News Article: JW Purposely Risking Health

by rebel8 8 Replies latest watchtower medical

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  rebel8

  http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3339730/site/newsweek/

  Dr. Suki Tepperberg, a family physician in Dorchester, Mass., has concerns about those who put too much faith in God?s will. One of her patients, a Jehovah?s Witness who has diabetes and hypertension, believes her illness is in God?s hands and she sometimes eats destructively, harming her health. Tepperberg is worried that, while this woman could take better care of herself, ?she believes God really is the ultimate decision-maker.? In her review of the literature, Powell found several studies suggesting that praying with a sick person can sometimes impede recovery; one study concluded that the risk of a bad health outcome doubled, perhaps because patients believed God would protect them or that their illness was some kind of divine punishment.
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  sf

  Wonder if her insurance carrier feels same way about her WILLFUL eating habits.

  These types amaze me.

  sKally
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  AlmostAtheist

  My first impulse is to say, "That's not the Watchtower's view", but that would be disengenuous. I've heard people pray from the platform for sick people, talks that describe people continuing to live after doctors said they would die [veiled references to Jehovah stepping in included], and so forth. I doubt you'll find a current magazine that suggests illnesses are 'in Jehovah's hands', but I'm sure there's plenty of dubs that think so.

  And Baptists, and Pentecostals, and ....

  Dave
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  BluesBrother

  Dave,

  My first impulse is to say, "That's not the Watchtower's view", but that would be disengenuous

  I do still think it correct to say that it is not the WTS view. A good many witnessess suffer diabetes and other illnesses, and they look after their condition responsibily . If that woman were to ask, then she would be told to "Act in harmony with her prayers" and eat properly. It is true there are veiled references to the thought Jehovah may help a sick one, but not to the extent that one should refuse treatment. The doctor seems to be very negative toward religion, which goes against other studies which have said that those with a faith often do better in fighting illness...
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  InquiryMan

  Awake even carried a special issue dealing with diabettes. It is also linked on the WTBS web site: http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2003/5/8/article_01.htm
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  cypher50

  This is one of those rare occasions where I say that the WTS is a small factor with this lady's feelings...while there have been many stories of prayer supposedly being a deciding factor in someone's health getting better, the WTS also always said that someone should follow proper medical advice of their doctor (as long as it doesn't go against their "bible trained" principles...snicker). I can't stand people who are so self-destructive and then have the nerve to say that God will bail them out...
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  Gill

  rebel8 - This is so spot on. I have relatives who literally eat like pigs and want me to feel sorry now that they have health problems. Needless to say they are JWs. One rang to tell me he has blocked arteries around his heart now, looking for sympathy. The last time I fed him, he ate every last scrap of fat and pork crackling on the pork joint I cooked, which is not unusual for him. His doctor has been telling him for years that if he could lose the extra seven stones he is carrying around his middle his health would improve. So what happens,....Armageddons coming and soon we'll all be slim and healthy. They cannont take their health seriously because, afterall, soon everything will be all right!
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  rebel8

  I can see both sides of this issue. I do believe that, although WTS encourages healthy behavior in many ways, some of its teachings do lead dubs to believe there is not much point in maintaining health...after all, The End is coming soon and all their health will be restored...either that or J will heal them if they pray enough. The literature bears this out. You can find quotes that encourage health awareness, and you can find others that indicate prayer will heal them.
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  Gill

  April 15, 2005 Watchtower, page 14 says:

  When we suffer affliction, we undoubtledly supplicate Jehovah earnestly, and that draws us closer to him. We may spend more time studying God's written word and may make greater effort to apply it. This results in a happier life. But what if we react to affliction in a way that shows up undesirable traits, such as impatience and pride? With earnest prayer and help of God's Word and spirit, we can overcome such flaws and more fully 'clothe ourselves with the new personality'.

  What could this imply as sorting or helping to sort our health problems out with?