Jehovah Wittiness questions?

Question

Please answer seriously, because im asking a serous question.
Why is it that Jehovah Wittiness's don't take blood transfusions?
I know it says in the bible that 'thought shall not talk blood' and all but back when the bible was written, i don't think they would guess that in the future people would be able and willing to save someones life by giving their blood willingly. Would it have then meant don't take blood, as don't Murder someone??
Also, why is it that they do not celebrate Birthdays and easter and stuff by giving gifts. Im not saying that its the most important thing, but im just wondering why it is that they don't.

I'm not meaning to make this a joke, i just don't understand. Could someone explain seriously please.

Answer 1

Hey!



This may be a little long of an answer, but please bear with me.



First, to the matter of blood transfusions. It doesn't just say "thou shall not take blood". It says to us not to consume blood at all, over and over and over again (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17; 17:10, 11, 14; Deuteronomy 12:16, 23). The Bible even tells us why we should not consume blood, as it equates blood with the soul and life. It is sacred to Jehovah, and should be treated as such.



It isn't an idea exclusively found in the Old Testament, either. It is again repeated after Jesus' death by his apostles in Acts 15:19, 20, 29. It says, specifically, to ABSTAIN from blood. Now, let's take a moment and think on this. Say, you went to a doctor. And your doctor told you that your consumption of alcohol was killing you, and expressly forbid you to continue drinking it. Would it be okay, then, to go out and hook yourself to an IV filled with beer? No, of course not! While you would not be drinking the alcohol (and thus, wouldn't be disobeying your orders in theory), the effects would be the same. You would have disobeyed the order given in its INTENTION, if not in its EXACT WORDING.



The same is true of abstaining from blood. It isn't that you just can't eat it or drink it. It is an order not to have any outside blood put into your body.



THIS is why Jehovah's Witnesses do not have blood transfusions. We believe in our everlasting life, and think it is more important than our current health. All of us will die eventually, what does putting off the actual date achieve? But by pleasing God, we buy ourselves eternity!



An article you may like on the subject is found at:



The Real Value of Blood

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200608/article_03.htm



Now for the other questions about holidays.



We don't celebrate holidays because of where they come from. Those holidays' traditions are rooted in pagan practices. The Easter bunny, the Easter eggs, the Christmas tree, Santa Claus, etc. all those are actually traditions passed on from pagan religions. The Bible tells us not to touch the unclean thing, and holidays have been dirtied and soiled by those false religions so thoroughly, they have become something detestable to true worshipers of God.



More on this subject can be found here:



Should We Celebrate Holidays?

http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/appendix_14.htm



But, as for birthdays, in the Bible there are only 2 birthdays mentioned. And both are done by foreign, pagan people, not of Jehovah God (Genesis 40:20-22; Mark 6:21, 22, 24-27). In at least one, a good man of God is beheaded. The custom of celebrating birthdays comes from ancient false religions, as well, so we as Jehovah's Witnesses want nothing to do with it.



There is a brief mention of this subject in an article:



Beliefs and Customs That Displease God:

http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm



Well, I hope that helps you!!! Again, sorry it is so long! If you'd like more information on this subject, you can email me or even contact a local Kingdom Hall in your area. You have a lot of wonderful questions to ask Jehovah's Witnesses, and locating one in your area to give you a face-to-face conversation about them would be a wonderful idea. They would be delighted to answer your questions, I assure you. As would I, if you have any more for me!



Have a wonderful day and stay curious!!!



Luv ya,

Tashi :)

Answer 2

Jehovah our creator knows what is best for us, the challenge that was put down by Satan was that people can decide for themselves what is best.



Its kind of like if you have children and you are raising them and some stranger comes in to your house and tells your kids' You can decide for yourself, even though your parents gave birth to you and know way more then you, choose for yourself.'



Jehovah God created us and knows what is best for our health mental and physically.



