Donating Blood?

[Blien]

When I was young, I was absolutely into donating blood. I even received donated blood as a baby when I was having health problems.. but these days I find my self erring a bit.

The reason being, I never understood why JW's always insisted on abstaining from blood donation, when I researched their beliefs it seemed to me to make SOME sense. The Apostle Paul spoke about not drinking blood because the blood is the life (soul) of the animal. In the old testament it is also emphasised that no man or woman should drink blood. So.. though these commandments do not directly speak to "blood donation" its making me err a bit.

Though in saying this, I do remember what Jesus said to the Pharisees regarding why his disciples were picking wheat heads on the sabbath and eating because it was against the Law to work on the sabbath.. He responded with asking them about David who ate from the food which was designated to the priests of the temple which also was against the law. So.. I do understand about the spirit of the law, which is why I am not fully convinced about NOT donating. Also, one donation can save THREE PEOPLE!

What do you all say about this?

[Sir Gareth]

Donating blood is an important way to help save lives.

The bible speaks against drinking the blood of animals or humans, not against donating our own life blood is a good way to share our life with those in need.

The JW's mix up so much scripture to say whatever they want it to say, don't let their doctrines ruin a good charitable way to share with others in need.

[Believer1997]

I agree with that sentiment, Sir Gareth... the JW are very confused about a number of issues and giving blood can and does save many lives. I do not see anything that would prevent a Christian from doing this if they were physically able to do so.

[sheya joie]

I fail to see how a transfusion of blood can be equated with drinking blood.

[nebula]

Hey - Jesus gave the ultimate blood transfusion.

But to your question - drinking blood is demonic, pure and simple. I don't have time to go into an explanation of this right now.

Physiologically, though, when one takes blood into their digestive system, the proteins and nutrients and wastes and everything else is absorbed into the body in broken-down components.

With a blood transfusion, one is re-filling their vessels with a much needed element to keep from dying.

However, there is a risk taken with blood tranfusion: one can still pick up diseases. Case in point, because I have rheumatoid arthritis, I am not allowed to give blood because I could pass on the troublesome antibodies to another person. But what if a donor has RA and doesn't know they shouldn't give blood and the techs don't catch that the donor has the condition?

I know I'm not answering your question best, but it is something to consider in your ponderings.

[Blien]

Yes it is demonic..

But on your second point, its true that diseases can travel through donated blood though they do have screening equipment and prevent certain people from donating (I think I may be one of them.. not sure yet). As I mentioned in my earlier post I received blood transfusion when I was a baby. During those days, AIDS was not fully recognized worldwide... it's amazing I didn't catch any disease! God was certainly protecting me.. I think it's much safer now to give and receive blood transfusion.

[EricH]

I see absolutely nothing in scripture that would prohibit us from donating blood

[damo1]

there is nothing wrong with donating blood why in 1999 i was rushed to hospital i woke up at 5am in the morning vomitting blood an olsar busted in me and if my first wife had not called the ambulance i could have been dead i was lucky this is what the dr who looked after me told me and i was told i had to have a blood transfussion which i was thank full for the donated blood given to woden valley hospital

i know jw teach that donating blood is wrong and i know that jw have cards on them in their wallets stating they are jw and are not to be given a blood transfussion from another human being

drinking the blood of animals is not on and drinking human blood is not on but i was told of filapino christians who do drink blood and when i was told by a female pastor she drinks blood it shocked me we got talking on the old testament laws

it was my x fiance and her senior pastor that i was talking to my best man who came with me to the philipines for the wedding and to get to know my first fiance and her senior pastor also was shocked both my x fiance who is a filapino pastor and her senior pastor have drunk the blood of a pig its part of their culture i am not putting this hear as a judgment on my x fiance or am i bringing her and her senior pastor down i am over my x fiance and i have forgiven her we do talk over the phone

but when i was told red flags went up its like they were flashing in front of me

i dont want to get into everything al i am saying is we should be very care full when it comes to the doctrines we have been taught if it does not line up with gods word get on your knees repent and ask god to forgive you even if it part of your culture you belong to you are a his follower his spirit is know part of you you belong to god not to the world

as a croatian i had to also let go of some things i was holding on to i had to ask my uncle some questions about my family i wanted to know what one aunty was involved in i found out we had gypsys on our side and one aunt who sacrificed animals she talked to the dead and read from our cups when we had finished drinking tea or coffe but i dont want to take this of topic

i know were nebula is comming from and i hope when nebula gets the time she shares her wisdom and you listen to what nebula leaves and let what she leavs speak to you she wil do a better job due to her grammer being very good my grammer is not that good as some peoples grammer

their is nothing wrong with giving or donating blood god is not going to punish us i wish i new the person who dontated to woden vallley hospital i wanted to thank them but under the privacy laws peoples names and ther phone numbers and adress cant be given god was working threw the dr who looked after me and i thanked him very nice caring man

having an olsar bust like the way it did in me and having seeing what i saw in the toilet it was not a nice thing to go threw my spiritual mentors rushed to our home as it was their place we were renting and they had to clean up what i had vomitted i went whiet and i was told it took two transfussions of blood to get me on track i vomitted a lot of blood and i could not stop but i felt gods hands on me and his peace was over me this is all i remember i was very cold and i was shaking i wish this on no one not a nice way to go it was caused by stress this is what i was told by my dr which ther was a fair bit of stress we just burried a child we lost

damo1

[martin frobisher]

I'd personally say a Christian has a duty to do things like donate blood...

the JWs take Bible scriptures out of context - drinking or eating blood is fundamentally different from having a transfusion, and in any case this prohibition was part of the dietary laws, and do the JWs observe the other dietary laws?

[abbershay]

I am all for giving blood, however i do feel like i am giving it to the insurance companies because i give it away. There are several people who are making money off my blood and the insurance is saving money because i am giviing it away for free.

Pay people for for their blood .