GB on boxing, skydiving, etc.: Don’t do it. Shows lack of appreciation for life. GB on life saving blood transfusions: Don’t do it. Shows too much appreciation for life.
What’s your opinion on the enquires that are going on in the UK at the moment due to the fact that tens of thousands have been infected with contaminated blood? AIds and Hep C have killed thousands!
gabbsdad does the Uk really have that bad of a blood donation system right now? They haven’t updated the testing of the blood in the last 5 decades? I know in the US we go through a long survey to see our risk potential and afterward our blood is tested to make sure there is nothing wrong with it. I’ve donated multiple times and it always takes hours. Then I’ve received blood 2 times and both times it was also a process of cross matching the checking double checking triple checking blood types and bands and making sure everything is as safe as possible.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
The blood issue itself is another reason why I hate Watchtower encourages baptism at a young age. I was baptized when I was 10 years old but became a father at 30. At 10, I never would've perceived I could love another human being as much as I love my son and thinking about what it'd be like to be in a hospital having to let him die because he got sick before Watchtower came out with some New Light on a medical treatment as to whether they approve it or not. Just think about all those parents who lost their children who could've been saved by a blood fraction before that was viewed as acceptable by Watchtower.
Frank me realizing JWs may be wrong about blood, was the first brick to fall from the wall in my mind. Shortly after the issue came up during my wife's pregnancy. Nothing was ever more clear at that moment in time regarding this horrific unforgiving doctrine.
@bgillard12 nobody is claiming blood is some sort of magic bullet. Every medical intervention has risks, and if you need packed red cells in a hurry you are already having a bad day. The issue is that God never forbids transfusion. He forbids the eating of a dead animals blood, you killed for food. You are assigning blood some sort of superstitious value. It is not intrinsically sacred. The life it symbolizes is what is sacred. The hope of a resurrection does not give you the right to be cavalier with your life. If bloods approved uses are atonement, and of course as a liquid organ of your body.....transfusion fits in quite well. No dead thing to atone for since the blood comes from an alive willing human donor. And it's going into your circulatory system.....where it belongs. Blood is not bad medicine. Superstitious interpretation of God's will when not clearly stated is though.
@bgillard12 Are you not aware that even being on this channel and engaging with known apostates is a disfellowshipping offense. You have angered your god and the governing body. You need to immediately contact your presiding overseer and confess your sins. If you are lucky you will only get private reproof. If you are too scared to let them know about your openly discussing religion with disfellowshipped ones and apostates then just post your congregation info here and we will take care of it for you. Thank you and have a nice day.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
I already commented this as a reply but I think I'll say it as my own comment: When I was pregnant I told my midwife that I was raised a JW but I don't believe in it now, and she told me she knew a woman who died shortly after birth because she had a hemorrhage and lost too much blood. A simple blood transfusion would have saved her life. A husband heartbroken and a child without a mother... That story always stuck with me because it's so unbelievably tragic.
It's great you speak to current witnesses and even former witnesses who still grip so tightly to this belief. Two of my brothers (who were no longer witnesses) were REALLY living up their worldly lives when they refused their transfusions. Drugs? Sure! Smoking and drinking? Yup! Fornicating? TONS! But a life saving transfusion? Absolutely not! THAT'S how engrained this is in them, current and former Witnesses. This is a valuable video for both parties. Thank you!
Exact same thing with my brother. He was drunk when he was hit by a car. We got a phone call from the hospital. In his drunken stupor + head injury he had murmered that he was a jw and didn't want blood. The clinician checked with our parents. It was so confusing, he didn't go to meetings or anything, wasn't baptised and we didn't really know what his wishes were.
Blood transfusions can save limbs also. My newborn had a life threatening illness and her extremities started to lose perfusion. I immediately signed for the transfusion, which some disapproved. Eight years later I saw a child who had the same illness around the time she had it, but the medical intervention was too late and he lost all four distal limbs. It made me shutter then, and still does today, when I see my beautiful child that pulled through this crisis unscathed and I know other children weren’t so fortunate. The need for blood products can happen to ANYONE in the blink of an eye so very careful consideration with sound information is needed before a crisis arises. Thank you Lloyd, and Everyone who plays any part in shining light on this subject.
I was raised as a JW. As a child I loved to read. I thought the bound volumes were amazing because it was endless rows of articles on just about everything. I will never forget finding the Awake! magazine featuring the children dying because of refusing blood. Staring at the faces of the children who had died scared and saddened me...
Thank you so much for this video. I am currently in court with my JW ex-husband, fighting this very issue. I am compiling a list of the quotes from the literature. These types of videos are very helpful since I've never been a JW.
@@reneepickles Thank you so much. I have no idea how to send a message on UA-cam, but I am on Facebook with the same picture. The only difference is the middle initial L.
@bgillard12 the Bible, when read in context does not say to lose your life instead. It is for health and safety. I don't need or want any uninformed opinions of the cult of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or any of it's many other entities. That's a waste of time to try to get me to succumb to Watchtower. I read too much.
Even if you DID catch HIV from a blood tranfusion, you will still live longer than if you refuse a life saving blood transfusion. Someone said this to me and it was one of the points that gave birth to my critical thinking
Lloyd, your theology is SPOT ON! Even as an athiest, you do better preaching than most pastors I have heard!!😁 I sincerely hope you save lives with this video!❤
In my 10 or so years as a JW, I never did fully get behind this blood teaching. I never once held a “No Blood” card in my wallet. Something always seemed off about it, but I preferred to just stick my head in the sand about it and focus on something else. Even when I had kids, I secretly would hope that if something ever did happen to one of them where they would need a transfusion, that a judge or someone would step in and take the decision out of my hands, so that they could have blood but I could still claim innocence and not get disassociated. Of course, being out now I just look at all of this information and shake my head, wondering why I never gave it any thought. But that’s the life of a JW... we sit there at Kingdom Halls getting spoonfed crap by the Governing body, and we just eat it and nod along. Thank you for the work that you do!
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
Wow! This video obviously took an enormous amount of study and prep work. Brilliantly done! You know more on this topic than I dare say ALL rank and file JWs and probably even MOST elders, including the liaison committee members. Incredible. Thank you for an amazing job done on this life saving topic. Even one needless death is too many. Sad that the cult has such a hold over people that they would rather die themselves or watch a child die rather than open their minds to actual facts.
Ernest Dooley Are you already on public reproof or do you reckon you will be after the elders find out you’re on an apostate site? By the way, I am a mentally diseased, disfellowshipped apostate, on the fast track to death at Armageddon. Best not to talk to me.
Blood is NOT a spiritual component of Creator ... God, Jehovah , Are Spirit Energy ... My concern within the JW is the leaders who think it is OK to lie, to deceive, to abuse their congregation... I was like you once. Only with the World Wide Church of god ...they too abused , used, lied and deceived the Members. Knowledge about sexual abuse , covered up , from the Memberships, yet the leaders knew of this abomination and was OK with such a sin ..woman were not worthy except to keep the male happy. You choice to believe any way you want , I can choice to say my truth , I will not only tell you but also any child with you comes to my door , I will say young person , know that the real God loves you , use your own mind that He gave you , you are so loved by the true Creator if you feel abused , remember, when you are of age leave ... as the True God would never Shun you as you are made in is image .... go on the internet and find people who will love you .. On a different note Have you ever thought why the cult like church's call themselves Christian , yet are not ..Christ the Love Master of all Universe, his message from God was Love , not betrayal , you are the betrayed , by your leaders , not Jehovah , God, Creator . Also the do nots in these type of churches are for greed ,,,example.. Do not celebrate , Birthday 's , Valentine's Day , Easter , Halloween, and the Big one Christmas...Santa Claus , tooth fairy many manY more One of my children an adult now , said ( when shunned )!it would be so nice to get dressed up and try out Halloween Ahh when this happened, it was to late, she was told Halloween was for the children , shunned again .by the ones giving out the candy Finally I told her the truth, , her protector , her teacher of good, loving things had betrayed her , because I too had believed a lie, had been betrayed no child should have to bare that burden ...the true God would never ,, ever , do such a horrible thing , as I told her the Real God is of total Pure LOVE I asked her for her forgiveness , if she could not forgive , boy did I understand if the answeR was no Mom . , Forgiveness was given , today at 75 years I with my family has been so blessed by the true Being of Love , who has many names . I was also asked why Mom did the WW Church God be so bad, and wouldn't forgive , and not celebrate anything . Ahh I said ... one thing Sweetheart, MONEY ....because if the Cults let you have these fun things the family's who had many children , would be spending their money on the family, not giving it to the church... The Cults would have to make it a rule for ALL , if those celebrations were practiced the ( followers ) would have to be marked, shunned , disfellowshipped Etc. because cults are a creepy bunch they want the money , not kindness. My hope is for non JW who are reading this to know all the needy greedy info on any group before you decide , what does this .. Church really believe, remember you now have the internet ...information, that cults forbid their congregation to use .( can't expose Church ) Groups hiding from the public... we all have free choice use your choice wisely. One more on rules that are hidden from some cults ...how would you a parent ,feel if you found out your beloved child at school could not color Santa Claus picture, an Easter pictures of Bunnies , well guess what the JW the other Cults do ! So , would you want your little child to be at school and hide away from the other kids because they were special ( sarcasm here ) , strange isn't it the Bible says " and a little child would lead them " it didn't say we as your parents would lead , love, and care for you Creator already expected you would know that , because He already taught Love from His Word ! Thank you my blessed child , you could have shunned me , instead you showed love to me , even when I did not deserve it Yes I still believe in Christ as My savior one with Mercy not , one looking for SIN , when there wasn't any sin in the first place All, I wanted was only guidance and wanted to know about True Love, not mans idea of rule and being bullied ... The cults are famous ( infamous ) for burn in hell mentally, again for control ... to keep the sheep in line , I cannot believe any god ever in the universe anywhere being so vindictive in saying such a thing to obey or burn forever.. Blessings to all who are in religious bondage of ungodly believers .
Thank you so much for your frank, yet compassionate discussion of this subject. I have not had any contact with my mother for over 6 years over this issue. My youngest granddaughter developed a form of leukemia at age 3. Most of our friends and family happily donated blood in her name to offset some of the cost of her treatment. As a desperate and distraught grandmother, mother, and daughter, I called my mom within hours of the diagnosis, hoping for some parental support. Even though my mother has the same blood type, I respected her beliefs to not donate, and instead asked her to encourage any friends who were not JW to donate in her great-granddaughter's name. She haughtily informed me that due to her beliefs, she would not do this, how dare I even ask. I was hurt and dumbstruck, so I hung up. Now, I do not know if my mom is alive or dead. This used to cause me great emotional pain and struggle. But now, thanks to your discussions (and those of others) I allow myself to feel reasonable anger for her actions and distaste for her chosen cult religious beliefs instead of guilt for 'disassociating' from my mother in order to maintain my sanity. The blood product reasoning was what alerted me to the frank hypocrisy and controlling cult-like nature of this group while I was a teen in the 70's. This 'reasoning' simply had no solid logic and only served to point out their fundamental disbelief in the God they claim to worship. Sadly, my mother chose to embrace this cult later in life (she was over 50) with open eyes, knowing it would require her to further abuse her already emotionally damaged and fractured family. I am beginning to realize at age 62 that it is OK for me to not want their beliefs in my life, and further, to openly reject them. As far as I am concerned, JWs are at best unloving fundamentalist zealots and at worst, a dangerous and brutal cult. BTW, my granddaughter is now almost 10, and has been in remission since she was 5. Our family will be forever grateful for the generous blood donations from friends, acquaintances, and even complete strangers who made this possible.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@mattsamazingmazes6759; you are "parroting" the same, stale comment. Let me explain this. When the apostle Paul advised the early church to abstain from blood, he meant that they were to abstain from EATING animal blood, not injecting human blood into the veins. Blood transfusions were unknown at that time. The Holy Bible says nothing about blood transfusions whatsoever, and eating blood, or ingesting it (taking it by mouth) is NOT the same as a blood transfusion, which is injecting it into the veins. I hope you understand it by now.
Wow. So many thoughts. First, thank you for your hard work. This one hits so hard because, again, I was so manipulated. I was trying to think about how I would have viewed this when I was in. I came to the rather embarrassing conclusion that it wouldn’t have been an issue because I would have never watched this. This video really demonstrates why the GB is so adamant about demonizing those who leave the organization; why they must instill such a stark fear of outside influences. They know that once a Witness watches a video like this; one that calmly, logically, and kindly eviscerates their stand and teachings, they will begin to lose that member. The scene of the convention, which, based on the arena signage, was held in my home state of Tennessee, made me sick. It is very likely that my mother, ex-wife, and former friends were in that audience applauding the comparison of a caring doctor’s offer to help save a life with persecution. No words. So, again, thank you so much. It is obvious to me that you really care about current Witnesses. It’s in your tone, expressions, and mannerisms. Please don’t stop caring.
