I guess I am a bit confused then... "One controversial doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses teaches the Bible prohibits consumption, storage and transfusion of blood, including in cases of emergency." But does the "Bible" also not describe the consumption of Christ's blood by his Apostles? Of course the Jehova thing is only about 60 years old, while the "Bible" is just a wee bit older... Am I missing something here?
I guess we should credit the Babylonians as the most influential people in history, considering that their base-60 numerical system is the entire basis for the way we record time in this day and age. They also beat Jesus to the punch by making this up 300 years before he was even born. You ever think that a lot of times we use something just because its really old and it's a bitch to change things, particularly units of measure? This is the same reason we still use the imperial system whereas the rest of the world uses metric: nobody wants to go through the trouble of adapting to a new system. Jesus definitely influenced a lot of people, but bringing up our calendar as proof of him being the most influential man in history is just ridiculous.
You say receiving blood is unhealthy. Side effects of blood transfusion are possible, and taking, storing blood, and finding the right donor is a problem somewhat, so this is the reason that artificial blood is trying to be developed. Until blood is more life saving than harming, it is not OK, if you say that blood is not healthy. Almost all medicines have side effects, almost any food can cause problems in some people, but you don't say that all medicines are unhealthy or that all food is unhealthy. I find your explanation as gross manipulation.
This is way too big a discussion topic to go through all this in a forum. I'd be here for a decade. Go ask your local Jehovah's Witness to discuss these things. Face to face is far quicker to get to the point and sharing scriptures and reasoning on them. The consumption of Christ's blood is symbolic. Red wine and unleavened bread is used at our annual Observance of Christ's death (aka The Memorial). The Bible shows Jesus saying "this means" when he referred to the drinking of his blood and the eating of his flesh. They all ate unleavened bread and drank red wine at the "last supper". You need to do some more deeper research on this. Go take a serious look at how many people have lost their lives from taking a blood transfusion versus people have died from refusing a blood transfusion. Another DP member "grandad" showed some marvellous information about this in some of his posts. In fact, even better do an advanced search for the word "blood" under his username.
Understood, but again, being raised Catholic we believe in the Transfiguration.. From what I was taught, once blessed that wine is the Blood of Christ. So is it really symbolic?
Yes. Otherwise what the apostles wrote about abstaining from blood in the New Testament would be defying what Jesus commanded. The transfiguration has nothing to do with the blood issue in the Bible.
It was her choice, it's just sad that her baby will not know her mother. To me, the welfare of the child should have been her first priority. But then again, I'm not the dead mother.
Like it or not, the most influential man in history by no doubt was Mohammed, the founder of Islam. That’s according to a research/study done by Michael H. Hart, which was published in his book The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History .
According to what the Bible teaches, if the child grows up and decides to dedicate her/his life to God as per the instructions in the Bible then yes he/she will in the new system of things. The baby's mother will be resurrected in the new system. It's a win/win situation.
Some time after Armageddon. Don't know exactly. The Bible does not say exactly when but it does say it will happen in the new system when Satan and all the demons are banished into the abyss (confined and powerless).
In regards to preaching to the community? In a way, yes. We go to areas in our territory and try to reach as many people as possible, in fulfillment of Matthew24:14 and Matthew 28:19-20. We don't target specific groups of people. We try to reach everyone if they allow us of course.
The question I have is, why come back if: 1. We've already said no 2. My wife works 2nd shift and explained that she is sleeping when they pound on the door. 3. There is a NO SOLICITATION sign on our door 4. We've already said no
People move residences. Your circumstances change. We don't know if anyone works nightshift. Put it this way. You have the option of telling us you don't want us to come around. We do come back every 1 to 2 years if you make this decision as a courtesy. Mainly because people do move house quite a lot. There does not need to be any anxt or anger. We respect people's wants and needs. You would be surprised how many people after years of not wanting us to come around, one day decided to ask a question and after that they want us to continue calling on them. You see, people's lives change all the time. Their views and opinions change just as much. You know for nearly 30 years I did not want the Witnesses to come around. But I am thankful they persisted. Otherwise, I would not have learned what I know now and my life would have continued in a spiraling mess.
I have respect for your religion, but what others and I have noticed is that JWs visit us Muslims on Fridays, and that too just before the Friday prayers (which mostly every male attend) leaving our wives, sisters, mothers and kids in the house who receive you guys. Is that intended or is it coincidence?
That's right..."No" to us means "Not now or not this time". So, the next time we visit your area... If you are specific to us then it will be 1 to 2 years. That is pure coincidence. As I said before, we do not target groups of people. We have to be completely impartial.
You're confusing transfiguration with transsubstantiation. First has to do with Jesus changing on the mountain in the presence of Elijah and Moses, the second has to do with the Catholic belief that the blood and the wafer somehow turns into the actual body and blood of Jesus which quite respectfully is a bunch of nonsense. Jesus said: "Do this in REMEMBERANCE of me." Rememberance means to bring to mind not to stomach.