Posts by betterdaze

THESE INSPIRATIONAL words come from the United Nations Charter of 1945. A brief glance around you shows that we’re not quite there yet. It should be an easy concept to grasp and subscribe to, but it’s not.

I am not entering philosophical debate here; one man’s tolerance constitutes an abomination for another. Most want to live in an evolving and progressive society with norms that the vast majority accept. Sometimes, this comfortably woolly concept assumes a hard shape and pins you to the wall, requiring decisions that you would rather not be forced to make.

During my surgical sojourn in England, my chief, Leon Abrams, had a large practice among Jehovah’s Witnesses. In those days, a lot of blood was used in open heart surgery. It was used to prime the capacity of the machine itself, and all the tubing connecting to the patient’s vessels. Blood was replaced as it was lost during surgery, and was given freely post operatively.

Nowadays, blood is used sparingly if at all, but is available if required. This is so in emergency cases and in trauma, as recently witnessed in the case of the young Irish footballer with the ruptured hepatic artery, dealt with so capably by my old friend and colleague, Gerry McEntee, in the Mater. There are many other surgical and obstetrical emergencies that require blood urgently. We have an excellent blood transfusion service in Ireland, serving the patients who need our unstinting donations.

One morning, faced with a difficult re-operation in a Jehovah’s Witness, the team discussed the problem with Abe. It quickly came down to the bottom line. Would he let the patient die, knowing that blood transfusion might well save them?

Abe, as he was known, looked thoughtfully at us all. By chance the team on that day comprised Jewish, Catholic and Muslim surgeons. “Gentlemen,” he said, “we are all members of minority religions here in Britain; we must all respect and tolerate each other’s beliefs.”

I am not sure how much we all agreed with his stance and, indeed, how it stood with our medical ethic, Primum non nocere , or “First, do no harm”, but in time I was to find out. Some of the patients became very pale after their surgery, but in my time with him, Abe never lost such a patient.
On my return to a consultant post in Ireland, I was asked to undertake surgery on a number of such patients. It was my turn to take responsibility and be other than a spear holder in the group photograph.

I had to explain to the patient and their family that their faith placed them in greater jeopardy than similar patients who did not share their beliefs. They always explained their stance to me and quoted the biblical references upon which it was based. I told them that as a doctor I respected their beliefs and would do my very best for them. It made life more difficult, but that was a consequence of agreeing to undertake the operation in the first place. In practice, I never had to face the unspoken stark choice in this moral and ethical minefield.

Adults have the right to exercise such choice we are told, but do they – and is it absolute? Would I have let the mother of three young children die?

Would I have let a child die because of the parent’s beliefs? I never found out, but the problem remains for surgeons who have to face up to such challenges and make a judgment that is personal and cannot be delegated to committee. It’s your call and, as Edmund Burke wrote, “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” Burke was referring to politicians and, indeed, it should apply to all public representatives. It applies equally to doctors. Medicine is not best practised by committee. Somebody has to make the decision regarding treatment, explain it and stand by it. “Doctor knows best” is regarded as paternalistic in these sophisticated times. If you feel, as is your right, that committee knows best, then good luck to you. There is no universal decision that will be right all the time. If patients approach their doctor with suspicion or distrust, the results may well be bad for both.

18

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES- HAVE The Truth, But They Can't TELL The Truth

by PublishingCult in

jw elder tells blatant lies on video cam in an impromptu interview at qualcom stadium yesterday during the lunch break at the dc.. .

betterdaze

Not to be mean-spirited, but… Do you think Brother Lyingsack O'Shit counted time for this fine Witness?

First thing he mentions is "five meetings a week." He's all too happy to state how many "ministers". Then he fudges the most basic points about joining the Witnesses, and his demeanor morphs with requests for more details.

Volume over quality. It's nothing but a numbers game. He gets this on some primitive level, in his gut or heart, if not his head yet.

Seems like a nice enough fellow, though. He's not comfortable fibbing for a living and it shows. It's the ones like this who can no longer explain or defend the Watchtower who start seeking "satisfying answers" beyond the Borg and eventually make a path out.

~Sue

11

I have a question

by XPeterX in

jw
friends

my friend had sex while he was an unbaptised publisher.now he is baptised but he never told the elders.is he still considered a sinner,not accepted by jehovah?.

betterdaze

Straightening up, Jesus said to her:

“Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?”

She said: “No one, sir.”

Jesus said: “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way; from now on practice sin no more.”

