Jehovah's Witnesses Practices - Blood

Blood

Main article: Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions See also: Criticism of Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that the Bible prohibits the consumption, storage and transfusion of blood, based on their understanding of scriptures such as Leviticus 17:10, 11: "I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood," and Acts 15:29: "abstain from ... blood." This standpoint is applied even in emergencies. The Watchtower introduced this view in 1945, and it has developed since then. Accordingly, the organization has established Hospital Information Services (HIS), which provides education and facilitation of bloodless surgery. This service also maintains Hospital Liaison Committees, which support adherents facing surgery and provide information to the medical community on bloodless surgery techniques and alternatives to blood.

Though accepted by most members, some within the Jehovah's Witness community do not endorse the doctrine. The doctrine has drawn criticism from members of the medical community.

Read more about this topic:  Jehovah's Witnesses Practices

Famous quotes containing the word blood:

    “See, see where Christ’s blood streams in the firmament!
    One drop would save my soul—half a drop! ah, my Christ!—
    Ah, rend not my heart for naming of my Christ!—
    Yet will I call on him!—O, spare me, Lucifer!—
    Where is it now? ‘T is gone; and see where God
    Stretcheth out his arm, and bends his ireful brows!—
    Mountains and hills, come, come and fall on me,
    And hide me from the heavy wrath of God!”
    —Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593)

    “The blood blooms clean

    In you, ruby.
    The pain
    You wake to is not yours.”
    —Sylvia Plath (1932–1963)

    “We, the soldiers who have returned from battles stained with blood; we who have seen our relatives and friends killed before our eyes; we who have attended their funerals and cannot look in the eyes of their parents; we who have come from a land where parents bury their children; we who have fought against you, the Palestinians—we say to you today, in a loud and a clear voice: enough of blood and tears. Enough.”
    —Yitzhak Rabin (1922–1995)