Expert: Gordon Cook - 4/6/2009

Question
I have come across some information that jws can't become a police man, does that pertain to the border patrol as well? It also says not to shop at the Salvation Army, does this pertain to Goodwill also? It says also not to store your own blood prior to surgery, what is the take on having an organ transplant? IS it okay to receive chemo in this religion? I know I have asked several questions. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer them.

Answer
Hi,
I will try to answer you questions as best as I can, from what I recall having been a JW.

1) Police : I live in Britain.  The reason given why a JW cannot become a policeman here, is they have to take an oath to the Queen, which they say would compromise their teaching on being neutral to the world, and that they serve only Jehovah.
As to things like Border patrol in Britain as far as I know no problem.
But if you live in a country, say like USA, were the police and such may carry guns. Then a JW would not be able become one, as there is the chance they may have to shoot someone.

2)  Salavation Army shops.  
This would cover many such charity shops. Especially if they are run by another religion. JWs would see buying anything from such a shop as supporting another religion. In fact they are not very keen to support any charity. They view things in a way that Jehovah will eventually sort the world out, so why give to charity.

3) Storing blood before surgery is not allowed. They say according to scripture that once blood has left the body it should be disposed of. An exception would be the use of a heart/ling machine which circulates the blood during an operation, they say this is because the blood is basically still in the body.
Though they are now allowed to use blood fractions.

More information on their view of blood can be found at
www.ajwrb.org

4) Organ transplants.. These were once banned on the grounds that a transplant was the same as cannibalism. But then in the 1980's, they changed the teaching and they are now allowed.  

5) Chemo- as far as I know chemotherapy is allowed by JWs. I have know JWs who have had it, and radiotherapy.

I hope that answers your questions.
Please feel free to ask anything else.