Are there any JW members of this forum? If so could they tell me why they do not believe in blood transfusions.

What happens if they are in an accident and in urgent need of a blood transfusion and are not able to tell the staff about their religion? Perhaps they carry an id disk or something like the bracelet that people who are allergic to penicillin carry.

Would the hospital be open to prosecution if they unknowingly acted against the wishes of a JW patient when their only aim was to save that persons life?

I'd ask myself when they next knock at my door but I don't have a couple of hours to spare.

I didn't know they still did door-t'door! I would imagine the blood transfusion would infringe on (what they believe is) their soul. Could be wrong though!

They damn well do still go door-to-door. I was woken up by them at the crack of dawn (well OK 9.30am) the other saturday. They gave me a magazine with a picture of someone lying in bed on the front and the headline "AWAKE?". And they completely failed to get the irony. Grr!

They only venture out when the weather improves, and with it being Spring we will have them knocking until Autumn.

Them being seasonal its one good thing about the winter.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
They only venture out when the weather improves, and with it being Spring we will have them knocking until Autumn.

Them being seasonal its one good thing about the winter.


Cycle we get them all year round in NE Derbyshire...we're a hardy breed here you know. Also get quite afew Mormons.

Originally posted by Mo
Are there any JW members of this forum? If so could they tell me why they do not believe in blood transfusions.



Didn't a hospital in Leeds pioneer bloodless transplants / transfusions just for this sort of thing?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/676301.stm

Here you go Mo:

"Jehovah's witnesses say there are at least 400 Bible references which prohibit them from receiving blood. "

Some stuff about why Witnesses do not accept blood (http://www.watchtower.org/library/hb/index.htm)

They stopped knocking many moons ago ehehe,

If they have a blacklist, I think I may be on it.


Mormons too, even managed to accost two nice young men in suits on Kenwood Bank and had them make excuses to get away from me.

Most satisfying.

Thanks Abdul and Belle. Who's to say they're not right when you think about catching HIV and CJD from contaminated blood.

PS Aren't the couple in the photo in Abdul's link spookily alike?

I probably shouldnt tell you this story, me being a Christian and all, but a friend of mine (I could tell you his name if I had to, to prove it isnt just an urban myth) claimed that one day JWs approached him while he was gardening out front.

They waved the good book at him and he allegedly said "Oh yeah, I have read that, he dies in the end"

I seem to remember a story someone told me about when the JW's came to the door and asked if he was interested in joining the Kingdom Hall.

He told them to sod off because if he played by their rules then he wouldn't have a daughter because she'd needed a blood transfusion a couple of years previous in order to stay alive after an accident.

From his point of view, fair enough I'd say.

I'm not one for religious types 'spreading the word' anyway. Most people are well aware of the various religions so if they want to believe they'll go to church or wherever by themselves and shouldn't be guilted into it by people invading their privacy.

[/rant]

Originally posted by Belle
I probably shouldnt tell you this story, me being a Christian and all, but a friend of mine (I could tell you his name if I had to, to prove it isnt just an urban myth) claimed that one day JWs approached him while he was gardening out front.

They waved the good book at him and he allegedly said "Oh yeah, I have read that, he dies in the end"

thats pretty good response

they knocked on our door and asked y dad if he had found jesus, so he answered no but if i see him in the pub ill tell him that your lookin for him

HAHAHA! I like his style. :lol:

I find these posts funny but would they be funny if similar jibes were directed at Muslims or Jews say? Just a thought.

That's not what this thread is about tho. ;)

Originally posted by Mo
I find these posts funny but would they be funny if similar jibes were directed at Muslims or Jews say? Just a thought.

Interesting point though. A lot of us generally don't take JW's seriously. Really their belief is as strong as any other faith. Even though we may get annoyed at them knocking at our door, they are doing so, because they believe they are saving our soul. It's not like they're trying to sell you anything. Thinking about it, it's not really that offensive.

they probably would be funny for people that arent jews or muslims, but since this thread is directed at jehovas witnesses...
do you really think this ist offensive toany JW? of course it probably is

oh well what werewe saying again?

Originally posted by Mo
I find these posts funny but would they be funny if similar jibes were directed at Muslims or Jews say? Just a thought.

