Religion: pros & cons (Religion)

by DragonsHeart , Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 22:38 (3683 days ago) @ Balance_Maintained

Hello, gentlemen.-Perhaps I might weigh in on some of this discussion. I hope you will pardon if I don't quote you all directly, and if I forget who said what. Now, onto the discussion.-I saw it mentioned about interfaith marriages, and whether they are forbidden or not. No, they certainly weren't. Joseph married an Egyptian, certainly of a different faith. Moses married a Midianite, after he had given up the beliefs of the Egyptian gods, so he and his wife were of different faiths. Over and over, we are shown examples of interfaith marriages.-Interfaith marriages, while not the norm, were certainly not discouraged.-
Yes, Witnesses abstain from blood transfusions and such. When one of my children had to have surgery to remove a benign cyst over her left eye, I had to fill out all the paperwork, and I checked that I refused blood transfusions. I had done much research through the years, and I just do not feel the benefits outweigh the risks. My grandfather contracted Hepatitis (I forget which specific one) years ago through a blood transfusion. Yes, he lived, but he had health consequences.-The medical community had to develop new ways of operating and new treatments to accommodate their patients who were Jehovah's Witnesses. As a result, research has shown that these bloodless procedures and treatments actually have quicker recovery times, and the healing process is faster. -
To say that Tony would "sacrifice the lives even of children" is a bit of a stretch. To say that Jehovah would "forbid the deliberate shortening of life when the means to prolong it are available" is also a stretch. Witnesses are not against treatment for illnesses, not by any means, but when the "best option" also brings with it the potential to kill the patient, it no longer becomes the best option. Transfusions are not 100% safe, and never will be. They were viewed as safe, and then HIV was discovered to be transmitted through transfusions. -The statement where Protestants and Catholics don't seem to have an issue with transfusions. Then mentioning the issue of contraception, and questioning whether the Pope or Archbishop of Canterbury failed to consider the Bible as a whole. Here's my answer: They both have. I was raised in the Catholic Church, and for nearly 20 years, there were many stories that I never heard. Ever. Adonijah, the 4 men in the fiery furnace, much of Job, many of the Proverbs. I did not have a complete knowledge of the Bible. Reading on our own wasn't particularly encouraged. The Catholics ignore many passages in the Bible simply because it is convenient for them to do so(such as Mark 7:9 which says "You skillfully disregard the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition.").