Christ S: Are you sure? What about Poland? Keiichi is incorrect.
In the rest of the world, outside of Bulgaria, JWs who willingly accept a blood transfusion are considered as having disassociated themselves from the body of Jehovah's Witnesses and are treated as disfellowshipped individuals. Same sanctions, such as shunning, etc.
However, in order to avoid being shut entirely out of Bulgaria, the JW Organization agreed in writing (http://www.scribd.com/doc/3988302/Jehova... http://www.watchtower.cc/blood-in-bulgar... that if a Bulgarian JW accepts a blood transfusion, they are to be treated no differently than the average JW in good standing and are not to be sanctioned (i.e., shunned, etc). So they are -not- viewed as having willingly disassociated themselves, but this is ONLY in Bulgaria, nowhere else in the world does this practice hold true.
Is Bulgarian blood less blood-like than blood in the rest of the world? Why the difference?
*** The Watchtower January 15, 1961, page 64***
"Hence a Christian who deliberately receives a blood transfusion and thus does not keep himself from blood will not prosper spiritually. According to the law of Moses, which set forth shadows of things to come, the receiver of a blood transfusion must be cut off from God's people by excommunication or disfellowshiping."
Unlike whatever is said by other answerers here, JW literature clearly states the sanctions for the rest of those in the JW world who accept blood transfusions. The Jehovah鈥檚 Witnesses are finding 鈥渘ew light鈥?on their stance against blood transfusions. Of course, their position has been constantly changing (for example, allowing vaccinations or components of blood). However, the Tower has made some dramatic changes in countries like Bulgaria.
Here is an article from the Journal of Medical Ethics, dated December 1999 Volume 24 Number 4. This is a peer-reviewed medical journal, not an 鈥渁postate web site.鈥? The article reports that Jehovah鈥檚 Wittnesses in Bulgaria now have "have free choice" to receive blood transfusions "without any control or sanction on the part of the association."
Source: http://www.ajwrb.org/jme/jmee.htm
Here is a scan of the document (legal settlement). You鈥檒l find the key information at the bottom of page 22 and the top of page 23. Unfortunately, this is an apostate website, run by Jehovah鈥檚 Witnesses who want a reform on the blood doctrine. So you might not want to read the scanned (original) article.
http://www.ajwrb.org/bulgaria/app22.jpg
http://www.ajwrb.org/bulgaria/app23.jpg
The Torah contains rules (health regulations) against eating meat that has not been properly bled. That鈥檚 because such meat would have blood stagnated or congealed in the veins. Orthodox Jews are forbidden from eating such meat, although they might be permitted sell it to a non-Jew (Deuteronomy 14:21). Basically, they have to be sure that meat is certified as kosher. The focus is on what people EAT (unlike some Jehovah鈥檚 Witnesses who would have no problem eating a rare steak, even dripping with blood).
Of course, transfusions were not available in ancient times, so Jews have to apply those rules to this new situation. Orthodox Jews consider blood transfusions to be completely acceptable. For instance, Rabbi Ari Enkin writes, 鈥渁ccording to Jewish law, "eating" is defined as an act done with the mouth. Food or medications taken through the veins is not considered "eating" in Jewish law and as such, are exempt from kosher laws.鈥?In other words, a blood transfusion is not even equivalent to eating (or intravenous feeding) because the blood so given does not function as food. A blood transfusion is basically a cellular organ transplant (and the Tower currently permits organ transplants). Yes as we are united in true worship in every aspect worldwide. This does not go unoticed as we are constantly commended for being the only ones who are. We could go to any country and even though we may not speak the language, it is because of this christian unity that we all understand each other. Yes.
It is true that technically a Jehovah's Witnesses in any part of the world including Bulgaria can and sometimes do have blood transfusions. However, it is also true that such a person has publicly announce they no longer wish to be witnesses by such an act.
Side note: Jehovah's Witnesses do not refuse life saving medical treatments, they simply will not break what they believe to be God's law shown in other question and answers:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...
Application: 28626/95
"The applicant undertook with regard to its stance on blood transfusions to draft a statement for inclusion in its statue providing that members should have free choice in the matter for themselves and their children, without any control or sanctions on the part of the association."