I love these questions, they're very thought provoking. I could see the gears of critical thinking beginning to turn in current JW members if they were to ask themselves these questions. Thank you so much for the video. Never gets old ❤️
As always...great video Lloyd! ONE YEAR after my son ( 2yrs old at the time) went into surgery the blood doctrine changed! His surgery didnt go well...he survived! But can you imagine if he needed a blood transfusion and he couldn't have one! And then just one year later he could have had blood fractions?!? This just infuriates me! I HATE that I used to follow that stupid JW law and put my baby's life in danger! JW take a firm stand on such an extreme doctrine...one that involves life and death! And here their Governing Body come right out and say they are neither inspired nor infallible! That they could err in doctrinal and or organizational direction! ( Feb 2017 Watchtower) But they are to obey! Not question. Even if its wrong. Even if death is a result of an ever changing doctrine! They want to use Matt 24 to prove there is a Faithful and discreet slave and the GB are it. But completely ignore Jesus warnings about looking out that they are NOT mislead. That even the chosen ones could be mislead! That the Faithful and discreet slave could even be thrown in with the hypocrites! They know that Watchtower has been continuously wrong! Continuously changing and flip flopping! And it has destroyed lives!
@bgillard12 not sure I'm quite following what you are saying. Might be because of lack of sleep. Lol. But for me the whole old testament is a different story. After years of Watchtower picking out scriptures to fit their doctrine and teachings I sat down and read the bible through. The old testament just blew me away! And made the new testament make so much more sense to me. I don't believe the God of the OT was our heavenly father for so many reasons. And this is why Jesus not only came to the earth to be a ransom sacrifice but to set things straight about how to worship and who his heavenly father REALLY is! And that substitute was a goat...wasnt it? That makes me wonder too.
This is a really disturbing topic.....and is right at the top of the list as evidence of the mind control. To think that men (elders) who someone is not even necessarily close friends with, can get in the way of your family and close friends reasoning with you on a life/death decision, is disgusting. The law needs to do something about this
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
When I had to receive blood for severe anemia in 2009 my Witness grandma was so upset she demanded to leave the hospital (leaving me alone there). They said without the transfusion it would take an extended period of time to build my iron levels back up and I couldn’t leave the hospital until then. At that point I was already a week in and had no insurance. She would have preferred me to go into complete debt instead - and I’m not even a Witness. She couldn’t even be around me for a while after, she glared at me like I was tainted. My grandma loved me so much, to think this was so ingrained in her to act that way is insane.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
I too, had a very serious anaemia issue, I was given two iron infusions, then it was way too much iron for my body........I said "no way " to a blood transfusion, I'm not having someone else's blood in me, it's gross. I put my faith in Jesus and God. That's all. NOT SO MUCH THE HOSPITAL, AS THEY HAVE DAMAGED ME TOO!!!!!
Thank you, Lloyd, for another excellent and valuable post! When I began weighing my own feelings about accepting blood fractions which the Watchtower had arbitrarily deemed to be a "matter of conscience" after decades of prohibiting them, it became clear to me that, if ANY fraction of blood was a matter of conscience, accepting whole blood or any "major" component should also be a matter of conscience. It does not belong to any man or group of men to dictate to other Christians what should, or should not be, a matter of conscience. Thus, it seems to me that this is another example of where the Watchtower shot itself in the foot by encouraging individuals to exercise their own critical thinking with regard to the blood issue. It certainly caused many, including elders, to change the way they looked at the Watchtower. And, as we all know, "when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." (Dr. Wayne Dyer)
I came back to this video to get some information for someone, and I just want to put this in the comments.... I respect how you, and how you document your statements so that we can verify them as fact, as opposed to simply stating your opinion. Thank you sir for your informed, educated and well-articulated videos.
Thank you Lloyd. This is really a brilliant summarizing of the different arguments why the Watchtower prohibition on blood is illogical, unscriptural (if that is of importance to you), and even without medical merit. There are also under the 4th point an important point about the lack of biblical reasons: JWs often argue as follows. The prohibition was mentioned in the Mosaic law, and repeated in Acts as you also quoted. But when someone claims that the Mosaic law is obsolete, they say it's a universal and everlasting commandment because it was given to Noah long before the Mosaic law was in effect. But the problem still persist, being the fact, that both the command to Noah and the commands in the Mosaic laws govern situations where you take life (i.e. kill an animal). In that case the symbolic act of giving the life back to Jehovah made sense to the Jews back then and even in the 1st century, but in the case of blood transfusion, there are significant differences. First of all - a life is not taken, as the one donating the blood does not die when leaving 500ml of blood in the blood bank. So no life is taken - no one dies! So there is no argument that because you take life you'll have to do some symbolic act that shows that the only one allowed to both give and take life is Jehovah, as long as you don't empty the donor of all his blood so he dies (which of course you don't). Furthermore the situation where you give a blood transfusion with donated blood the situation is the reverse compared to the situation in the bible where you had to pour out the blood to acknowledge the only one with a right to take life - Jehovah, as a blood transfusion is given in order to SUSTAIN life - not to take life. So you are not resurrecting someone (giving life) with a blood transfusion (you would never give a dead person a blood transfusion, and thereby take the role as someone GIVING life), and you don't kill the donor by giving someone a blood transfusion (thereby assuming the role of someone TAKING life), so no situation where it would be sensible for a believer - even a Jew - to respect the commandment about respecting the giver (and taker) of life (Jehovah/Yahweh) by pouring out the blood is ever relevant. Another point that I think was made by someone that corresponded with Ray Franz and that was quoted by Franz in one of his books was, that he understood the "logic" of accepting the blood as the symbol of life. In lack of better symbols in the ancient Israel and in the 1st century, that is an understandable logic. Even then they knew that if a person lost all his blood he would bleed to death. So using Blood as the symbol of life made sense to them. So even if that was still a logic adhered to by JWs he failed to see how God could reasonably be expected to value the SYMBOL of life higher than the ACTUAL life it represents. That is a very good point. JW's will not misuse the SYMBOL of blood by taking it into their body, but do they really think that a God that values life dearly (according to the Bible and their own beliefs), would ask someone to abstain from teh SYMBOL of life if it could actually save the LITERAL LIFE of that same person? How can the SYMBOL be of greater importance than the LIFE it SYMBOLIZES? Just a few thoughts. (I am terribly sorry if you did actually mention these and I missed those. I was a tiny bit tired, but I still enjoyed it very much. If I find out after watching it again tomorrow I will of course remove my pointless additions). As always - second-to-none, Lloyd.
@@weissshneee2900 I found some coins in my washing machine, I'm worried I may get prosecuted for money laundering What's a cameras favourite card game? Snap
#1: Another fact-based, evidence-driven video. Mr. Evans, you are a gift to humanity. Thank you, sir. #2: I am a (very small) patron of this channel, but I make sure to watch the commercials for at least 31 seconds. May I encourage everyone else, especially older/fixed income people (like me) to do the same? For me, it's a way I can support this channel without it costing me any money. #3: Regarding blood fractions: If I eat an elephant's trunk, could I say I've eaten elephant? How much of a fraction of the elephant do I have to eat to say "I've eaten elephant"? The answer: any of it. If you've taken blood or a blood fraction, you have taken blood. #4: How many lives do you think you might have saved by uploading this video. I believe many but even if it's one, it was well worth it. I'm proud to be one of your many subscribers. Please keep doing what you do!
@bgillard12 I like believing in what can be directly observed and verifiable facts. Your "faith" requires that you deny what is seen and provable facts so that your beliefs can be preserved. I prefer the former to the latter. But thank you for sharing your thoughts.
I am a serving elder in my congregation and completely disagree with the blood doctrine! I do not carry a blood card in my wallet. JWS do a Jim Jones EVERY YEAR!!
SID Are you going to Continue to preach this then? Or will you rise up and be an activist with the rest of us to end this slaughter of innocent lives. Will you expose the TRUTH about the "Truth"? Will you continue to research and be informed so you can stand firm in your conviction against this manipulative mind control? I Hope so. Jehovahs Witnesses are bringing shame and reproach on Gods name, and they are too arrogant willfully ignorant and afraid to even see that. So we who are awake MUST gather together to help wake them. It's part of our Duty and purpose now that WE KNOW.
Tanya Depoalo Leaving a religion is not an easy process, especially when you may face the risk of being shunned or abandoned by your close family members. Where I live some people resigned as JWs and lost their wives, children and sometimes even their jobs since their bosses were JWs. There are plenty of JWs out there who don't agree with the GB on many issues, but they aren't brave enough to stand for their real beliefs not because they're cowards, but because they'd literally lose everything in few hours, something which may have disastrous effects on you. And if you're and elder consequences may be even more serious, because you're supposed to give a good example to the congregation and if you 'betray' Jehovah's organization you'll be labeled as the worst kind of apostate. Not easy. So, assumed that Sid REALLY is an elder (it may be a troll), I 100% sympathize with him and hope that elders like him may contribute to change the WT, if it were possible.
Talking recently with my younger brother (elder) about mum in hospital. He dosent carry a blood card shock...I would have thought they had to .mum won't take blood she's 60years in .but brother does have a condition which may require treatment, keeping his options open then eh!!?
Out at 16 before the 75 debacle soo glad had to have blood with my pregnancy. This makes me happy to see you don't have to carry a card . They didn't even have elders when I left .
This is so interesting. As a person who’s never bern involved with JW personally I knew next to nothing about this topic previous to this video. Thanks for another great video 👏🏻
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 What if the bible *wasn't* inspired of God, and rather the work of peasants in the middle ages? Wouldn't that explain the NUMEROUS contradictions in the bible and the crazy amount of unethical and immoral behaviour of the God of the bible? IE Killing thousands of children, punishing the fourth generation for the sins of their forefathers, killing someone for looking the wrong way, killing someone for picking up sticks on the sabbath, giving Mideonite virgins as sex slaves to the Israelites. ETHNIC CLEANSING! The list could go on. Do your research, do not let 8 men in New York speak for you. Read the old WT literature and see how much their beliefs have changed, it's shocking and obviously not the truth. See that WT joined the United Nations (the Beast!) for 10 years for their own gain. Read Raymond Franz' book, he was one of the Governing Body for years
I wish professionals would watch this- surgeons, nurses, judges, doctors, politicians, social workers, anyone who potentially deals with JWs refusing blood, to help them understand the complexities involved and the arguments in this issue. There is too much focus on respecting patients' wishes. We need pressure on putting a stop to the GB manipulating and controlling people's medical choices.
Lloyd I read your tweet about the more organic presentation style you chose to use for this one But in all honesty I couldn’t really tell a difference. Another outstanding video. Just when I think you can’t put out a more interesting or persuasive video you outdo yourself. Great job once again on a very difficult topic for those of us who were in at one time and now realize how dangerous this religion could have been for us in addition to the wasted years.
I think when you consider the bibilical reasoning presented for the blood ban, it's important to read all of Acts chapter 15. The chapter begins with describing the controversy about whether gentile converts to Christianity who were men needed to get circumcised. These men balked at the idea of getting circumcised, and I think this was probably not just because of the physical discomfort this would entail, but also because, in those days before the germ theory of disease was understood and before antibiotics existed, any injury on your body carried a very real risk of infection, gangrene, sepsis and death. And the apostles decided that it would not be necessary to impose such a harsh requirement on the men. Verse 28 says the apostles don't want to impose a greater burden than not to eat meat from sacrifices or blood and not to commit fornication. So these were supposed to be easy things to observe, nothing that would put the physical health or even just the physical comfort of any person at risk. To take this regulation and claim that it means people have to lay down their lives by refusing standard medical treatment is to turn the meaning of the whole chapter on its head. Of course, this is just my interpretation of the scripture, and I'm not inspired or infallible - but then, neither is the Governing Body, right?
But like you always say, Lloyd, nobody likes to be lied to or conned or taken advantage of. Thanks for all your time and effort; you're truly helping a lot of people see this cult for what it truly is.
I asked my JW mother some months ago if she would have followed the blood doctrine, if I had the need of a blood transfusion as a child? She replied yes. I just needed to hear from the horses mouth, it affected me very much, i was devastated even though I knew the answer. Growing up with a narcissistic JW mother was quite literally hell on earth. I felt worthless unwanted unworthy to even be alive. Thx a lot. I don’t call her mom anymore, she’s only cared about herself, neglecting the children, her spouse, biological family, and friends. Today she’s very lonely, she’s 82, well she now pays the price. Her grandchildren sees her 1 a year only to be polite. And I are nearly no contact. I’m still seeing therapist even though I left decades ago. Take care everyone ❤️❤️
I should forward this to the COBE Elder in my most recent Wisconsin, USA congregation since he is the HLC head in the region also. I'd probably get an instant Judicial Committee Disfellowshipping at their "new" Kingdom Hall. Thoroughly well thought out and objective video!
