If God's Law on blood was merely a dietry law it would have been rescinded with all of the other dietry laws when the Mosaic Law was brought to an end with Jesus Christ. However it wasn't, it was reinforced as a requirement by the Apostles and Older Men in Jerusalem at Acts 15:28,29:- "It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality." So the law on blood was introduced before the Mosaic Law, being given to Noah at Genesis 9:3, it formed part of the Mosaic Law, and it continued after the Mosaic Law was replaced by the Christ forming the Christian Congregation. Of course the bible doesn't mention blood transfusions, no such thing existed back then but God's Law is clear - blood is sacred and it's only purpose other than within the circulation is to signify atonement for sin, as in the animal sacrifices of the Mosaic Law and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is wrong to eat blood and it is wrong to 'consume' it by bypassing the digestive system and putting it straight into the bloodstream. You may have read some of the Watchtower publications but your knowledge of the issue of blood in the bible is sadly lacking. I don't know of anyone who has died as a result of refusing blood, though I am sure that there have been some - you are the one making the claim, don't you have an answer? I do know of a number who were told that they would die if they didn't have blood and who are still here today, having had successful surgery without blood. Your bigotted view that it is a Watchtower doctrine is quite incorrect, it is God's Law clearly written in the bible - and if any have died, they have been prepared to die because they personally believed what the bible has to say about the sanctity of blood. The bible is full of examples of faithful worshippers of God who considered faithfulness to Him of greater importance than even life itself, not the least of which was Jesus Christ, who shed his life blood as a ransom for all.
Grandad, I don't know why guys like you decide to embrace an organization that has a history of false prophecy, attacks on the Christian church, is unpatriotic, anti-social, anti-formal education, shuns former members, and doesn't have a place in the church that the gates of hell would not prevail against. I believe that the Bible is powerful enough on its own to teach us and guess what, most people can read and those that earnestly seek Him end up with theology that does not include Jesus the Archangel, date setting, exclusivity, only 144,000 people going to heaven, avoidance of family gatherings and patriotism. This kind of thread probably won't get you to salvation or take away the one I accepted as a free gift from God incarnate but it does reveal many suspicions people have about the Watchtower. I still don't understand how people can join such an organization.
The pharisees? the Pharisees were corrupt as much as they were pious. They used biblical law for their own agenda. Look at how disgusted Jesus was with them, for they were profaning God's name with their works and the way they used guilt on people. In no way are Jehovah's Witnesses corrupt, pious or treat people this way. Again, you are slandering. Again, you are doing this without a shred of foundation. Because people find out the truth, unlike you. They finally realise how misled the world really is. Col
Is this not an example of a corruption within the Watchtower's membership? There's plenty more where that came from. Does this organization exist because there is no corruption in Brooklyn?
You are blaming the Watchtower because of one man's actions? Why was he not jailed? If he commits the crime, he should do the time according to the law. If the law can't put him away then who is to blame? Certainly not the Watchtower Society. If you did a little deeper you will most likely find he was urged to confess by other members of the congregation. If he did not confess, then others would have turned him in. His actions are unlawful, not just by secular law, but by God's law as well. If he shows repentance, he WILL be forgiven, just as the Bible says he would be. If you are looking for anyone to blame for the result of this man's actions, start looking at his prosecutors. Then have a look at the laws in Britain.
You two JWs keep coming back and in less time than it takes you to type out your long winded responses, I can easily find more damaging evidence. Since you brought up absense of corruption in the Watchtower I did just a few searches in Google and found this BBC piece. That's from the BBC which is a very good source. Here's another write up about corruption and it also has that 23,720 number. The Watchtower often points its accusing finger at the Roman Catholic church so it is not surprising that it has the same sin problem but proportionately much larger. Go Google 23,720 Watchtower or 23,720 Jehovah Witness, amazing!
Well now you reveal your true reason for raising the issue regarding blood - you are not interested in the answer you just wish to discredit Jehovah's Witnesses. You are free to do that if you wish, personally I have had a ssociation with a number of 'cristian' religions in my lifetime and my experience is that there is none that can compare with the biblical understanding, devotion to God and true Christian unity of Jehovah's Witnesses. There are many people, like you, who chose to try and discredit them, but you fail miserably to change anything about their relationship with God and adherence to Gods standards - it never will.
So Grandad, has the Watchtower repented of its sins in covering up the 23,720 abuse cases and come clean? That would undo some of the discrediting that it brought on itself.
You said it yourself. They are "cases" and that is all they will ever be. Why? Because the truth of all these things comes out every time. Those who are responsible for doing wrong will be be dealt with accordingly. There isn't any covering up. That's media hype through and through. You know the saying "don't believe the hype?" This applies to you. Spreading rumours about people just creates more rumours. Try sticking to what you know. You will not get so much egg on your face. Col
Do you give that kind of grace to the Catholics and their cases? How did they handle this case? She is a first hand account so you can't call it a "rumour". Teen kicked out of Jehovah's Witnesses for being raped Are none of the 23,720 cases valid?