Point 1) with out any control
The Watchtower does not control a persons actions. It is up to the individual to decide to take or not take a blood transfusion.
Point 2) sanctions
There is no sanctions (i.e disfellowshipping) on a person taking a blood transfusion since none are needed. By taking a blood transfusion that person has already disassociate themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses before sanctions can be applied.
Side note: Jehovah's Witnesses no longer disfellowship a baptized adherent who disobeys the direction of Acts 15:20,28,29, and have not done so for years. Formerly they did (shown in the 1961 WT), when the ostensible "Witness" was unrepentant. Yes, Jehovah's Witnesses are united in everything. Even in Bulgaria, (what's with the Bulgaria kick on this question? Why don't you Google yourselves instead of just repeating someones stupid comment. JWs are united in EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE! Really simple, isn't it?
I really liked what Karen said, she explained our unity very well.
Bulgaria has around 1700 baptized Jehovah's Witnesses. (hundreds more are studying with Jehovah's Witnesses now.) Bulgaria has 25 Congregations. Every single one of the JWs there believes the same exact thing (Yes, even about blood transfusions) as the other 7 Million JWs around the world.
Doubt me? Go ask any one of us in person, we'll be happy to prove it to you. John 17:11 Also, I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world and I am coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them on account of your own name which you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are.
JWs are one.....all around the planet...not 38,000 as Evangelicals are divided.....
that is why we didn't kill anybody in war as your church supported the assasination of 1.5 million people in Iraq...
The Land letter was a letter sent to U.S. President George W. Bush by five evangelical Christian leaders on October 3, 2002, outlining their theological support for a just war pre-emptive invasion of Iraq. The letter was written by Richard D. Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. It was co-signed by:
* Chuck Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship Ministries
* Bill Bright, chairman of Campus Crusade for Christ
* James Kennedy, president of Coral Ridge Ministries, and
* Carl D. Herbster, president of the American Association of Christian Schools
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_letter
sooner....all churchs that get involve in such thing will be mashed.....
Why you don't try to control your chirstians brothers that are killing people instead of been worried about the people of Poland?? There is no unity. They follow the rules of the governing body who follows the rules of teh legal department. Whatever it takes to not be sued and lose money is what they will dictate. Jehovah's Witnesses have global unity on EVERY issue
Apostate websites set up primarily to deceive ... do not count as evidence as they are full of lies. If anyone wants to know what we REALLY believe then our official website is http://www.watchtower.org/
Talking about global unity...
We have a special talk coming up which is taking place at all Kingdom Halls worldwide... exactly the same talk.
Only Jehovah can accomplish this earth-wide feeding program. He feeds his people in unity
entitled.. "Is There a True Religion From God's Standpoint?"
Everyone is welcome to attend
Bring your own copy of the scriptures What THEY proudly consider global 'unity'...is really 'control'...on a global scale. ~The less Jws all do the same thing together, the more I would believe that they exercise their own consciences. Go Bulgaria! Nope look up Bulgaria yes, but blood factions are up the the person I think Chris and Karen need to study a bit more.. hint it differs in Bulgaria.. doubt me .. search the internet This is the same situation that existed a couple of decades ago with Malawi and Mexico. The organization told Mexican JWs that it is OK to bribe officials in order to forge papers saying that a person served his mandatory military duty. In Malawi , however, JWs were beaten and killed because the organization told them that they could not buy the government- mandated party card (even though there was only one party at the time). In both cases, all that was asked was that some money be given to feign loyalty to a country. Why were Mexicans allowed to pay bribes to government officials in order to falsify documents yet people in Malawi weren't allowed to legally buy a piece of paper just to keep from being jailed, beaten, or killed?
By the way, all you JWs should look up "Bribe" in your Insight book. It has some very interesting things to say about bribery. The organization is guilty of condoning and encouraging this activity!
Note to Kate- No offense, but just because every other JW like yourself believes something, that doesn't make it true, so asking another JW doesn't prove anything. Besides, I don't know any Bulgarian JWs at the moment. If I did, I'd be asking them right now and I bet you'd be shocked at their response! |