@Chiafade now Oh I absolutely agree. They will just disfellowship me in absentia and when they show up at my door to make their "announcement" they will have to say hello to my "little friend". I already lost my 46-y.o. JW wife of 14 years last month on October 22 when her "Disassociated" Mom, whom we never shunned, found her dead in her apartment bedroom floor while doing a well-being check on her. That coupled with my 88-y.o. Dad battling Alzheimer's inevitably about to die and my 84-y.o. Aunt in and out of hospitals - dude, I have fucking had it with this JW religious cult and this fucked up world and I have had it with it all. Hearing so many others being affected, I swear, these JW "leaders" are gonna pay!!
I live in Sweden and here there has not been a single case reported of a patient being infected of hiv via blood transfusion since they started testing blood in 1985. Also it bugs me when they write you can get "aids" from blood tranfusion, which to me only displays ignorance on the subject.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 So does this mean that it is against the Bible’s teaching to eat rare steaks? No, I have never heard or that said before at a JW meeting, but you do see there is red blood in a steak. So why is it that they interpret the scripture in a way that is so life-threatening, when it could as easily mean to abstain from the blood of a cow when eating its meat?
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 Yes, it IS the Governing Body’s interpretation of the scripture, because it is ONLY them who interpret the scripture that way. NO ONE else in the world does, which should be a sign that it’s a wacky belief. The GB picks and chooses which scriptures it wants to take literally and which it does not, so why would you believe that they could be right about this?
LLoyd, I am truly grateful for this recent video. I am not as really as knowledgeable on how to put all these pieces together. Currently my mother has cancer, anemia and has refused blood, and I need to find a way to get her to think on the subject. I am 45 and left this cult around 20 years ago or so. I don't even remember their stupid arguments for refusing blood. This is very helpful if i can find a way to speak to her on her terms, if we discuss this with only cult literature. Thank you so much friend. -Javier, from Chicago, IL. U.S.A.
Relevant Question: Should Jehovah's Witnesses get their blood drained meat at a Kosher Butchery to avoid the consumption of blood. Are JW's not hypocritical in their consumption of food.
Lloyd, even though you put this out three years ago, I want to personally thank you for doing so. This has proven without a shadow of a doubt that the blood teaching is ABSOLUTELY false. I'm so thankful that this information was put out because I held so firmly to the belief for many years, even though deep down not understanding or agreeing with it. Now that I have a four year old daughter, this is especially important for me to understand, for the safety of her precious life. Keep up your activism! It is changing lives!!!
Another great job at exposing how dangerous and hurtful this cult truly is. Sadly this teaching will likely never change. Keep up the great work Lloyd!!
Fun fact: My best friend and best man at my wedding brought Ken Cook into the organization. The witnesses’ stance on blood was one of the big things that ATTRACTED him to JW’s. My friend, also no longer a JW, would school witness and show the kids his no blood card. Ken, who was a long haired, antisocial type as a young teen saw the card as a sort of anti-establishment statement and asked how he could get one. A bible study was started and the rest is, you know, history.
A REAL Life saving message for sure good work Lloyd! 👌👍 I'll try and show this to my parents they are currently in, Me my wife and young daughter have been out as of a few months ago. Thanks to you my friend👍. I was 3rd gen my wife was 1st gen and pioneered (free laborer)... lol The governing body are blood guilty hopefully the law will catch up to them before they ("finish their earthly course") giving closure to victims, and this horrible black hole of a religion and it either Reform's its policies or burns out Bolth would be a result of Responsible activism against it. Thankyou again for your hard work, research, and highly logical opinions!
I'm not lying about this, I knew a family of JWs whose last name was Moch. I haven't spoken with any of them in 30 years so I don't know if they're still JWs.
Excellent! Informative, very respectful, thoughtful and done with empathy for the victims of this terrible policy. I will be sharing this with all those I care about and to people I don't know as well.
Thanks for the content! Although I don't know how often JW's die because of this belief, it truly is a waste of a life even if it is only one life lost per year, because these unfortunate people are being deluded by poorly trained ministers .
When I was pregnant I told my midwife that I was raised a JW but I'm not in it now, and she told me she knew a woman who died shortly after birth because she had a hemorrhage and lost too much blood. A simple blood transfusion would have saved her life. A husband heartbroken and a child without a mother... That story always stuck with me because it's so unbelievably tragic.
Numerous Jehovah's Witnesses I know now work in the medical field. My recently deceased JW ex-wife who passed away at 46 had worked in a microbiology lab for years as well as numerous doctors offices before going back to school in 2003-04 to become a Vascular Ultrasound Sonography, then worked with Vascular Surgeons at various Vein Clinics of America locations around Chicago from 2005-2010. She was deeply indoctrinated, very meticulous about cleaning and adamantly against blood with the exception of some fractions she put on her own Durable Power of Attorney/Advance Directive card. In 2013 as a patient she became anemic with her hemoglobin count going down to 6 and refused blood. She actually started taking iron infusions and we bought iron supplements at the health food store and lean buffalo bison meat high in iron and she gradually built her count back up. She was already battling lymphoma cancer, epstein-barr and hepatitis before this. I suppose in many JW eyes her story would be viewed as a success based on the last 73 years of JW history. It's just sad all the way around that this is made such a magnified issue by watchtower. Especially in the case of emergencies where lives are really in the balance and instant decision are mandated, unlike my ex-wife who had more planning time or the ones in watchtower video where they are receiving hip or knee replacements but are planned far in advance with ample precautionary preparation for elective non-blood treatment. That via scenarios is a major difference.
Lloyd, the blood issue was ultimately what propelled me into further research that led me to leaving the organisation. My late husband was unfortunately one of those rare ones that contracted hepatitis. He was the only one in his family who was a JW and his parents, because he was a minor, gave the drs permission to give him blood, bear in mind that this was in the early 60's in the South of Italy when the blood donated was not monitored for its safety. Fast forward to 1990, my husband was 38 and I was 27 and 6 months pregnant. Because of his condition, bleeding esophageal varices, he was rushed to a hospital in Rome where he tragically died. During the days leading up to his death, I was aware of the elders being present from the blood committee but not once did they speak to me but went straight ahead and spoke to the dr's in my place. I desperately wanted my husband to live but felt that the decision of his medical treatment was taken out of my hands. Those elders took advantage of my vulnerable state and literally took my husband's life in their hands and left me picking up the pieces of bringing up my, then, soon to be born fatherless child. I, along with many others, know just how much pain this religious cult can cause.
Lloyd, we met a few years back at the first ex JW reunion in London when your little girl was just a babe in arms, remember? Yes, I'd be happy to come and share my story on your channel if it helps wake people up.
What a great video you did Lloyd! It was so compelling and so kindly presented. I sincerely hope it will help millions of honest hearted ones to wake up.
I got into a debate recently with a jw because I asked why do witnesses refuse blood when the blood transfusion was never mentioned in the bible back in the days, it's as if witnesses made up that rule🤷🏾she got upset that I questioned this and told me it doesn't matter point blank we should strictly follow what the Bible say🙄 then she read Acts 15:28, 29. Thank you Lloyd for sharing this, you're right, the Bible writers had no idea about blood transfusion back when Jesus was alive and again not even mentioned in the Bible
I would like to see the watchtower become liable for charges of murder by disallowing blood transfusion And for GOVERNING BODY and LOCAL CONGREGATION ELDERS to be imprisoned for it for many years, say 25 years minimum
This blood fractions didn’t work with my family. The elders say the blood fractions come from plAnts, that’s why it’s okay my sharers again. No winning again.
I always heard that Jehovah's witnesses believed in strange things, but I had no idea how cult like it was until I started watching this channel. TY for all of the Information Lloyd! You're awesome.
When someone refuses a blood transfusion and dies as a result, the Witnesses make it seem as though it was a courageous act of loyalty and for some that may be true, but for most, I view it as nothing more than cowardice. Few will ever admit the real reason for refusing a blood transfusion. They do not want to have to endure the great tribulation. They don't want to live in this wicked system of things any longer. They don't wish to slave on, day in and day out in the ministry preaching the good news of the kingdom. *What they want is to simply go to sleep and wake up in the new system! In their minds, the refusal of a blood transfusion which results in death is perhaps the easiest way to do just that while remaining in good graces with Jehovah!* It's a matter of taking the easy way out, while under the guise of hardship.
About 33-34 years ago I worked for a JW couple in their bakery/cafe, of course they didn't last long as they wouldn't do birthday/wedding/anniversary/etc. cakes...I haven't thought about that in years. I watch you and a couple of other exJWs fairly regularly and have been seeing comments lately from people who have been posting about celebrating their first birthday at the age of 28, 36, 40 and so on...I don't remember anyone doing anything on this. If you haven't already(I'll search)could you do a video about this?...this topic: excellent video as usual, it's very interesting to find out where these ideas come from and why/how they're used in these organizations. I'm Canadian and remember the Eloise case very well. When I hear about things like this I am so glad I brought my son up without religion...Thanks for all of your hard work and information.
I have Sickle Cell disease which causes me to have less than half of red blood cells than normal people when my counts drop I have pain crisis along with shortness of breath as well as damage to some organs the only thing that can help me is a blood transfusion without it I can have severe organ damage amongst other serious complications this is what stopped me from getting baptized (I studied for 3 years) because facing a painful slow death for no good reason and leaving my family behind when I could just get a blood transfusion and be OK was something I couldn't do so I stopped my studies it started to be the topic of every study and they were pushing the issue so I could not commit to what they wanted from me I don't believe God would want me do die when he clearly made a way for my life to be saved
God does not want anyone to die to prove their love. Not for any law or in extreme situations to self witness. Which God wants death as an expression of Love??! God knows your love through your communication of your soul in his spirit within u. Jesus suffered and died for reason of saving us. Denying Jesus is ignoring helping the sick, the poor, wounded animals....
Thank u for doing this video. I'm a former jw, as I had blood transfusion 3 yeats ago. Happy I chose life over death, especially since I see wt is full of hipocracy.
You my friend have given me so much information and it is always so logical and easy to see. I am a person that as I have gotten older the more strongly I look at things with logic. The bible itself has become illogical to me, and even for me to admit that the bible makes no sense and is not logical is something that broke me from the inside. You have helped me to be able to even become more logical when I am talking with my family about this ridiculous cult, my mother won't discuss it and tell me not to call and then after a while she will call and again some where in our conversation I am determined to make another logical point. My mother had surgery a few years ago and of coarse an Elder was there the entire time to be sure we as mother's family could not over step the blood decision. Thanks again Lloyd, your hard work pays off in so many ways.
Such unbelievably sad stories.☹️😢 .... When I was 10 years old I was in the hospital to get my appendix out; my mom coerced/told me that she's going to let the doctors know that we do not accept blood. Thank the universe a blood transfusion wasn't needed for an appendectomy, but God damn, what if it did? Based on how fanatical she was, I believe she would have had me killed.
What about storing one's own blood for transfusions? What is the policy on that? How can that be seen as bad? They are always going on about the blood from others, animals. Your own blood is you. Thanks for the comprehensive video on this subject! Well done!!!
Peter this is interesting. So a cell saver machine that is operated by a perfusionist is up to conscience. That machine sucks up the blood with a vacuum into a bag under the survival table (gravity). It is usually filtered either in real time, or removed from the room and filtered. Then the bag is raised up and re transfused. This is all ok with JWs. But if you have a surgery coming up, want to bank your own blood a few weeks before, and take drugs to increase your own blood production in the meantime.....that is forbidden. Why? Beats the crap out of me. I believe (but cannot confirm), that the language is that blood being removed and reintroduced is ok if it is "part of a current procedure".
Hi Lloyd, hopefully you will cover soon the story of Eloise, I will share that video with many. Tragically for those who left, like me, that we still have to face the shunning, broken family, struggle with loneliness and unfortunately we still have close family members in the Cult, we are living in a nightmare, knowing how evil the WT is. How they destroyed innocent lives, the hands of the GB are covered with blood. The blood issue created so many problems to the WT that is unlikely to change policy on that. Too many people died because of that, and just like the shunning policy the will not back up. The only way is ex jw's that is huge community now, and we are bringing the Tower down.
Thank you so much Lloyd, I've been watching so many of you videos. Last night I said to my boyfriend "I don't care if my family believes in god, I know they wouldn't shun me I'm not baptised anyway so they can't, but I am really worried about the blood transfusion thing, like I don't want them to die because of this" I've been trying to figure out things I can show them and how I can try to get them to find gods love without the watchtower. I don't want to have to worry about my young brother being in their care. Or about them.
1:14:05 “I just find it so sad that Watchtower has this much blood on their hands. That they are responsible for killing this many Jehovahs Witnesses.” A chilling Pun 🥺
I always wondered if my beautiful mom would still be here if she was not aJW when she got sick. She told me that she never did a lot as a witness but she could stand true in this issue. After watching your videos I realized witnesses came to the hospital and talk to her because she was going to take the transfusion at one point then she changed her mind and would not budge on it she passed away about four weeks later😭😭😭. It was the main reason I could never go back to that mess. After watching all your videos I am so happy I did not..