Yes if the situation and the circumstances were similar, it would be funny just the same

My joke was I think blasphemous rather than racist

I dont think Jehovas Witnesses are a race apart, I expect people of all colours and hues could be a witness, although I cant swear to the truth of that.

Jews of course dont see Jesus at the messiah, rather as a prophet, so they dont use the New Testament, so the joke wouldnt work with them

And the same is true of the Muslims

And I dont think either do "door-to-door" recruitment or preaching

Mind you, I am not sure the Witnesses believe in Jesus either, but it didnt stop my mate from making the joke in his garden

Originally posted by Andy78
because they believe they are saving our soul.

Because they believe they are burning our tea - or is it dinner.

:) - My husband and I come into regular contact with our local JW. We recieve the magazines and have a good talk with the representatives that come round - and they still go knocking ;).

They know what we are and what we do. My husband has had more conversations on the subject than I have, but whilst JW will not accept blood, they will accept plasma.
This is a little more time consuming but it does the same thing and enable the body to make the extra blood itself.

Moon

Originally posted by Belle

Jews of course dont see Jesus at the messiah, rather as a prophet, so they dont use the New Testament, so the joke wouldnt work with them

And the same is true of the Muslims


I always thought the Jews rejected Jesus as a Prophet and messiah, and had some pretty slanderous things to say about the Virgin Mary too.

Muslims do believe in Jesus as a Prophet, but reject belief in the Trinity, or that Jesus was the Son of God.

Originally posted by Belle
Mind you, I am not sure the Witnesses believe in Jesus either, but it didnt stop my mate from making the joke in his garden
I think they do don't they?

Anyway, back the the original question, if a JW was transfused and the doctor responsible didn't have any idea that the person was a JW then I don't see how the hospital could be held responsible.

Lighen up folks... it's Friday!

What do you get if you cross a Hell's Angel with a Jehovah's Witness?

Some one who knocks on your door on a Sunday morning and tells YOU to fek off!

http://www.watchtower.org/ - Their website.

It seems they do believe in Jesus as the son of God, but they don't believe in the trinity like regular Christians, they merely believe that Jesus was a messenger.

I always thought the Jews rejected Jesus as a Prophet and messiah, and had some pretty slanderous things to say about the Virgin Mary too.

That's true Abdul, they are still waiting for the Messiah to come.

Hope you don't mind me asking, but why is the word "fatwah" (I have no idea if that's the right spelling) used in the media to convey the idea of a death warrant against somebody if it means "religious opinion?".

Not trying to be a smart arse, just interested.:D

Originally posted by MissEllie
...why is the word "fatwah" (I have no idea if that's the right spelling) used in the media to convey the idea of a death warrant against somebody if it means "religious opinion?".


Because it sells more newspapers ;)

Originally posted by Sidla
http://www.watchtower.org/ - Their website.

It seems they do believe in Jesus as the son of God, but they don't believe in the trinity like regular Christians, they merely believe that Jesus was a messenger.

I thought the trinity was a catholic thing??

Moon
the real godless heathen :D

Because it sells more newspapers

I guess I asked for that!!:P

I thought the trinity was a catholic thing??

It's what all Christians believe, Moon Maiden. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I think it's just that people associate it with Catholics because they use it in their prayers a lot more.

Originally posted by Sidla
http://www.watchtower.org/ - Their website.

It seems they do believe in Jesus as the son of God, but they don't believe in the trinity like regular Christians, they merely believe that Jesus was a messenger.



Is it theologically possible for someone who does not accept Jesus Christ completely to still be a christian?

Is the well intentioned statement above indicating that Jehova's see themselves as irregular Christians?

Originally posted by bulldog D
Is it theologically possible for someone who does not accept Jesus Christ completely to still be a christian?

No, because a Christian is someone who follows Christ - I think the word Christian means 'little Christ'

Originally posted by bulldog D
Is it theologically possible for someone who does not accept Jesus Christ completely to still be a christian?

Is the well intentioned statement above indicating that Jehova's see themselves as irregular Christians?
I think that it would give you a wider choice of religion. You could quite happily be Jewish or Muslim depending on your prophets of choice :)

Originally posted by bulldog D
Is the well intentioned statement above indicating that Jehova's see themselves as irregular Christians?
I didn't mean it like that. The majority of Christians believe in God as the trinity of Father, Son and Spirit. Because JW's don't follow the trend then they are irregular.

