Blood Transfussions- they sometimes talk about subdevides being acceptable- not whole blood.Is there a substitute available for them which makes the subject a non entity or is it really a case of life or death if you need a blood transfusion. How can a person kill his wife or children in the name of a simple paragraph in the bible which only talks about eating blood when you place it in context of the other reading in the parapgraph or does it usually not come to that.Is the spouse that unimportant to them when placed against the impotance of their faith.
There is some new technology which is essentially a hemoglobin transfusion without the red blood cells (which are the body's package for hemoglobin delivery). As you may know, RBCs are on the banned list, but hemoglobin, as a fraction of RBCs, are on the "concience matter" list (even though hemoglobin constitutes 97% of the RBC and is the whole "point" of a RBC). There are two fairly new products--one derives the hemoglobin from cow's blood and the other from human blood. These products are a "conscience matter" for JWs--but have not been used extensively since they are new on the scene, are limited in availability, and very expensive. Plus JWs are very typically not aware of them. These products address the issue of blood loss when oxygen delivery becomes the most immediate concern. Yes, the issue very often leads to life/death situations. Many die each year over this. My wife was expected to die herself. As Old Soul mentioned, this issue is seen as one with eternal implications. This life can be sacrificed when one has a view of eternity. Much the way a suicide bomber thinks, I suppose.
Maybe I should not be saying this but it does occur to me that the member of that church is entirlely acting with extreme selfish selfmotives - although a massive amount of church work is done, very little is heard of helping their fellowman eg voluntary work.Its all theretical biblical study. Their interest seems to be their own salvation and interest and ensuring the church expands nothing more. Similary with the problem with blood transfusions their interest lies in ensuring they conform to their faith and by implication their own salvation, as seen by their faith, of themselves rather than helping their family member survive. Maybe my thinking is distorted in some way.
Yes, everything is done with a view of the BIG reward--eternity in "paradise". It's the big carrot held out by the organization to motivate the R&F. They do not engage in charity work because they feel that they only are bound to helping their own. To outsiders, the only "charity" worth any real substance is to preach to them.