Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

If one of you could answer me these questions, and shed some light for me. I am a former JW.

1) Why would a parent deny their dying child a clean blood transfusion if it would save his life?

2) Why encourage your children to be closed to new friends at school, and not participate in sports, school plays and after school projects?

3) Why "disfellowship" someone who has come to you and admited a shameful act.

4) What scripture in the bible discourages college education? And if that "policy" has been changed, what made it change (finally)?

5) What is wrong with celebrating one's birthday. The scripture you are probably going to refer to has NOTHING to do with what actual birthdays are about. But what that particular person in the bible made their birthday about; self-worship.

6) Why discourage dating until marriage. Dosen't this encourage young marriage, sneaking around and a lack of knowlege in intamite relationships??

Please someone answer..!!

This question may be taken as deeply sarcastic, but I am dead serious in my confusion. Every JW I've asked has dodged my questions, our spealed quotes. I want answers to these questions.

I was not baptized because i was only 13 when we left. I was aprt of 6 or 7 congregations from everywhere from Oakland, CA to Ohio. And every one was exactly the same.

1) Many parents stated that in a matter of life or death they would provide their children WHATEVER neccesary. Thoese quoting scriptures to defend this belief of rejecting blood, have never been in the position of deciding if their child should die or not.

2) Coming up, my friends from the JW congregation pressured me to sneak out, curse, become sexually active and drink alcohal all before age 13. My friend's from school are still to this day my closest and have ALWAYS encouraged me to do right.

3) A man who molested his child and arrested was SUPPORTED by JW elders with letter writing to the parole board and released early. He is now able to come to the congragation meetings and be a part of their lives and children's lives.

4) Maybe you weren't around when elders stated that pursuing college would..

..lead to straying away from the truth. Maybe they lightened up NOW, but they used to state that boldly.

5) It's just a birthday, lighten up. Celebrating one's life is a good way to take their minds off of an inpinging destruction of things, the constant ridicule of others, being forced to go door-to-door, not being given the chance at life if they need a blood transfusion, and having no friends at school. At LEAST give em a dang birthday.

6) Almost EVERY JW youth I knew growing up is an unwed mother, or had abandoned his first wife for another women (sometimes another woman in the congregation). They are repressed, and uneducated on intamicy (not the birds and the bees).

Answer 1

I was recently at a lecture and the JW's were there to explain why their not into the blood thing it was a bit of PR for us medical students I asked one of them the same question in the lecture after they asked has any one got any questions I asked Him would you rather be disfelloshipped for giving a blood tranfusion or let your child die he woffled on for a while and shuffled his feet and I had to say to him again please answer the question and He refused this made the three Jw's look so stupid that day non of the students respected them because they didnt have the balls when push came to shove.they slunk out of the Lecture theater

here is some stuff from an ex JW
http://www.pnc.com.au/~fichrist/Shane.html

Answer 2

I'm saddened by the fact that your a former witness and yet still don't understand those issues. That's probably one of the reasons why u have to go thru extensive bible study and answer many questions from the elders before they approve one for baptism. I also left the organization for many years but came back when i realized they had answers from the Bible that i needed. I regret the time i left now.

1, There's the scripture at Acts 15; 29 about abstaining from blood and also from eating meat containing blood( animals strangled). There's also no assurance that blood is safe or clean. I worked at a hospital and anything having to do with blood is put in a biohazard bag. There have also been many new techniques in the field of medicine where they can do bloodless surgery. There's a video about it and i hope u can request one.

2. It's not about being closed off to people. However, witnesses are supposed to be separate from the world and when the children are particiapating in extracirricular activities, it brings them into contact with unhealty influences and takes time away from bible study and homework. I agree that kids shouldn't be sheltered, but u have to be careful who they become friends with.

3. Disfellowshipping usually only happens to an unrepentant wrongdoer, not one who admits their sin and is sorry for it.

4. Nowhere is it discouraged. The apostle Paul however did say at 1 Timothy 6 ; 6 - 8 that godly devotion along with self sufficiency was of great gain. Then he finishes with " having sustenance and covering , we shall be content with these things. He was making the point that striving hard to get rich doens't help cause u can't take it with u when u die. A christians' first priority is for the neccessities of life, and then our commision to preach the good news. A college education is expensive, time consuming and doesn't guarantee a good job anymore. It also exposes one to many different philosiphies which can hurt their faith. That's why it isn't encouraged , but nobody says that one cannot get one if they want, that's a personal desicion/

5. The only accounts of birthdays in the bible were for a pagan Pharoah of Egypt and Herod Antipas who married his brothers wife, which resulted in the deaths of a royal baker and John the Baptist. Also the scriptures say the day of one's death is more important than when they're born Ecclesiastes 7; 1.