Thanks for such a excellent video Lloyd! You explained it very clearly and asked very thought provoking questions. I used to dread being asked about the blood issue because as a JW I knew deep down that it didn't make sense. However, the doctrine is so deeply entrenched in you - it was the ultimate sin having a blood transfusion as far as I was concerned. At present I still have my blood card even though I don't go to meetings now. Your video has given me the confidence that now it really is time to shred the card and not be frightened anymore. Thank you so very much!!!
Not sure if anyone will read this comment as the video is old but in their book, What Can The Bible Teach Us?, they mention that "it is more important to obey Jehovah than to try to extend our life by disobeying him". Sorry but that is just evil....obeying Jehovah by following a made up law is more important than being alive???? NO!!!
There’s no biblical basis for deciding if blood fractions are accepted or not. Yet they use the Bible to justify blood transfusions are wrong in general, even though the Bible doesn’t specifically talk about blood in that way.
I agree with most of your points, thank you for this video. I do however know 2 people who got Hep C from blood transfusions. I do also know that doctors who use blood during surgery can be more sloppy than a surgeon who does alternative methods for JWs. I would in many ways want someone to be more careful than sloppy. However this is truly a personal choice ultimately just like any other medical procedure, not biblically mandated as you have clearly pointed out.
Thanks Jessica. Statistically speaking it's inevitable that someone will know more than one person who contracted a disease from infected blood, but as I point out, there is risk in almost any medical procedure. Even just by going under general unaesthetic for an operation there is a chance, however small, that you won't wake up. It's all about rolling the dice and given a choice between risk and death, I know what I'd go for. :)
Jess I know someone as well. I also know 3 people that died in part from not having it available as an option. Hep C contraction is currently 1 in 230K transfusions. Not bad odds (unless you are the 1). All medical interventions have risks. I usually share with JWs the verifiable fact that 3,000 people a year die from Aspirin consumption. About 40 die a year from taking blood (usually human error). These are verifiable statistics. So.....is aspirin dangerous? Or is there risk in everything.
Great video! I had a hemoglobin count of 4! I thank God everyday for the doctors having enough knowledge to save my life! Those people are crazy i wish I would have realized it sooner rather than almost dying before I woke up.It's a horrible way to live slowly dying because you can't breathe.
However with the whole "conscience matter" thing they also tell you that you must think of your brother as well and that even if it doesn't hurt your conscience it may hurt your brothers and then his blood is on your hands.
They originally didn't even allow the cell saver, this was used during surgery collecting the blood lost during surgery and putting it back into your own body. They considered that it was tainted after leaving the body even in a closed setting. By 2004 when my daughter was born premature the liaison committee came to the hospital and told me I could at that point accept the cell saver and when I was like what?! They actually looked me in the eye and told me "you need to give the doctors something to work with you can't totally tie their hands" i was taken aback it was like I was personally refusing treatment even though I was simply trying to follow the rules. Down the road,2007, my dad was fighting cancer in the hospital and the liaison committee this was made up of two elders where we lived, not sure if it is always elders, they told my dad "bone marrow is now a conscience matter but you still need to remember if you accept it and you stumble one of your brothers you will be held blood guilty" they again reminded him that the platelets he desperately needed at that moment were still off limits. I left after his funeral at the KH. I can't explain how traumatizing it is to see somebody with no clotting factor take two days to bleed to death from everywhere the blood can escape from the body. Esp when that person is somebody you love so much. I will always see the organization as murderers and they have blood on their hands, not just my dad's, but so many who've died for their rules on blood and other rules that later changed.
God does not want anyone to die . God made our blood in order for us to have life and without that blood we don't have life . Life is in the blood . Why would Got want us to refuse the blood he made for us to have life ?
I'm curious as to why willfully accepting a blood transfusion is not technically a disfellowshipping offense -according to the 'Shepherd the flock' book - and instead means you've disassociated yourself? (like if you join the military or attend another church)
You can only be disfellowshipped by committing one of the sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10. So basically anywhere in the bible that says "you will not inherit God's Kingdom " if you do this action, you can be disfellowshipped for it. Since "eating blood" or blood transfusions is not mentioned in that sense, this is Watchtowers work around to still kick you out.
@@cardboardbox9977 Ok. I remember when the 'refinements' came out about accepting blood fractions. There was a kingdom ministry insert on it that everyone had to mull over - and then update their 'medical directive' cards to state what they would accept. Jws in general were confused - like a duck hit on the head-because most Jws just want to be told what to do. I myself struggled to decide. I always thought that God had an opinion on it one way or the other but somehow failed to transmit his wishes about it to his ppl and organization.
@@amandahuginkiss4098 Jehovah's Witnesses view smoking as an unclean thing, that if you participate in, you'll experience God's wrath. There's also scriptures that state that a unclean person is to be thrown out. Uncleannes is put right in there with greed and sexual immorality in Colossians. I've never personally heard of anyone being disfellowshipped for celebrating a birthday unless the birthday was classified a revelry or wild party. But no, I'm not wrong.
I suspect this is for legal reasons. It's a small distinction, but saying someone "leaves", vs saying they are kicked out regarding a medical intervention can be meaningful if tested in court. A friend of the family who is a CO told me "we don't really DF for that anymore". Essentially his point was that the elders assume you were under duress and it was a moment of weakness. So you may get a shepherding call. But if you are defiant or open about it, then you could be considered "brazen". You feel me?
@Chiafade now this is definitely what I think. It's a small but very important distinction. It's essentially semantics. JW leadership plays these semantical games very well. But in general, even if the elders knew of it, they would most likely not go out of their way to DF you for it. It's a bad look. It's incredibly rare currently. I have worked with a teaching hospital in my area that does bloodless medicine. They have explained to me anecdotally (so take that for what it's worth), that 2/3ds at least of JW patients that end up needing blood will take it when push comes to shove and ask for it to be private. Those that take it? Usually trauma cases of children, and seriously poor/uneducated peeps.
Lloyd what a great video ....so much information I didn't was aware of it ....thank you for you effort in putting everything well organized....as always thank you !!!
My uncle died when he was 16 because of this blood issue. He had a huge Supreme Court case and was able to choose for himself. His name was Joshua walker from Canada! Maybe you’ll be able to find something on this! I have all the documents and papers from it!
John Cedars totally commented before I finished the video 🤭 Thank you for sharing this in your video and bringing awareness to such a sensitive issue (for Jehovah’s witnesses) hopefully it gets them thinking. Any questions please feel free to ask cheers 🍻
i love your work :) never been a JW, am a atheist but did have family in JW and other religious people in my family. i love watching your videos because it is easier than reading up on much of this stuff yourself because, no offence but f... it is boring reading! u present it in a way that does not give splinters :) keep up the good work :) i know it must be hard to do all that study because i have tried but...simple too dry reading
It's incredible how such a terrible policy that we believed so strongly can be so simply and comprehensively destroyed, from literally every angle - including watchtower's own words! I especially liked the bible principles on rules vs life - and from Jesus himself - as when conversing with a jdub this will be the only real way to get through the cognitive dissonance that is created by the fear of losing their entire social structure through policy enforcement. Also it really helps the guilt factor of letting go of a deeply entrenched disregard for life, that actually is not taught scripturally. Although Paul makes a decent effort at times... When I finally removed my blood card from my wallet, I replaced it with a donor card and feel much better! This kind of clear, rational logic is very inspiring and I did my own writing afterward on topics of free will and disfellowshiping. It's time to patreon. Kudos JC ☺
Oh - and I highly recommend any ex-dub to visit Kevin McFree for the refreshingly hilarious angle on cultlife - with stop animation Lego! He even has a two part skit on "the blood issue" called "does it bloody matter" 😄
I was df'd 2001 but woke up 2016 of nov.and follows the operation of my daughter that needs blood transfusion...i didnt hesitate to agree when the doctor asked me consent since my daughter requested me to decide for her although she can decide on her own since shes not minor anymore at 21yrs.old...im thankful for spoonfed no more blog for waking me after watching her so with blood issues it was so timely for me to decide transfuse of blood a month before my daughters op.otherwise i possibly refuse ...plus i learned ray franz e.g a blood is a symbol of lifebut its only a symbol ...and life is greater than the symbol so how can u sacrifice the greater thing to hold to that symbol ex.a symbol of a wedding ring to sacrifice the life of a wife other than the ring as the symbol of marriage...
great video as always lloyd, these keep presenting more arguments i could use if i ever get caught up in conversation with a witness that's doubting and that needed help :)
This video put my mind at ease though I’m not a believer in the religion of JW I did study for numbers of years on and off,but this past year I found myself in away of needing a blood transfusion as a matter of fact I have had 5 in 8 months,I am anemic! But I also had iron deficiency . Yes the watch tower has blood on their hands.😊
No way can they start allowing blood more than they have, not just because of admitting guilt, but also because it's an identifying characteristic of watchtower religion. When you think about it, the whole watchtower movement, and especially since Franz and Rutherford took over, was designed to be as different from christendom as possible.
Ashley I believe their plan is to wait out the medical industry. As medicine progresses, this finite resource that expires and requires this much effort to store and collect, should be replaced. It is a matter of time. They will not change this policy under any circumstances. It is a "Hallmark" teaching. It's frankly one of the things they are known for.
I was in this evil cult for 19yrs. I cannot imagine the pain if you let a child die. I still going through pain of not going to my dear little daughters wedding over 10yrs ago. I got out nearly 7yrs ago. I would have loved to have gone. Long story. She got married on the west coast. We live on the east coast of the U.S.A. I had a single sister then living with me. I am so blessed I got out.
GB on boxing, skydiving, etc.: Don’t do it. Shows lack of appreciation for life.
GB on life saving blood transfusions: Don’t do it. Shows too much appreciation for life.
Your comment would make a great t-shirt.
Sharply brought to the point. Very well done.
What’s your opinion on the enquires that are going on in the UK at the moment due to the fact that tens of thousands have been infected with contaminated blood? AIds and Hep C have killed thousands!
gabbsdad does the Uk really have that bad of a blood donation system right now? They haven’t updated the testing of the blood in the last 5 decades?
I know in the US we go through a long survey to see our risk potential and afterward our blood is tested to make sure there is nothing wrong with it. I’ve donated multiple times and it always takes hours.
Then I’ve received blood 2 times and both times it was also a process of cross matching the checking double checking triple checking blood types and bands and making sure everything is as safe as possible.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
The blood issue itself is another reason why I hate Watchtower encourages baptism at a young age. I was baptized when I was 10 years old but became a father at 30. At 10, I never would've perceived I could love another human being as much as I love my son and thinking about what it'd be like to be in a hospital having to let him die because he got sick before Watchtower came out with some New Light on a medical treatment as to whether they approve it or not. Just think about all those parents who lost their children who could've been saved by a blood fraction before that was viewed as acceptable by Watchtower.
Frank me realizing JWs may be wrong about blood, was the first brick to fall from the wall in my mind. Shortly after the issue came up during my wife's pregnancy. Nothing was ever more clear at that moment in time regarding this horrific unforgiving doctrine.
@bgillard12 nobody is claiming blood is some sort of magic bullet. Every medical intervention has risks, and if you need packed red cells in a hurry you are already having a bad day. The issue is that God never forbids transfusion. He forbids the eating of a dead animals blood, you killed for food. You are assigning blood some sort of superstitious value. It is not intrinsically sacred. The life it symbolizes is what is sacred. The hope of a resurrection does not give you the right to be cavalier with your life. If bloods approved uses are atonement, and of course as a liquid organ of your body.....transfusion fits in quite well. No dead thing to atone for since the blood comes from an alive willing human donor. And it's going into your circulatory system.....where it belongs. Blood is not bad medicine. Superstitious interpretation of God's will when not clearly stated is though.
@bgillard12 Are you not aware that even being on this channel and engaging with known apostates is a disfellowshipping offense. You have angered your god and the governing body. You need to immediately contact your presiding overseer and confess your sins. If you are lucky you will only get private reproof. If you are too scared to let them know about your openly discussing religion with disfellowshipped ones and apostates then just post your congregation info here and we will take care of it for you. Thank you and have a nice day.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 “Life has priority” - this is what Jesus has to say against JW and Pharisees
I already commented this as a reply but I think I'll say it as my own comment: When I was pregnant I told my midwife that I was raised a JW but I don't believe in it now, and she told me she knew a woman who died shortly after birth because she had a hemorrhage and lost too much blood. A simple blood transfusion would have saved her life. A husband heartbroken and a child without a mother... That story always stuck with me because it's so unbelievably tragic.
