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JWs are expected to do what they are told by their Governing Body. No where in scripture is there a command to obey several men who have labeled themselves as chosen as God's channel. No where.
Their sanctions on blood transfusions is given at the dictates and whims of their leaders. If it is ok to use blood fractions now, then it was ok in the past. Because God (according to the bible) doesn't change. So thousands have died b/c of this arbitrary and false dictate of the JWs Governing Body.
If someone wants to have a discussion with members who are active JWs and those who have left, you can research using www.jwfacts.com and www.jehovahs-witness.net (there are others of course).
My family on both sides goes back 4 generations following the ever-changing JW belief train. I have a relative who died for following their NO BLOOD TRANSFUSION policy and many more willing to do the same! My sources are just fine.
I am not a religious person, therefore, I don't have a pastor.
Last edited by winterbird; 08-25-2014 at 06:24 PM..
Reason: clarifying my personal experience/resources with Jehovah's Witnesses.
JWs bought up half of Brooklyn Heights at a time when no one was buying in Brooklyn Heights. And they kept buying and buying and buying. Now they are unloading everything in Brooklyn at major profit and they are currently buying in upper state New York. How does this fit into God's work?
Jesus said he had nowhere to lay his head, yet Watchtower has owned some of the most coveted real estate in America. All the while, condemning the Catholic church for its real estate holdings.
They own massive amounts of property in Patterson and Wallkill. Now, why the need for Warwick? Why the hell are they buying in Florida, California and unloading all of their oversees real estate? Why does Watchtower hold the note on all of the Kingdom Hall buildings (their version of churches)? And why does Watchtower charge their congregations the going interest rates on these notes and renovations?
Watchtower is all about real estate, publishing and planned giving (they actively target their elderly members to turn over their assets to Watchtower after their death, instead of to their own children).
Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to view material that is not sanctioned by their leaders. They are not allowed to speak with or read information that criticizes their beliefs, actions or members. They also are not allowed to accept literature that is disseminated from other churches.
They are allowed to look at Vines, Josephus and other concordance-type material that confirms their own beliefs. But ask them, "Are you allowed to read The Plain Truth magazine?, Are you discouraged from reading The Catholic Digest magazine?" Ask your brother what will happen if he reads, Our Daily Bread? Will he be considered a weak christian? There is a ministry resource magazine dedicated to helping Christian readers across the globe, The Baptist Voice. Ask any Jehovah's Witness you come across whether they can seek understanding from this piece of religious literature.
JWs are expected to do what they are told by their Governing Body. No where in scripture is there a command to obey several men who have labeled themselves as chosen as God's channel. No where.
Their sanctions on blood transfusions is given at the dictates and whims of their leaders. If it is ok to use blood fractions now, then it was ok in the past. Because God (according to the bible) doesn't change. So thousands have died b/c of this arbitrary and false dictate of the JWs Governing Body.
If someone wants to have a discussion with members who are active JWs and those who have left, you can research using www.jwfacts.com and www.jehovahs-witness.net (there are others of course).
I have family members who are JWs and I have a relative who died for following their NO BLOOD TRANSFUSION policy! My sources are just fine.
I am not a religious person, therefore, I don't have a pastor.
They teach correctly about blood--Gods word says abstain from blood--it says 0 about the eating of it in the nt--there was no cause for alarm in the ot for transfusions.
Dude, they have changed their view on blood transfusions! Did you know that?! It's couched in jumbled language. JWs cannot take whole blood but they are allowed to take in blood components or fractions.
Here's a great resource,
The Watchtower 2004 Jun 15 pp.19-23 contains a detailed discussion on blood, and includes a chart to shows graphically that transfusions of whole blood and 'major' components are forbidden. 'Major' components are shown to be red cells, white cells, plasma and platelets. However, fractions of these four components may be used. In other words, when blood is broken down into small enough components 100% of it can be transfused by a Jehovah's Witness.
On the matter of pagan celebrations. Take some time to research all of the customs that are followed today that have pagan origin. There is no need for me to cite sources for information that is so easy to find.
So, since two persons were beheaded at birthday celebrations that means birthdays are bad??? What about siestas? The one time siesta is mentioned in the bible, it results in a beheading. Yet the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has no issue with its members taking their daily siesta, do they? No they do not! I wonder why? Makeup is mentioned in the bible under unfavorable circumstances as well. Yet JW women are not forbidden to wear makeup. Why???
That's so sad if your family cut you guys off for becoming Jehovah's Witnesses. I can't speak for them as to why they did that. Have you ever asked them for their side of the story? The extremely damaging psychological effects from shunning are well documented. It's a hateful practice.
At the moment, I can only recall that annually, there are appx 40,000 who are disfellowshipped from the JW religion for "sinful" behavior. This stat appears quite frequently in their literature:
*** w94 4/1 p. 16 par. 8 Are You Resisting the Spirit of the World? ***Yet, each year about 40,000 individuals are disfellowshipped from Jehovah’s organization. *** w89 4/1 p. 13 par. 12 Hear What the Spirit Says to the Congregations ***Has Satan tried to introduce a Balaam or a Jezebel influence into the Christian congregation today? He certainly has, to the extent that almost 40,000 a year are disfellowshipped, most because of immorality. *** w89 12/1 p. 17 par. 10 Do You Seek Hidden Treasures? ***Yet, with over 41,000 disfellowshipped last year, it is clear that many brothers and sisters have neglected their spirituality. *** w87 7/15 p. 15 par. 4 Prayers Require Works ***Of the more than 3,000,000 publishers of the good news last year, upwards of 37,000 were disfellowshipped for conduct unbecoming a Christian. That amounts to a ratio of about one in 80.
fyi "w" is for The Watchtower magazine
Where did you get your stats of 80%, 1 year and 5 year, regarding the disfellowshipping/reinstatement rates? TIA for the source of these stats.
Last edited by winterbird; 08-25-2014 at 07:13 PM..
Originally Posted by winterbird Trust me , I have every idea.
[If someone wants to have a discussion with members who are active JWs and those who have left, you can research using www.jwfacts.com and www.jehovahs-witness.net (there are others of course).
No I don't trust you. I trust what the Bible teaches. I don't understand why people leave their church or religion and just can't get on with their lives. Diatribes serve no purpose other than to incite hate and bigotry. I've left the religion of my birth and youth because I feel I have found something more fulfilling...for me. Yet, I don't dwell on the teachings that I once embraced but now believe were untrue nor am I filled with hate or anger. Do I want to share what I've learned with others? certainly. But if people aren't interested well then go in peace. I suggest malcontents do the same with their lives and find something positive to latch onto and heal and maybe even make their corner of their world a bit better by their words and actions.
JWs are expected to do what they are told by their Governing Body. No where in scripture is there a command to obey several men who have labeled themselves as chosen as God's channel. No where.
.
NIV Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.
This obedience is limited to what is in scripture and does not impact every aspect of life.
I wasn't addressing you. So use your Bible powers to ignore me.
Thanks.
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