The conversation alluded to at the beginning of this thread has taken a bit of a wrong turn this evening. When I brought up the fact that hemoglobin is now allowed (more accurately, not disallowed) the response was skepticism. When I then said that even bovine hemoglobin was allowed the response was bald incredulity. Where on earth did I read that? I must have got the disinformation from one of the apostate sites. So, I got out the computer, went onto www.watchtower.org and keyed in "bovine blood" in the search field, bringing up the relevant information.
JW: Well there's no way I'll use that stuff.
Me: But it says here it's not banned.
JW: It says there that it's a matter of conscience.
Me: Is there any other thing scriptural the Society allows Witnesses to interpret for themselves?
JW:
Me: So, the way I read it, in 1999 taking hemoglobin was banned and in 2000 it is not banned. How many people died before 2000 because they believed that taking blood products went against God?
JW: Maybe nobody.
Me: Not what I'm reading. I don't think it would be too difficult to find evidence of people dying. Fact of the matter is it says here that hemoglobin, even from cows, is now ok for transfusion. The Society has made a doctrinal change.
JW: No, it says it is a matter of conscience. They don't say it's ok.
Me: They don't say it is forbidden, though, and at one time they did. I mean, you thought it was banned, correct? I'm also reading that there's some dissention in the rank and file about the blood doctrine. Have you ever heard of the AJWRB? Look at this website ...
JW: Well, I'll tell you, they won't be JWs for long if they're found out. They're not real JWs if they are promoting this apostacy.
Me: They consider themselves to be real JWs.
And then the conversation abruptly ended. The Witness got up and just walked away. I called out asking if the conversation was over and got an angry "that's right" response.
I didn't even get a chance to get out the heavy artillery. I was using a mild tone of voice, was not confrontational and stuck to the facts. One step forward, two back.