When he says to abstain from blood he says we should not consume it. Some people argue that does not mean blood tranfusions but when a person is to sick to eat by mouth how do they feed them> By IV right? In the veins. You are consuming.



We see that even though alot of the mosaic laws were done away with there were some that were not( sex outside marraige ,beastiality, blood) etc



Why? Because these things are still harmful. You cannot scrub blood clean, you cannot santize it.

You can get a gang of diseases from it though that can kill you or make your life miserable.



The bible even though being ancient is the oldest book that talks about disease control, quarantine, gravity ,the formation of fetuses etc.. way before any other science books yet people poo-poo it and say the bible and God are fake. Jehovah's Witnesses based their beilefs on the bible , not a man, not popular opinion and not what they 'google'.



7.5 million Jehovahs Witnesses around the world made up of Teachers, Doctors, lawyers, biologists, nurses etc etc cannot all be brainwashed. Look in to the bible yourself and pray for guideance, get a bible study if you are curious about Jehovahs Witnesses, just because you stud y with one doesnt mean you will automatically become one or will be brainwashed. You seem like a smart thinking person. Ask questions and question everything and search out the answers Jehovah tells us in the bible to do that, and now is the right time to act since this system does not have long before it ends.



Quality alternatives to blood

http://www.watchtower.org/e/hb/article_03.htm





Are we living in last days

http://www.watchtower.org/e/200804/article_02.htm

Answer 3

I do sense a sincerity in your questions, and I thank you for that.



The command to abstain from blood is both an Old and New Testament commandment... it was in force for the Israelites and is in force for Christians today. And if you do a little research, you'll see that blood transfusions were attempted even in the time of Christ. So the concept of "blood replacement" isn't new.



That does NOT, however, mean that we refuse medical treatment. For example: If I have a disease that has ten options for care and one of them is blood transfusion, I would opt for them to try the other nine first. That's all. Medical science has gotten to the point of where non-blood procedures are becoming the NORM in some hospitals, simply because of all the blood-borne pathogens in the current blood supply. The scripture in Acts that tells us to abstain from blood (Acts 15:29-"to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication. If YOU carefully keep yourselves from these things, YOU will prosper. Good health to YOU!”) clearly tells us that abstaining from blood will result in good health.



Google non-blood medical alternatives to find out more.



Regarding birthdays or other secular holidays... very simply put: Jesus did not observe these holidays, neither do we. And there is simply too much Biblical evidence of what happened to the Israelites when they tried to make a pagan celebration a "festival to Jehovah." (Ex. 32) So even though some people who claim to be Christian will acknowledge that easter has pagan origins, they will justify their liberalization of God by saying "Well, it USED to mean that... but we've changed it and go knows we changed it and understands."



Again, read Exodus chapter 32 and you will see EXACTLY how Jehovah saw and reacted to pagan worship "changed" into something good.



We do not wait until one or two days out of the year to give gifts... we give them when we want to give them... because Jesus tells us Jehovah loves a cheerful giver. Causing someone to wait for a gift they selfishly expect doesn't reflect on Jehovah at all, but on the selfish tendencies exploited by Satan.



According to the scriptures, the day of my death is better than the day of my birth. You can party when I'm dead... which I'm pretty certain some people may do! :-)

Answer 4

I would say it's not what you ask it's how you ask it. If I say why do those dumb christians read a silly book? That sounds bad. If I ask why do christians read the bible, that sounds fine. I agree I do not flag, but if your asking a true question that you really need the answer to then that's wrong. If you are trying to slight them or there religion by asking a question and do not really care about the question (which happens often in this section), then you are wrong. Try asking again, maybe in a different way.

Answer 5

Jehovah specifically commanded to "abstain" from blood and he also says not to add ro take away from his commandments so thats what witnesses do



plus blood transfusions often go wrong or cause further compllications they're not always life saving so in a way God was also trying to provide protection



as for easter Jesus told us to observe only one thing each year at that was the anniversary of his death.

