why can't jehovah's witnesses have blood transfusions?

Question

its for homework

what happens if they need a blood transfusion and dont have one?

Answer 1

They can, but through faith choose not to. It should be mentioned that only 13% of those refusing blood are witnesses. The Bible says the blood is the soul, so by taking a blood transfusion, you are infusing someone else's soul into yourself. The Bible also teaches not to take in blood.

Many great medical achievements have happened as a result of their refusals. Doctors had to develop methods to avoid excess blood loss, always a good idea. UCLA now does bloodless liver transplants.

100% of people taking blood experience side affects. Blood transfusions lowers the immunal response, with large transfusions used to shut down the immune system for transplants. The immunal response is a lot like that of AIDS. If you get sick after a transmission, its with a rare illness, not a common one.

In England, the blood supply is no longer considered safe, due to mad cow disease. Anyone under 18 can only receive a transfusion of blood imported from America.

Answer 2

JWs don't have blood transfusions due to the poor understanding of the Christian scriptures by their second leader. Their first leader had said consumption of blood was fine.

Most operations can be performed without blood. However in some situations blood is essential, and in these cases JWs die because of their refusal to have a transfusion.

A recent interesting study shows that in childbirth JWS that refuse all blood therapy can have a 44 fold increase of mortality, http://www.greenjournal.org/cgi/content/full/104/3/541

http://jwfacts.com/index_files/blooddoctrine.htm goes into detail on the history and changing policy, why it is an Unchristian stance, and what the medical fraternity thinks.

Answer 3

JW's don't accept blood transfusions (OR EVEN PLASMA) because in the eyes of God blood is sacred. It represents the precious gift of life that each living soul possesses. God stated the principle, that the soul of a person is in the blood, in the Bible (Leviticus 3 vs 17, 17 vs 10,11 &14; Deuteronomy 12 vs 16,23). He also commanded to "ABSTAIN from blood" (Acts 15 vs 19, 20 & 29). JW's also believe that the blood Jesus shed for mankind is key to the Christian hope of forgiveness of sins and eternal life. It is ONLY his blood that can truly save life.

JW's look after their health and co-operate with doctors as long as there are no conflicts with their Bible based convictions. I have known many people who were told that they needed blood or they could die, and yet despite their refusal (and use of acceptable alternatives) they lived for many, many years after the fact.

Ps. JW's are NOT a cult, as a cult is a religion that is said to be unorthodox or that emphasizes devotion according to prescribed ritual. Cults usually follow human leaders whereas JW's look to God for guidance through his word the Bible. THEY DO NOT LOOK TO HUMAN LEADERS OR WHAT THEY SAY!!!!

For more info go to www.watchtower.org.

Answer 4

Throughout the periods of man's worship described in the Bible, the only instituted law that has been laid down by God is for His worshippers to abstain from blood. The law was given to Noah and, by extension, all his descendants - you and me, etc. (Genesis 9:4) It was also given to Moses (Deuteronomy 12:16) It was also given to Christian when a controversy arose over whether to obey the Mosaic law or not - a question which arose when an increasing number of non-circumcised gentiles converted to Christianity (Acts 15, particularly vs 23-29)
Blood has always been considered precious (consider the reference to blood in Genesis ch 4 v10) It's only proper use outside the body is for sacrifice. Many chapters of Leviticus refer to the sacrificial use of blood. This prefigure the blood that would be poured form Jesus' body at his sacrifice - a sacrifice which has great meaning for us in that it opens the way for having a relationship with God, the forgiveness of our sins and entry to eternal life on a paradise Earth.

Answer 5

The bible doesn't tell them this ,it comes from one of there secular books.
Blood transfusions are a sin - Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1985, pp. 72-73.

This is from the news -

The Watchtower Society has issued new instruc­tions requiring Jehovah’s Witnesses to offer greater resis­tance to court-ordered blood transfusions.

The June 15, 1991 Watchtower magazine (p. 31) suggests that JWs “avoid being accessi­ble” for such a court ordered transfusion by fleeing the scene, or else follow the example of a 12-year-old girl who had been taught to “fight any court authorized transfusion with all the strength she could muster...scream and struggle…pull the injecting device out of her arm and…attempt to destroy the blood in the bag over her bed.”

The Watchtower article states that this course is to be followed even if such action might make the Jehovah’s Witness “a lawbreaker or make him liable to prosecution” by the authorities. While medical personnel generally agree that adults have the right to refuse treatment, hospitals routinely obtain court orders when children of Jehovah’s Witnesses require transfusions and the parents refuse to consent. In the past, many Jehovah’s Witness parents appeared content to leave the matter there: they were freed of responsibility in the eyes of their leaders, while at the same time the child’s life could be saved. (Watchtower rules mandate the punishment of shunning for any who accept blood willingly.)

