This week we studied the Jehovah's Witnesses as a culture.  Going into this, I didn't really have any expectations.  I don't know much about Jehovah's Witnesses except that they consider themselves Christian, they believe in God and Jesus Christ, and that they believe that 144,000 people will live with God again.  I didn't know exactly how that worked out.  I also knew that from a healthcare perspective, they refuse any kind of blood product but didn't know why.  I knew I would have a lot to learn about this religion's beliefs and culture.

I learned a lot about this culture through my research.  I found that they believe that God is Jehovah instead of Jesus Christ like some other Christian religions believe.  I learned that they don't believe in life after death.  They believe that once we die, that is it until we are resurrected again.  We don't go anywhere.  We simply cease to exist for a time until resurrection or we are sent to Gehenna, or eternal destruction.  I finally understand that they believe that the Earth will be raised to a paradisiacal state and after everyone is resurrected back from death, we will live there except the 144,000 special people who were the most faithful and chosen to be immediately changed into spiritual beings after death that return to live with God in Heaven.  They are those who will rule under the newly crowned Jesus Christ as king to govern all the worlds in keeping God's kingdom in Heaven and on all the planets that God's children live on.

Some other things I learned were the reasons behind refusing blood products.  They believe that all life is special and the life force of each person is their blood.  They believe it is the soul.  No person should take another person's blood including an animal's.  They don't even believe in donating their own blood or storing it for themselves.  The only person who gave His blood for another was Jesus Christ.  They go to extremes to avoid the spilling of blood including limiting their activities to those that will help keep them safe from harm.

Now that I understand the reasons behind some of what Jehovah's Witnesses believe, I will be able to respect their choices in the way they want to be cared for and healed.  It is hard to hear someone say they don't want life-giving substances like blood products when it's so easy to give them.  But they truly believe that they would be taking something that is not theirs and they should never have.  That is taking away someone else's life source.  I will strive to be more respectful of the denial of something I believe would help when someone else believes it won't.

Although there are some things I personally don't agree with about what Jehovah's Witnesses believe, I respect them for sticking to their beliefs so thoroughly.  There are not a lot of people who would stand with such conviction, especially in the face of possible death if severely injured or sick.  I was also surprised by some of the things they do believe being in line with some of my personal beliefs.  It is hard to listen to someone who thinks you are choosing something that isn't right and wants you to change, but I find it will be easier to have relationships with Jehovah's Witnesses now that I understand where they are coming from a little better.