The Association of Anti-Watchtower Activists (AAWA) describes itself as "a new organization dedicated to respectful and well informed activism against the Watch Tower Society." The latter is the legal entity behind a religious movement whose members are known as "Jehovah's Witnesses."

AAWA says it is

a legally incorporated organization representing an international group of campaigners against the Watch Tower Society. Most of its associates are either current or former Jehovah's Witnesses.

And that spells trouble for the Watch Tower, because the activists are taking no prisoners:

At Apologetics Index (parent site of Religion News Blog), we consider the Watch Tower to be a cult -- both theologically and sociologically. [Note the difference between theological and sociological definitions of the term 'cult.']

Theologically, the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult of Christianity -- meaning that while it identifies itself as a Christian movement, its theology and practices fall outside the boundaries of historical, Biblical Christianity.

Sociologically, the movement is a destructive cult. For one thing, countless of its followers (and children too young to have made their own decisions) have died as a result of the organizations un-biblical teachings regarding blood.

For another, the organization proscribes crude and un-biblical forms of 'shunning' which lead to a practice as destructive as Scientology's 'disconnection' policy.

When Jehovah's Witnesses excommunicate, or "disfellowship," a member, even the closest human ties can be severed without question.

The movement's official magazine describes people who leave the church as "mentally diseased" people who "seek to infect others."

Last month Australian newspaper The Age quoted a local cultbuster as saying that Jehovah's Witnesses 'a cruel religion with no soul,' and that shunning is "draconian, cruel and callous."

The paper notes that

Former members say shunning can involve bullying, threats, harassment and stalking to lure the 'apostate', or lapsed member, back. [...]

A spokesman for the church in Australia, Sydney solicitor Vincent Toole, dismissed the allegations and said shunning was a"myth."

But shunning is a well-documented Jehovah's Witnesses practice.

AAWA says it is a strictly religiously-neutral organization. Legally incorporated on March 7th 2013, AAWA works with a Board of Directors, an Advisory Board, and volunteers.

View AAWA's Mission Statement

Full story: New organization takes on Jehovah’s Witnesses’ Watch Tower Society

This is Religion News Blog's roundup of news reports dealing with religion, spirituality, religious cults, and related issues.

Raelians still trying to rehabilitate Swastika

Raelians, the religious cult that in 2002 lied to the media by claiming to have cloned a human being, continues coming up with ways to have the media advertise its websites.

The UFO cult -- which teaches that human beings came from extraterrestials -- currently defends its display of a swastika over New Jersey beaches on Saturday, arguing it was trying to bring it back as a peaceful symbol rather than promote antisemitism.

According to CBS

The International Raelian Movement said a small plane dragging a banner with a swastika above Long Beach was a part of Swastika Rehabilitation Day, an attempt to "re-educate" the public about the symbol's pre-Nazi roots. [...]

The Raelians said they also flew the banner along the U.S. West Coast, Australia and handed out flyers on the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel and Karlsruhe, Germany. (In Germany, it is illegal to show the swastika in public and the group said they are sending someone to court to challenge the law.)

Lawyer tells of agonising scenes as doctors forced to let a Jehovah's Witness who wanted to live, die

A lawyer who advised doctors that they must let a 22-year-old Jehovah's Witness die even though he wanted to live has spoken of the agonising scenes before the young man's death.

Robert Tobin, a partner in the London law firm Kennedy's, was called in by an unnamed NHS Trust when the man, a Jehovah's Witness who was critically ill with sickle cell anaemia, refused a blood transfusion which could have saved his life. [...]

Mr Tobin said: "I don't know what his mother was thinking as she sat by and watched him die. I assume either she felt powerless or she felt bound to her own religious code of conduct which says you can't share blood with others.

Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be Christians, but that claim is not recognized by any Christian denomination. Theologically the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, the organization that claims to represent God on earth, is considered to be a cult of Christianity because the movement's teachings violate, ignore and/or change the essential teachings of the Christian faith.

The cult has come up with its own Bible 'translation' designed to support the Watchtower's doctrines. Its teachings regarding blood has let to countless unnecessary deaths, prompting some to call the organization a 'killer cult.'

The website of Witnesses for Jesus, which reaches out to Jehovah's Witnesses, includes the online book, Biblical Answers To Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Ask. Several chapters in the book address the movement's teachings regarding blood.
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform on Blood is operated by current Jehovah's Witnesses who wish to see the organization change its stance on the subject.
Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Accused baby killer tied to 'cult'

This is a bit of an odd story. APNZ reports that a "man accused of murdering his six-month-old son in a South Brisbane river had links with a New Zealand religious cult."

