Jehovah's Witnesses: Is it possible that accepting blood transfusions could one day become "New Light"?

The Watch Tower has changed stance on blood several times.

Matter of fact the Watch Tower even taught that until Mosaic Law blood could be eaten.

•Eating Blood

Initially blood could be eaten. (Watchtower 1892 November 15 pp.349-352, Watchtower 1909 April 15 pp.116-117)

1927 - Blood was no longer to be eaten (Watchtower 1927 December p.371)

•Blood Serum

1954 - Unacceptable.

"We are told that it takes one and a third pints of whole blood to get enough of the blood protein or "fraction" known as gamma globulin for one injection... its being made of whole blood places it in the same category as blood transfusions as far as Jehovah's prohibition of taking blood into the system is concerned." Awake! 1954 January 8 p.24

1958 - Acceptable (Watchtower 1958 September 15 p.575)

1963 - Unacceptable (Watchtower 1963 February 15 p.124)

1965 - Acceptable (Watchtower 1964 November 15 pp.680-3)

1974 - Conscience matter (Watchtower 1974 June 1 p.352)

•Hemodilution

1972 - Unacceptable.

...These techniques are noteworthy to Christians, since they run counter to God's Word. The Bible shows that blood is not to be taken out of a body, stored and then later reused." Awake! 1972 April 8 p.30

1982 - Objectionable.

"Techniques for intraoperative collection or hemodilution that involve blood storage are objectionable to them." Awake! 1982 June 22 p.25

1983 - Acceptable.

"It is with this in mind, and not just to honor the requests of Jehovah's Witnesses, that Denton Cooley [of Houston, Texas] has performed open-heart operations now for over seven years, limiting transfusions wherever possible by substituting hemodilution, diluting the patient's blood with a glucose and heparin solution." Awake! 1983 March 22 p.16

• Blood transfusions

Originally Allowed. Blood transfusions and donating blood for transfusion is commended (Golden Age 1925 July 29 p.683, Golden Age 1929 May 1 p.502, Consolation 1940 December 25 p.19)

1945 - Forbidden. Blood transfusions first stated as wrong (Watchtower 1945 July 1 p.198-201)

1961 - Became a disfellowshipping offence (Watchtower 1961 January 15 pp.63-64)

In 1961 it was clearly specified that blood law applies to both whole blood and components of blood such as blood fractions and haemoglobin.

"If you have reason to believe that a certain product contains blood or a blood fraction…if the label says that certain tablets contain hemoglobin…this is from blood...a Christian knows, without asking, that he should avoid such a preparation. Watchtower 1961 November 1 p.669

Gradually becoming allowed again

1982 - Blood components are listed with some minor components allowed. Major components and hemodilution are forbidden. (Awake! 1982 June 22 p.25)

1995 - Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution (ANH) and autologous blood salvage procedure (Cell Saver) are acceptable despite being briefly stored outside the blood. (Watchtower 1995 August 1 p.30)

2000 - Major change to blood policy, with all of blood now being allowed when converted to minor fractions.

"...when it comes to fractions of any of the primary components, each Christian, after careful and prayerful meditation, must conscientiously decide for himself." Watchtower 2000 June 15 pp.29-31

_______

Note the Watch Tower in 2000 made 'blood' a matter of conscious'.

To absolve themselves as a corporation from lawsuits...

The obvious answer is to avoid the misuse of blood, which is strongly warned against in both the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. But aside from Bible reasons are the health reasons we can cite. Searching the Internet for the subject of "bloodless medicine" or "bloodless surgery" will give ample medical reasons that a person needs to be aware of in the matter of blood transfusions or other treatments or medicines that include blood or part of blood. Some products that take the place of blood or take the place of what blood would do now have a RECOMBINANT form - that is a man made form. A substitute if you will. Factor VIII is one such part of the blood that is now 4th generation totally recombinant. This is used to treat hemophiliacs - even from newborns to old age. My husband is a hemophiliac and one of Jehovah's Witnesses - and this NON-BLOOD product allows him to avoid using the real factor from blood which has definite risks (half of the hemophiliacs in the USA died from using it) - but it has allowed him to maintain a clean conscience from a religious viewpoint. Research will help a person to find suitable substitutes for their particular medical needs. And yes, there are many, many individuals out there who are avoiding the use of blood as a medical treatment, because they know the dangers inherent in such treatment.

Greetings,

Several other good answers already mentioned that the prohibition against blood is derived from the Scriptures, NOT from some human source or even the Christian Congregation. It originates from God Himself, therefore the prohibition against blood use is a Scriptural fact and will never be changed for Christians.

However, we could well ask you the same type of question: Since *your* religion has changed its teachings so many times on major issues like warfare, being the only true religion, women in the pulpit, homosexuality, racial superiority, predestination, literal hellfire, Michael being the archangel, vaccinations, women having souls, and etc. how do you know it will not change its teachings on the Trinity or Christ's ransom?!!!

Every Witnesses knows that their beliefs have at times changed because of increased knowledge or changes in the way serums and vaccines were made. But of course even the Apostles had to change their beliefs regarding their understandings of end-times (Lk.19:11; 24:21; Ac.1:6). Criticisms regarding Witnesses changing their understandings on how to apply the Scriptures would also condemn the Apostles!