Answer 6

The cliche "donate blood - it's in you to give" is NOT correct. Jehovah God gave each of us that blood and it was NOT meant to be shared. It's not only for health safety but a command from God that all Christians should heed.



Does the command to abstain from blood include blood transfusions? Yes. To illustrate: Suppose a doctor were to tell you to abstain from alcoholic beverages. Would that simply mean that you should not drink alcohol but that you could have it injected into your veins? Of course not! Likewise, abstaining from blood means not taking it into our bodies at all. So the command to abstain from blood means that we would not allow anyone to transfuse blood into our veins.



What if a Christian is badly injured or is in need of major surgery? Suppose doctors say that he must have a blood transfusion or he will die. Of course, the Christian would not want to die. In an effort to preserve God’s precious gift of life, he would accept other kinds of treatment that do not involve the misuse of blood. Hence, he would seek such medical attention if that is available and would accept a variety of alternatives to blood.





We don't celebrate any holiday that the world observes because it's all from pagan roots. There's nothing wrong in giving but the world has made giving into commercialism, ways to gain money and all holidays come from pagan places. We don't mind at all sharing or giving gifts but we don't do it for a specific holiday that falls on a certain calendar date. We give willing and when we want to, not when a calendar says it's time to. For God loves a "cheerful giver".

Answer 7

Jehovah’s Witnesses accept medical and surgical treatment. In fact, scores of them are physicians, even surgeons. But Witnesses are deeply religious people who believe that blood transfusion is forbidden for them by Biblical passages such as: “Only flesh with its soul—its blood—you must not eat” (Genesis 9:3-4); “[You must] pour its blood out and cover it with dust” (Leviticus 17:13-14); and “Abstain from . . . fornication and from what is strangled and from blood” (Acts 15:19-21).1



To Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is clearly impossible to abstain from blood while taking it into the body in a transfusion. They therefore insist on alternative treatments. That Scriptural stand often results in an even higher standard of medical care. No doubt that is why many people who are not Jehovah’s Witnesses also request bloodless medical treatment.



Although surgeons have often declined to treat Witnesses because their stand on the use of blood products seemed to “tie the doctor’s hands,” many physicians have now chosen to view the situation as only one more complication challenging their skill. Since Witnesses do not object to colloid or crystalloid replacement fluids, nor to electrocautery, hypotensive anesthesia, or hypothermia, these have been employed successfully. Current and future applications of hetastarch, large-dose intravenous iron dextran injections, and the “sonic scalpel” are promising and not religiously objectionable. Also, if a recently developed fluorinated blood substitute (Fluosol-DA) proves to be safe and effective, its use will not conflict with Witness beliefs

Answer 8

How can you say the question isn't a joke while putting Wittiness in the title? LOL.



At any rate...



>>Acts 15:19-21,28 is the Scripture Jehovah's Witnesses typically point to as the reason they refuse to accept blood donations. Acts 15:20 says, "Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood." It is clear from the context that the instructions were against eating / drinking blood, not blood transfusions. Blood transfusions were not even possible in Bible times, so there is no possibility that this Scripture could be referring to blood transfusions. There were many pagan religious practices that involved eating and drinking blood and/or strangling an animal to keep more of its blood in its meat. This is what the Bible speaks against, not blood transfusions.<<



http://www.gotquestions.org/blood-transfusions.html

Answer 9

Because the Watchtower organization has told them not to in the guise of an interpretation.



This fits in with the intentional design of terms and language used by the organization.



Kingdom Hall (church - building); Meeting (church service); Talk (sermon or reading); Song Book (hymnal); Book Study; Service (evangelism); The Truth; The Society; New System; New Light; Worldly People; Disfellowship; Reinstatement; Jehovah's Organization; RV's (repeat visits); Door to Door; Theocratic; Faithful and Discreet Slave; Field Ministry; Pioneers; Babylon; Apostacy; Publically Reproved; Privately Reproved; Elders; Ministerial Servants; Judicial Committee; Circuit, District, Zone, and Branch Overseer; Bethel and Bethelites; Unspiritual; New World Translation



They are also discouraged and/or forbidden from the following:



saluting the flag, toasting, observation of relgious and non-religous holidays, birthdays, tobacco use, recognition of the cross, hold a political office, be a policeman, military service, attend other churches (even for marriage and funerals), voting, blessing sneezes, wearing beards.