You can't be a Christian if you don't believe Jesus existed, but I guess it could be possible to be Christian if you don't believe that Jesus is the son of God.

Popular chap this Jehova.

All these witnesses.

When's his case come up?

but I guess it could be possible to be Christian if you don't believe that Jesus is the son of God.

No, it isn't. A Christian is a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and saviour, i.e. "saved". The only way to the Father is through the SON, i.e. Jesus so if you don't believe that then you aren't really a Christian.

By what definition?

dictionary.com
Chris·tian
n.
One who professes belief in Jesus as Christ or follows the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus.
One who lives according to the teachings of Jesus.
It doesn't say anything there about having to believe that Jesus is the son of God.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Pulled out of John Chapter 14 if you wanna read it, but you get the drift.

Billy Graham's website (billygraham.org) is also a good resource, it has a Q & A section.

I believe the bible can define what a Christian is much better than a dictionary, but maybe that's just me ;)

Originally posted by MissEllie
No, it isn't. A Christian is a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and saviour, i.e. "saved". The only way to the Father is through the SON, i.e. Jesus so if you don't believe that then you aren't really a Christian.

*phew* Some comments there were getting me all confused.

I do believe a guy called Jesus existed but am not at all convinced that he was as the bible and others purport him to have been.

Not being able to read Hebrew or aramaic - whichever form the bible is written in - I cannot comment. I have read parts of the JW bible and it is for example extremely different to the King James version.

It would certainly be interesting to read the bible as it was written as opposed to how we are told it was written.

Moon

It all comes down to how you interpret these things I guess.

Originally posted by Mo
Are there any JW members of this forum? If so could they tell me why they do not believe in blood transfusions.

What happens if they are in an accident and in urgent need of a blood transfusion and are not able to tell the staff about their religion? Perhaps they carry an id disk or something like the bracelet that people who are allergic to penicillin carry.

Would the hospital be open to prosecution if they unknowingly acted against the wishes of a JW patient when their only aim was to save that persons life?

I'd ask myself when they next knock at my door but I don't have a couple of hours to spare.

I have asked this question many times Mo, when the J.W. came to my home, they insisted that they were following the teaching of the Bible literally, it was the word of God,and nothing will ever change their minds.

I To my way of thinking with JWs it sounds a bit of a regimented existence according to a practising in-law of mine. They have to knock on doors to spread the word, they snub anyone who strays from their teachings and will often state that another God's teachings are wrong. I much prefer a God who welcomes everyone and is forgiving.

Apparently the way to get JW`s to leave you alone is to tell them you are a Catholic (so I am told)

Strange but true:

Hank Marvin, guitarist with The Shadows has been a JW for many years and now lives in Perth, Western Australia where he regularly goes out door knocking.

Apparently, he gets a lot of "aren't you that bloke....?" but refuses to talk about music or sign autographs when he's out "doing the Lord's work"

I used to know a family of JW's and back to the blood transfusion thing yes they carry an ID card with them. - I think this is a very complicated religion and members do get abit "brainwashed with there beleifs" - if someone leaves no one else will talk to them - not even there family!!!

Originally posted by biggus
Apparently the way to get JW`s to leave you alone is to tell them you are a Catholic (so I am told)

Just tell them your not interested normally works for me and they usually say "sorry for bothering you and leave".

What annoys me is they normally come knocking early Saturday morning when you want a nice lie in.

Or you could just poor a bucket of cold water out of the upstairs window and they might get the message ( haha only playing ... thats just cruel)!

I admire anyone who adheres to a regimen of spiritual belief, but I loathe those that shove it down the throats of others.

How on earth these guys think they're going to win me over by knocking on my door first thing on a Saturday morning and gabbing on about religion is something that has always puzzled me.

My father has been a devout and unusually open-minded Christian all his life and I'll never forget that one morning he was up with the dawn and spent a few hours (yes, hours) talking to a couple of JW's that turned up with the usual friendly banter about the fact that everyone else is barking up the wrong tree. The next week they came back hoping for the same treatment and he told them to bugger off.

So if you're not interested then tell them to sling their hook as they always come back otherwise.

When I tell them we're a house full of pagans and that their lord is a fictional character created as a tool of patriarchal oppression, they tend to get the message and sod off pretty sharpish.