LA Times Front Page - JWs Treated Without Blood (page 2)

Dagney

Oops! Sorry. Meant "write reply and upload."

You know what I can't understand. They prohibit blood, but will allow a bone marrow transplant. I didn't need this type of treatment for my leukemia, but I checked. Now they have to kill your own bone marrow in order to make your body ready to accept foreign bone marrow. Which means you may not be able to make blood for a while while the transplant takes. That of course increases the need for transfusions. It just never made sense---unless they look at it as Jews were allowed to eat the marrow. Which I'm sure they do, but it still highlights how ridiculous it is. It's an imaginary, and arbitray line they draw.

NC

Quarterback

They really should give the members the right to choose, based on their concience.

wha happened?

forgot about the marrow, good point

DNCall

I submitted a letter to the editor of the LA Times in response to this article. I doubt that it will be published, so here it is for you:

Kudos to Dr. Michael Lill for providing treatment to Jehovah’s Witnesses despite the fact that he is, as described by Ms. Gorman, “a committed atheist who views [their] belief system as wholly irrational.”

Having been a member of the Witness religion for over 50 years, I do, however, take exception to Ms. Gorman’s use of the terms “biblically centered” and “literal interpretation of the Bible” when referring to the Witnesses’ belief regarding blood.

The following is a literal interpretation of what the Bible says about blood: When God first allowed Man to kill animals for food, the animal’s blood was to be removed so as not to be eaten. It was to be poured out on the ground. By doing so, Man would be showing proper respect for the sacredness of the animal’s life, in God’s eyes.

Jehovah’s Witnesses go far beyond a “literal interpretation of the Bible” when they say that this rule covers blood transfusions. Blood transfusions do not involve the taking of a life, as in the case of killing animals for food. Blood transfusions do not violate the sacredness of life. In fact, they are, in countless cases, the only way to preserve life.

Why do the Witnesses believe this way? It is not because they are “biblically centered.” It is to add to their list of beliefs that make them unique among myriad Bible-based religions, thus bolstering the claim that their organization alone is the true religion. It is a case of being organization-centered not biblically centered.

Frank Kavelin
Santa Monica, California

LA Times Front Page - JWs Treated Without Blood

DNCall

Dagney

NewChapter

Quarterback

wha happened?

DNCall

wha happened?

Gayle

BizzyBee

blondie

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