(John 8:10, 11)

52

Watchtower Elders Disfellowship an Elder After Talk- Very Shocking And Troubling

by Scott77 in

from http://christianwitnesses.com/, i read the following below.

please what is your reaction to the action of the two elders?

if the account is colloborated, then its very troubling and shocking to say the least.

betterdaze

25

sneaky photo used in the new york magazine story

by Aussie Oz in

anybody else notice this?.

.

oz.

betterdaze

"You can't judge a book by its cover."

My mom was given a black, leather-bound NWT with an addendum (Reasoning?) sewn into the back when she was baptized many years ago. It says "HOLY BIBLE" on the top of the cover, with her name at the bottom. This was during the psychedelic green NWT era.

I also met a brother who had returned from "serving where the need is greater" in the Bible Belt (Southern U.S.). He had trouble with householders spotting (and rejecting) his NWT, so he cleverly had it rebound with HOLY BIBLE stamped on it. He openly admitted that he disguised his NWT as a King James Version!

No doubt the WT supplied the photo and it is certainly deceptive. The bible pictured is unrealistically huge… nobody lugs something that heavy and bulky around in field service.

As it is, WT literature takes center stage: Both the Bible and that pesky Jesus guy are just stage props to sell magazines.

~Sue

13

Why the Numbers Keep Increasing

by Georgiegirl in

jw
friends

have you ever read that riddle that asks if you would rather have a million dollars or a penny doubled every day for 30 days?

it shows how the penny eventually adds up over $5 million dollars in the course of month.. i think that's what's happening with the wtbs - it's not (obviously!!!

) holy spirit or anything other than simple incremental increase.

betterdaze

Recent report of "Outstanding growth" in Russia.

Jehovah is really speeding up the work!

~Sue

113

Watchtower suppresses critical video

by besty in

as many of you know the active jehovah's witness known as v has a youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/wtcomments .

v has 27 videos and 1000 subscribers on his channel and over 200,000 views so far.

his most recent video is a satirical expose of the most recent generation doctrine change.

betterdaze

The cat's now out of the bag… as of this weekend the talk has been given publicly. Invitations were extended to the public.

I almost want to get gussied-up in a frumpy-frock, blend in at the Assemblies, and fake a histrionic Fred G. Sanford "big one" when they announce that the "generation" now "comprises two groups."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwM5KpoPPrg
~Sue

Jehovah's Witnesses' conventions begin today
Friday, May 21, 2010
Clifton Journal

CLIFTON — More than 50,000 Jehovah's Witnesses from the metropolitan area, including those from Clifton and Passaic will come to the Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Jersey City over 16 consecutive weekends for a 3-day event focusing on finding reliable direction and guidance from God's word the Bible.

According to Clifton resident, Jay Chosy, news service overseer for the first convention, Jehovah's Witnesses will host their annual conclave at the Assembly Hall at 2932 Kennedy Boulevard in Journal Square with the first convention beginning Friday, May 21. The venue was built in 1928 as the Stanley Theatre.

The 2010 convention theme is "Remain Close to Jehovah!" The program will focus on how reliable guidance can be found in the Bible to face the challenges of life. Many area residents will be featured in the talks, demonstrations, and interviews.

During the weekend of June 18 to 20, the convention presented that weekend will also include area residents on the program. Howard Carroll of the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and news service overseer for June 18 to 20 said that witnesses associated in the greater Clifton area anticipate an excellent turnout for this year's event based on the enthusiastic response to last year's convention. Witnesses look forward to welcoming many non-Witnesses to the convention as a result of the invitations that were and will be distributed three weeks prior to each 3-day program.

Some highlights of the three day program include the following:

Friday's program will feature a series of talks and interviews on how families can benefit from effective communication with each other especially in times of stress and challenges.

Saturday's program will provide much instruction on how to assist others to learn Bible truth as well as practical advice to avoid spiritual distractions. A feature of most Witness conventions, the baptism of new ministers will take place at noon on Saturday following a scriptural talk on dedication and baptism.

Three highlights of the program on Sunday will be the public talk "How Can You Draw Close to God?" which will be given on Sunday morning and the full costume Bible drama on Sunday afternoon that is set in the first century. It is about the flight from Jerusalem and is titled "Walk by Faith and Not be Sight." Following the drama, the convention will conclude with the talk, "Remain in the Secret Place of the Most High."

Jerrold Sameth, a Clifton resident, who will serve as program overseer for the June 18 to 20 convention noted that the program will begin each day at 9:20 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3:40 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is free and no collections will be taken.

A peak attendance of 3,700 is expected for both the May 21 to 23 and June 18 to 20 conventions.