Obviously there is something wrong with such criticisms.

Such criticisms are also hypocritical because they somehow miss telling others that EVERY religion has changed it's beliefs and practices over the same time period!

It wasn't too long ago that Protestants and Catholics taught that black people were cursed, that slavery was "Christian," and that racial intermarriage was condemned by the Bible. And up until the early 19th century virtually all religions taught that *they* were the only true religion. Look at how churches in recent years have changed their doctrine regarding women in the pulpit, and how many of them have actually changed the words of their Bible versions to be "gender neutral" in order to support these changes.

Premillennialism was declared a heresy by Protestants but was reintroduced in the 19th century, and is now the most popular belief about end times among conservative Protestants. The rapture first surfaced in the 19th century.

Notice the unbiased quote by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance on their Web page:

"On each of these issues, at one point the church had near unanimity of opinion and then, over time and painfully, changed its mind to almost the exact opposite view." --Jack Rogers

"Christian denominations have extensively modified or even reversed their teachings on a wide variety of social topics ....If the general public realized how extensively faith groups have changed and even reversed their teachings over time, they might develop a different understanding."

Witnesses regularly study our history, but, do other religions willingly tell you about the stupid things their predecessors believed?

Most religions have now admitted such past beliefs were false, so is it fair of me to go back fifty to a hundred years to their religion's roots and point out everything that was wrong, especially if it has commendably corrected it's understandings? No, although a effective debate tactic, it would be unreasonable and a logical fallacy.

Having to correct misinterpretations is not proof that a religion is not God's organization, or that an individual is not a Christian. A failure to correct false doctrine or actions when presented with solid evidence would be!

BLOOD FRACTIONS

Now, when it comes to the use of blood fractions "The Watchtower Society" does not "approve" nor does it "disapprove" any use of fractions, it simply educates its members as to what these are and any dangers involved. It has ALWAYS been clear that each individual must decide for themselves whether to use fractions.

The reason most Witnesses accept "fractions" derived from blood is because when blood is fractionated it is literally destroyed and so the Scriptural law is fulfilled, i.e.; the blood had to be destroyed if it leaves the body.

Once blood is fractionated it is no longer blood nor will it ever be blood again. While you can separate the major components of blood and then put them back together to get blood, this cannot be done once it is fractioned. Nor is it even possible to use "very part of blood" with the current fractioning process.

While minor understandings of prophecy and periphery beliefs may continue to be adjusted and refined, major doctrines such as transfusions of blood will not be changed. This is because we are deep into the endtime and the doctrinal knowledge has increased tremendously so any recent changes have not been to *doctrine* but simple refinements in knowledge.

Below is a quote from the theologian Charles G.Finney from the introduction to “Systematic Theology”:

"Finite minds, unless they are asleep or stultified by prejudice, must advance in knowledge. The discovery of new truth will modify old views and opinions, and there is perhaps no end to this process with finite minds in any world. True Christian consistency does not consist in...refusing to make any improvement lest we should be guilty of change, but it consists in holding our minds open to receive the rays of truth from every quarter and in changing our views and language and practice as often and as fast, as we can obtain further information....No Christian, therefore, and no theologian should be afraid to change his views, his language, or his practices in conformity with INCREASING LIGHT."

Yours,

BAR-ANERGES

i think it could. i think since the Watchtower is "God's spirit directed organization" God could tell them that he meant eating blood. I think he will also inform them that we should all be either vegetarians or shopping at Kosher supermarkets. -and in all honesty you wouldn't need to shop at a kosher market. i spoke to a Jewish man and he told me how his grandmother used to bleed her own chickens so that they were appropriate to eat.

i will never understand the blood transfusions until they also implement this rule in their diet. I feel if this is a rule to follow then it is a rule to follow through and through. since they are not doing that it can very well be changed. it will make much more sense to me if they couldn't accept anything that came from blood, meaning NO blood components and no bloody food...

on a side note as far as the food laws go, do JW's eat at McDonald's ever? there was a big thing a while back about them getting their meat from Mexico and there was also a big thing about the animal cruelty and strangulation of animals put into meat from Mexico.

EDIT: i have an article i got from Wendi, i will email it to you and anyone else interested in it can email me for it.

The Watchtower organization does not tell us to abstain from blood...God does through the Holy Scriptures.

Acts 15:29 tells us to "ABSTAIN from blood." This includes eating blood or transfusing it. The methods of delivery may be different, but there is no basic difference when it comes to the principle of abstaining from blood. (Acts 15:29)

For instance, suppose you were told by your doctor that you must abstain from alcohol. Would you be obedient if you quit drinking alcohol but had it put directly into your veins?

Or suppose that you have dangerous allergic reactions to a medication, and were warned to abstain from that drug in the future. Would you then rationalize that you would avoid taking the medication orally but could safely inject it into your bloodstream? Of course not. The main point would not be the route of administration, but that you should abstain from that medication altogether.

The exact same principle applies with the decree for Christians to ‘abstain from blood’ whether through the mouth or directly into the bloodstream.

