The refusal by Jehovah’s Witnesses to accept life-saving blood transfusions is one issue that constantly throws the organisation into the spotlight. Blood transfusions have been banned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses, whether it be whole or fractional, since 1945. The technicalities surrounding this issue even confuse many die-hard Witnesses as this doctrine is in a constant state of flux. Many are not sure what is acceptable practice and what not.
This is how the doctrine has changed over the years.
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 (From the Blood brochure)
1995 Hemodilution is acceptable
Let’s not concentrate on the technicalities surrounding many of the blood fractions that are banned and those that are not. Let’s just concentrate on the logic. How many faithful JWs lost their lives during the period when blood fractions and whole blood were banned? Now it is a matter of personal conscience and certain blood fractions are permitted. However, logic goes out the window when talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses.
What kind of God allows parents to deny their dying child a lifesaving blood transfusion? The Jehovah’s Witness God does.
Last year (2008) two cases made headlines here in South Africa. In both these cases the parents refused blood transfusions for their babies. The courts eventually stepped in and ordered the transfusions to be administered. Both babies’ lives were saved.
And when that child brings them so much joy do the parents resent the child or do they secretly say in their hearts; “I’m glad the blood transfusion saved his/her life!”
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Preface to my book Cults:How they Work
We live in a society where people are free to follow and adhere to the religious belief of their choice. I have no quarrel with this. It is possible to disagree with a person’s beliefs and yet love the person holding those beliefs. What I oppose are some of the teachings and overbearing influence of some of these groups, not the people in the groups or their right to believe whatever they want.
I also acknowledge that many of the founders of some of these groups do not deceive their followers intentionally. Some of them may have begun a sincere search for truth, but ended up with a warped sense of reality and truth. Likewise, the followers of many of these cults also set out on their journeys to search for truth, but fell captive to unscrupulous deceivers out to fleece and control them. Case in point is the statement allegedly made by the founder of the Church of Scientology, Lafayette Ron Hubbard, who spoke before a science fiction writer’s convention and said, “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.”
Furthermore, labelling a certain group a cult can be controversial and some people may disagree with me in labelling some groups as such. This in part is due to the fact that some of these groups have received mainstream religious status because of the immense number of followers they command. Others prefer to label these as high control groups or new religious movements. However, I do not differentiate between these terms in this book because the mode of operation of these groups, regardless of what you may call them, is similar. Therefore, I label them all cults.
As a former cult member, I have witnessed first hand the inner workings of these groups and how similar their methods of recruitment and control are. My first book, Losing The Faith: Truth under Scrutiny is the account of my journey through one of the largest cults in the world today, namely, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since the publication of that very same book the consequences that I, as well as my immediate family, have experienced only reiterates how destructive cults can be. Loss of friends and family are just two of the results that members who eventually leave a cult must face and endure. Many come to the realization that love and friendships in cults are conditional. In addition, some cults are just plain deadly.
My desire is for this work to serve as a reference and a guide; one that will assist people to recognise the dangers and pitfalls of becoming involved with cults. An appendix is provided at the end of this book from which readers can explore the writings and research of former cult members. This book is not intended to promote or endorse a particular religion or belief structure.
I also acknowledge that many of the founders of some of these groups do not deceive their followers intentionally. Some of them may have begun a sincere search for truth, but ended up with a warped sense of reality and truth. Likewise, the followers of many of these cults also set out on their journeys to search for truth, but fell captive to unscrupulous deceivers out to fleece and control them. Case in point is the statement allegedly made by the founder of the Church of Scientology, Lafayette Ron Hubbard, who spoke before a science fiction writer’s convention and said, “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion.”
Furthermore, labelling a certain group a cult can be controversial and some people may disagree with me in labelling some groups as such. This in part is due to the fact that some of these groups have received mainstream religious status because of the immense number of followers they command. Others prefer to label these as high control groups or new religious movements. However, I do not differentiate between these terms in this book because the mode of operation of these groups, regardless of what you may call them, is similar. Therefore, I label them all cults.
As a former cult member, I have witnessed first hand the inner workings of these groups and how similar their methods of recruitment and control are. My first book, Losing The Faith: Truth under Scrutiny is the account of my journey through one of the largest cults in the world today, namely, the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since the publication of that very same book the consequences that I, as well as my immediate family, have experienced only reiterates how destructive cults can be. Loss of friends and family are just two of the results that members who eventually leave a cult must face and endure. Many come to the realization that love and friendships in cults are conditional. In addition, some cults are just plain deadly.
My desire is for this work to serve as a reference and a guide; one that will assist people to recognise the dangers and pitfalls of becoming involved with cults. An appendix is provided at the end of this book from which readers can explore the writings and research of former cult members. This book is not intended to promote or endorse a particular religion or belief structure.
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