Sometimes I type (I'm a medical transcriptionist) on a patient that does not want a blood transfusion, and the doc states because of his religion, Jehovah's Witness. Does anyone know why this is, and why they don't celebrate holidays... or any other interesting quirky facts, no offense, about the religion?
Thanks
2006-10-11 15:06:16 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We believe in one God and Father of all persons who's name is Jehovah (or Yahweh).
We believe that his son, Jesus Christ, came to earth and sacrificed his perfect human life that we might be able to claim him as our fleshly father rather than Adam and thus be released from inherited sin.
We believe that the whole entire Bible is God's word and we believe that every person on earth should read in it every single day of his/her life so that they will come to understand God's thoughts and purposes.
We believe that we have the priviledge of living in the last days of this system of things and that we can share in preaching and teaching others about God's Kingdom government and thus, help to save their lives.
We believe that blood is sacred and that it represents the life of the person or animal and should not be taken into another's body.
We believe that God would never burn his children alive and wants all of them to repent and be saved but that he gives each of us the freedom to choose life or death based on our heart condition and actions.
We believe that death is the end of all conscious thought and therefore the resurrection is the only hope all of us who die in this system have.
We believe that Satan and his demons were thrown out of heaven in 1914 when Jesus took over the throne in heaven beside his Father, Jehovah. We believe that is the main reason why the earth has so much trouble and strife in it today.
Anything else you are curious about? Just e-mail me.
2006-10-11 16:53:04 · answer #1 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
What do the Jehovah's Witnesses Teach?
There is one God in one person, Make Sure of All Things, p 188.
There is no Trinity, Let God be True, p. 100-101; Make Sure of All Things, p.386.
The Holy Spirit is a force, not alive, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
406-407.
The Holy Spirit is God's impersonal active force, The Watchtower, June 1, 1952,
p. 24.
Jehovah's first creation was his 'only-begotten Son'. . . was used by Jehovah in
creating all other things", Aid to Bible Understanding, pp. 390-391.
Jesus was Michael the archangel who became a man, The Watchtower, May 15,
1963, p. 307; The New World, 284.
Jesus was only a perfect man, not God in flesh, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 306.
Jesus did not rise from the dead in his physical body, Awake! July 22, 1973, p. 4.
Jesus was raised "not a human creature, but a spirit." Let God be True, p. 276.
Jesus was born again, The Watchtower, Nov. 15, 1954, p. 682.
Jesus did not die on a cross but on a stake, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985,
pp. 89-90.
Jesus began his invisible rule over the earth in 1914, The Truth Shall Make You Free,
p. 300.
Jesus' ransom sacrifice did not include Adam, Let God be True, p. 119.
Their church is the self-proclaimed prophet of God, The Watchtower, April 1,
1972, p. 197.
They claim to be the only channel of God's truth, The Watchtower, Feb. 15,
1981, p. 19.
Only their church members will be saved, The Watchtower, Feb, 15, 1979, p. 30.
Good works are necessary for salvation, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1,
pp. 150, 152.
The soul ceases to exist after death, Let God be True, p. 59, 60, 67.
There is no hell of fire where the wicked are punished, Let God be True, p. 79, 80.
Only 144,000 Jehovah's Witness go to heaven, Reasoning from the Scriptures,
1985, pp. 166-167, 361; Let God be True, p. 121.
Only the 144,000 Jehovah's Witness are born again. Reasoning from the
Scriptures, 1985, p. 76.; Watchtower 11/15/54, p. 681.
Only the 144,000 may take communion,
Blood transfusions are a sin, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73.
The Cross is a pagan symbol and should not be used, Reasoning from the
Scriptures, 1985, pp. 90-92.
Salvation is by faith and what you do, Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 1, pp.
150,152.
It is possible to lose your salvation, Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp.
358-359.
The universe is billions of years old, Your will Be Done on Earth, p. 43.
Each of the 6 creative days of God in Genesis 1, was 7000 years long.
Therefore, Man was created toward the end of 42,000 years of earth's
preparation, Let God be True, p. 168.
They also refuse to vote, salute the flag, sing the "Star Spangled Banner," or
celebrate Christmas or birthdays. They are not allowed to serve in the armed
forces.
Satan was entrusted with the obligation and charged with the duty of
overseeing the creation of the earth, Children, p 55
2006-10-11 22:08:09 · answer #2 · answered by K 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The Jehovah’s Witnesses are perhaps best known to other Americans as people who won’t allow themselves or their children to have blood transfusions. In fact, they will go so far as to allow a loved one to die rather than accept a transfusion, as they believe transfusions are a gross violation of God’s law. They support this notion with these verses: "Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood" (Gen. 9:4). "You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every creature is its blood" (Lev. 17:14). "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).
There are several problems with interpreting these verses to mean that transfusions are forbidden, not the least of which is the fact that the context is referring to animal blood, not human blood. Moreover, there is a great difference between eating blood and receiving a life-giving blood transfusion. Eating blood was wrong because it profaned the life of the animal. But for a person to willingly share his blood intravenously in order to share life with someone does not profane anything. Even Orthodox Jews do not interpret the Old Testament to mean that cannot have blood transfusions.
The interesting thing about holidays is that they've done a 180° turn about (even other things too). Take Christmas for example. They used to celebrate it back in the old days when they had a single leader - Judge Rutherford (circa 1916). But over time, that has turned into a "no no".
There are a number of things that one might find unusual about their beliefs, or what used to be their beliefs.
2006-10-11 22:33:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Blood transfusions: Acts 15:28 For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!”
