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When Does a Religion Become a Cult?Last weekend, two ladies knocked on my door. One was around 50 and other may have been her daughter. The older one started talking about God and handed me this pamphlet. I quickly and graciously accepted and let them go their way. It's been so long since I was visited that I didn't immediately recognize that the two ladies were Jehovah Witness followers. This became apparent as I glanced through the pamphlet.
I can't argue over a religion's belief in God or the Bible. But when a religion makes requirements that can put ones life at risk, it then becomes more of a cult rather than a religion. By not allowing blood transfusions or blood donations, Jehovah Witnesses become more of a cult than a religion. They are putting their members at risk. They are hurting society by reducing the blood donations.
I suppose this criteria of judging a religion can sometimes be debatable. Many religions often have requirements that can be questionable from a purely scientific point of view. Birth control is one example. Birth control makes very good sense from a scientific point of view about ensuring sensible family planning and higher standards of living in society. However, avoiding birth control doesn't in itself puts lives at risk. It makes it harder to do responsible family planning. But it doesn't make it impossible. On the other hand, refusing blood transfusions does directly put one at risk of an unnecessary early death.
My Response to the Jehovah Witnesses
So this thinking about Jehovah Witnesses motivated me to give blood this week. The blood and tissue center had another blood drive at my work site last Thursday. It's been six months since my last donation. I wonder who holds the record for the most blood donated in a life? I don't think it's safe to give more than four times a year. So if someone gave four times a year for 50 years that would be 25 gallons. That would be impressive. I don't think I'll plan for this. I'm willing to bet that in 10 years, they will have perfected synthetic blood and won't require donations any more. So it's probably not worth striving for 25 gallons. Nonetheless, I plan to keeping giving. I think I'll create a pamphlet about this, and give it to the next Jehovah Witness that comes to my door.
Some Freebie Ideas About Donating
One of the little freebies you get after giving blood are some snacks and drinks that they provide to help get your energy back and prevent fainting after the donation. Also, they sometimes give away T-shirts (although they didn't have any this time.) I was thinking about keeping that arm band that they use to cover the place where they draw the blood. Then the next time I happen to walk by a blood drive, I'll sneak in with the arm band and take advantage of the snacks. Then again, it's probably better that I just give blood. Besides, I never just happen to walk by a blood drive. So I think I'll go ahead and throw away that arm band...