But now hospitals can expect many more Jehovah’s Witnesses to follow the headline-making course that only a few took in the past. Obedient to the new instructions, Witness parents may either physically intervene to obstruct treatment or else abduct the child from the hospital and flee — regard­less of whether this will make them lawbreakers liable to prosecution.

As far as a CULT is concerned:
The Watchtower organization of the Jehovah's Witnesses is a non-Christian organization that uses its people to promulgate false doctrines, sell a multitudinous amount of literature, and expand its grip into the lives of its members and their families.
It is a non-Christian cult.

The Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves to be Christians because they believe they are serving the true and living God. Like many cults, they think they are the only true church on earth. Yet, they deny the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, Jesus' physical resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith.

The Jehovah's Witnesses are discouraged from looking into Jehovah's Witness history or old Watchtower literature which is replete with contradictions, altered doctrines, and false prophecies. Instead, they are indoctrinated repeatedly against basic Christian doctrines (Trinity, deity of Christ, etc) and into the notion that they alone are the true servants of God and that all others are either in "Christendom" or simply unbelievers.

Primarily, the Jehovah's Witness organization is a mind control organization that uses its people to pass out literature and send in "donations" to the headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.
Taken from the WATCHTOWER:
"Thus the Bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization, not to individuals, regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the Bible." The Watchtower, Oct. 1, 1967. p. 587.

The Jehovah’s Witnesses receive their direction from The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. This organization claims to be the channel of communication from God to his people, that it represents Jesus on earth, and that you cannot find Scriptural guidance outside of it as an organization. Consider the following quotes:

· "It should be expected that the Lord would have a means of communication to his people on the earth, and he has clearly shown that the magazine called The Watchtower is used for that purpose." 1939 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses, p. 85."

· Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect." The Watchtower, October 1, 1967, p. 591.

· "We all need help to understand the Bible, and we cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet slave' organization." The Watchtower, Feb. 15, 1981.

The "Faithful and Wise servant ' is one man - STUDIES, Vol 1 1924-27 editions p.7

Since the WTS currently rejects most of the teachings of its founder, Charles Taze Russell (who was president of the organization from 1879-1916), and since they also reject "judge" Joseph Franklin Rutherford, who succeeded Russell as president from 1916-1942, how can you be sure that in 25 more years, the WTS won't reject the current president, Milton Henschel (1992-present), as they did Russell and Rutherford? What kind of confidence can you have in an organization that rejected its founder and first two presidents for the first 63 years of its existence - over 50% of the time they have existed.

It is also important to note, the mental illness rate among Witnesses is many times higher than among the non-Witness population. The Witnesses see their primary task as spreading their message and are generally little concerned with whether or not the mental illness rate is higher among them than the non-Witness population. Yet if they believe that the level is low, they will try to use this (and anything else they believe is favorable) as a drawing card. Frantic activity devoted to spreading the Watchtower "Word" before God destroys "this system of things" is foremost in their minds. Most Witnesses conclude that questioning something they know a priori to be true is a waste of time and counter productive. Most feel that the mental health of members is far less important than obedience to the Watchtower.

Fortunately, some do find the way out. Many become agnostics or atheists, hating God and all attempts to understand and reach Him. Some are fortunate though, and through intensive Bible study come to realize that the Watchtower is based on a misunderstanding of the Bible and a misreading of many select "proof texts." These persons realize a firm faith does exist that is not based on the shifting sands of a man made organization directed by individuals who are scripturally illiterate and ill informed about historical Christianity or even modern Biblical research. These people are able to look back at their experience in the Watchtower as one that can be used to help others.

Answer 6

They believe sin is carried within the blood, therefore if you receive blood from a stranger, you don't know what sins you are going to have to be held accountable for.

I think they have a way around it. They can do plasma transfusions and then they will be safe.

Answer 7

It is artificially interferring in Gods will, therefore against thier belief structure.

They are a cult by the way not a religion.

Answer 8

the Bible says that we should abstain from Blood(Acts15:28,29)we abide by Gods Law, if a person was told by a physician not to drink Alcohol, would that, then nean that he could inject the Alcohol instead?

Answer 9

There is some obscure bible quote telling the Israelites to avoid blood. However they will accept and donate body organs for transplant. Sounds like a conflict to me.

Answer 10

I recommend doing some research here:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/medical_care_and_blood.htm