12/14/2023 0 Comments Jehovah rulesWitnesses refuse to participate in any political and military activity and are told to limit social contact with non-Witnesses. Jehovah's Witnesses endeavor to remain "separate from the world", which they regard as a place of moral contamination and under the control of Satan. The group disseminates instructions regarding activities and acceptable behavior through The Watchtower magazine and through other official publications, and at conventions and congregation meetings. Since 1976, practices have also been based on decisions made at closed meetings of the group's Governing Body. 1881) of the Bible Student movement, and of successive presidents of the Watch Tower Society, Joseph Franklin Rutherford (from 1917 to 1942) and Nathan Homer Knorr (from 1942 to 1977). They felt that it was unethical to give him chemotherapy because in the absence of blood support it was likely to fail, and could even hasten his death.Jehovah's Witnesses's practices are based on the biblical interpretations of Charles Taze Russell (1852–1916), founder ( c. The nursing staff were extremely distressed by the situation. The patient, rather than refusing treatment entirely, he asked for the chemotherapy to be administered with alternatives to blood products, which are more expensive. But Jehovah's Witnesses do not accept blood products and are prepared to die rather than compromise their belief. A crucial part of this involves replenishing the blood system, which is destroyed as a side effect of the chemotherapy. The standard treatment is high dose chemotherapy to kill the cancerous blood cells. Debating the medical ethicsĪ case involving a Witness with acute myeloid leukaemia is discussed by a panel of experts from clinical ethics committees in hospitals around the UK. Children who are transfused against their parents' wishes are not rejected or stigmatised in any way. Of course, if a Witness is transfused against their will, this is not regarded as a sin on the part of the individual. If the Witness later changes their mind and repents of their action they can return to the Church. the act of accepting a blood transfusion stopped a person being a Witness, without any further action by the Church. This was because the Church had no need to take action the Witness concerned would no longer be viewed as one of Jehovah's Witnesses because he no longer accepted and followed a core tenet of the faith - i.e. But the actual change was just that the Church would not take disciplinary action against that Witness. Some people wrongly interpreted the change as meaning that Witnesses could now accept blood. In 2000 the Witnesses changed the rules on blood transfusions so that the Church would no longer take action against a Witness who willingly and without regret underwent a blood transfusion. This has eased many of the tensions related to the issue. Jehovah's Witness Hospital Liaison Committees maintain lists of doctors who are prepared to be consulted with a view to treatment without the use of blood transfusion. There have been cases where doctors have gone to court to get permission to give blood to children against the wishes of parents who are Jehovah's Witnesses.Ĭell-free blood products, containing haemoglobin but not red blood cells have recently become available and may be acceptable for some Jehovah's Witnesses.Īlthough Jehovah's Witnesses cannot accept blood, they are open to other medical procedures. Many Jehovah's Witnesses carry a signed and witnessed advance directive card absolutely refusing blood and releasing doctors from any liability arising from this refusal. They have sound legal reasons for this too, as to administer blood in the face of refusal by a patient may be unlawful and could lead to criminal and/or civil proceedings. They oppose any movement motivated by racial or ethnic hatred.ĭoctors generally feel that respect for the patient's autonomy requires that this wish should be obeyed. Jehovah's Witnesses come from all racial and ethnic groups and believe that all races are equal in the sight of God. Jehovah's Witnesses accept that divorce is sometimes unavoidable, but except in the case of adultery, remarriage is not permitted. They should fill their minds with clean thoughts by studying God's Word.Witnesses should avoid forms of entertainment that could soil their minds.Witnesses should not be afraid of the dead.Witnesses should not celebrate birthdays.Witnesses should shun the teachings or customs of false religion.Smoking, chewing betel nut, and taking drugs for pleasure are wrong because they make people their slaves, they harm the body and they are unclean. Sex outside marriage includes petting and oral sex.
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