It's great you speak to current witnesses and even former witnesses who still grip so tightly to this belief. Two of my brothers (who were no longer witnesses) were REALLY living up their worldly lives when they refused their transfusions. Drugs? Sure! Smoking and drinking? Yup! Fornicating? TONS! But a life saving transfusion? Absolutely not! THAT'S how engrained this is in them, current and former Witnesses. This is a valuable video for both parties. Thank you!
That's a great point. I really hope this video reaches out to those who cling to this nonsensical teaching whether they still identify as JWs or not.
Lloyd, how are these hospital liaison committee people allowed to do this? Doesn’t family come before non-family?
@@maryannlockwood3961 Quite simply because not enough people know how dangerous they are.
Exact same thing with my brother. He was drunk when he was hit by a car. We got a phone call from the hospital. In his drunken stupor + head injury he had murmered that he was a jw and didn't want blood. The clinician checked with our parents. It was so confusing, he didn't go to meetings or anything, wasn't baptised and we didn't really know what his wishes were.
@@alishalayton7356 I feel your pain. It's absolutely heart wrenching! Makes me so angry...
Blood transfusions can save limbs also. My newborn had a life threatening illness and her extremities started to lose perfusion. I immediately signed for the transfusion, which some disapproved. Eight years later I saw a child who had the same illness around the time she had it, but the medical intervention was too late and he lost all four distal limbs. It made me shutter then, and still does today, when I see my beautiful child that pulled through this crisis unscathed and I know other children weren’t so fortunate. The need for blood products can happen to ANYONE in the blink of an eye so very careful consideration with sound information is needed before a crisis arises. Thank you Lloyd, and Everyone who plays any part in shining light on this subject.
I was raised as a JW. As a child I loved to read. I thought the bound volumes were amazing because it was endless rows of articles on just about everything. I will never forget finding the Awake! magazine featuring the children dying because of refusing blood. Staring at the faces of the children who had died scared and saddened me...
Thank you so much for this video. I am currently in court with my JW ex-husband, fighting this very issue. I am compiling a list of the quotes from the literature. These types of videos are very helpful since I've never been a JW.
Carlita Vega if you are on Facebook we have a dedicated page for this. Send me a message. xx
@@reneepickles Thank you so much. I have no idea how to send a message on UA-cam, but I am on Facebook with the same picture. The only difference is the middle initial L.
@@reneepickles I waved at you on Facebook messenger.
@bgillard12 the Bible, when read in context does not say to lose your life instead. It is for health and safety. I don't need or want any uninformed opinions of the cult of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society or any of it's many other entities. That's a waste of time to try to get me to succumb to Watchtower. I read too much.
carguy, he/she may have been trying to come for me since I said that I was never a JW.
Even if you DID catch HIV from a blood tranfusion, you will still live longer than if you refuse a life saving blood transfusion. Someone said this to me and it was one of the points that gave birth to my critical thinking
Nah just let me go
Lloyd, your theology is SPOT ON! Even as an athiest, you do better preaching than most pastors I have heard!!😁 I sincerely hope you save lives with this video!❤
In my 10 or so years as a JW, I never did fully get behind this blood teaching. I never once held a “No Blood” card in my wallet. Something always seemed off about it, but I preferred to just stick my head in the sand about it and focus on something else.
Even when I had kids, I secretly would hope that if something ever did happen to one of them where they would need a transfusion, that a judge or someone would step in and take the decision out of my hands, so that they could have blood but I could still claim innocence and not get disassociated.
Of course, being out now I just look at all of this information and shake my head, wondering why I never gave it any thought. But that’s the life of a JW... we sit there at Kingdom Halls getting spoonfed crap by the Governing body, and we just eat it and nod along. Thank you for the work that you do!
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
Wow! This video obviously took an enormous amount of study and prep work. Brilliantly done! You know more on this topic than I dare say ALL rank and file JWs and probably even MOST elders, including the liaison committee members. Incredible. Thank you for an amazing job done on this life saving topic. Even one needless death is too many. Sad that the cult has such a hold over people that they would rather die themselves or watch a child die rather than open their minds to actual facts.
I agree, Monica. It's an amazing amount of research that went into this. Much appreciated!
Ernest Dooley Are you already on public reproof or do you reckon you will be after the elders find out you’re on an apostate site? By the way, I am a mentally diseased, disfellowshipped apostate, on the fast track to death at Armageddon. Best not to talk to me.
@@1chadmon 😂
Blood is NOT a spiritual component of Creator ... God, Jehovah , Are Spirit Energy ...
My concern within the JW is the leaders who think it is OK to lie, to deceive, to abuse their congregation...
I was like you once. Only with the World Wide Church of god ...they too abused , used, lied and deceived the Members. Knowledge about sexual abuse , covered up , from the Memberships, yet the leaders knew of this abomination and was OK with such a sin ..woman were not worthy except to keep the male happy. You choice to believe any way you want , I can choice to say my truth , I will not only tell you but also any child with you comes to my door , I will say young person , know that the real God loves you , use your own mind that He gave you , you are so loved by the true Creator if you feel abused , remember, when you are of age leave ... as the True God would never Shun you as you are made in is image .... go on the internet and find people who will love you .. On a different note Have you ever thought why the cult like church's call themselves Christian , yet are not ..Christ the Love Master of all Universe, his message from God was Love , not betrayal , you are the betrayed , by your leaders , not Jehovah , God, Creator .
Also the do nots in these type of churches are for greed ,,,example..
Do not celebrate , Birthday 's , Valentine's Day , Easter , Halloween, and the Big one Christmas...Santa Claus , tooth fairy many manY more
One of my children an adult now , said ( when shunned )!it would be so nice to get dressed up and try out Halloween
Ahh when this happened, it was to late, she was told Halloween was for the children , shunned again .by the ones giving out the candy
Finally I told her the truth, , her protector , her teacher of good, loving things had betrayed her , because I too had believed a lie, had been betrayed no child should have to bare that burden ...the true God would never ,, ever , do such a horrible thing , as I told her the Real God is of total Pure LOVE I asked her for her forgiveness , if she could not forgive , boy did I understand if the answeR was no Mom .
, Forgiveness was given , today at 75 years I with my family has been so blessed by the true Being of Love , who has many names .
I was also asked why Mom did the WW Church God be so bad, and wouldn't forgive , and not celebrate anything .
Ahh I said ... one thing Sweetheart, MONEY ....because if the Cults let you have these fun things the family's who had many children , would be spending their money on the family, not giving it to the church...
The Cults would have to make it a rule for ALL , if those celebrations were practiced the ( followers ) would have to be marked, shunned , disfellowshipped Etc. because cults are a creepy bunch they want the money , not kindness.
My hope is for non JW who are reading this to know all the needy greedy info on any group before you decide , what does this .. Church really believe, remember you now have the internet ...information, that cults forbid their congregation to use .( can't expose Church )
Groups hiding from the public... we all have free choice use your choice wisely.
One more on rules that are hidden from some cults ...how would you a parent ,feel if you found out your beloved child at school could not color Santa Claus picture, an Easter pictures of Bunnies , well guess what the JW the other Cults do ! So , would you want your little child to be at school and hide away from the other kids because they were special ( sarcasm here ) , strange isn't it the Bible says " and a little child would lead them " it didn't say we as your parents would lead , love, and care for you
Creator already expected you would know that , because He already taught Love from His Word !
Thank you my blessed child , you could have shunned me , instead you showed love to me , even when I did not deserve it
Yes I still believe in Christ as My savior one with Mercy not , one looking for SIN , when there wasn't any sin in the first place All, I wanted was only guidance and wanted to know about True Love, not mans idea of rule and being bullied ...
The cults are famous ( infamous ) for burn in hell mentally, again for control ... to keep the sheep in line , I cannot believe any god ever in the universe anywhere being so vindictive in saying such a thing to obey or burn forever..
Blessings to all who are in religious bondage of ungodly believers .
Ernest Dooley but how do you know you are truly obedient to God when in fact you are obedient to the governing body aka mere man. Ps 146:3,4
Thank you so much for your frank, yet compassionate discussion of this subject.
I have not had any contact with my mother for over 6 years over this issue. My youngest granddaughter developed a form of leukemia at age 3. Most of our friends and family happily donated blood in her name to offset some of the cost of her treatment. As a desperate and distraught grandmother, mother, and daughter, I called my mom within hours of the diagnosis, hoping for some parental support. Even though my mother has the same blood type, I respected her beliefs to not donate, and instead asked her to encourage any friends who were not JW to donate in her great-granddaughter's name. She haughtily informed me that due to her beliefs, she would not do this, how dare I even ask. I was hurt and dumbstruck, so I hung up. Now, I do not know if my mom is alive or dead. This used to cause me great emotional pain and struggle. But now, thanks to your discussions (and those of others) I allow myself to feel reasonable anger for her actions and distaste for her chosen cult religious beliefs instead of guilt for 'disassociating' from my mother in order to maintain my sanity.
The blood product reasoning was what alerted me to the frank hypocrisy and controlling cult-like nature of this group while I was a teen in the 70's. This 'reasoning' simply had no solid logic and only served to point out their fundamental disbelief in the God they claim to worship. Sadly, my mother chose to embrace this cult later in life (she was over 50) with open eyes, knowing it would require her to further abuse her already emotionally damaged and fractured family. I am beginning to realize at age 62 that it is OK for me to not want their beliefs in my life, and further, to openly reject them. As far as I am concerned, JWs are at best unloving fundamentalist zealots and at worst, a dangerous and brutal cult.
BTW, my granddaughter is now almost 10, and has been in remission since she was 5. Our family will be forever grateful for the generous blood donations from friends, acquaintances, and even complete strangers who made this possible.
Essential viewing for anyone with a connection to the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Brilliantly done.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@mattsamazingmazes6759; you are "parroting" the same, stale comment. Let me explain this. When the apostle Paul advised the early church to abstain from blood, he meant that they were to abstain from EATING animal blood, not injecting human blood into the veins. Blood transfusions were unknown at that time. The Holy Bible says nothing about blood transfusions whatsoever, and eating blood, or ingesting it (taking it by mouth) is NOT the same as a blood transfusion, which is injecting it into the veins. I hope you understand it by now.
Wow. So many thoughts. First, thank you for your hard work. This one hits so hard because, again, I was so manipulated. I was trying to think about how I would have viewed this when I was in. I came to the rather embarrassing conclusion that it wouldn’t have been an issue because I would have never watched this.
This video really demonstrates why the GB is so adamant about demonizing those who leave the organization; why they must instill such a stark fear of outside influences. They know that once a Witness watches a video like this; one that calmly, logically, and kindly eviscerates their stand and teachings, they will begin to lose that member.
The scene of the convention, which, based on the arena signage, was held in my home state of Tennessee, made me sick. It is very likely that my mother, ex-wife, and former friends were in that audience applauding the comparison of a caring doctor’s offer to help save a life with persecution.
No words.
So, again, thank you so much. It is obvious to me that you really care about current Witnesses. It’s in your tone, expressions, and mannerisms. Please don’t stop caring.
I love these questions, they're very thought provoking. I could see the gears of critical thinking beginning to turn in current JW members if they were to ask themselves these questions. Thank you so much for the video. Never gets old ❤️
As always...great video Lloyd! ONE YEAR after my son ( 2yrs old at the time) went into surgery the blood doctrine changed! His surgery didnt go well...he survived! But can you imagine if he needed a blood transfusion and he couldn't have one! And then just one year later he could have had blood fractions?!? This just infuriates me! I HATE that I used to follow that stupid JW law and put my baby's life in danger! JW take a firm stand on such an extreme doctrine...one that involves life and death! And here their Governing Body come right out and say they are neither inspired nor infallible! That they could err in doctrinal and or organizational direction! ( Feb 2017 Watchtower) But they are to obey! Not question. Even if its wrong. Even if death is a result of an ever changing doctrine! They want to use Matt 24 to prove there is a Faithful and discreet slave and the GB are it. But completely ignore Jesus warnings about looking out that they are NOT mislead. That even the chosen ones could be mislead! That the Faithful and discreet slave could even be thrown in with the hypocrites! They know that Watchtower has been continuously wrong! Continuously changing and flip flopping! And it has destroyed lives!
@bgillard12 not sure I'm quite following what you are saying. Might be because of lack of sleep. Lol. But for me the whole old testament is a different story. After years of Watchtower picking out scriptures to fit their doctrine and teachings I sat down and read the bible through. The old testament just blew me away! And made the new testament make so much more sense to me. I don't believe the God of the OT was our heavenly father for so many reasons. And this is why Jesus not only came to the earth to be a ransom sacrifice but to set things straight about how to worship and who his heavenly father REALLY is! And that substitute was a goat...wasnt it? That makes me wonder too.