According to a blog post written by his wife, David's Fisher's parents had been members of the Worldwide Church of God -- known since 2009 as Grace Communion International.

tAs we not at our parent site, Apologetics Index, Throughout most of its history, the Worldwide Church of God - founded and led by Herbert W. Armstrong - was, theologically, a cult of Christianity. Among other things, it rejected the doctrine of the Trinity, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and salvation by grace through faith alone.

Sociologically, the movement had many cultic elements as well.

However, starting in the mid 1980's under Joseph Tkach Sr, and later his son, Joseph Tkach Jr. - the church's current leader - the Worldwide Church of God has undergone major changes in doctrine to the extend that is has rejected its heretical teachings, and instead has embraced orthodox Christianity.

The APNZ article makes much of that clear, but does not explain how what the possible connection is between the baby's death and the fact that the father's family had been involved with a cult of Christianity.

Granddaughter of Paul and Jan Crouch Alleges Cover-up of Rape by TBN Employee When She Was 13

A granddaughter of Paul and Jan Crouch, founders of the flock-fleecing Trinity Broadcasting Network, says the company is covering up her rape at the hands of an employee when she was 13 years old.

Carra Crouch, now 19, filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court on June 18 alleging that in April 2006 she was raped in an Atlanta hotel room by Stephen L. Smith, a 30-year-old TBN employee at the time.

The lawsuit alleges battery, sexual battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and negligence, and is one of several court cases in which Trinity is mired.

Courthouse News Service has a detailed article on the case.

The Trinity Broadcasting Network is considered the world's largest Christian TV network, but given the enormous amount of aberrant and heretical programming -- as well as the behavior of its founders -- some Christian refer to TBN as The Blasphemy Network.

Social workers considered sending boy to the Congo for exorcism

In England a mother who no longer had responsibility for her child

asked for him to be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo for "deliverance".

The boy's family claimed this was necessary because they believed he was possessed by "kindoki" or evil spirits.

Islington social services officials then paid more than £4,000 for an expert to travel to Africa to investigate.

The expert, Richard Hoskins, an academic specialising in African religions, was alarmed by what he saw on the visit, and advised the council that the boy should not be exorcised.

After receiving his report, the council - then under Liberal Democrat control - abandoned the plan.
Dr Hoskins said that prior to his trip, some Islington council officials had been "mindful to agree to the request" for exorcism.

Speaking at a conference yesterday, he said the case demonstrated how officials in Britain were reluctant to challenge the mistreatement of children when it was committed under the guise of "religious or cultural practices".

The doomsday cult of 9-to-5 depression

One of the enduring mysteries of the Aum Shinrikyo atrocities of the 1990s is the ease with which the cult attracted members.

The arrest this month of the last two fugitives allegedly involved in Aum's fatal 1995 sarin gas assault on the Tokyo subway system recalls the whole ghastly episode, together with its unsolved riddles.

What would draw sane, relatively prosperous, in many cases highly intelligent people to the incoherent blend of pseudo-philosophy, pseudo-enlightenment and pseudo-mysticism that elevated robbery, murder and terrorism into acts of religious devotion? [...]

Probably no definitive answer is possible, and this certainly is not an attempt at one. But the business magazine Shukan Toyo Keizai provides a clue, though without making the connection. Its June 16 edition devotes 50 pages to an issue it fears is getting out of hand: depression.

Deborah Layton, a survivor of Jim Jones' Peoples Temple cult, has said: "Nobody joins a cult. You join a self-help group, a religious movement, a political organization. They change so gradually, by the time you realize you're entrapped - and almost everybody does - you can't figure a safe way back out."

Who joins cult? And why?
The Power of Cults
Today's Cults: You Might Not Recognize Them

More religion news:

Man seeks awareness of sexual abuse within Jehovah's Witnesses: the cult's misuse of an Old Testament rule leads to cover-ups, denials, and more abuse.
Former white supremacist sheds hate to help all people
Singapore pastor arrested over misuse of $18m: The founder of one of Singapore's richest churches was arrested Tuesday on allegations of misusing at least $18 million in donations from his congregation of more than 30,000, police said. Pastor Kong Hee and four senior executives of the City Harvest Church — a Christian group registered as a charity — were arrested by the Commercial Affairs Department, a police unit set up to fight financial crime.
Civil lawsuit filed against polygamist sect cities lifts spirits of area officials: Public officials, utility entities and law enforcement officials of Colorado City and Hilldale, Utah, have been called out by the federal government for violations against individuals in those communities who aren't members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or FLDS. The individuals whose rights are in question are those who've never been FLDS members, or those who've been excommunicated by FLDS leader Warren Jeffs and/or his followers.
Narconon Arrowhead under Fire The Scientology cult makes copious use of press release services to try and get its name in the news in a positive way (which seldom happens). But nowadays the cult's critics also issue press releases, such as this one. Regarding Narconon: it's best to stay away from the cult's quackery.

