Would there be a backlash if the Blood Ban was lifted?

by Gill 49 Replies latest watchtower medical

• 

  blondie

  It had occurred to me that during the change in the policy "doctrine" on organ transplants between 1967 and 1980, that a dispensation was not given if "no blood" was given during that time. There were jws who died during that time refusing a transplant at the risk of being df'd and not just for "taking blood." There was the 1975 aftereffect of a drop in "publishers" coming in around 1977 and 1978, but not during 1981 and 1982 or 1983. No decrease in publishers after the 1995 elimination of "some of the people born in 1914 living to see the 'end'" doctrine. Oh, people, left but not enough to show a decrease in publishers.

  Then, so many people hurt by the policy "doctrine" on taking in blood products have left the Borg and are not viewed by "active" jws as credible but as evil apostates attacking "God's organization." Will the courts take the WTS to court over this issue, probably, they did over df'ing, but so far there has not been a legal precedent set in the US with a ruling against the WTS on this. If someone out there knows of one, let me know.

  Observing other religions that have weathered serious rifts in their membership and between the members and the administration, such as the Mormons, WWCOG, and the Catholic church, I imagine the WTS could come back leaner but meaner.

  *Just a note: Blondie discovered that the clinic and the hospital closely associated with it do not communicate on each incidence of "jw" identification inthe computer system. There are two not one notation and the clinic only had access to changing one (and did not mention that to the patient). What will it take? A big sign on your door "No JW here, JWs do not stop to visit upon pain of ejection"?

  The WTS will just say the rank and file misunderstood what the WTS had said, point to some obscure paragraph in a 1949 WT not on the CD, and said that they "ran ahead" of the "slave."

  Blondie
• 

  sir82

  There would be many who have lost family members due to the ban, who would sue the Society

  I don't think the Society fears lawsuits from the true believers. There would be another "those who acted in harmony with our understanding at the time were doing their best to please Jehovah, and so are guaranteed a resurrection" article that would probably calm down most of them.

  But lawsuits from unbelieving mates & parents who have lost family members? There's gotta be thousands out there waiting to happen - I think that is what the Society fears most of all.
• 

  metatron

  Guys, in the first place, I doubt that the GB feels any real heat on this issue. They see themselves

  as right and vindicated every time somebody gets hepatitis, etc. Nor do I see any great legal pressure

  on the matter either.

  Debate me on this as you wish, but if they had to make blood a conscience issue, I can imagine a

  safe way to do it: They run some articles on voluntary service and martyrdom and then issue some

  material to C.O.'s stating that it's now a conscience matter because martyrdom must be voluntary

  and not enforced.

  metatron
• 

  Gill

  Metatron - Having been contacted by non JWs who are in a position to make a stink about the blood issue, I believe now that the GB may soon be feeling real heat on this issue in the future. Maybe not this year or next, but when non JWs who are doctors and lawyers get together and decide to start investigating and publishing papers for peers, judges, and those who have to make decisions on the blood issue in a court of law, then I think the ball has started to roll.

  I have a pleasant vision of the beginning of the first Indiana Jones movie where he has to run with that big ball gaining speed bearing down on him. Thank goodness he was a young fit and agile man. The sloobering goobies are not so agile. They're going to need a big army of lawyers to protect them when this baby gets rolling.
• 

  greendawn

  I don't think that the blood issue is any issue where they can just say we now have new light it was an unfortunate error banning blood transfusions. The issue is too explosive especially for those that saw relatives dying from refusing blood. Thousands of lives were lost due to a doctrinal error.

  The WTS obviously has no compassion for its victims but they are giving the issue time to cool down as they gradually loosen up the ban hoping that people will eventually forget their error so that any reactions will be muted. "Even those that died refusing blood will be back with us soon and will have a great reward for obeying jehovah to the death" they will say. They are well capable of such ruthless manipulation.
• 

  Open mind

  A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words.

  Will any of you who saw the Awake! with the photos of 3 fresh-faced young blood-martyrs on it ever be able to put it out of your mind?

  Not me. We never had such a disgusting display for the organ donor "martyrs".

  The blood "issue" IMO is a badge of honor, litmus test for many dubs. One more pitiful evidence that we have "da troof".

  Open Mind

  (shaking my head in sad disbelief)
• 

  hamsterbait

  Just create a new class of "false christian"

  Say the "EVIL GEHAZI " class - they wanted all the gift and credit to themselves.

  "The Evil slave remained in the background of the the true Organization for many years. By misleading honest hearted ones into thinking that Jehovah would selfishly demand the ultimate sacrifice based on Jewish dietary laws, Satan ensured that many died before they could truly benefit those to whom they preached. Are we not happy to live in times where such lies do not cut our life short before Jehovah's glorious day of Destruction?"

  HB
• 

  TD

  The last round of "New Light" has already established that when it comes to blood morphology 99.9% of JW's have tapioca between their ears.

  All they need to do is have another round of "New Light" in a few years and this time forbid only whole blood. This way they get to save face and greatly reduce the number of untimely deaths at the same time.
• 

  BizzyBee

  BACKSTORY: I had the pleasure a few months ago of spending some time with my (2nd) cousin, Sam, welcoming him to freedom from the WTS. He is 4th generation JW, his dad (my cuz) is a CO, and Sam did his obligatory 3+ years at Bethel then married the appropriate JW girl. Grew increasingly discontented with the bOrg, his folks, etc. Over the years he and I only had a nodding acquaintance since I'm a faded apostate. But he was df'd in December, divorcing, the whole enchilada and we finally had a chance to talk. He still has contact with some of his former Bethel buds, and regarding the blood issue,

  HERE IS WHAT HE TOLD ME: A few years ago the plan was floated at HQ to completely abandon the blood issue. The reason? It had become even more of a hot potato, and it was difficult to justify the amount of aggravation it caused (to the Society - f**k the R & F!) Interestingly, it was also becoming increasingly difficult to support the concept in the first place - the biblical foundation simply wasn't that strong and never was.

  Of course, like everything else, it was run up legal's flagpole. Needless to say, they not only did not salute it, they shot it down in flames. And thus it came to pass that the blood doctrine, in whatever its current incarnation, is still with us.

  How many disgruntled parents, widows, brothers, children would have to sue for wrongful deaths to make a huge dent in the WTS? Not all that many..................and so the needless death and destruction continue.......it's all about calibrating their losses...............and to hell with individuals..........
• 

  Gill

  Hamsterbait - To be honest I could imagine them even saying that!! Blame it on 'someone else' in much the same way as Russell and Rutherford are barely mentioned because they got a lot of 'it' wrong.....didn't they?

  BizzyBee - It's quite shocking to think that I and many others risked our lives just to keep the Watchtower in tact financially!! And as for the thousands upon thousands who have died.....well!!