2007-06-13 08:06:56 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
What a silly question- that is such a lie I can't even believe it.
So much for asking honest questions, eh Sara?
As I responded in your previous question, Witnesses strive to get the best bloodless medical care available- the idea that we sit around letting our "children die" is laughable at best.
And we DO ACCEPT organ transplants- again, I don't know why people feel the need to promote incorrect information and hurtful lies about us.
I would advise you to do some REAL research on bloodless medicine and the statistics on how many people actually die as a result of refusing transfusions.
2007-06-13 08:20:49 · answer #1 · answered by danni_d21 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
we do not let our children die. would you? we get the best care that we can for our children and ourselves. I have a friend who had a very big heart operation several months ago without blood and he is doing great. even if I was not a Jehovah Witness I would never take of blood, many families have died from it. they can check it all they want and I still would not take of it. acts 15 verse 28 and 29. to abstain from blood. in a hospital when a patient cannot eat through his mouth, he is fed intravenously. Now would a person who never put blood into his mouth but who accepted blood by transfusion really be obeying the command to keep abstaining from blood? to use a comparison consider a man who is told by the doctor that he must abstain from alcohol. would he be obedient if he quit drinking alcohol but had it put directly into his veins. if the doctor says you will die without a blood transfusion you might reply if the situation is really that serious, can the doctor guarantee that the patient will not die if he is given blood? I don't think so. but there is someone who can give a person life again, and that is God. don't you agree by violating his law would be a poor decision. I truly have faith in God Jehovah. do you?
2007-06-13 09:20:30 · answer #2 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
This is an intense topic which comes to the fore with great regularity. Jehovah's Witnesses have dedicated their lives unreservedly to Jehovah God and so govern those lives according to His laws and principles as set out in His word the Bible. Basically, it is very simple: Blood is very precious in God's eyes. At all times, his human creation is to manifest respect for it and honor what it represents - the life of the animal or human. This can be seen throughout the scriptures; beginning, for instance, at Genesis 9:3-4. There are only two uses for blood that have ever been approved of by God. One was to provide atonement for the nation of Israel: outlined at Leviticus 17:11-14. This pointed forward to the ultimate propitiatory sacrifice of Christ Jesus – not just for the nation of Israel but for all of mankind who would avail themselves of it. Any use beyond this finds no divine approval. Acts 15:28-29 and Acts 21:25 reiterate this as respects a Christian's position on the use of blood. We are to abstain from blood.
It should be noted that Witnesses do not "let" children die. They are there at the hospital because they are seeking medical care - the best that they can get. Thousands and thousands of adult Witnesses and children have all manner of medical care without blood transfusions. And they do not die. But this does not make the news.
Hannah J Paul
2007-06-13 08:21:30 · answer #3 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Even as Jesus was interested in children, Christian parents care for their children. The Bible speaks of "a nursing mother cherishing her own children." Jehovah’s Witnesses have such deep love for their children.—1 Thessalonians 2:7; Matthew 7:11; 19:13-15 -
We Jehovah's Witnesses want the best treatment for our children, as I am sure that any loving parent would. Even more important to us is what the Bible itself says at Acts 15:28, 29, "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!”
As parents we would do everything possible to safeguard our child’s welfare - Do we have enough faith to do what God requires?’
Witness parents seek good medical care for their children.
Doctors need to treat “the whole person,” not overlooking the possible lasting psychosocial damage of an invasive procedure that violates a family’s fundamental beliefs.
To use a comparison, consider a man who is told by the doctor that he must abstain from alcohol. Would he be obedient if he quit drinking alcohol but had it put directly into his veins?
Dr. Lawrence S. Frankel reports, “I have found the families [of Jehovah’s Witnesses] to be close knit and loving,” reports . “The children are educated, caring, and respectful. . . " —Department of Pediatrics, M. D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute, Houston, U.S.A., 1985 -
Dr. James L. Fletcher, Jr. observed, “I fear it is not uncommon for professional arrogance to supplant sound medical judgment. Treatments that are regarded as "the best today" are modified or discarded tomorrow. Which is more dangerous, a "religious parent" or an arrogant physician who is convinced that his or her treatment is absolutely vital?”—“Pediatrics,” October 1988.
If you would like further information, please contact Jehovah's Witnesses at the local Kingdom Hall. Or visit their official web site - http://www.watchtower.org
2007-06-13 10:39:43 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Cal 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ironically, the fact remains undisputed that many MULTIPLES more have died as a direct or indirect result of a blood transfusion than have died from a conscientious decision to pursue other medical treatments.
Fair-minded healthcare experts admit that the medical technologies exist to treat literally every illness and injury without resorting to the old-fashioned infusion of whole blood, plasma, platelets, or red/white blood cells. Perhaps pro-blood activists (and/or anti-Witness critics) ignore the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses accept all minor blood fractions, so if there is some targeted need then a Witness will accept a targeted treatment (the only objections are to those four components which approximate actual blood).