I can't answer for the Catholic Church's dealings nor do I have the right to. I can't answer for any of these cases because I was not there to witness it. Were you? Do you get my point now? Or do you want to continue on with this? What I do know is what the Bible says for how these matters are to be dealt with. You can be rest assured every case would have been dealt with according to that and nothing else. If they were not, then those responsible will be dealt with according to laws of Government and the laws of God. I think this is the very point you might be missing. Anyone can have a "case" against anyone else. Proving it in a court of law is something else, no matter how right or wrong you think it is or whether or not it is been handled in a justifiable manner. It's a matter of fact that you or anyone else can not deny. I agree with grandad's point, in that you have turned an issue of blood into a slanderous attack on Jehovah's Witnesses. Have you realised yet that neither of us have said a thing about your church or doctrine? You might want to ask yourself "why?" I know the answer. It's up to you to find that out yourself. Col
What did you think about the video of the girl that was raped and dis fellowshipped? What did you think about the last thing she said?
To be honest. I am not going to watch it. Why would I want to? Firstly, I was not there. Secondly, I don't have the right to judge her or her accuser or accusee. You seem to want me to judge someone. Why? For what good will come of it? No good. Let those in their respective positions deal with the matter. That's why there are laws. We all are affected by them no matter who or where we are. I could quite easily say something about someone and make it public. Who would know if I am right or I am wrong about what I said? I have no right to make a judgment on anyone if I have not been involved personally. Neither have you. Col
So Colin, no pedophiles in your organization should ever be judged unless you or other witnesses are present at the time of the rape? Watch that video, she only describes how the organization responded to her reporting the event. To the rest of you, here's a video describing the techniques used by the Watchtower to control their members including having them not viewing material not provided by the organization.
You seem to be missing the main point here. I don't write the laws, I abide by them. If everyone abided by the written laws then no one would be in this type of mess. You know as well as I do that there are protocols to follow in any organization. If you don't like the laws written,then follow it up with the author. In other words, pray to God for understanding. You know it says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in Jehovah with all your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all your ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight. Do not become wise in your own eyes. Fear Jehovah and turn away from bad." It says pretty much the same thing in other translations. He wrote the laws and also the principles. Anyone stepping outside those principles have to live by the consequences, no matter how you and I see it. So don't scream "hypocrite" or "murderer" to me or the Watchtower Society. They and I go by the rules. Those rules come from God. You got a problem with that? Go take it up with him.
I have no problem with the word of God as properly translated. I do have a problem with an organization that is created by a man who was involved in the occult and masonry and declares itself God's organization and changes the Bible to fit there beliefs and then change their beliefs when membership exceeds a number or a date passes. Back to my question: no pedophiles in your organization should ever be judged unless you or other witnesses are present at the time of the rape? Answer that question and just for fun lets look at the pyramid next to Charles Taze Russell's grave near the corner of Masonic way. Hey there is a cross on that thing! Here great aerial shot of the grave of your founding leader near the corner of Cementary and Masonic Way.
An occult now? Hey, you have moved along in a mighty hurry. Are you saying we are affiliated with the Masonic Organisation? Oh please! You know that is a loaded question. You obviously are not paying attention to what I just said. Go and play your games with someone else.
You act as if the leadership of the Watchtower are guided by God, that image shows that your founder was into pyramiology and the map link shows he is buried at the corner of Masonic Way. It's well documented that Mr. Russell was involved in Masonry. If anyone plays games it is those who are control by the Watchtower. They train you not to look at evidence or answer questions that would not look good for them. The question was a simple yes or no, no games.
I am going to decline responding to your attacks this way. However, I will be thinking of you when I read Matthew 5:43-44. Col
My "attacks" are not against you any more than someone running up to your door and saying your house is on fire get out. The web is not a very good venue for JWs as I can stick images and quotes right in line with my posts so you have to see them. The Watchtower trains (and therefore controls) you to not look at things that would expose you to aspects of the organization they don't want focus on. You can ignore first hand video testimony but the in line material can't be ignored even though you avoid it in your responses. The more post, the more other will see just what kind of organization the Watchtower is. I know you've caused me to go easily find things that were not easily found years ago like Mr. Russell's pyramid with a cross on it at the corner of Masonic Way. If the day ever comes that say you have a grand daughter that is injured severely, the government of New South Wales steps in blocks some old men in Brooklyn's no blood products wishes and lets her live. If nothing else they should take her into protective custody and care for her as nothing that enters the body can defile, only what comes out. I'm heading out of town, be back Sunday night, see ya.