Hi Folks, I'm not a regular contributor but I am an avid follower of this subject, mainly because it was what precipitated my exit from this dangerous cult about 7 years ago after 24 years.
It has been my conviction for that 7 years (and some), that the WT teaching(s) on blood are fundamentally floored at the outset. I hope my grasp of the written word is enough to articulate my point, as I would love to hear the thoughts of the learned and concerned who contribute more regularly than I.
This letter from the WT makes a statement on page 1 that zeroes in on that major floor and I quote:
The only approved use of blood from an animal was on the altar under the Mosaic Law. When blood was removed from a creature, it was to be disposed of appropriately. Of course, it was the volume of blood needed to sustain life that was spilled, not requiring that every drop of blood be removed from the flesh (italics mine)
It would seem to me that the blood had sacred value because it represented a life that had been lost . . . hence the WT's statement above. Although the purpose of the WT statement is for a different application, I believe the principal is valid across the board when it comes to the moral lesson . . . RESPECT FOR LIFE.
Consider this . . . would it be appropriate for an Israelite to "milk" blood from his animals, being careful not to kill them, for the purpose of pouring it on the altar as a sacrificial offering? . . . I think not. It would hardly be regarded a "sacrifice" because the "life" it represented would still be within the healthy animal.
So logically blood" milked" from a still living and healthy animal has no spiritual significance at all . . . it does not represent "life" in any way . . . it remains as any other "tissue" or fluid expelled by a living creature. ALL of the Biblical examples I can find where blood symbolises "life" . . . it is that life has been lost . . . returned to God. Even the sacrifice of our Lord.
I hope I'm making sense here . . . perhaps some will have already anticipated the implication . . . but donated human blood equating to less than the volume of blood needed to sustain life has no symbolic relevance to life at all . . . the life the WT believes it symbolises is still in the donor whom we generally accept is still a living healthy human walking among us . . . ALIVE
The principles and laws on blood to me, are there to promote RESPECT FOR LIFE . . . not simply for blood and blood alone. Blood is merely the symbol . . . the reminder . . . and only has significance when life is lost . . . and returned to it's owner . . . God. The Hebrew Scriptures cited by the WT underscore this every time . . . and the statement in Acts 15 is merely a concession to the Jews for the sake of peace when taken in context.
Sadly, and somewhat paradoxically, the WT interpretation achieves the exact opposite . . . the unnecessary loss of life.
I have to wonder what a loving God really thinks when humans are reduced to debating blood fractions, components, membranes etc etc etc . . . things that almost require (dare I say it) a college education to understand, while the innocent perish in their thousands.
Your thoughts would be most welcome