Answer 10

Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t take a blood transfusion because they were wrongly taught it is the same as “eating” blood and, therefore, a violation of the Scriptures. Eating (drinking) blood goes into the digestive system, while a blood transfusion goes into the circulatory system. They are not the same and Moses and other writers were not writing about a blood transfusion, which they knew nothing about in Bible days!



Birthdays to a JW is creature worship and Easter, etc. is pagan. (They are right about holidays, but their gospel, denial of Christ's deity, etc. is dangerously wrong. Do NOT be deceived by them.)

Answer 11

The obligation to keep the Mosaic Law ended when the Messiah died. Yet, God’s view of the sacredness of blood remains. Moved by God’s holy spirit, the apostles directed Christians to ‘abstain from blood.’ That command was not to be taken lightly. It was as important morally as abstaining from sexual immorality or idolatry. (Acts 15:28, 29; 21:25) (There the eating of blood is equated with idolatry and fornication, things that we should not want to engage in.)

So intimately is blood involved in the life processes that the Bible says “the soul of the flesh is in the blood.” (Lev. 17:11) As the Source of life, Jehovah has provided definite instructions regarding the use to which blood may be put.



“MAYBE Jehovah’s Witnesses are right in refusing the use of blood products, for it is true that an important number of pathogenic agents can be transmitted by transfused blood.”—French medical daily Le Quotidien du Médecin, December 15, 1987.

Some who read that comment might have felt it a mere fluke that Jehovah’s Witnesses refused blood transfusions long before it became generally known how dangerous, even lethal, these can be. But the stand that Jehovah’s Witnesses have taken on blood is not by accident, nor is it a rule invented by some strange sect, a stand springing from fear that blood is not safe. Rather, the Witnesses refuse blood because of their determination to walk obediently before their Grand Instructor—God.

King David, who felt his dependence on God, was determined to be instructed by him and to ‘walk in his truth.’ (Psalm 86:11) David was once advised that if he avoided becoming bloodguilty in God’s eyes, his ‘soul could prove to be wrapped up in the bag of life with Jehovah.’ (1 Samuel 25:21, 22, 25, 29) As people wrapped valuables to protect and preserve them, so David’s life could be protected and preserved by God. Accepting the wise advice, David did not seek to save himself by personal efforts but trusted in the One to whom he owed his life: “You will cause me to know the path of life. Rejoicing to satisfaction is with your face; there is pleasantness at your right hand forever.”—Psalm 16:11.

With that attitude, David did not feel that he personally could choose which divine laws were valid or needed to be obeyed. His attitude was: “Instruct me, O Jehovah, in your way, and lead me in the path of uprightness.” “Instruct me, O Jehovah, about your way. I shall walk in your truth. Unify my heart to fear your name. I laud you, O Jehovah my God, with all my heart.” (Psalm 27:11; 86:11, 12) At times walking in truth before God might seem inconvenient or might mean great sacrifice, but David wanted to be instructed in the right way and to walk in it.

Answer 12

Blood, Watchtower Flip-Flops on Blood Fractions 4 Times



In 1945 the Watchtower Society banned its members from accepting any form of blood, whether it be whole or fractional. Since then the Watchtower have managed to tie themselves up in the technicalities and changing its mind on what is acceptable to what is not acceptable only for it to be acceptable in a few years time.



