by Mile 0 4 Replies latest jw friends
What I'd like to know, since it's been a few years now, what does the regular JW understand about Bulgaria? Has the Society ever published anything in their meeting mags/books concerning the agreement arising out of the European Human Rights Commission hearing?
Mile 0
Welcome Mike O,
Glad to have you on board the board! It may not be a direct answer to your question, but the following link could provide a start. I am unaware of information more current than this. It includes comments of JWD members, of course.
www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/126041/1.ashx - [Blood issue in Bulgaria and the WT's direct statement that children of JW parents CANNOT BECOME MEMBERS - subject to whatever happens to be the most expedient interpretation in any given situation.]
Hope that this steers you in the right direction.
CoCo
The average JW believes what they have read in the WTS publications. Few read more than the local rag and unless they carry an international article...........If they go out on the internet, they will view with suspicion anything that is not on the official WT websites:
*** g98 11/22 p. 29 Watching the World ***
Blood Seminar in Bulgaria
A seminar emphasizing the conservation of blood during surgery and the use of alternatives to blood transfusions was held earlier this year in Sofia, Bulgaria. The seminar gave doctors from all over Bulgaria the opportunity to confer with a panel of experts on blood from eight countries. Professor Ivan Mladenov of Sofia commented that under the previous regime, ‘little or nothing was known about blood contamination and blood-borne viruses’ and that ‘questions on the part of patients were viewed as bad behavior that could lead to denial of medical care.’ The response of those attending the seminar reflects an increased awareness in Bulgaria of a patient’s right to self-determination and informed consent, as endorsed by the European Court of Human Rights.
http://corior.blogspot.com/2006/02/condemned-by-their-own-words.html
http://user.tninet.se/~oof408u/fkf/artiklar/news/pressmvte.htm
The WTS tends to respond to non-JWs but not to share the information with the rank and file.
They might find something if they check medical publications but most JWs don't have that kind of research savvy.
http://jme.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/26/5/375
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4040618,00.html
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1119307
The "average" Witness never heard of Bulgaria. Sad, but true.
Yup. That applies to most of the elders as well. When we were told that taking blood transfusions was no longer a DFing offense but was instead considered DAing, all of us looked around and wondered what the difference was. It wasn't until later that I learned of the Bulgaria deal and realized what was going on. Most of the elders haven't a clue.