This is a really disturbing topic.....and is right at the top of the list as evidence of the mind control. To think that men (elders) who someone is not even necessarily close friends with, can get in the way of your family and close friends reasoning with you on a life/death decision, is disgusting. The law needs to do something about this
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
When I had to receive blood for severe anemia in 2009 my Witness grandma was so upset she demanded to leave the hospital (leaving me alone there). They said without the transfusion it would take an extended period of time to build my iron levels back up and I couldn’t leave the hospital until then. At that point I was already a week in and had no insurance. She would have preferred me to go into complete debt instead - and I’m not even a Witness. She couldn’t even be around me for a while after, she glared at me like I was tainted. My grandma loved me so much, to think this was so ingrained in her to act that way is insane.
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 you really need to take a course in hermeneutics.
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 That's called COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
I too, had a very serious anaemia issue, I was given two iron infusions, then it was way too much iron for my body........I said "no way " to a blood transfusion, I'm not having someone else's blood in me, it's gross.
I put my faith in Jesus and God. That's all. NOT SO MUCH THE HOSPITAL, AS THEY HAVE DAMAGED ME TOO!!!!!
Thank you, Lloyd, for another excellent and valuable post! When I began weighing my own feelings about accepting blood fractions which the Watchtower had arbitrarily deemed to be a "matter of conscience" after decades of prohibiting them, it became clear to me that, if ANY fraction of blood was a matter of conscience, accepting whole blood or any "major" component should also be a matter of conscience. It does not belong to any man or group of men to dictate to other Christians what should, or should not be, a matter of conscience. Thus, it seems to me that this is another example of where the Watchtower shot itself in the foot by encouraging individuals to exercise their own critical thinking with regard to the blood issue. It certainly caused many, including elders, to change the way they looked at the Watchtower. And, as we all know, "when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." (Dr. Wayne Dyer)
I came back to this video to get some information for someone, and I just want to put this in the comments.... I respect how you, and how you document your statements so that we can verify them as fact, as opposed to simply stating your opinion. Thank you sir for your informed, educated and well-articulated videos.
Thank you Lloyd. This is really a brilliant summarizing of the different arguments why the Watchtower prohibition on blood is illogical, unscriptural (if that is of importance to you), and even without medical merit.
There are also under the 4th point an important point about the lack of biblical reasons:
JWs often argue as follows. The prohibition was mentioned in the Mosaic law, and repeated in Acts as you also quoted. But when someone claims that the Mosaic law is obsolete, they say it's a universal and everlasting commandment because it was given to Noah long before the Mosaic law was in effect.
But the problem still persist, being the fact, that both the command to Noah and the commands in the Mosaic laws govern situations where you take life (i.e. kill an animal). In that case the symbolic act of giving the life back to Jehovah made sense to the Jews back then and even in the 1st century, but in the case of blood transfusion, there are significant differences.
First of all - a life is not taken, as the one donating the blood does not die when leaving 500ml of blood in the blood bank. So no life is taken - no one dies! So there is no argument that because you take life you'll have to do some symbolic act that shows that the only one allowed to both give and take life is Jehovah, as long as you don't empty the donor of all his blood so he dies (which of course you don't).
Furthermore the situation where you give a blood transfusion with donated blood the situation is the reverse compared to the situation in the bible where you had to pour out the blood to acknowledge the only one with a right to take life - Jehovah, as a blood transfusion is given in order to SUSTAIN life - not to take life. So you are not resurrecting someone (giving life) with a blood transfusion (you would never give a dead person a blood transfusion, and thereby take the role as someone GIVING life), and you don't kill the donor by giving someone a blood transfusion (thereby assuming the role of someone TAKING life), so no situation where it would be sensible for a believer - even a Jew - to respect the commandment about respecting the giver (and taker) of life (Jehovah/Yahweh) by pouring out the blood is ever relevant.
Another point that I think was made by someone that corresponded with Ray Franz and that was quoted by Franz in one of his books was, that he understood the "logic" of accepting the blood as the symbol of life. In lack of better symbols in the ancient Israel and in the 1st century, that is an understandable logic. Even then they knew that if a person lost all his blood he would bleed to death. So using Blood as the symbol of life made sense to them. So even if that was still a logic adhered to by JWs he failed to see how God could reasonably be expected to value the SYMBOL of life higher than the ACTUAL life it represents. That is a very good point. JW's will not misuse the SYMBOL of blood by taking it into their body, but do they really think that a God that values life dearly (according to the Bible and their own beliefs), would ask someone to abstain from teh SYMBOL of life if it could actually save the LITERAL LIFE of that same person? How can the SYMBOL be of greater importance than the LIFE it SYMBOLIZES?
Just a few thoughts. (I am terribly sorry if you did actually mention these and I missed those. I was a tiny bit tired, but I still enjoyed it very much. If I find out after watching it again tomorrow I will of course remove my pointless additions).
As always - second-to-none, Lloyd.
Thanks for these points. Makes the issue so much more clearer in my mind
I love how he pronounces H. I say “aych”. He says “haych”
Telltale my favorite is how Lloyd pronounces the word says. I say “sez” he rhymes it with “ways”
Big deal! - why the nit picking?
@@Keithbarber Im pretty sure the not picking is in good fun. Obviously you need to find a sense of humor
@@weissshneee2900 I found some coins in my washing machine, I'm worried I may get prosecuted for money laundering
What's a cameras favourite card game? Snap
@@weissshneee2900 by the way, its nit picking, you typed not picking
#1: Another fact-based, evidence-driven video. Mr. Evans, you are a gift to humanity. Thank you, sir.
#2: I am a (very small) patron of this channel, but I make sure to watch the commercials for at least 31 seconds. May I encourage everyone else, especially older/fixed income people (like me) to do the same? For me, it's a way I can support this channel without it costing me any money.
#3: Regarding blood fractions: If I eat an elephant's trunk, could I say I've eaten elephant? How much of a fraction of the elephant do I have to eat to say "I've eaten elephant"? The answer: any of it. If you've taken blood or a blood fraction, you have taken blood.
#4: How many lives do you think you might have saved by uploading this video. I believe many but even if it's one, it was well worth it. I'm proud to be one of your many subscribers. Please keep doing what you do!
Great Dayn, on point 3: I just died laughing! Thank you!!!
I may let the ad play for 31 seconds but the ad I just saw was an assault on humanism (CRTV)
@@scienceexplains302 How is CRTV an assault on humanism?
@bgillard12 I like believing in what can be directly observed and verifiable facts. Your "faith" requires that you deny what is seen and provable facts so that your beliefs can be preserved. I prefer the former to the latter. But thank you for sharing your thoughts.
@bgillard12 But god didn't say don't take blood ,open your eyes and ears . Your are blinkered by the Borg and their cult
I am a serving elder in my congregation and completely disagree with the blood doctrine!
I do not carry a blood card in my wallet.
JWS do a Jim Jones EVERY YEAR!!
SID
Are you going to Continue to preach this then? Or will you rise up and be an activist with the rest of us to end this slaughter of innocent lives. Will you expose the TRUTH about the "Truth"? Will you continue to research and be informed so you can stand firm in your conviction against this manipulative mind control? I Hope so. Jehovahs Witnesses are bringing shame and reproach on Gods name, and they are too arrogant willfully ignorant and afraid to even see that. So we who are awake MUST gather together to help wake them. It's part of our Duty and purpose now that WE KNOW.
Tanya Depoalo Leaving a religion is not an easy process, especially when you may face the risk of being shunned or abandoned by your close family members. Where I live some people resigned as JWs and lost their wives, children and sometimes even their jobs since their bosses were JWs. There are plenty of JWs out there who don't agree with the GB on many issues, but they aren't brave enough to stand for their real beliefs not because they're cowards, but because they'd literally lose everything in few hours, something which may have disastrous effects on you. And if you're and elder consequences may be even more serious, because you're supposed to give a good example to the congregation and if you 'betray' Jehovah's organization you'll be labeled as the worst kind of apostate. Not easy. So, assumed that Sid REALLY is an elder (it may be a troll), I 100% sympathize with him and hope that elders like him may contribute to change the WT, if it were possible.
Talking recently with my younger brother (elder) about mum in hospital. He dosent carry a blood card shock...I would have thought they had to .mum won't take blood she's 60years in .but brother does have a condition which may require treatment, keeping his options open then eh!!?
SID
So what are you going to do ? I see only one option, but maybe you can show me more.
Out at 16 before the 75 debacle soo glad had to have blood with my pregnancy. This makes me happy to see you don't have to carry a card . They didn't even have elders when I left .
This is so interesting. As a person who’s never bern involved with JW personally I knew next to nothing about this topic previous to this video. Thanks for another great video 👏🏻
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 What if the bible *wasn't* inspired of God, and rather the work of peasants in the middle ages? Wouldn't that explain the NUMEROUS contradictions in the bible and the crazy amount of unethical and immoral behaviour of the God of the bible?
IE Killing thousands of children, punishing the fourth generation for the sins of their forefathers, killing someone for looking the wrong way, killing someone for picking up sticks on the sabbath, giving Mideonite virgins as sex slaves to the Israelites. ETHNIC CLEANSING! The list could go on.
Do your research, do not let 8 men in New York speak for you. Read the old WT literature and see how much their beliefs have changed, it's shocking and obviously not the truth. See that WT joined the United Nations (the Beast!) for 10 years for their own gain. Read Raymond Franz' book, he was one of the Governing Body for years
I wish professionals would watch this- surgeons, nurses, judges, doctors, politicians, social workers, anyone who potentially deals with JWs refusing blood, to help them understand the complexities involved and the arguments in this issue. There is too much focus on respecting patients' wishes. We need pressure on putting a stop to the GB manipulating and controlling people's medical choices.
Thanks Lloyd for your research. I love these in-depth videos. I'd put this right up there with the one you did on Watchtower and the UN.
Lloyd I read your tweet about the more organic presentation style you chose to use for this one But in all honesty I couldn’t really tell a difference. Another outstanding video. Just when I think you can’t put out a more interesting or persuasive video you outdo yourself. Great job once again on a very difficult topic for those of us who were in at one time and now realize how dangerous this religion could have been for us in addition to the wasted years.
I think when you consider the bibilical reasoning presented for the blood ban, it's important to read all of Acts chapter 15. The chapter begins with describing the controversy about whether gentile converts to Christianity who were men needed to get circumcised. These men balked at the idea of getting circumcised, and I think this was probably not just because of the physical discomfort this would entail, but also because, in those days before the germ theory of disease was understood and before antibiotics existed, any injury on your body carried a very real risk of infection, gangrene, sepsis and death. And the apostles decided that it would not be necessary to impose such a harsh requirement on the men. Verse 28 says the apostles don't want to impose a greater burden than not to eat meat from sacrifices or blood and not to commit fornication. So these were supposed to be easy things to observe, nothing that would put the physical health or even just the physical comfort of any person at risk. To take this regulation and claim that it means people have to lay down their lives by refusing standard medical treatment is to turn the meaning of the whole chapter on its head. Of course, this is just my interpretation of the scripture, and I'm not inspired or infallible - but then, neither is the Governing Body, right?
Wow, you bring up a really interesting point. Added that to my list of things to discuss with JWs
But like you always say, Lloyd, nobody likes to be lied to or conned or taken advantage of. Thanks for all your time and effort; you're truly helping a lot of people see this cult for what it truly is.
I asked my JW mother some months ago if she would have followed the blood doctrine, if I had the need of a blood transfusion as a child?
She replied yes.
I just needed to hear from the horses mouth, it affected me very much, i was devastated even though I knew the answer.
Growing up with a narcissistic JW mother was quite literally hell on earth.
I felt worthless unwanted unworthy to even be alive.
Thx a lot. I don’t call her mom anymore, she’s only cared about herself, neglecting the children, her spouse, biological family, and friends.
Today she’s very lonely, she’s 82, well she now pays the price. Her grandchildren sees her 1 a year only to be polite.
And I are nearly no contact.
I’m still seeing therapist even though I left decades ago.
Take care everyone ❤️❤️
I should forward this to the COBE Elder in my most recent Wisconsin, USA congregation since he is the HLC head in the region also. I'd probably get an instant Judicial Committee Disfellowshipping at their "new" Kingdom Hall. Thoroughly well thought out and objective video!
@Chiafade now I think I would bring my gun.
@Chiafade now Oh I absolutely agree. They will just disfellowship me in absentia and when they show up at my door to make their "announcement" they will have to say hello to my "little friend". I already lost my 46-y.o. JW wife of 14 years last month on October 22 when her "Disassociated" Mom, whom we never shunned, found her dead in her apartment bedroom floor while doing a well-being check on her. That coupled with my 88-y.o. Dad battling Alzheimer's inevitably about to die and my 84-y.o. Aunt in and out of hospitals - dude, I have fucking had it with this JW religious cult and this fucked up world and I have had it with it all. Hearing so many others being affected, I swear, these JW "leaders" are gonna pay!!
I live in Sweden and here there has not been a single case reported of a patient being infected of hiv via blood transfusion since they started testing blood in 1985.
