Duggan said the blood passages in the Hebrew Bible – Old Testament – often cited by Jehovah’s Witnesses as their reasons to refuse blood transfusions are safe cooking instructions that date back to the 5th Century.

“That needs to be said,” Duggan said. “The way the Jehovah’s Witnesses read the biblical text is simply wrong.”

The texts in the Hebrew Bible are mainly taken from Genesis 9:4-6 and from the book of Leviticus 17, he said.

“They speak about the life being in the blood, but the blood they are talking about is the blood of animals,” Duggan said.

This is only a start of a discussion that should be taking place.

Some background reading on the JWs in particular:

New Light on Blood and especially Why some Jehovah’s Witnesses accept blood and conscientiously reject official Watchtower Society blood policy from The Associated Jehovah’s Witnesses for Reform on Blood

Jehovah’s Witnesses and blood transfusions page on Wikipedia

Blood and Life, Law and Love by Raymond Franz, former member of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Google book search on “abstain from blood”

To me, personally, “abstain from blood” refers to approved early sacrificial practices, dietary restrictions and laws, and possibly a prohibition against murder. The idea of “bloodguilt” is not unrelated to this debate, and it would be interesting to revisit the meaning of Jesus’ statement to his followers to “eat his body and drink his blood.”

In fact, I am neither. But feel free to read any of my other Jehovah’s Witness related posts, or advice, or news tracking.

Cognitive dissonance is an important way to stimulate someone’s conscience. When things don’t add up, people either repress the issue or start thinking about it for themselves. Real faith is not destroyed by questions and discussions.

So, tell me where Jehovah’s Witnesses question and discuss and debate? Would that be at the meetings? When they question the pronouncements of the Watchtower Society? Or perhaps it happens in their educational training – where they learn Hebrew or Greek, or biblical interpretation? No? Neither the average Kingdom Hall “minister” or the elders have such training. They are encouraged to read only Watchtower publications.

I would be interested in a debate on the topic of blood. There are a wide range of biblical scholars that could responsibly comment on this issue. I am encouraging them to do so.