Conversations: doorstep and beyond

Posted Apr 17th 2007 2:41PM by Joel Engardio
Filed under: Knocking

Welcome to the KNOCKING blog on AOL. I'm Joel Engardio, one of the filmmakers. I also wrote and narrated KNOCKING. Documentary films can often have a life of their own, beyond the concrete minutes between opening scene and closing credits. Films like KNOCKING seem to inspire thought and commentary. There is just so much to talk about. The issues are relevant to everyone today, not just Jehovah's Witnesses. So it is nice to see that the conversation continues as people exit the theaters where KNOCKING is shown at film festivals or community screenings. There are also conversations among Jehovah's Witnesses who watch KNOCKING on DVD at home gatherings and conversations among Jehovah's Witnesses and non-JWs who see KNOCKING to better understand their JW family members or co-workers. The conversation also continues on doorsteps across America when a Jehovah's Witness knocks on a door of someone with an interest in civil liberties, history or religion has seen KNOCKING at a film festival or on PBS. And the conversation continues further in online chat rooms and blogs. There is much to say, indeed. I only hope that the conversations remain constructive and respectful. We all have a right to free speech in America, but a free society must also be a civil society that respects a multitude of view points. What is remarkable about Jehovah's Witnesses is that they demonstrate how the right to free speech can work best in America, even as the country wages a destructive culture war with itself. Jehovah's Witnesses are social and moral conservatives. They speak their message door-to-door and you may not like what they have to say. But if you disagree with one of Jehovah's Witnesses, nothing else happens after you politely say "no thanks" and close the door. Jehovah's Witnesses are not working to create new laws or amend the Constitution to compel everyone to live their way. They only use the power of persuasion to find new members, and joining is a choice. Our nation was founded on the guarantee of both religious and personal liberty. We can have both without resorting to culture war. The fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are apolitical sets them apart from other socially and morally conservative religious groups that make it their agenda to politicize their beliefs. Everyone has a right to say what they want, but the notion of the separation of Church and State is one that would serve our country well if it were truly adhered to. Religions would always be protected by the Constitution to believe and worship as they see fit, and also have the right to freely speak about their beliefs in efforts to find new members in an open marketplace of ideas. But by keeping religion out of politics, the laws of our land could be equally applied to all people regardless of their faith. A right does not exist unless it is enjoyed by all. Jehovah's Witnesses seem to understand this. They stand firm for their beliefs and do not back down. Yet at the same time, they don't try to stop other groups they disagree with. A pair of Jehovah's Witnesses could be knocking on one side of the street with a Bible message and not be disturbed if another group is knocking on the other side of the street advocating an issue Jehovah's Witnesses don't agree with. When the KNOCKING crew was filming in Atlanta, we followed a group of Jehovah's Witnesses in the door-to-door ministry. It was election season, and as the Jehovah's Witnesses turned the corner, they ran into a group of people knocking on doors to ask residents to vote for a certain candidate. Jehovah's Witnesses do not vote. They believe that Christians should not put faith in human politicians to solve mankind's problems -- JWs say only God can do that. Yet, Jehovah's Witnesses respectfully shared the block with the political canvassers. The Atlanta neighborhood got a double-dose of the First Amendment in action that day, and it was a wonderful example of how the free flow of information and ideas should be able to reach citizens so they can choose which message they want to follow. This is the American way and the America I want to live in.

Reader Comments

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16. My father, who recently died, was a presiding elder for many years. Though I've forgiven him, I'm left with many scars of abuse, like being told at 16
that I had a "poisonous root" (of which he used a belt BUCKLE to try to "beat it out of me".). Then there's the sexual abuse that went on in my family and every family (all Witnesses) on my father's side. No one was disfellowshipped for these autrocities. Yet I was disfellowshipped at 20 for fornication (I lived with a man and wasn't married.). After my father's death, my step-mother, a Witness who treated me like I was dead for two decades, begged me for money. Taking the high road, I sent her money, but received no phone call or gratitude.

