For decades the position of the organization was that blood, whether whole or in part was not permissible for Jehovah’s Witnesses to use to sustain life. The September 1961 Watchtower states: “BLOOD TRANSFUSION Over the centuries man’s misuses of blood have taken on many forms. Ancient Egyptian princes used human blood for rejuvenation; others drank […]
In connection with baptism, the society recognizes that this is merely a symbol of one’s dedication to do God’s will: “It is thought by some that baptism is a ceremony that brings certain direct spiritual dispensations from God. A careful study of the instructions given by Jesus and his disciples on baptism proves otherwise. Being […]
For the holy spirit and we ourselves have favored adding no further burden to you except these necessary things: to keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you carefully keep yourselves from these things, you will prosper. Good health to you!” Acts 15:28, 29 […]
Since blood transfusions are not taking blood through the mouth how does this go against the Bible injunction? The Watchtower society offers two defenses to this: First, that a blood transfusion is nutrition to the body which makes it the same as eating blood. However, is blood a nutrient like food? Why is it that […]
Definition of doublespeak by Merriam Webster: language used to deceive usually through concealment or misrepresentation of truth; also : gobbledygook dou·ble·speak ˈdəbəlˌspēk/ noun noun: doublespeak; noun: double-speak deliberately euphemistic, ambiguous, or obscure language. “the art of political doublespeak” synonyms: equivocating, evasion, dodging, beating about the bush, pussyfooting (around); William Lutz on Doublespeak – “Doublespeak is […]
Beloved ones, do not believe every inspired statement, but test the inspired statements to see whether they originate with God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 In 1820 at 14 years of age, Joseph Smith received his first vision alone in the forest. Commenting on this, The Watchtower […]
“Before you shut the door on a Jehovah’s Witness,” says an article in the newspaper USA Today, “pause to consider the shameful persecution they suffered not too long ago, as well as the rich contribution they have made to the First Amendment freedoms we all enjoy.” Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted in the United States throughout […]
In part 1 which traced the historical development of the Watchtower society’s interpretation of texts referring to the calling of Christians to be the children of God it was seen that this resulted in creating a false dilemma of distinguishing between some Christians that are considered anointed and others that are not. Since 1935 the […]
According to Ephesians 4:4 all Christians have one hope: One body there is, and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:4 What is that hope? If it is to live forever ruling with Jesus in heaven, then all Christians share that hope. If it is to […]
Both historical data and the Watchtower Society agree that Babylon fell in 539 BCE. In fact, it is regarded as a pivotal date on which reliable Bible chronology can be determined. But what about Jerusalem’s destruction? Is there any evidence that Jerusalem was destroyed in 607 BCE or that the Jews returned from exile in […]