Also it bugs me when they write you can get "aids" from blood tranfusion, which to me only displays ignorance on the subject.
I think I’m far more affected by this group than I ever thought or would like to admit.
Skunky Lockheed Same
Goddamn you are right
The teachings on Jehovah's Witnesses refusal of Blood Transfusions in not their own interpretation of what the scriptures says. Lets see what Second-Peter Chapter One verse twenty and twenty-one says- For you know this first, that no prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation. For prophecy was at no time brought by man's will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit. Keep these two scriptures in mind. Acts 15:29 - to keep ABSTAINING from things sacrificed to idols, from BLOOD, from sexual immorality . If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you. Matthew 16:25 - For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it .
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 So does this mean that it is against the Bible’s teaching to eat rare steaks? No, I have never heard or that said before at a JW meeting, but you do see there is red blood in a steak. So why is it that they interpret the scripture in a way that is so life-threatening, when it could as easily mean to abstain from the blood of a cow when eating its meat?
@@mattsamazingmazes6759 Yes, it IS the Governing Body’s interpretation of the scripture, because it is ONLY them who interpret the scripture that way. NO ONE else in the world does, which should be a sign that it’s a wacky belief. The GB picks and chooses which scriptures it wants to take literally and which it does not, so why would you believe that they could be right about this?
LLoyd, I am truly grateful for this recent video. I am not as really as knowledgeable on how to put all these pieces together. Currently my mother has cancer, anemia and has refused blood, and I need to find a way to get her to think on the subject. I am 45 and left this cult around 20 years ago or so. I don't even remember their stupid arguments for refusing blood. This is very helpful if i can find a way to speak to her on her terms, if we discuss this with only cult literature. Thank you so much friend. -Javier, from Chicago, IL. U.S.A.
I wish you good luck
Relevant Question: Should Jehovah's Witnesses get their blood drained meat at a Kosher Butchery to avoid the consumption of blood. Are JW's not hypocritical in their consumption of food.
I remember my family avoiding food with blood, I think they're consistent in that aspect at least.
Lloyd, even though you put this out three years ago, I want to personally thank you for doing so. This has proven without a shadow of a doubt that the blood teaching is ABSOLUTELY false. I'm so thankful that this information was put out because I held so firmly to the belief for many years, even though deep down not understanding or agreeing with it. Now that I have a four year old daughter, this is especially important for me to understand, for the safety of her precious life. Keep up your activism! It is changing lives!!!
Amazing... watching guy talking over an hour a-z.
Great vid
Another great job at exposing how dangerous and hurtful this cult truly is. Sadly this teaching will likely never change. Keep up the great work Lloyd!!
Fun fact: My best friend and best man at my wedding brought Ken Cook into the organization. The witnesses’ stance on blood was one of the big things that ATTRACTED him to JW’s. My friend, also no longer a JW, would school witness and show the kids his no blood card. Ken, who was a long haired, antisocial type as a young teen saw the card as a sort of anti-establishment statement and asked how he could get one. A bible study was started and the rest is, you know, history.
That is a super fun fact. Even funner that you and your buddy that roped him in are out .....and here. Lol.
A REAL Life saving message for sure good work Lloyd! 👌👍 I'll try and show this to my parents they are currently in, Me my wife and young daughter have been out as of a few months ago.
Thanks to you my friend👍.
I was 3rd gen my wife was 1st gen and pioneered (free laborer)... lol
The governing body are blood guilty hopefully the law will catch up to them before they ("finish their earthly course") giving closure to victims, and this horrible black hole of a religion and it either Reform's its policies or burns out Bolth would be a result of Responsible activism against it.
Thankyou again for your hard work, research, and highly logical opinions!
I’m still in, and this was awesome and very informative. Thank you so very much Lloyd!!!!! I will try to share this if I can!
@Vida Pimo yes, still in
I’m still in, but I listen to it more than once, because this is important to me. I see things now from a different perspective. Thank you!
Hey Beauty hope you made it to Wakeupville
Thanks John. I just started to watch the video. I will absorb it over several days. It is without a doubt a controversial subject for many jws
I'm not lying about this, I knew a family of JWs whose last name was Moch. I haven't spoken with any of them in 30 years so I don't know if they're still JWs.
As you can see from my profile picture, I got a beard. Jehovah hates beards! 😉
Excellent! Informative, very respectful, thoughtful and done with empathy for the victims of this terrible policy. I will be sharing this with all those I care about and to people I don't know as well.
Thanks for the content! Although I don't know how often JW's die because of this belief, it truly is a waste of a life even if it is only one life lost per year, because these unfortunate people are being deluded by poorly trained ministers .
My uncle died 20 years ago he was only 30. He had leukemia, needed blood. He was a Jehovah witness and it was forbidden.
almost any major surgery needs Blood transfusion.. sadly, they kill their children and die themselves pretty often..
When I was pregnant I told my midwife that I was raised a JW but I'm not in it now, and she told me she knew a woman who died shortly after birth because she had a hemorrhage and lost too much blood. A simple blood transfusion would have saved her life. A husband heartbroken and a child without a mother... That story always stuck with me because it's so unbelievably tragic.
Numerous Jehovah's Witnesses I know now work in the medical field. My recently deceased JW ex-wife who passed away at 46 had worked in a microbiology lab for years as well as numerous doctors offices before going back to school in 2003-04 to become a Vascular Ultrasound Sonography, then worked with Vascular Surgeons at various Vein Clinics of America locations around Chicago from 2005-2010. She was deeply indoctrinated, very meticulous about cleaning and adamantly against blood with the exception of some fractions she put on her own Durable Power of Attorney/Advance Directive card. In 2013 as a patient she became anemic with her hemoglobin count going down to 6 and refused blood. She actually started taking iron infusions and we bought iron supplements at the health food store and lean buffalo bison meat high in iron and she gradually built her count back up. She was already battling lymphoma cancer, epstein-barr and hepatitis before this. I suppose in many JW eyes her story would be viewed as a success based on the last 73 years of JW history. It's just sad all the way around that this is made such a magnified issue by watchtower. Especially in the case of emergencies where lives are really in the balance and instant decision are mandated, unlike my ex-wife who had more planning time or the ones in watchtower video where they are receiving hip or knee replacements but are planned far in advance with ample precautionary preparation for elective non-blood treatment. That via scenarios is a major difference.
I'm sorry for the loss of your wife and appreciate your post.
Thank you so much for another great video Lloyd.
Lloyd, the blood issue was ultimately what propelled me into further research that led me to leaving the organisation. My late husband was unfortunately one of those rare ones that contracted hepatitis. He was the only one in his family who was a JW and his parents, because he was a minor, gave the drs permission to give him blood, bear in mind that this was in the early 60's in the South of Italy when the blood donated was not monitored for its safety. Fast forward to 1990, my husband was 38 and I was 27 and 6 months pregnant. Because of his condition, bleeding esophageal varices, he was rushed to a hospital in Rome where he tragically died. During the days leading up to his death, I was aware of the elders being present from the blood committee but not once did they speak to me but went straight ahead and spoke to the dr's in my place. I desperately wanted my husband to live but felt that the decision of his medical treatment was taken out of my hands. Those elders took advantage of my vulnerable state and literally took my husband's life in their hands and left me picking up the pieces of bringing up my, then, soon to be born fatherless child. I, along with many others, know just how much pain this religious cult can cause.
Wow, such a tragic story. I had no idea. Would you be willing to come on the channel and talk about it?
Lloyd, we met a few years back at the first ex JW reunion in London when your little girl was just a babe in arms, remember? Yes, I'd be happy to come and share my story on your channel if it helps wake people up.
@@summersun2828 Yes, I remember! I've sent you a FB message. Don't know if you're still on FB much these days?
What a great video you did Lloyd! It was so compelling and so kindly presented. I sincerely hope it will help millions of honest hearted ones to wake up.
Thanks Susan! I really appreciate you forwarding me the Mitchell interview. As you can see, it was very helpful in making my point! :)
@@LloydEvans You're welcome - any time!
I got into a debate recently with a jw because I asked why do witnesses refuse blood when the blood transfusion was never mentioned in the bible back in the days, it's as if witnesses made up that rule🤷🏾she got upset that I questioned this and told me it doesn't matter point blank we should strictly follow what the Bible say🙄 then she read Acts 15:28, 29. Thank you Lloyd for sharing this, you're right, the Bible writers had no idea about blood transfusion back when Jesus was alive and again not even mentioned in the Bible
I would like to see the watchtower become liable for charges of murder by disallowing blood transfusion
And for GOVERNING BODY and LOCAL CONGREGATION ELDERS to be imprisoned for it for many years, say 25 years minimum
This blood fractions didn’t work with my family. The elders say the blood fractions come from plAnts, that’s why it’s okay my sharers again. No winning again.
One of your BEST videos ever made. Thank you Lloyd for producing this material.
I always heard that Jehovah's witnesses believed in strange things, but I had no idea how cult like it was until I started watching this channel. TY for all of the Information Lloyd! You're awesome.
When someone refuses a blood transfusion and dies as a result, the Witnesses make it seem as though it was a courageous act of loyalty and for some that may be true, but for most, I view it as nothing more than cowardice. Few will ever admit the real reason for refusing a blood transfusion.
They do not want to have to endure the great tribulation.
They don't want to live in this wicked system of things any longer.
They don't wish to slave on, day in and day out in the ministry preaching the good news of the kingdom.
*What they want is to simply go to sleep and wake up in the new system! In their minds, the refusal of a blood transfusion which results in death is perhaps the easiest way to do just that while remaining in good graces with Jehovah!*
It's a matter of taking the easy way out, while under the guise of hardship.
About 33-34 years ago I worked for a JW couple in their bakery/cafe, of course they didn't last long as they wouldn't do birthday/wedding/anniversary/etc. cakes...I haven't thought about that in years. I watch you and a couple of other exJWs fairly regularly and have been seeing comments lately from people who have been posting about celebrating their first birthday at the age of 28, 36, 40 and so on...I don't remember anyone doing anything on this. If you haven't already(I'll search)could you do a video about this?...this topic: excellent video as usual, it's very interesting to find out where these ideas come from and why/how they're used in these organizations. I'm Canadian and remember the Eloise case very well. When I hear about things like this I am so glad I brought my son up without religion...Thanks for all of your hard work and information.
I have Sickle Cell disease which causes me to have less than half of red blood cells than normal people when my counts drop I have pain crisis along with shortness of breath as well as damage to some organs the only thing that can help me is a blood transfusion without it I can have severe organ damage amongst other serious complications this is what stopped me from getting baptized (I studied for 3 years) because facing a painful slow death for no good reason and leaving my family behind when I could just get a blood transfusion and be OK was something I couldn't do so I stopped my studies it started to be the topic of every study and they were pushing the issue so I could not commit to what they wanted from me I don't believe God would want me do die when he clearly made a way for my life to be saved
I have it to!!! and could never understand why I would deny one for myself or future kids who could potentially have it too
God does not want anyone to die to prove their love. Not for any law or in extreme situations to self witness. Which God wants death as an expression of Love??! God knows your love through your communication of your soul in his spirit within u. Jesus suffered and died for reason of saving us. Denying Jesus is ignoring helping the sick, the poor, wounded animals....
Thank u for doing this video. I'm a former jw, as I had blood transfusion 3 yeats ago. Happy I chose life over death, especially since I see wt is full of hipocracy.
You my friend have given me so much information and it is always so logical and easy to see. I am a person that as I have gotten older the more strongly I look at things with logic. The bible itself has become illogical to me, and even for me to admit that the bible makes no sense and is not logical is something that broke me from the inside. You have helped me to be able to even become more logical when I am talking with my family about this ridiculous cult, my mother won't discuss it and tell me not to call and then after a while she will call and again some where in our conversation I am determined to make another logical point. My mother had surgery a few years ago and of coarse an Elder was there the entire time to be sure we as mother's family could not over step the blood decision. Thanks again Lloyd, your hard work pays off in so many ways.
Also they believe that you should give up your life because Jehovah said so, in order to get everlasting life.....these guys are nuts
Such unbelievably sad stories.☹️😢
.... When I was 10 years old I was in the hospital to get my appendix out; my mom coerced/told me that she's going to let the doctors know that we do not accept blood. Thank the universe a blood transfusion wasn't needed for an appendectomy, but God damn, what if it did? Based on how fanatical she was, I believe she would have had me killed.
What about storing one's own blood for transfusions? What is the policy on that? How can that be seen as bad? They are always going on about the blood from others, animals. Your own blood is you. Thanks for the comprehensive video on this subject! Well done!!!
Peter this is interesting. So a cell saver machine that is operated by a perfusionist is up to conscience. That machine sucks up the blood with a vacuum into a bag under the survival table (gravity). It is usually filtered either in real time, or removed from the room and filtered. Then the bag is raised up and re transfused. This is all ok with JWs. But if you have a surgery coming up, want to bank your own blood a few weeks before, and take drugs to increase your own blood production in the meantime.....that is forbidden. Why? Beats the crap out of me. I believe (but cannot confirm), that the language is that blood being removed and reintroduced is ok if it is "part of a current procedure".
any blood that exits the body is supposed to be "poured on the ground".