What part of abstain do people have a problem with? If a doctor told you to abstain from alcohol, would you reason that it would be okay to hook up an IV and transfuse it into your arm?
Holidays: Use any encyclopedias and it will show that your holidays have a pagan start or is political in origin.
2 Cor 6:14 Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? 15 Further, what harmony is there between Christ and Be´li•al? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God’s temple have with idols? For we are a temple of a living God; just as God said: “I shall reside among them and walk among [them], and I shall be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 “‘Therefore get out from among them, and separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’”; “‘and I will take YOU in.’” 18 “‘And I shall be a father to YOU, and YOU will be sons and daughters to me,’ says Jehovah the Almighty.”
No we don't believe that Jehovah punishes individuals with diseases, natural disasters.
These come upon all humans because they are descendants of Adam and Eve.
As to the accuracy of the NWT bible please read:
New Testament:
While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.
“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:
King James Version,
New American Standard Bible,
New International Version,
New Revised Standard Version,
New American Bible,
Amplified Bible,
Today's English Version (Good News Bible),
Living Bible,
and the New World Translation.
The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:
John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1
Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University
2006-10-12 12:16:57 · answer #4 · answered by TeeM 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What they really believe:
Armageddon: God will soon wage war against mankind, destroying everyone on earth except Jehovah's Witnesses. The churches of Christendom, they say will be the first to be destroyed.
Birthdays: Celebrating a birthday in any manner is strictly forbidden. even sending a birthday card can bring swift action against the offender b and official "Judaical committee." The punishment is "disfellowshipping"
Blood Transfusions: In actual practice, JW's view accepting a blood transfusion as a sin more serious than theft or adultery. thieves and adulterers are more quickly forgiven by Watchtower judicial committees than individuals found guilty of taking blood. A Witness must refuse blood in all circumstances, even when this is certain to result in death. the organization also requires adults to refuse transfusions for their minor children.
Organization: Witnesses believes that God set up the Watchtower organization as his channel of communication to gather together those of mankind who will be saved. As the visible agency of the kingdom of God on earth, this organization exercises full governmental authority over believers-it promulgates laws, puts violators on trial, operates Kingdom schools, and so on -parallel to the secular government. If there is a conflict between the two, the organization is to be obeyed, rather than the secular rulers. (In the Witnesses' minds, they are "obeying God rather than men," Acts 5:29.) and many more... no time to write them all.
2006-10-11 22:25:47 · answer #5 · answered by charmaine f 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
JW's get the VERY BEST MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE.
Are you not familiar with the many OPTIONS?
If you knew the many wonderful ALTERNATIVES to blood, as many NON-WITNESSES have learned, YOU'D WANT the SAME TREATMENT.
More than ever, people in general are ASKING for the OPTIONS, which are
actually SUPERIOR. Major surgeries are performed without blood everyday!
BLOOD is unique, like FINGERPRINTS...That's one reason there are so
many problems trying to MATCH. IMPOSSIBLE, ACTUALLY...
We are truly wonderfully made ( Psalms 139:14)
Surely, the Creator of the human body knows best. He lovingly cares for mankind.
On the other hand, BLOOD is BIG BUSINESS ! Good health to YOU~
2006-10-12 13:57:38 · answer #6 · answered by Merry 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a JW
they believe when you die your gone and GOd has to recreate you, yet Jesus said "tear down this body and in three days I ( note the first person) will raise it again" so the Bible presents Jesus as human enough to die... yet... divine enough to raise himself from the dea and in this regard the JWs are well intentioned but way off in the areas of who Jesus is and how you come to him by saving faith
because they are a splinter group of the 7th day adventists... they believe some of the 7th day adventist beliefs... like
- Jesus is Michael the Archangel, unlike SDA they believe Jesus is not God the son but a created being who then made the world
- people are only eternal on the condition they are saved, else they are anhialated
they also have some new ones
- Jesus came back in the early 20th centur around 1911 or so, but invisibly
- Gods correct name is Jehovah (which is really from the vowels of YHWH and consonants of Adonai)
- the New World transation is their translation but the authors are anonymous (most say because of they're lack of qualifications becaus emost other things are not annonymous, yet they cliaim it to be the best tralation in history)
- since the old testament forbid the eatting of blood they forbid transfusions
unfortunately they do not examine the scriptures in a broad manner, letting the scriptures speak for itself as teh Bereans might in acts 17:11 and are bound to a set of fairly eccentric views alot of which are well intensioned but mistaken in my opinion
2006-10-11 22:14:22 · answer #7 · answered by whirlingmerc 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The Jehovah's Witnesses and their Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is classic heresy that DENIES that Jesus Christ, Yeshua Messiah, is Creator as well as Redeemer, indeed very God come in the flesh. +a
Dr. Walter Martin's Classic on JW's & Trinity +b
2006-10-11 22:27:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont know but Jesus is the only way to salvation he who that believes that he died for your sins is saved.Do not be of the world is what the lord says that means do not folow the paths of sinful people who worship things of the devil which they do not even know because they are blinded.Im christian follower of god jesus who is the word and the light.
Be not decieved by there teachings an angel is always an angel and cannot be a man.
2006-10-11 22:10:13 · answer #9 · answered by lightangellion 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
blah, blah, blah... all such long answers above. First thing that comes to mind - they are door to door salesmen. If they knock on enough doors, they'll find some sucka to buy a book or something. I'm not sure other than that, i tell them to get out of my face and go blow their bu!!$hit someplace else.
2006-10-12 08:50:55 · answer #10 · answered by DJFresh 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