The link below is from JW.org and it discusses the morality of abortions.

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/abortion-bible-view/

This quote from the website caught my eye: "What, though, if an emergency situation at the time of childbirth forces a couple to choose between letting the mother live and the baby die or vice versa? In that case, the couple would have to decide which life to try to save." Based on my reading, the religious organization concedes that an abortion may be necessary in an emergency scenario to save the mother's life.

Life is sacred to Jehovah, and the aforementioned scenario feels like a conflict of God's principles. How can a Christian parent choose which life is more valuable? Is a Christian blood-guilty if they take a life to save a life? It seems to me there is no clear cut right choice in this situation, and it's deemed a conscience matter by the organization. I think that's the right call. That's why it frustrates me to see the lack of conscience freedom in the similar matter of blood transfusions in an emergency scenario.

Even if a blood transfusion is a sin, how is the blood law more important than the sacredness of life? Are there times when it is acceptable to violate one law to preserve another one? Is a Christian honoring God by allowing himself or his family member to die over the blood law? Or is a transfusion rejection (causing death) creating more blood-guilt than a transfusion ever could?

It seems to me that the organization make emergency blood transfusions a black-and-white matter when they should be a gray area of personal conscience. The Governing Body reassures JWs that transfusion rejection is the right call, but are they inadvertently causing blood-guilt with an incorrect interpretation? A willingness to die over the blood law requires a great deal of faith and conviction, and I am unconvinced with their reasoning. Moreover, the GB have been wrong about Biblical interpretation in the past. Imagine if they changed their stance on this matter down the line. Would that invalidate the sacrifice of JWs who died refusing a transfusion?

And to be clear, I am talking about emergency situations where a blood transfusion is essential for survival (just as abortions would be unacceptable unless it's an absolute emergency). For preplanned surgeries or minor accidents, a blood transfusion is unnecessary and shows a lack of respect for the blood law. But that's a confidential matter between a Christian, the doctor, and Jehovah God.

 

Hi marshroanoke

I think the blood transfusion issue should be a matter of conscience, also - in my personal opinion.