6. dating just for fun can get kids or teens into big trouble. The #1 reason for disfellowshipping in our congregations is for fornication. It's considered best for youths to associate in groups for wholesome entertainment, until they're ready to start looking for a marriage partner. If the kids have good relationships with their peers and the adults, then no sneeaking around is necessary. As far as lack of knowledge, that's up to the parents to share with their children the facts of life. it's a good idea when they do, cause it saves a lot of heartache later on.

I hope this helps u and please keep an open mind about why Jehovah's Witnesses appear so strict. This world just keeps getting worse and as it does , their conduct has to continue to separate them from those who don't care about morals or our future.

Answer 3

How timely, the question on blood... just saw an inducement to give blood
on the cover of a clasified ad magazine "Highest DONOR FEES in TOWN ...
EARN $85"- What type of person would jump at that! :(

Frankly, I'd want BETTER medical treatment for my beloved family. And,it is AVAILABLE. Just because people are uninformed doesn't mean it isn't so.
Major surgeries are done without the use of blood EVERYDAY and, showing superior results. Check it out.

Good health to YOU< >Or, as it says at Acts 15: 29 in KJV, after being inspired by God, the apostle LUKE,( the PHYSICIAN ) wrote "Ye shall do well ...Fare ye well" regarding obedience to abstain from blood. Note,it was from Holy Spirit.
(Yes, that is from Acts of THE APOSTLES)
The Creator was RIGHT after all ... unbelievable!
Or, don't you believe the Bible is inspired of God and beneficial for health matters? Consider 2 Tim 3:16,17 Today's English Version ~ Applying this, JW's are fully qualified.

Answer 4

1. Jehovah's Witnesses want the best medical care available for their children. There is no guarantee that any particular medical treatment could 'save life'. In fact, medical technology has progressed to the point where no medical condition requires the transfusion of blood. Many MULTIPLES of patients have been killed by improper blood transfusions than even the highest estimates of those who died from refusing one.

2. Families among Jehovah's Witnesses decide for themselves what sports, activities, projects, and new friendships they will pursue. It is true that Jehovah's Witnesses hope to associate with those who demonstrate a loving respect for God.

3. Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowship only for the UNREPENTANCE of serious sin, such as fornication and drug abuse. Congregation elders work to upbuild and encourage repentant sinners.

4. Neither the bible nor Jehovah's Witnesses discourage secular education. Families among Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to decide for themselves how best to pursue educational opportunities, as they always have.

5. The Scriptures certainly do not support the idea of celebrating one's birthday. Jehovah's Witnesses do not seek to push their view of birthdays upon anyone.

6. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a person should be old enough to marry before he dates. The matter is not a doctrinal one, and there is no real 'punishment' for those who 'date' before they reach marriageable age.


Regarding the oddly re-used numbered points:
1. The questioner's parents should never have gotten baptized in the first place. The view of Jehovah's Witnesses regarding blood has been in place since the 1940's, and so should not have surprised the parents.

2. It is true that not every 'friend from the JW congregation' practices unhypocritical true worship. So too, 'friends from school' who consistently encourage each other to adhere to biblical principles are rare, and admirable.

3. It seems good that a child molester was successfully prosecuted by the government. It also seems good that he has apparently worked to rehabilitate himself and repent of his sins. Of course, Jehovah's Witness policies prohibit such a person from having any position of responsibility in the congregation, and from working unsupervised in the ministry or with children.

4. Apparently some congregation elders had strong opinions against college at one time, or in some region. They would have been wrong to present their personal opinion as though it were Scriptural or doctrinal.

5. 'Taking one's mind off of [anything]' is quite an immature excuse for ignoring one's trained Christian conscience. If a Christian's knowledge of the bible persuades him that birthday celebrations dishonor God, why work to damage that conscience by insisting upon a celebration. Keep your celebrations to those who agree with them.

6. It would seem the questioner herself was undoubtably 'bad association' who damaged the spirituality of those around her.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000715/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020201/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20020215/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/article_01.htm
http://jw-media.org/edu_videos/vcae_e.htm
http://jw-media.org/edu_videos/vcnr_e.htm

Answer 5

I don't agree on certain things w/ JW's, but let me try answering your Qs:

1. The Bible says so in Acts 15:29. ( though I understand many will dispute this interpretation). Too, medical science has proven that on many occassions blood tranfusions actually killed the patients. Talk about coincidence?

