Young lad dies, after refusing blood

[Arthurgray50@blu]

I am a father of three children and three grandchildren, l am religious, but l was saddened and rather angry at a loss of life of a 15 year old, reported in todays The Sun.

Being a Jehovah Witness, he decided to die rather than have a blood transfusion, even though there is a blood sub for this religion, but he declined and gave his life for the sake of his belief.

God created heaven and earth, and where does it say in the Bible bans blood transfusions and that life is a gift from God, too me God would not like to see life given up at a young life - any comments.

[speedfreak]

personally I dont class 15 as old enough to make that decision but I dont know how these things work

I know why they think its an obligation (that is, I know which single verse out of the entire Bible the Watchtower Society uses to justify the doctrine) and I think it's a load of old cobblers. One of the many aspects of the 'faith' promulgated by the Watchtower Society that means it attracts its well-deserved definition as a cult.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Chris

I know why they think its an obligation (that is, I know which single verse out of the entire Bible the Watchtower Society uses to justify the doctrine) and I think it's a load of old cobblers. One of the many aspects of the 'faith' promulgated by the Watchtower Society that means it attracts its well-deserved definition as a cult.

Looks like we agree on that subject.

[nomadking]

Given that nowadays and even more so in the past there are diseases etc that can be transmitted via a blood transfusion and so, the basis is not so daft. Modern science has moved things on, but it is still their choice.

They are many other completely baseless and often irrational decisions, especially surrounding issues of child bearing/birth. I don't suppose that the people who would criticise this decision would be so forward in criticising those decisions.

Do all beliefs have to originate from the Bible?

[rogerdraig]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-exercise.html

i would say both died because of what they loved

not taking blood rarely leads to death but it is a risk that those of us with this faith take its something that we rarely think about as it is far more likely that some other unforeseen circumstance will kill us than the lack of blood !

[Russ]

Christian-based ones tend to

Originally Posted by Russ

Christian-based ones tend to

Are there not some which have come from the church for which it is difficult to find biblical references for? I genuinely think there are but now I can't think of any..

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Damien

Are there not some which have come from the church for which it is difficult to find biblical references for? I genuinely think there are but now I can't think of any..

Depends on who you are calling "the church" but some good ones in Catholicism are:

a) Purgatory, the spiritual "cargo area" for those not yet good enough to enter heaven.

b) Confession of sin requires a priest to be present

Neither have any biblical basis. There are plenty more but off-topic and all etc

[nomadking]

The inference was, that because it was claimed that there was no biblical basis for the doctrine, it was therefore a cult and not a religion.

[Russ]

Originally Posted by nomadking

The inference was, that because it was claimed that there was no biblical basis for the doctrine, it was therefore a cult and not a religion.

So by the same token perhaps Catholicism is also a cult? Who'da thunk it...

Anyway this is dangerously off-topic.

All I can say is that I have respect for this lad ultimately 'keeping his faith'.

But I also question a faith that demands such a sacrifice - especially when, as Arthur points out, there are 'blood substitutes' available that may have saved the boy's life.

- and I also wonder whether the 'eating' blood taboo that seems to be at the core of the prohibition does actually apply to a transplant?

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by gazfan

All I can say is that I have respect for this lad ultimately 'keeping his faith'.

But I also question a faith that demands such a sacrifice - especially when, as Arthur points out, there are 'blood substitutes' available that may have saved the boy's life.

- and I also wonder whether the 'eating' blood taboo that seems to be at the core of the prohibition does actually apply to a transplant?

He wouldn't have believed it was a sacrifice though. After the rest of us "non-believers" get slaughtered by their "loving" god, he'd have believed he'd be back.
That's one thing you have to say about the JW's, they don't try to hide the dark side of christian scripture.

As for other non-blood products, I don't know if emergency rooms carry any. I know they can be brought in for planned operations, similarly with blood cleaning machines to return blood lost, and some will take plasma, however depending on his level of brainwa-sorry, faith, it looks like if they were options available, he wasn't willing to take them.

For one JWs are not classed as a cult at all so on this one Chris you get the well deserved definition of wrong lol

As Arther says there is a blood substitute and there is also a hospital liaison committee that works with the hospital to get the treatment required

What about all the hemophiliacs who developed HIV from blood transfusions?

I have to admit that as a none practicing JW I would have to admit I would be a hippocrite to my faith is it came down to a blood transfusion for my daughter but luckily her mother has never been a JW so she can make the decision( but if there was no time and it was down to me I would want her saving)

The blood issue is missunderstood by those who choose to hate JWs for what ever reason they wish.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by gazfan

All I can say is that I have respect for this lad ultimately 'keeping his faith'.

Shame he won't be around to hear it