Father faces off against Jehovah's Witnesses (ritual, followers, blood, bible)

[NewsBot/WarnBot]

The father of a teen who died after refusing a blood transfusion was back in a Calgary court Tuesday.
Jehovah's WitnessesTheologically, Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult of Christianity. The oppressive organization does not represent ...

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/news.php?p=9029&c=1

[Giovanni20]

People dont seem to understand that it says clearly in the bible that we must not consume or take blood into our body. Thats the problem. People want to do whatever they want and only follow the rules that benefit them. If people were to have true faith in god then they would know that they will see their loved one again. Abraham was commanded to kill his son as a sacrifice to god and he was willing to do it. Its all about faith. It proves everything.

[Giovanni20]

The people that say that JWs are a cult obviously do not know the meaning of the word Cult.

[SoyLeche]

Originally Posted by Giovanni20

The people that say that JWs are a cult obviously do not know the meaning of the word Cult.

The word really has little meaning outside of religious mud slinging - I've had it slung at me many times

[Draka]

cult (klt) KEY

NOUN:

1. 1. <LI type=a>A religion or religious sect generally considered to be extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader.
   2. The followers of such a religion or sect.
2. A system or community of religious worship and ritual.
3. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual.
4. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease.
5. 1. <LI type=a>Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing.
   2. The object of such devotion.
6. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest.

~

as per http://education.yahoo.com/reference...ary/entry/cult

[SoyLeche]

Originally Posted by Giovanni20

People dont seem to understand that it says clearly in the bible that we must not consume or take blood into our body. Thats the problem. People want to do whatever they want and only follow the rules that benefit them. If people were to have true faith in god then they would know that they will see their loved one again. Abraham was commanded to kill his son as a sacrifice to god and he was willing to do it. Its all about faith. It proves everything.

Context is everything. The passages in the Bible are warning against participating in the religious rites of the people around them. Since transfusions weren't even conceivable to the people then, that can't be what God was talking about.

I don't, however, have a problem with people refusing transfusions for themselves for religious reasons. When they start refusing them in behalf of little children, that starts to get into a very fuzzy area that I'm not as comfortable with. It has nothing to do with whether or not I believe that I will see my loved ones again - I have the assurance that I will. But life is precious - we only get one shot at this.

[Draka]

Originally Posted by Giovanni20

People dont seem to understand that it says clearly in the bible that we must not consume or take blood into our body. Thats the problem. People want to do whatever they want and only follow the rules that benefit them. If people were to have true faith in god then they would know that they will see their loved one again. Abraham was commanded to kill his son as a sacrifice to god and he was willing to do it. Its all about faith. It proves everything.

A transfusion is not consuming blood. And as for taking it into the body...if that means that if a person loses blood that they cannot have it replaced and that is the only thing that stands between life and death for them, then that is ridiculous. Can one recieve their own blood? If they donate blood at an earlier time then can they recieve their own blood back? Or is it wrong to donate blood to save yourself or others? You aren't taking the blood yourself at the time...you are giving it. Is there a diffence? Why is it okay to kill...but not to save a life? It's okay to sacrifice your child...but not to save them? Makes no sense to me.

[evearael]

The father of a teen who died after refusing a blood transfusion was back in a Calgary court Tuesday.
Jehovah's WitnessesTheologically, Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult of Christianity. The oppressive organization does not represent ...

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/news.php?p=9029&c=1

This website is extremely biased and only undermines your case. Any religion can be classified as a cult, though usually it is a derogatory term. Use of derogatory terms undermines your case. It is tragic that this child died, but if you seek to sucessfully argue that the family is out of line for following their faith and not supporting medical intervention then you need to come up with a reasoned argument that includes reliable sources without insults.

[Draka]

This seems to be the source for the statements made concerning cults and heresy:

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/j02.html

[Ody]

Originally Posted by NewsBot/WarnBot

=
Jehovah's WitnessesTheologically, Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult of Christianity.

Do you realize how degrading this statement is?