by hubert 13 Replies latest jw friends
I had heard that in the 1960's, the Watchtower Society forbade organ transplants, based on the bible stating it was cannibalism.
Is there anything in writing in any of their books or cd library that verifies that stance?
Can you give me a list of where I can find this material?
I really, really need this.
Thanks so much.
Hubert
This website is a good source of information including WT quotes.
Some of those quotes are just bizarre to say the least. Do you think that JW`s in general know that the 'true religion' once published nonsense like this? No, I don't think so. Absolute trash.
Watchtower, November 15, 1967, page 702, Question from Readers
Humans were allowed by God to eat animal flesh and to sustain their human lives by taking the lives of animals, though they were not permitted to eat blood. Did this include eating human flesh, sustaining one’s life by means of the body or part of the body of another human, alive or dead? No! That would be cannibalism, a practice abhorrent to all civilized people. Jehovah clearly made a distinction between the lives of animals and the lives of humans, mankind being created in God’s image, with his qualities. (Gen. 1:27) This distinction is evident in His next words. God proceeded to show that man’s life is sacred and is not to be taken at will, as may be done with the animals to be used for food. To show disrespect for the sanctity of human life would make one liable to have his own life taken.—Gen. 9:5, 6.When there is a diseased or defective organ, the usual way health is restored is by taking in nutrients. The body uses the food eaten to repair or heal the organ, gradually replacing the cells. When men of science conclude that this normal process will no longer work and they suggest removing the organ and replacing it directly with an organ from another human, this is simply a shortcut. Those who submit to such operations are thus living off the flesh of another human. That is cannibalistic. However, in allowing man to eat animal flesh Jehovah God did not grant permission for humans to try to perpetuate their lives by cannibalistically taking into their bodies human flesh, whether chewed or in the form of whole organs or body parts taken from others.
Ah, but they got "new light" on the subject in 1980:
------ The Watchtower, March 15, 1980, p. 31."...Regarding the transplantation of human tissue or bone from one human to another, this is a matter for conscientious decision by each one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Some Christians might feel that taking into their bodies any tissue or body part from another human is cannibalistic. . . . Other sincere Christians today may feel that the Bible does not definitely rule out medical transplants of human organs. It may be argued too that organ transplants are different from cannibalism since the 'donor' is not killed to supply food"
Thanks for this info, guys. I'd love to have that Nov 15th, 1967 issue of the Watchtower, but unfortunately I don't.
I do have a few old books, such as "Salvation", "Children", "Life", and some newer ones like "Let God be true", "Live forever" book, etc.
Besides these Watchtower and Awake articles that you have posted, is there anything in these other books that I mentioned, or others that you know of that I could find? I am looking for "hard copy" material, from books that I have or can obtain from used book stores.
Thanks again.
Hubert
There are those, such as the Christian witnesses of Jehovah, who consider all transplants between humans as cannibalism; and is not the utilizing of the flesh of another human for one’s own life cannibalistic?
June 8, 1968 Awake! page 21
If there was to be an example of how psychotically delusional the members of the GB are, this could be at the top of the list.
Those heavily guide spiritualists in Brooklyn are indeed nuts .
Any level headed person thinking of becoming a JWS should be made aware of whats between the lines of the WTS.
It may be argued too that organ transplants are different from cannibalism since the 'donor' is not killed to supply food"
Hmm. What about the Mosaic law that prohibits the eating of a flesh removed from a live animal? I guess Crooklyn just wanted to let that sleeping dog lie.