2. JWs do not encourage their children to be too close to "worldly friends" . They have to be friendly w/ them, but not too close so as to acquire their wordly habits.

3. Even if a person admitted a shameful act--say adultery, or fornication--if he has not turned his back on such evils then he/she should be disfellowship. Where there is no true repentance--shown by conduct--then Biblical disfellowshipping should apply.

4. The Bible does not discourage college education; neither do JWs. There are many JWs who are college / university graduates. What is discouraged is the pursuit of education purely for material gain to the detriment of JWs ministry works.

5. Jesus--Christian's exemplar--did not celebrate his birthday. Neither did he command his birthday to be celebrated. Further, secular reference materials prove that birthdays come from pagan influence--w/c is unclean in God's eyes. Would you pick up a candy from a canal and eat it? Got the point?

6. Dating is not discouraged. But, couples should have chaperons--or go on a group date-- so the unmarried couples do not get tempted to fornicate. Sexual relations, according to the Bible, is preserved only for married husband and wife.

You said you are a former JW? No offense meant, but if indeed you were once, then I sense that you do not really know certain KEY BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES. Did your study only consist of perfunctory answer and question type?

I don't agree w/ them on many things like: 1914, etc. But, JW are more knowledgeable about the Bible, they apply it more ardently compared with Christendom. So, I have a very high regards for them.

Answer 6

Hello---Here are the answers, although as a former sister, you already know.
1-- Christians are told to abstain from blood. It is a command from God himself. If an alcoholic is told to abstain from alcohol, does thiat mean he can take it through his veins and that would be okay? Life is in the blood and we have no right to put anothers persons life force into our bodies. Our lives belong to God and he has the right to tell us what to do with it. If we stubbornly refuse to disregard his law on blood, then we risk losing our right ro live forever. Is taking a blood transfusion and ignoring a direct command from God worth it just to maybe prolong your life for a few more years? Some take blood and die anyway, from hepatitus and AIDS they get from bad blood. Because of our faith in obeying Jehovah's law on blood, doctors are now able to perform bloodless surgery on patients and not just on Witnesses. We have faith also, that if we die, Jehovah God will resurrect us back to life. God's laws are not to be taken lightly or ignored. They are for our protection and they insure us of a better future as long as we obey them.

2 "Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.
(1 Corinthians 15:33) Many times children can be easily persuaded to follow the wrong course and thus end up in trouble. Remember Dinah, Jacob's daughter? She decided to associate with friends who did not love Jehovah and she ended up getting violated. It is always best to keep friends who can upbuild you and help you stay faithful.

3 We follow the Bibles admonition to keep the congregation clean and a person is disfellowshipped only if they willfully and repeatedly practice a sin that God hates. We follow the Scripture found at 1 Corinthians 5:11:-13 " But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
So, we are told to put the wrongdoer out of the congregation, not to keep company with a brother or sister who insists on commiting gross sins, and not to have meals with them.
We will lovingly welcome the person back if they show true repentance and no longer practice what is bad in God's eyes.

4 We encourage Bible education. We are in the final part of the last days of this wicked world of ungodly people. Soon, the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah.( Habakkuk 2:14) There will be no need for secular schools. All governments will be gone. all politics will be gone.

5 "A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.-- Ecclesiastes 7:1
The only 2 birthdays mentioned were celebrated by rulers who did not love Jehovah and bad things happened at both of them, incuding the beheading of John the Baptist. All things were put in the Bible for a reason, and the reason is only those who don't worship God would make a celebration on the day they were born.

Answer 7

I'm an EX-JW too and you know as well as I do, you will not get a decent answer from any JW. If they answered honestly, they would be an ex just like you and me.

You either buy the crap like a dumb, stupid sheep, or you don't.

Just be fortunate you got out and before you accept anything new from anyone, use reason and common sense to determine if it is true to you.

Answer 8

Do not be bothered by any thing of the JWs... nothing of their doctrin and dogman has any thing to do with The One True Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head. Nothing of their teaching will lead any one to The Truth of The Salvation Message.

I accept email questions concerning the basics of The True Christian Faith. 1 honest question receives 1 honest answer to the best of my ability.

Answer 9

As a former JW, it seems you would know the answers to these questions. If you're trying to get people to agree that these are good things, good luck!

Answer 10

Romans 9 v18