Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refuse Blood Transfusions??

Question

If it would save a life, why do they refuse it?

Answer 1

The pagan sacrifices were bloody and participants would drink the blood during the celebrations of their feasts. These were Jewish dietary laws and Christians never have followed the dietary laws since they separated themselves back in the Apostles time.
There was no such thing as blood transfusions in Old Testament even Russell who founded the Witness's never made that part of their religion it was long after he died it was adopted.
After all prohibition of blood was of dietary nature and pagan sacrifice and has nothing to do with a blood transfusion. It doesn't enter your body through your mouth nor does not go into your stomach.
Interesting article at this site:
http://home.comcast.net/~rday888/prints/bloodtransfusions.html

Answer 2

As stated early by other Witnesses, this is because God has commanded his followers to abstain from blood at Acts 15: 20 & 29. This has been God's stance on blood from the beginning when he told Noah to not eat the blood of animals. This was very serious at Gen. 9:5 God even said he would ask back their soul for eating the blood of animal, let alone the blood of another human.

Blood is very sacred to God. It is our life force. It is the pouring out of Jesus blood that we have forgiveness of sins.

This is the reason we do not accept blood transfusions. There are many alternatives to blood transfusions that can be administered to build up the blood. Thousands of Witnesses have bloodless surgeries and survive. Many are told they will die without blood and they do not. In most cases, if someone dies, they would have died anyway. People die every day who are not Jehovah's Witnesses, who have had a blood transfusions.

Our goal is to obey God's law. We protect our relationship with God and we are not subjected to diseases caused by blood. As Acts 15: 29 states: "If you keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!"

Don't you think as our creator, he knows what's best for us.

Answer 3

Roque, considering witnesses do not believe in a separately existing soul, no we do not believe that the DNA is in your soul. You ARE close, however. God has said that life is in the Blood. He is the life giver. Therefore out of respect for life, he commands his worshippers to stay away from Blood.

it is a misconception that the scriptures refer to only EATING blood. It is true that this was part of God's original command, for instance to Noah. He told him to drain an animals blood before eating it. However, please read carefully Act 15:28,29 and you will see that the command against blood calls for ABSTAINING from blood, not merely to not eat it.

Do witnesses occasionally pay the ultimate price for following God's instructions? Certainly! However there is nothing that God cannot undo in his due time. Even death.

Me personally? I figure I'm going to probably die eventually. I would much prefer to die faithfully upholding God's sovereignty.
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Tapestry? Excuse me, but the first command against the intake of blood was right after the Flood, when Noah and his family built an altar to God on newly dry ground. There were no Pagans and therefore no Pagan sacrifices or rituals to worry about. Just Jehovah's own direct instructions to the new core human family as it got it's fresh start. And again look at the command at Acts 15:28,29 and then look up the complete definition of "abstain". It's more than about "eating" .. or I guess not eating. Thanks.

Answer 4

God told his followers to abstain from blood...

Leviticus 7:26,27
Deuteronomy 12:23-25 blood is sacred in the eyes of God.

Actually, only 10% of the people who refuse blood transfusions are Jehovah's Witnesses. The other 90% are people of other religious beliefs who see the danger in using it.

Answer 5

Because they misinterpret a verse in the Bible and develop a whole system of theology around that misinterpretation.
Check out what they say about blood fractions. You can have blood fractions the last I checked, but that may have changed back. If you were to have plasma alone, red cells alone or platelets, that would be just fine!

Answer 6

Jehovahs Witnesses are folloers of the bible. So they take note of Acts 15:28,29 " Keep abstainiing from blood.:
Its hasnt anything to do with the soul. They accept dextran, saline and other non blood management: life is important to them, but obeying Gods law is more.

Answer 7

A Jehovah witness told me they refuse it as the bible prohibits eathing of blood. He said you have "iv feeding" and thus its wrong. A basic misunderstanding of biology was his main issue.

Answer 8

You should ask a medical professional why bloodless surgery is preferred by many - not just Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Bible is God's Word and in his word he admonishes us to abstain from blood. Acts 15:29

We love ourselves and our children so much, that breaking God's law is not an option. So when we face situations where our faith is tested, we obey God as ruler, rather than man.

There is only one proper use of blood in the scriptures - atonement of sins. We do not break God's law to extend our lives in this wicked system of things. God's word promises a resurrection of those who remain faithful - not the ones who make exceptions for their own selfish desires.

Answer 9

Do you read your bible?
Did you know blood is Holy?
Did you know God forbids the consumption of it in any form.
Did you know as a body fluid it can carry AIDS?
Isn't it enough that God said don't do it?

Use our website and read all about better answers
Even Doctors admit it's dangerous
And Ask any Jew his view!

Answer 10

In the bible it says it is real bad to drink blood and they take that so literal that they would sit and watch their own child die rather than save their life, I think this is so wrong, transfusing blood is not the same as drinking it.