# *Excuses, Escuses...

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Posted by Bibleman [Bibleman] on October 27, 1999 at 23:37:41 {dPkPwxsNJEMSSTtTA17sslyACFuF8c}:

In Reply to: Excuses, Escuses... posted by COMF on October 27, 1999 at 21:43:14:

Hi COMF,

Sorry to hear about what's going on with you. I do hope something comes up to relief some of your discomfort.

The fact is, as I've stated before though, that blood can be dangerous and therefore every person has a medical reason to refuse blood transfusions. The Witnesses think that their interpretation to "abstain from blood" has been a protection from the dangers of blood. And that certainly would be true, if only inadvertently.

We know of people such as hemophiliacs who contract hepatitis and AIDS through blood transfusion. Thus ultimately, if the powers to be running the organization want to make a hardline policy against blood Biblically, I think they have plenty of medical evidence to do that.

And that leaves the blood movement with a simple choice and that is to simply leave and start their own organization or serve god individually, which is the basis of our worship anyway.

Fact is, though, the WTS has a strong medical case against blood, one easily exploited into a Biblical issue if they wish it.

And that's why the blood issue which is the focus of so much fuss is really a non-issue. It's non-emergent. It is more about some people desperately wanting the convenience of staying in a ready-made religion, fraught with all kinds of other spiritual and Biblical problems, instead of just leaving if they have srong doctrinal differences.

The interpretation of whether the Bible's blood prohibitions should extend to blood transfusions is a doctrinal issue of those who interpret the scriptures in a certain way. But the fact is, they hve a right to interpret the Bible that way if they want to, and anyone wanting to accept that view or be part of that organization have a choice to do so. Those who don't, don't have to stay.

And that's really why the blood issue is no issue since nobody is forcing anybody to stay a witness. No one is forcing anyone not to take blood if they want to. For some reason there is far more of a desperate need to stay in this ready-made organization, their own private "Pleasantville", than to simply leave and do as I please based upon their own Biblical interpretation of the blood prohibitions in scripture.

The blood movement is about staying in the organization.

At any rate, I do hope you feel better. Thanks so much for sharing this with us.

My personal view is that blood transfusions in emergencies can be safe if precautions are taken. Using autologous blood seems to answer concerns regarding contaminated blood. How that can be prohibited Scripturally I can't figure out.

Cheers,
Bibleman

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