Keep Abstaining from Coffee

by ThomasCovenant 3 Replies latest watchtower medical

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  ThomasCovenant

  "Thus, Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept cups of whole coffee or the four primary components of coffee, namely, coffee granules, white milk, brown sugar, and water. They also do not donate or store their own coffee for drinking." Kingdom Ministry Nov 2006 p.3 sort of.

  Fractions of the drink coffee are a personal conscience issue for individual Jehovah's Witnesses.

  For example, caffeine makes up only 33% of coffee granules and are therefore viewed as a fraction of the drink known as coffee and can no longer be viewed as 'coffee'.

  Also, as white sugar makes up only 96% of brown sugar (i.e. no molasses added) it can rightly be viewed as a fraction of brown sugar and is also an allowable fraction.

  Whilst on the subject molasses are also a fraction of brown sugar and may also be taken as a food/beverage if required in an emergency as long as not at the same time as the white sugar from which it was removed.
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  yknot

  Priceless!
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  wobble

  I notice in your parody you did not give any scriptural backing for your edicts,

  whereas the WT Soc. when they told us the new light on blood Fractions they.......oh dear.

  Well done Tommo ! really shows how stupid their doctrine has become, it is still murderous though.
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  BluesBrother

  Lets project the parody forward and imagine that in the near future a medical use of coffee is discovered, indeed when taken orally or injected directly into the bloodstream it can save lives.

  Now we must consider the word "abstain"..This is understood to be a total rejection of something and having no contact with the item in question.....but the context of the ruling makes it clear that it was discussing the drinking of coffee for pleasure, indulging in the pleasant hot drink with a unique flavour that tickles the taste buds and goes down so well, often in a warm social setting...(Mmmm, I get carried away!)

  But should that also include abstaining from a medical use of "coffee" which has none of these "forbidden pleasures" and is administered tastelessly (could I suggest a suppository?)

  Back to reality now..I refer to an Awake that showed how drugs that are abstained from when used for pleasure are viewed differently when used as a medical treatment -

  Awake 2001 11/8 "From Our Readers"

  "Marfan’s Syndrome

  In the article “Coping With Marfan’s Syndrome—When Joints Dislocate” (February 22, 2001), Michelle says that she takes morphine daily. How can an addictive drug be used by a Christian?

  S. D., United States

  It would be wrong for a Christian to use drugs simply for the thrills or the highs they produce. However, one who accepts a painkilling narcotic under the direction of a physician because of some medical problem could hardly be called a thrill seeker. Of course, even in circumstances like that, a Christian must carefully weigh the possibility of addiction and other harmful side effects from taking such a medication.—ED."

  So, my point is.....If they can see a difference between one use of drugs and another , making it OK to take morphine under medical supervision to prolong life....Why can't they see the difference between the dietary and the medical use of blood??