From: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com (Steven J. Edwards)
Newsgroups: talk.religion.misc
Subject: JWs: Transfusions and transplants
Date: 13 Apr 92 18:36:19 GMT
Reply-To: sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com
Distribution: talk
Organization: Bull HN, Worldwide Information Systems, Billerica, Mass., USA


	Readers of this newsgroup are already familiar with the JWs
prohibition of blood transfusions.  What has not been stated is that
JWs also once, and fairly recently, prohibited organ transplantation.
For a JW that received either blood or an organ, the official response
from JW HQ was that the person should be excommunicated and be shunned
by friends and family.  The ex-JW involved would considered worthy of
an everlasting death in the near future.  Parents of a child in need
of either blood or an organ donation were expected to prefer to have
their child die from medical neglect than to chance disfavor with the
JW HQ.  This stand still continues, but only for blood recipients.

	The interesting item is that JWs once used a supporting
argument for both policies that has apparently only become invalid for
organ transplants.  It seems that the "only channel of God" JW HQ
claimed that receiving either blood or an organ from another was a
form of cannibalism.  Their "faithful and discreet slave" also warned
of a more insidious danger: the recipient was in great danger of
picking up the personality traits of the donor!  Yes, JWs were warned
that if they received the blood of an adulterer that they might become
an adulterer themselves.  Potential heart recipients were warned that
could wind up with the heart of a convicted murderer and that their
new heart might lead them to murder also!  Clearly, the JW HQ was
taking the phrases "it's in his blood" and "it's in his heart"
literally.  Just another example of the scientific accuracy and
integrity we've come to expect of the JW policy makers.

	(I wonder what problems would be associated with other organs.
Perhaps a recipient of a kidney from another timezone would wind up
peeing in the middle of the night.  A cornea received from a erotic
film fan might show X rated films at inappropriate times.  A stapes
from a rock music listener could play demonic music at will.)

	It would be funny if it weren't so tragic.

	The JW HQ also once prohibited vaccinations.  Under
considerable pressure from social forces, the JWs reconsidered when
their uninnoculated children were spreading disease and death among
their schoolmates.  Perhaps their position on blood will change as has
their positions on vaccination and organ transplantation.  Who can
tell?  The pattern of their continued revealed theology seems pretty
random to me.  The only constant point is that the JW HQ wants to keep
an aura of worldly separation for its rank and file JWs while not
going too far off the deep end so as to wind up in prison.  (Actually,
the JW HQ members once did time in the U.S. Atlanta Penitentiary, but
that's another story.)

	So their position on medical needs alone would give lie to the
belief that JWism is just another quirky religion.  If you have
friends or fmaily that are JWs, pray that none of them will ever be in
need of critical medical care.  After all, they are already in dire
need of critical spiritual care to cure them of their religion.

 [The above opinions expressed are my own; not necessarily held by others.]
      == Steven J. Edwards           Bull HN Information Systems Inc. ==
      == (508) 294-3484              300 Concord Road         MS 820A ==
      == sje@xylos.ma30.bull.com     Billerica, MA 01821          USA ==
"That Government which Governs the Least, Governs Best." -- Thomas Jefferson