My younger sister was also disfellowshipped when she became a born-again Christian. She was my father's main caretaker when he had Parkinson's. She devoted herself to my father's care even though she has a husband and three children. Presently, weeks after his death, she's trying to get some members from his congregation to give her mother (his wife) a ride to the meetings at the Kingdom Hall because her mother can't drive. None of the Witnesses will give my sister the time of day. So much for the Witnesses claiming to be Christian, let alone practicing the golden rule.

Out of nine children, only two are still in the "truth" (darkness). Sadly, more than half of my siblings don't affiliate themselves with any faith, because they are so turned off by religion. Infact, one of the two (my brother) who still attends meetings and as far as I know is still an elder and his wife is a pioneer, has attempted suicide twice (the last time on the eve of my father's funeral). The other day I took the high road again and called him to see how he was doing and offer my support. He had the audacity to tell me that things are the way they are (no relationship or communication between us) because of my being disfellowshipped. He does have some contact, however, with one of my sisters who celebrates Christmas, was baptized, but never got disfellowshipped. And this same brother, who obviously did something (attempting to take his own life) that is against most faiths, not just his own, hasn't been disfellowshipped, either. Moreso, anyone in the right mindset would have to agree that not only is this hypocrisy, but also lunacy.

However, all is not lost. For when my father had his heart attack weeks ago and was unconscious, he told many of this revelation: He was standing in the corner watching the doctor and nurse try to revive him. He mentioned seeing two tunnels; one tunnel was bright with others who've passed reaching out to him; the other tunnel was dark and frightening. His first wife (my mother also a Witness) was there in between and told him that he had to choose the light or the darkness. Before he died, he regretted to admit that the "truth" had duped him and torn his family apart. He asked those who would listen for our forgiveness and asked us not to make the same mistake he made. This coming from a man who dedicated more than fifty years of his life to spreading the "good news". BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I implore you to come out of the darkness and reach for the light before you lose any more time lost with family and friends who are simply exercising their rights of freedom, just as you are doing. WAKE UP before your sanity (and that of your children's who don't have a voice) is compromised, or worse yet your souls because of all the bad KARMA that you are emitting.

Shoshanah Simon at 11:03PM on May 24th 2007

17. I watched Knocking. It did not touch on the current problems within the Society - such as the blood fraction controversy, the "two witness" rule which fostered child sexual abuse nightmare, or the problems in Moscow or Bulgaria. The film appeared to be the work of the Watchtower Society PR elder.

As the film did not touch on blood fractions, I will add to the discussion as it is my area.

The leadership of the Jehovah’s Witnesses publicly declare that Jehovah’s Witnesses “abstain from blood” in accordance with Acts 15:28,29. Blood that leaves the body has to be returned to the dust of the ground per Leviticus 17:13,14. In their May 22, 1994 Awake! magazine, the leadership martyred 22 of their flock’s children who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The public would be surprised to learn the leadership actually allows for many blood therapies and have frequently changed their doctrine since it began in the 1940s.

I was born a third generation Jehovah’s Witness. My mother entered the religion in the 1950’s, a time when both whole blood and blood product transfusions were banned. If taken, she faced severe shunning by our families and friends and loss of God. In 2004, my mother died of heart failure after refusing a life saving transfusion to treat anemia.

Following my mother’s death, I revisited the leadership’s stand on blood. To my horror, my family did not know that in 2000, the leadership began permitting hemoglobin transfusions that could have saved her.

Hemoglobin constitutes 97% of the red blood cell by weight. It is responsible for transporting oxygen to our tissues. Hemoglobin looks just like whole blood as it hangs in a transfusion bag. How did hemoglobin, made from stored, donated blood, suddenly become acceptable? Had the Bible changed? Why didn’t members know? Shouldn’t this blood be poured on the ground?

Today, the leadership permits followers to take any “blood fraction” made from donated, stored red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets or plasma. To make fractions, surplus blood is sold to manufacturers who, in turn, separate out the desired blood product. Fractions are made from many units of stored blood. Rather than pouring the blood on the ground, I found out the leadership permitted 2,500 units of donated, stored blood to make one dose of a clotting agent called Factor VIII, a life-saving treatment used by hemophiliac followers.
Interestingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not donate blood. Is it not both hypocritical and selfish to accept blood products made from other people’s donated blood, but not donate blood back into the common pool?