I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Incredibly, even that is not allowed for Witnesses.
@@NS-qd1lq : Reminds me sickly of Genesis 38:9.
@@LloydEvans : Thanks, Lloyd. What a mentally diseased doctrine based on nothing!!
Hi Lloyd, hopefully you will cover soon the story of Eloise, I will share that video with many. Tragically for those who left, like me, that we still have to face the shunning, broken family, struggle with loneliness and unfortunately we still have close family members in the Cult, we are living in a nightmare, knowing how evil the WT is. How they destroyed innocent lives, the hands of the GB are covered with blood. The blood issue created so many problems to the WT that is unlikely to change policy on that. Too many people died because of that, and just like the shunning policy the will not back up. The only way is ex jw's that is huge community now, and we are bringing the Tower down.
Thank you so much Lloyd, I've been watching so many of you videos. Last night I said to my boyfriend "I don't care if my family believes in god, I know they wouldn't shun me I'm not baptised anyway so they can't, but I am really worried about the blood transfusion thing, like I don't want them to die because of this" I've been trying to figure out things I can show them and how I can try to get them to find gods love without the watchtower. I don't want to have to worry about my young brother being in their care. Or about them.
1:14:05 “I just find it so sad that Watchtower has this much blood on their hands. That they are responsible for killing this many Jehovahs Witnesses.” A chilling Pun 🥺
Yeiy! New video! And on a wonderful matter!
I always wondered if my beautiful mom would still be here if she was not aJW when she got sick. She told me that she never did a lot as a witness but she could stand true in this issue. After watching your videos I realized witnesses came to the hospital and talk to her because she was going to take the transfusion at one point then she changed her mind and would not budge on it she passed away about four weeks later😭😭😭. It was the main reason I could never go back to that mess. After watching all your videos I am so happy I did not..
Thanks for such a excellent video Lloyd! You explained it very clearly and asked very thought provoking questions. I used to dread being asked about the blood issue because as a JW I knew deep down that it didn't make sense. However, the doctrine is so deeply entrenched in you - it was the ultimate sin having a blood transfusion as far as I was concerned. At present I still have my blood card even though I don't go to meetings now. Your video has given me the confidence that now it really is time to shred the card and not be frightened anymore. Thank you so very much!!!
Awesome! Yes, shred that card! Life is too precious! :)
thank you lloyd soo much for this
I had formulated the point about Jesus emphasizing life over law before I even saw this video. Well Done Lloyd
Not sure if anyone will read this comment as the video is old but in their book, What Can The Bible Teach Us?, they mention that "it is more important to obey Jehovah than to try to extend our life by disobeying him". Sorry but that is just evil....obeying Jehovah by following a made up law is more important than being alive???? NO!!!
There’s no biblical basis for deciding if blood fractions are accepted or not. Yet they use the Bible to justify blood transfusions are wrong in general, even though the Bible doesn’t specifically talk about blood in that way.
I’m studying hematology right now and this was VERY interesting. Thank you for making the video.
I agree with most of your points, thank you for this video. I do however know 2 people who got Hep C from blood transfusions. I do also know that doctors who use blood during surgery can be more sloppy than a surgeon who does alternative methods for JWs. I would in many ways want someone to be more careful than sloppy. However this is truly a personal choice ultimately just like any other medical procedure, not biblically mandated as you have clearly pointed out.
Thanks Jessica. Statistically speaking it's inevitable that someone will know more than one person who contracted a disease from infected blood, but as I point out, there is risk in almost any medical procedure. Even just by going under general unaesthetic for an operation there is a chance, however small, that you won't wake up. It's all about rolling the dice and given a choice between risk and death, I know what I'd go for. :)
@@LloydEvans yes absolutely agree!
Jess I know someone as well. I also know 3 people that died in part from not having it available as an option. Hep C contraction is currently 1 in 230K transfusions. Not bad odds (unless you are the 1). All medical interventions have risks. I usually share with JWs the verifiable fact that 3,000 people a year die from Aspirin consumption. About 40 die a year from taking blood (usually human error). These are verifiable statistics. So.....is aspirin dangerous? Or is there risk in everything.
Great video! I had a hemoglobin count of 4! I thank God everyday for the doctors having enough knowledge to save my life! Those people are crazy i wish I would have realized it sooner rather than almost dying before I woke up.It's a horrible way to live slowly dying because you can't breathe.
However with the whole "conscience matter" thing they also tell you that you must think of your brother as well and that even if it doesn't hurt your conscience it may hurt your brothers and then his blood is on your hands.
They originally didn't even allow the cell saver, this was used during surgery collecting the blood lost during surgery and putting it back into your own body. They considered that it was tainted after leaving the body even in a closed setting. By 2004 when my daughter was born premature the liaison committee came to the hospital and told me I could at that point accept the cell saver and when I was like what?! They actually looked me in the eye and told me "you need to give the doctors something to work with you can't totally tie their hands" i was taken aback it was like I was personally refusing treatment even though I was simply trying to follow the rules. Down the road,2007, my dad was fighting cancer in the hospital and the liaison committee this was made up of two elders where we lived, not sure if it is always elders, they told my dad "bone marrow is now a conscience matter but you still need to remember if you accept it and you stumble one of your brothers you will be held blood guilty" they again reminded him that the platelets he desperately needed at that moment were still off limits. I left after his funeral at the KH. I can't explain how traumatizing it is to see somebody with no clotting factor take two days to bleed to death from everywhere the blood can escape from the body. Esp when that person is somebody you love so much. I will always see the organization as murderers and they have blood on their hands, not just my dad's, but so many who've died for their rules on blood and other rules that later changed.
God does not want anyone to die . God made our blood in order for us to have life and without that blood we don't have life . Life is in the blood . Why would Got want us to refuse the blood he made for us to have life ?
I'm curious as to why willfully accepting a blood transfusion is not technically a disfellowshipping offense -according to the 'Shepherd the flock' book - and instead means you've disassociated yourself? (like if you join the military or attend another church)
You can only be disfellowshipped by committing one of the sins mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6: 9-10. So basically anywhere in the bible that says "you will not inherit God's Kingdom " if you do this action, you can be disfellowshipped for it. Since "eating blood" or blood transfusions is not mentioned in that sense, this is Watchtowers work around to still kick you out.
@@cardboardbox9977 Ok. I remember when the 'refinements' came out about accepting blood fractions. There was a kingdom ministry insert on it that everyone had to mull over - and then update their 'medical directive' cards to state what they would accept. Jws in general were confused - like a duck hit on the head-because most Jws just want to be told what to do. I myself struggled to decide. I always thought that God had an opinion on it one way or the other but somehow failed to transmit his wishes about it to his ppl and organization.
@@amandahuginkiss4098 Jehovah's Witnesses view smoking as an unclean thing, that if you participate in, you'll experience God's wrath. There's also scriptures that state that a unclean person is to be thrown out. Uncleannes is put right in there with greed and sexual immorality in Colossians. I've never personally heard of anyone being disfellowshipped for celebrating a birthday unless the birthday was classified a revelry or wild party. But no, I'm not wrong.
I suspect this is for legal reasons. It's a small distinction, but saying someone "leaves", vs saying they are kicked out regarding a medical intervention can be meaningful if tested in court. A friend of the family who is a CO told me "we don't really DF for that anymore". Essentially his point was that the elders assume you were under duress and it was a moment of weakness. So you may get a shepherding call. But if you are defiant or open about it, then you could be considered "brazen". You feel me?
@Chiafade now this is definitely what I think. It's a small but very important distinction. It's essentially semantics. JW leadership plays these semantical games very well. But in general, even if the elders knew of it, they would most likely not go out of their way to DF you for it. It's a bad look. It's incredibly rare currently. I have worked with a teaching hospital in my area that does bloodless medicine. They have explained to me anecdotally (so take that for what it's worth), that 2/3ds at least of JW patients that end up needing blood will take it when push comes to shove and ask for it to be private. Those that take it? Usually trauma cases of children, and seriously poor/uneducated peeps.
Lloyd what a great video ....so much information I didn't was aware of it ....thank you for you effort in putting everything well organized....as always thank you !!!
Soon as that theme music hits *smashes thumbs up button*
What about JWs eating a hamburger that is rare? There is still blood in it.
My father never would eat a steak even medium. Always well done.
🙌🏼 so grateful for this gift of info you’ve given us...
This video was so informative! Thank you!!
Thanks Lloyd! I've always had these views, and now that I'm a father, it makes so much more sense.
My uncle died when he was 16 because of this blood issue. He had a huge Supreme Court case and was able to choose for himself. His name was Joshua walker from Canada! Maybe you’ll be able to find something on this! I have all the documents and papers from it!
I actually talk about your uncle's story in this video!
John Cedars totally commented before I finished the video 🤭
Thank you for sharing this in your video and bringing awareness to such a sensitive issue (for Jehovah’s witnesses) hopefully it gets them thinking. Any questions please feel free to ask cheers 🍻
i love your work :) never been a JW, am a atheist but did have family in JW and other religious people in my family. i love watching your videos because it is easier than reading up on much of this stuff yourself because, no offence but f... it is boring reading! u present it in a way that does not give splinters :) keep up the good work :) i know it must be hard to do all that study because i have tried but...simple too dry reading
thanks very informative
It's incredible how such a terrible policy that we believed so strongly can be so simply and comprehensively destroyed, from literally every angle - including watchtower's own words! I especially liked the bible principles on rules vs life - and from Jesus himself - as when conversing with a jdub this will be the only real way to get through the cognitive dissonance that is created by the fear of losing their entire social structure through policy enforcement. Also it really helps the guilt factor of letting go of a deeply entrenched disregard for life, that actually is not taught scripturally. Although Paul makes a decent effort at times... When I finally removed my blood card from my wallet, I replaced it with a donor card and feel much better! This kind of clear, rational logic is very inspiring and I did my own writing afterward on topics of free will and disfellowshiping. It's time to patreon. Kudos JC ☺
Oh - and I highly recommend any ex-dub to visit Kevin McFree for the refreshingly hilarious angle on cultlife - with stop animation Lego! He even has a two part skit on "the blood issue" called "does it bloody matter" 😄
I was df'd 2001 but woke up 2016 of nov.and follows the operation of my daughter that needs blood transfusion...i didnt hesitate to agree when the doctor asked me consent since my daughter requested me to decide for her although she can decide on her own since shes not minor anymore at 21yrs.old...im thankful for spoonfed no more blog for waking me after watching her so with blood issues it was so timely for me to decide transfuse of blood a month before my daughters op.otherwise i possibly refuse ...plus i learned ray franz e.g a blood is a symbol of lifebut its only a symbol ...and life is greater than the symbol so how can u sacrifice the greater thing to hold to that symbol ex.a symbol of a wedding ring to sacrifice the life of a wife other than the ring as the symbol of marriage...
great video as always lloyd, these keep presenting more arguments i could use if i ever get caught up in conversation with a witness that's doubting and that needed help :)
This video put my mind at ease though I’m not a believer in the religion of JW I did study for numbers of years on and off,but this past year I found myself in away of needing a blood transfusion as a matter of fact I have had 5 in 8 months,I am anemic! But I also had iron deficiency . Yes the watch tower has blood on their hands.😊
They are fucking nuts, especially to force that on a child, the parents should be held responsible , great work an video
They won’t accept willing help from their fellow humans to live …
As always everything you said makes sens. Thanks for your videos.
I think they know the blood doctrine is problematic. Too many have died for them to drop it entirely I believe
No way can they start allowing blood more than they have, not just because of admitting guilt, but also because it's an identifying characteristic of watchtower religion. When you think about it, the whole watchtower movement, and especially since Franz and Rutherford took over, was designed to be as different from christendom as possible.
Ashley I believe their plan is to wait out the medical industry. As medicine progresses, this finite resource that expires and requires this much effort to store and collect, should be replaced. It is a matter of time. They will not change this policy under any circumstances. It is a "Hallmark" teaching. It's frankly one of the things they are known for.
Vandalay Industries yes, good point
Amanda Huginkiss yes they sure do.
Vandalay Industries I hope that their cult dissolves before that ever happens.
Great video. Love dividing into segments for easy reference.
It is impossible to get all of the blood out of an animal after slaughter and draining. Why do they allow meat eating?
I was in this evil cult for 19yrs. I cannot imagine the pain if you let a child die. I still going through pain of not going to my dear little daughters wedding over 10yrs ago. I got out nearly 7yrs ago. I would have loved to have gone. Long story. She got married on the west coast. We live on the east coast of the U.S.A. I had a single sister then living with me. I am so blessed I got out.