by minimus 48 Replies latest jw friends
minimus,
I think the best results of AJWRB are in terms of educating the public, innoculating them regarding the WTS position on blood transfusions.
The medical community is one arena where understanding the nuances and keeping current with the changes in doctrine can save lives.
Personally, I'm glad that the Bulgaria info is archived there, because it's hard to find it anywhere else on the internet.
Big help for me too when exiting.
By the time tha I went to the site, I was already mentally "out" but I was very impressed with the site. It is apparent that most users of this forum are more aware of J W blood policy details than most Witnesses that I know. That is due largely to AJWRB. I did prefer the old site though, but that may be just me.
The site is never going to change WT doctrine. I don't think that was its purpose , it is for individuals and a good many have benefitted from it
The reason I left the JW's was because of the blood issue. Whatever or whoever fights for life..... I'm for.
Personally, I believe the policy change that occurred in the year 2000 was a direct result of pressure from AJWRB.
Briefly, Jehovah's Witnesses did not have true autonomy because the parent organization was stepping in via the HLC and making rulings on the acceptablility of cutting edge preparations and procedures on an individual, case by case basis. Prior to the year 2000, there had been a long history of this. Most of these rulings established 'precedents' and eventually found their way into JW publications as official church policy, although not all did.
However that procedure was not only ethically flawed, it left the parent organization legally vulnerable. AJWRB pointed this out and articles were submitted to major medical journals.
The policy change in the year 2000 established guidelines that would enable individual JW's to make their own decisions on the acceptability of new treatments without writing or calling the parent organization. As an unavoidable consequence, this policy change broadened the scope of acceptable treatments. That is something that can be quantified.
Another consequence is a huge relaxation in judicial attention and subsequent declarations of disassociation for individual JW's. This is harder to quantify, but I believe Randy and Shaun on this
OK, it is an informational site. That I know. I've read their valid points and obviously agree with their conclusions regarding JWs and blood.
Still, they have NOT really changed blood policies to the typical Witness. These phantom elders, HLC men, etc. have not made any difference to the average JW who believes they can't take blood.
I listened to zen. He says JWs should understand the meaning of the sacredness of blood and that if they need it, it's ok for them to accept it.
HA! No Jehovah's Witness will get on the site and so, "hmmmm, I guess I can take blood now". To me, they haven't changed much for JWs.
I agree the most direct is probably 2000....
However the WT knows they are being observed by former/active JWs who discern the actuality of the policy...... I think the blood thing mostly is just a "button-pushing-loyalty-inducing-we are special divided from society" schtick to the WT leaders. They really aren't interested in doing much more with the subject either..... thus the AJWRB's main focus is awareness and discussing advancements in medical use of blood.
From there the greatest impact is grassroot by 'us' based on the information they provide, maintain and update.
Like a lot of JW topics these days it isn't so much as outwardly change by the Org as it is internal mental/emotional shifts among the flock....
Still, they have NOT really changed blood policies to the typical Witness....
Well Minimus, the JW parent organization itself is having a hard time doing that. They really, truly from the depths of their cold, flabby hearts want individual JW's to take responsibility and make their own decisions. That's what the policy change in 2000 was all about.
The problem is the average JW is just too stupid to connect the dots. Twelve years later, most of them will still argue with you over whether hemoglobin based blood oxygen carriers are a 'matter of conscience' or not.
The Watchtower always wants the cult to look towards them for decisions. The WT. blurs the blood issue on purpose. Nothing has really changed!
Still, they have NOT really changed blood policies to the typical Witness. These phantom elders, HLC men, etc. have not made any difference to the average JW who believes they can't take blood.
What are you arguing? Are you arguing that they have not been successful in changing the official WTBTS position? (blood policies) Or, are you arguing that they haven't been successful in changing the personal position of individual JWs? (average JW)
I was the "average JW" and their work made a difference to me. Their clear analysis changed my personal position on blood, and after that, I left. That work alone is of significant value.
Whether they have had any effect on the WTBTS is open to debate, but I do agree with those who think their work and the site was at least partially instrumental in leading to the 2000 changes.
