the issue of people who have had organ transplants been effected by the memories of the donor. I dont mind giving blood or even a bone marrow transplant as my body will replace the lost blood or marrow however upon death. I would hate to think there are bits of me still alive and wandering around inside some one else. To me that is offensive to who I was. Try looking at from an extreme point of view maybe you would understand. Suppose there was some one who needed a heart, then a year later needed a liver, then dues to and accident need eyes, Then due to the drugs they are take experienced kindey failure so need new kidneys. The surgeons can keep adding bits to this person to keep them alive. Does that sound right to you? Now imagine that person was you would u feel comforatble having bits of other people in you just so you could live longer? I should also point out should it every arise that there is a need for me to have a organ transplant to continue living I would refuse. Most organ transplants need drugs to keep ur body from rejecting the transplant. And also there is alot of transplants that need replacing after a few years because of this. If this wasnt the case then maybe I would consider it ok to give my organs away. My own body will try to reject the organ even if it means death unless I take drugs to stop that from happening. I see it as natures way of saying it time to make room for some one else it is their turn to live. Im not regilous but as a thinking reasoning human thats how I see things. Im also aware that many people get a better quailty of life through transplants. And Im happy for them.

Answer 3

Christians are not against organ donation or blood transfusion, i donate blood and my organs are up for grabs if I die, got the little sticker on my license

Answer 4

i'm able to work out the two aspects right here. There are fabric motives for and non secular motives against donating organs. yet to maintain this ordinary and short, the project based concept has no decision yet to donate, while the religious concept is bigger than remember based concept and so might "see" issues in a "distinctive" mild. bear in concepts that Jesus in no way asked a bystander or a lifeless guy or woman for an organ, and He in no way mentions mankind's "sturdy works" to "get" into heaven or to disarm guilt, it is knowledgeable via the masses using fact the norm, it is, to adventure guilt until eventually submission to generic prepare.

Answer 5

I wouldn't have a problem with that at all. Christian's believe that if/when we are resurected we will be more than a physical body. (Jesus addressed this when the pharasees asked him about a widow who married her brother-in-laws).

When I die I would like my organs to be used if they can be. I had a friend whos organs were used when he died, and the thought of it upset me at first, but now I am glad that at least some good could come from losing him.

Answer 6

is there anyone do that because religious reason? I'm OK about it. i willing to donate my organs to whoever need it but of course they should ask for it politely.
i think maybe many wont do it because they scare, so they using religious thing to protect them from humiliation. or maybe it because they dont want their body to be treat like garbage by the person who done the operation... so they shouuld show evidens to us that this thing wont happen to neither of us.

Answer 7

I would have no problem in donating a healthy organ if I passed on and somebody else desperately needed it regarless of my religion.

Answer 8

Don't know where you live Petal,but its a fact that, in the UK, the ethnic minorities do not donate organs,as much as Caucasians

Answer 9

Only Ancient Egyptians, who believed a lot of the body needed to remain intact for the afterlife.

Answer 10

i would'nt donate or give blood on religious grounds. i would happily donate and give blood as long as they were within my personal guidelines for donation, but the services would refuse my request so nobody aint gettin nuthin from me

Answer 11

i definitely don't believe in organ donation.. i don't believe in blood transfusion either. i think it's a sacred trust, that all of one's organs should remain with that person, till death do them part.

i can't say it's based on any type of religious reasoning, it's just a question of ethics.. it disturbs me to think of my body parts shrewn about.