Here is the Watchtower’s history on the issue of blood

# 1940 Blood transfusions are acceptable

# 1945 Blood transfusion are not acceptable

# 1956 Blood serums should be treated as blood and are banned

# 1958 Blood serums and fractions acceptable

# 1959 Storage of own blood unacceptable

# 1961 Blood fractions are not acceptable

# 1964 Blood fractions are acceptable

# 1974 Blood serums are personal choice

# 1975 Hemophilia treatments (Factor VII & IX) are not acceptable

# 1978 Hemophilia treatments (Factor VII & IX) are acceptable

# 1982 Albumin is acceptable

# 1983 Hemodilution is acceptable

# 1990 Hemodilution is not acceptable (Blood Brochure)

# 1995 Hemodilution is acceptable



Birthdays



"What caused the Bible Students to stop celebrating Christmas? Richard H. Barber gave this answer: "I was asked to give an hour talk over a [radio] hookup on the subject of Christmas. It was given December 12, 1928, and published in The Golden Age #241 and again a year later in #268. That talk pointed out the pagan origin of Christmas. After that, the brothers at Bethel never celebrated Christmas again." Yearbook 1975 p.147



"Did we mind putting those pagan things away?" asks Charles John Brandlein. "Absolutely not. This was just complying with new things learned, and we had never known before they were pagan. It was just like taking a soiled garment off and throwing it away." Next, birthday celebrations and Mother's Day were discarded-more creature worship. Sister Lilian Kammerud recalls: "How readily the brothers all dropped these holidays and admitted they were glad to be free. New truths always make us happy and . . . we felt we were privileged to know things that others were ignorant about.""



The above quote from the 1975 Yearbook makes it appear that birthdays stopped being celebrated shortly after Christmas in 1928. In reality birthdays continued being celebrated until 1951.



In 1940 the following experience shows birthdays were still considered appropriate;



"Pardon me for intruding on your precious time, but I just can't help letting you know how much I appreciate the phonograph which came to me on the morning after the 8th, which was my 80th birthday. It was indeed a birthday gift from Jehovah, to be used in proclaiming his name. May grace and strength be given me to do with my might what my hands find to do." Watchtower 1940 Jan 1 p.16



In 1951 that the Watchtower stated the Witnesses were no longer to celebrate birthdays.



"Is it proper to have or attend celebrations of birthday anniversaries?-F. K., Nevada. Such celebrations have their roots in pagan religions, and not Scriptural grounds. Some Bible commentators suggest that birthday celebrations may have had their origin in the "notion of the immortality of the soul"." Watchtower 1951 October 1 p.607 Questions from Readers



There is nothing unscriptural about celebrating birthdays, and most Witnesses struggle to explain why they can't without some embarrassment at the shallow reasoning used. Romans 14:5-6 advises not to judge others and their celebrations:



"One indeed judges a day above another; and another one judges every day alike, Let each one be fully assured in his own mind. The one minding the day, he minds it to the Lord. And the one not minding the day, he does not mind it to the Lord. The one eating, he eats to the Lord; for he give thanks to God. And the one not eating, he does not eat to the Lord, and gives thanks to God."



Once more we see that so called pagan doctrine and practices promoted in the Watchtower by the Governing Body were not replaced by new light until decades after Jesus is said to have cleansed his people. This is in sharp contrast with Christian times. How many times did the Apostles issue a decision under God's direction through the Bible letters, only to later decide that it was wrong and introduce an almost opposite viewpoint?

Answer 13

because I dont buy anything door to door pleople sell, not roofs, gutters, cement replacement or religion.....

and I dont like being distrubed....

Answer 14

I heard they wont take immunizations because they are or were once mixed with the blood of other animals, and in the bible that's a no go...





As for them not celebrating holidays... Well John in the bible was beheaded on his birthday. So God was SO upset, he said "Alright, no more birthdays!"



and Christian holidays are founded upon pagan rituals worshiping the sun, look it up.

Answer 15

you will get the best answers by going on the internet and and punching in on jehovah witttiness. there is a ton of info to answer your questions. good luck.