Pubdate: Wed, 25 Feb 2004 Source: Surrey Now (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc., A Canwest Company Contact: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462 Author: Jerry Steinberg Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n320/a05.html 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 - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin