Gary1914,
Thanks for the info. I am interested in the phenomenon. My supposition was only that. Others have reported that the event was treated as a shameful one while yours indicates that it was viewed positively.
Can you tell whether you know if the example of the deaths in your congregation was touted elsewhere in your circuit or locality?
I think it is important to investigate just how the reaction propagates within the community/JWs and why some cases are viewed negatively and some are viewed positively.
I wonder if cultural or racial factors are involved or geographic factors.
It seems that if Witnesses really believe that the death of someone adhering to the blood doctrine was honorable that it would be a tendency to be treated positively - similar perhaps to persecution examples in the oral history and literature.
But it is surprising to see that the majority of cases are kept private and perhaps even "covered". This might be out of respect for the family and individuals or it could be a subconscious reflex which indicates that the persons inwardly reject the doctrine even if outwardly they manifest acceptance.
Making a post here on JWD dedicated to tabulating stories and statistics, locations, etc. would be useful in helping all of us to build some data, perhaps more accurately than mere statistical modeling based on inferences that aren't ground in anything.
One of my theories is that a person who has been touched personally either through direct loss of a family member or via a close friend is more likely to have left the Organization, perhaps not because of the blood doctrine but as a contributory factor. Thus since this forum is a gravitational point for ex-members, I would expect a higher concentration of reported cases here on JWD than if we were able to just conduct a sampling of all active Witnesses.
Still even with this potential flaw building a record wouldn't hurt.
There is also another important reason why it would be a good idea and that is not too forget the victims of this terrible doctrine. A "Memorial" website would serve these purposes and also perhaps garner some media attention to the issue. And of course touching persons wiht a real face and name is one of the best ways to make an impact on active Witnesses.
Of course there are privacy concerns and these would have to be addressed.
I saw one poster mention that he would like to see a doctor's certification that a blood transfusion would have saved these people's lives.
I don't actually see that as relevant in the big picture. First such an opinion would only be speculative, as whether a blood transfusion would have saved the person or not is really an X factor, though it would be more likely than no treatment right.
I think that a modest disclaimer on the site or post along these lines would suffice: "it is not known for certain whether a blood transfusion would have saved the person's life but given that the field of medicine agrees that the administration of blood as appropriate is the standard of care, it is more likely than not that the person's condition would have been positively affected by the adminstration of blood."
-Eduardo Leaton Jr., Esq.
PS: CBehind. I think you have misunderstood my feelings. There would need to be many more changes than just the blood policy to lure me back. I hope that these changes will occur because I do believe and accept certain teachings and I appreciate certain facets of the culture. I also have family and friends who are Witnesses and would appreciate being in communion with them again.
Whether the changes that I hope for and am workng for will occur in my life time I don't know. But I believe that they will and that these changes are inf fact inevitable if the Organization and religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is to survive into the later half of this century.
Yes, in this sense I may be different than many on this board who only desire the complete destruction of the religion.
