A blog by Tom Sheepandgoats (aka Tom Harley)
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Regarding the Recent Update on Blood Transfusion: Part 7
A consequence of the Witnesses’ long-time no-blood stance, dating back to the 1940s, was the gradual emergence of a new field called “bloodless medicine.” Here and there, courageous doctors had taken up the challenge of treating them in accord with their religious beliefs. A New Scientist Magazine article of April 26, 2008, states that bloodless surgery “was originally developed to enable Jehovah’s Witnesses, who shun…
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Regarding the Recent Update on Blood Transfusion: Part 6
(Yes, yes, I said the last one was final, but I’ve thought up two more to address things unanswered) Usually, when a policy is reformed for the better, the reformers are lauded as heroes. But in the case of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the update on blood transfusion policies, this has not been enough to satisfy detractors. Those detractors want “accountability.” Well, I suppose you could…
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Back to the Queen of the Heavens
“I had it up to here with you characters. If you don’t shape up, I’m sending in the Babylonians. They’re a nasty bunch. They’re chomping at the bit. I’ll just take down the Stop sign—that’s all it will take.“ Israelites: “Nice bluff. Forget it. We’re holding.” God: “Okay then, make way for them. Some people have to learn the hard way.” Israelites: (upon checking the…
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Good is Bad, Bad is Good, Dark is Light, Light is Dark—Isaiah 5:20
Good is Bad, Bad is Good, Dark is Light, Light is Dark—Isaiah 5:20 On X, captivating videos catch my eye. Some monumental news is breaking! I look at the comments. Invariably, someone will ask Grok, the AI agent, ‘Is this true?’ Half of the time, it seems, the answer is no. It is a “deep fake.” Not only do people live in echo chambers, consuming…
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Regarding the Recent Update on Blood Transfusion: Part 5
See Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5) Few Witnesses will buy that Acts 15:29 has no conceivable connection to blood transfusion therapy. They won’t buy that it is merely an OT dietary law imposed upon Christians. The counsel of apostles and older men preserved only four out of over 600 OT laws. Why would “abstain from blood” make the cut? Other…
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Regarding the Recent Update on Blood Transfusion: Part 4
See Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5) Immanuel Kant was a philosopher from the 1700s, and is a driving force behind today’s higher criticism method of evaluating scripture. He called questions such as ‘How do we know one is led by Holy Spirit?’ “antimonies.” That is, they were questions that could not be answered by reason, which he regarded as his…
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Regarding the Recent Update on Blood Transfusion: Part 3
See Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5) Several serious adjustments to the Witnesses have come following intense criticism from those opposed. I have several times acknowledged this. For example, regarding the change in congregation discipline, I wrote: “Look, if disfellowshipped ones accumulate to the point where even Norway starts to complain, maybe it is time for a reexamination. The leaven must…
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Regarding the Recent Update on Blood Transfusions: Part 2
See Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5) At long last, two scriptures long acknowledged but long deemphasized are coming to the fore. I could not be happier. For the longest time I have adopted the Rolling Stones song as my personal year text: “You can’t always get what you want.” Now it is beginning to appear as though I can. Or…