It’s only a matter of time…
It was only a matter of time….
The WT at one time forbad Jehovah’s Witnesses from receiving vaccinations. In time, the WT lifted the ban and started promoting vaccinations.
The WT at one time forbad Jehovah’s Witnesses from receiving organ transplants, calling it “cannibalism”. In time, the WT lifted the ban on organ transplants, too.
It was only a matter of time….
The June 15, 2000 Watchtower, in it’s Questions From Readers section, asks, “Do Jehovah’s Witnesses accept any medical products derived from blood?” The response opens with, “The fundamental answer is that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not accept blood.”. [emphasis added]
But what follows is a complicated and technical explanation that, simply put, states that for various fractions of blood components the answer is now, Yes! Witnesses may now “conscientiously decide” for themselves!
The article requires careful reading, because of the implications. There is evidence of more liberalizing than is immediately apparent. [A more thorough explanation and critique, and a copy of the June 15, WT article itself, can be seen at https://www.ajwrb.org/basics/change.shtml]
We have often reminded Witnesses of what happened with vaccinations and organ transplants and suggested that the WT would eventually drop its ban on blood, too. Witnesses usually respond adamantly: “Never!” But….
It was only a matter of time….
While further relaxing of the policy on blood is understandably good news for many Witnesses, it causes confusion for them both in terms of deciphering the complex new policy and in terms of how this Organization can be relied on as God’s spokesman, the “Faithful and Discreet Slave”. This change has to be especially confusing, and painful, for the many, many who have lost loved ones due to the WT’s rigid stance on blood.
The WT is well aware of the growing pressure to adjust. And “adjustment" is what the WT is all about!
It was only a matter of time….
Written by Greta Olsoe
www.soundwitness.org
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