The Associated Jehovah’s Witness for Reform on Blood is a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses who have united to change this blood policy so that Witnesses get the medical help they need. According to their website, www.ajwrb.org, the religiously approved “blood fractions” include hemoglobin (14.8% of whole blood), albumin (2.6%), globulins (1.6%), clotting factors (.2%), interferons/ interleukins and wound healing factors (1.3%), just to name a few. Since blood is approximately 80% water, each fraction and water would total a whole unit of blood if combined! The leadership’s blood policy can be likened to Adam and Eve being told not to eat the apple; but applesauce, cider and pie made from it are okay to eat.

The leadership does not make clear that the allowed fractions plus water equals whole blood. Instead, it suggests the allowed fractions are “minute”. Is it not hypocritical to say you “abstain from blood” but then in reality accept every blood fraction?

During the 1990’s, the leadership repeatedly explained that the decision to approve the blood component albumin was based, not on the Bible, but on analyzing the natural world. They reasoned that albumin was not sinful since it naturally transferred between a mother and fetus during gestation. Oddly, red blood cells also naturally transfer during gestation and white blood cells transfer during breastfeeding. So why does the leadership forbid red or white blood cell transfusions?

Followers are not allowed to pre-deposit their own whole blood for use in elective surgery. Yet, the leadership permits whole blood or red blood cell transfusions using current therapy and cell tagging techniques. Both procedures involve removing the blood from the body, sometimes even storing it in a laboratory. How can this be?

Apparently, the leadership of the Jehovah’s Witnesses wants all to believe its view has not changed. The bottom line is that the leadership touts its infamous “no blood policy” as it proudly martyred those 22 children. But, their actions appear to prove they no longer believe in their own policy. If blood is to be poured out onto the ground, the use of blood products and cell tagging should be prohibited. Since this is not the case, why can’t all of blood be used to sustain life? The leadership is insincere, and stands ready to shun any follower who disagrees with it.

This bizarre hypocrisy would be a curiosity if its effects were not so serious. Fortunately, judges have demonstrated that they will protect children from this lunacy. But, adults and advanced minors stand to die.

Furthermore, the Society misquotes medical doctors and other non-JWs when writing publications. For example, "How Can Blood Save Your Life?",last year's article on not going to college, and the Cross doctrine all contain gross misquotes of secular writers. The writing department at Bethel would misquote the President if it helped their cause! I ask any JW to better prepare for their upcoming study - by reading the entire quoted article.

Respectfully,
Kerry Louderback-Wood, author of “Jehovah’s Witnesses, Blood Transfusions, and the Tort of Misrepresentation”, Journal of Church and State.

Kerry Louderback-Wood at 10:42PM on May 25th 2007

18. Well, I commend Seth for his faith and courage for going through with his transplant. I'm also getting evaluated for transplant. I can relate with him. About the film,it was very touching, and well appreciated.Would like to see number II....It's nice to see a positive for a change, and this is the begining of Jehovah manifesting his incoming New Kingdom.We as JW's base our faith and hope,ans the only solution for our future...

Antonio Del Valle at 6:51PM on May 26th 2007

19. This is to address cathy/mumsy/wisconsin
I knew it would be a matter of time before an apostate got intothis site and marred it with their black cloud comments about their former brothers and sisters. It amazes me how they are performing and behaving exactly as the scriptures said they would when it speaks of the ones who (were not of our sort). Jehovah's organization is not about CO's and DO's and elders it is just what it says it is JEHOVAH'S ORGANIZATION AND IF ANY OF THESE THINGS YOU SAID WERE POSSIBLY GOING ON JEHOVAH WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. YOU OBVIOUSLY FOCUSED TOO MUCH ON WHAT OTHERS WERE DOING AND NOT ON YOUR OWN SPIRITUALITY. THIS IS THE ONLY ORGANIZATION ON THE EARTH TODAY THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT HUMANS WANT AND THEY ARE: ETHNIC HARMONY, HONESTY, PEACE, SECURITY AND COMMORAUDERY WITH EACH OTHER. I truly feel sorry for you.
cathy at2:28P June18 2007

Cathy Lisi at 3:35PM on Jun 20th 2007

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