Thus, it seems arrogant when some arbitrary onlooker insists that *HE* should have the only right to choose a course of treatment, especially when responsible parents are thoughtfully requesting a different course of treatment. It would seem that when parents give clear evidence of studiously working to protect and prolong their child's life and best interests, the parents should be given the deference and respect befitting any other serious family decision.
Incidentally, it is not Jehovah's Witnesses who decide that blood is sacred; it is Almighty God who declares it so, as the Divine Author of the Holy Bible!
Jehovah's Witnesses are not anti-medicine or anti-technology, and they do not have superstitious ideas about some immortal "soul" literally encapsulated in blood. Instead, as Christians, the Witnesses seek to obey the very plain language of the bible regarding blood.
Jesus Christ, as God's spokesman and as Head of the Christian congregation, made certain that the early congregation reiterated, recorded, and communicated renewed Christian restrictions against the misuse of blood (it would hardly have been necessary to remind Christians to abstain from murderous bloodguilt).
It would seem that all conscientious Christians would feel bound by the bible's words in "the Apostolic Decree". Ironically, this decree was the first official decision communicated to the various congregations by the twelve faithful apostles (and a handful of other "older men" which the apostles had chosen to add to the first century Christian governing body in Jerusalem). God and Christ apparently felt (and feel) that respect for blood is quite important.
Here is what the "Apostolic Decree" said, which few self-described Christians obey or even respect:
(Acts 15:20) Write them [the various Christian congregations] to abstain from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled [the meat of which would contain blood] and from blood.
(Acts 15:28-29) 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 [the meat of which would contain blood] and from fornication. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper.
Quite explicitly, the Apostolic Decree plainly forbids the misuse of blood by Christians (despite the fact that nearly every other provision of former Jewish Mosaic Law was recognized as unnecessary). It seems odd therefore, that literally one Christian religion continues to teach that humans must not use blood for any purpose other than honoring Almighty God.
A better question would ask: How can other self-described Christian religions justify the fact that they don't even care if their adherents drink blood and eat blood products?
Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the repeated bible teaching that blood is specially "owned" by God, and must not be used for any human purpose. Witnesses do not have any superstitious aversion to testing or respectfully handling blood, and Witnesses believe these Scriptures apply to blood and the four primary components which approximate "blood". An individual Jehovah's Witness is likely to accept a targeted treatment for a targeted need, including a treatment which includes a minor fraction derived from plasma, platelets, and/or red/white blood cells.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/hb/
http://watchtower.org/library/vcnb/article_01.htm
2007-06-13 10:19:18 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why would a parent let their children join an army so that they could die for their country?
Why would a parent let their children join an army so that they can kill for their country?
If you die for your country you are a hero.
If you are willing to die for your God, you are a fanatic.
Please know that NO Jehovah's Witness wants their child to die.
That is why we take our children to doctor's and hospitals is so that they can live.
What are you willing to die for?
Between your country and God, which has the power to resurrect you and your child?
2007-06-13 09:38:14 · answer #6 · answered by TeeM 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Jehovah's Witness but I read that they go by the old testament and believe that blood is a sign of purity or sin. So I guess it's so they won't get "sin" blood. This is hard for the rest of us to understand - but I hand it to them for their strong faith. Could you let your child die because of something you believe in?
2007-06-13 08:16:28 · answer #7 · answered by J C 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The consumption of blood is prohibited in the Old Testament. This is why kosher meat has to be prepared in a way that gets rid of almost all the blood in it.
Jehovah's Witnesses extend this to blood transfusions and organ donation.
2007-06-13 08:16:41 · answer #8 · answered by Robin W 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
They do not.
JWs will use any and all Nonblood Alternatives and treatments.
The bible says in the old covenant and the new covenant to ABSTAIN from blood.
Does abstain mean you can't use it one way but you can use it another?
Random House Unabridged Dictionary: (Abstain) to hold oneself back from something regarded as improper or unhealthy
Act 15:20 But that we write unto them, that they ABSTAIN from pollutions of idols, and [from] fornication, and [from] things strangled, and [from] BLOOD.
Abstaining from blood is not just regarding idol worship. Blood is mentioned last in verse 20 after fornication and things that strangle.
2007-06-15 03:20:42 · answer #9 · answered by keiichi 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It comes from a misunderstanding regarding an O.T. passage of scripture that forbids eating blood. They feel this was a "prophesy" for the future regarding blood transfusions.
There are a number of JW's who do not hold to this view, but in the meantime, people die needlessly who otherwise could have been saved.
In cults, faith gets misplaced and misapplied, and Biblical terms and ideas get redefined to mean what they do not mean.
Do not underestimate the power of the cults over people. They believe their salvation is tied to the group and what the organization teaches.
2007-06-13 08:19:01 · answer #10 · answered by Hogie 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