JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES SHOULDN'T DO DRUGS EITHER

The Editor,

Re: "Man forced to defy his religion for methadone," the Now, Feb. 21.

How selective can a drug addict be? Ralph Wallace is a heroin addict
and is complaining - because he is a Jehovah's Witness - that his
doctor requires a blood sample from him. First of all, Jehovah's
Witnesses aren't supposed to receive blood; there's nothing in their
religion that I could find that prohibits giving blood.

I went to the Jehovah's Witness Web site and found the
following:

"To please God, we must avoid blood transfusions, unclean habits and
unnecessary risks.

This means that we must not take into our bodies in any way at all
other people's blood or even our own blood that has been stored. (Acts
21:25) So true Christians will not accept a blood transfusion."

I also found this:

"It is not wrong to drink a little wine, beer or other alcoholic
beverage. (Psalm 104:15; 1 Timothy 5:23) But heavy drinking and
drunkenness are wrong in God's eyes. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 1 Timothy
3:8) Drinking too much can ruin your health and disrupt your family.
It can also cause you to give in very quickly to other temptations.
- -Proverbs 23:20, 21, 29-35."

And this:

"God hates drunkenness, stealing, gambling and acts of
violence.

"Smoking, chewing betel nut and taking drugs for pleasure are not for
Christians. These practices are wrong because (1) they make us their
slaves, (2) they harm our bodies, and (3) they are unclean. (Romans
6:19; 12:1; 2 Corinthians 7:1)."

Now Mr. Wallace, which of the above dictates - of the religion you
conveniently profess to adhere to - do you choose to obey? None that I
can see.

So why don't you tell us the real reason you are so concerned about
getting blood work done?

Jerry Steinberg

South Surrey