Note the comments from Thomas Bartholin (1616-80), professor of anatomy at the University of Copenhagen:

"Those who drag in the use of human blood for internal remedies of diseases appear to misuse it and to sin gravely. Cannibals are condemned. Why do we not abhor those who stain their gullet with human blood? Similar is the receiving of alien blood from a cut vein, either through the mouth or by instruments of transfusion. The authors of this operation are held in terror by the divine law, by which the eating of blood is prohibited."

For more, see:

God's View of Blood

http://godsviewofblood.blogspot.com/2009/11/blood-...

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. The Watchtower has a proven track record of changing “current truths” into conformity with the “new light.” JWs can deny this all they want to, but the history is clear and convincing. On the topic of blood, there has been a steady shift to making more and more exceptions to the rule. There is no reason to think that this progression will suddenly stop.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Jehovah’s Witnesses are the exact opposite of this principle. That is because the Watchtower is being subtly influenced by Satan.

You asked, so here goes.

called fractions

a conscience matter

The fundamental answer is that Jehovah’s Witnesses do not accept blood. We firmly believe that God’s law on blood is not open to reform to fit shifting opinions. Still, new issues arise because blood can now be processed into four primary components and fractions of those components. In deciding whether to accept such, a Christian should look beyond possible medical benefits and risks. His concern should be what the Bible says and the potential effect on his relationship with Almighty God.

Today, few people would think that the laws of Almighty God are at issue if a physician suggested their taking blood. While Jehovah’s Witnesses certainly want to keep living, we are committed to obey Jehovah’s law on blood. What does this mean in the light of current medical practice?

As transfusions of whole blood became common after World War II, Jehovah’s Witnesses saw that this was contrary to God’s law—and we still believe that. Yet, medicine has changed over time. Today, most transfusions are not of whole blood but of one of its primary components: (1) red cells; (2) white cells; (3) platelets; (4) plasma (serum), the fluid part. Depending on the condition of the patient, physicians might prescribe red cells, white cells, platelets, or plasma. Transfusing these major components allows a single unit of blood to be divided among more patients. Jehovah’s Witnesses hold that accepting whole blood or any of those four primary components violates God’s law. Significantly, keeping to this Bible-based position has protected them from many risks, including such diseases as hepatitis and AIDS that can be contracted from blood.

However, since blood can be processed beyond those primary components, questions arise about fractions derived from the primary blood components. How are such fractions used, and what should a Christian consider when deciding on them?

Blood is complex. Even the plasma—which is 90 percent water—carries scores of hormones, inorganic salts, enzymes, and nutrients, including minerals and sugar. Plasma also carries such proteins as albumin, clotting factors, and antibodies to fight diseases. Technicians isolate and use many plasma proteins. For example, clotting factor VIII has been given to hemophiliacs, who bleed easily. Or if someone is exposed to certain diseases, doctors might prescribe injections of gamma globulin, extracted from the blood plasma of people who already had immunity. Other plasma proteins are used medically, but the above mentioned illustrate how a primary blood component (plasma) may be processed to obtain fractions.

Just as blood plasma can be a source of various fractions, the other primary components (red cells, white cells, platelets) can be processed to isolate smaller parts. For example, white blood cells may be a source of interferons and interleukins, used to treat some viral infections and cancers. Platelets can be processed to extract a wound-healing factor. And other medicines are coming along that involve (at least initially) extracts from blood components. Such therapies are not transfusions of those primary components; they usually involve parts or fractions thereof. Should Christians accept these fractions in medical treatment? We cannot say. The Bible does not give details, so a Christian must make his own conscientious decision before God.

Sure if Acts 15:28,29 miraculously disappeared from Bibles earth wide which the apostle Paul wrote to Christians in his own words:

"For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to YOU, except these necessary things, 29 to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from BLOOD....." [capitals "blood" for my emphasis] .... and from things strangled and from fornication.

See how it says blood, and, things strangled. If it was only not to eat blood then why not just say things strangled since things strangled was meat with the blood still in it. No Paul said blood too to emphasise the abstaination.

The scriptures are specific. I would never change and I will always abstain from blood because the Bible teaches so. And you could argue until the keys wore out on your keyboard but our integrity will always be the same because blood in the Bible is sacred to Jehovah. That is how is has been and always will be - we are Jehovah's Witnesses.

(Leviticus 17:14) For the soul of every sort of flesh is its blood by the soul in it.

The Watchtower does not prohibit blood, Jehovah does!

Jehovah's loyal servants all obey him! If this system goes on another 20 years, all surgery will probably be bloodless, thanks to the pioneering surgery that has come through Jehovah's Witnesses not having blood!

We receive our spiritual food through the faithful class which comes from Jehovah. Our Watchtower is a bible aid to better understanding.

Unless you have an open mind and heart, then you will understand!

Blood is sacred, that's why Jesus had to die and shed his blood for mankind. The view point on blood will never, ever change!

Of course it is possible. This blood policy is result of the JW leaders misunderstanding the Old Testament kosher laws.

They have change their teachings about the transplants and about vaccination and many other things. It is allowed to accept transfusion in the organization if you are living in Poland