Full story: Religion News Briefs: a UFO cult, a killer cult, a former cult

An Australian court ordered the parents of a cancer-stricken child to put aside their religious beliefs and allow her life-saving treatment including a blood transfusion, according to reports.

AFP reports

The four-year-old's parents had refused the transfusion because it was against the teachings of their Jehovah's Witness faith, but South Australia's Supreme Court upheld an application by the hospital forcing them to relent.

Justice Richard White ruled that it was "appropriate and indeed necessary" for the girl, who was diagnosed with leukaemia on Monday, to receive a blood transfusion.

Court reporter Hannah Silverman reports in The Advertiser that

Paediatric oncologist Dr Petra Ritchie said without treatment the girl "will die ... I would say in weeks".

Would You Trust A Cult With Your Life?

While the Watchtower Society (the organization behind Jehovah's Witnesses) claims to represent God, its leaders can not make up their minds about what He says.

They have come up with their own version of the Bible (necessary to support the organization's unbiblical teachings), constantly go back and forth on a wide variety of issues, and keep getting their prophecies about the end of the world wrong. See these quotes -- from their own publications -- for documentation.

Here is the Watchtower's history on the issue of blood. Many Jehovah's Witnesses (or their kids) have died as a result of that nonsense. Would you trust your life -- and that of your loved ones -- to these quacks?

Theologically, Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically, the movement has cult-like elements as well.

Explanation: Sociological vs. theological definitions of the term 'cult.'

Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Comments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.com

Dr Ritchie said that the girl, who was diagnosed with cancer of the blood and bone marrow on Monday, had a 90 per cent chance of survival if she received treatment immediately.

Doctors had this week advised she needed a potentially life-saving blood transfusion - but her parents had objected on religious grounds.

The parents' opposition prompted the hospital to petition the court saying that, without treatment, the girl would die in a matter of weeks.

In emotional scenes yesterday, the girls' father wept as he spoke of his love for his daughter.

But he explained that his family's faith prohibited blood transfusions.

"We adhere to strict Bible principles and one of those is to abstain from blood," he said.

"We want the best possible treatment for (her) and the hospital are doing a great job. The only thing we don't consent to is the issue of blood."

The hearing came almost two years after the court made a legal-first ruling to save a boy, 10.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Many teachings and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses contradict or otherwise deny the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Therefore Christians consider the movement to be, theologically, a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically the organization, whose legal entity is called Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, has cult-like elements as well.

One of its most destructive teachings is on the subject of blood and blood transfusions. As it does on many other subjects the sect's leadership has flip-flopped and wobbled on the issue, though, but overall it's interpretation of the Bible's comments about blood are unsound at best. It should be noted that Jehovah's Witnesses have produced their own, widely discredited Bible 'translation,' -- the New World Translation -- which was needed in order to support the organization's un-biblical doctrines.

The doctrine on blood has led to countless unnecessary deaths among Jehovah's Witnesses and their children.

Christians, and many Jehovah's Witnesses as well, oppose the organization's teachings on the subject.

The website of Witnesses for Jesus, which reaches out to Jehovah's Witnesses, includes the online book, Biblical Answers To Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Ask. Several chapters in the book address the movement's teachings regarding blood.
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform on Blood is operated by current Jehovah's Witnesses who wish to see the organization change its stance on the subject.
Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Full story: Judge forces Jehovah’s Witness parents to allow transfusion for daughter with cancer

ReligionNewsBlog.com -- A three-year-old boy can be given a blood transfusion during surgery despite religious objections from his Jehovah's Witness parents, the High Court in Ireland has ruled.

The Irish Times reports

The child, who cannot be named by order of the court, needs to have his tonsils out because of recurring infections and because it is delaying development of speech.

The boy's father told the court yesterday that he and his wife wanted their son to get the best medical treatment but there was a core belief that blood "is not to be taken to the body".

A consultant treating the child said in an affidavit there was a risk of death and brain damage if the hospital was not in a position to administer any transfusion. [...]

Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns granted the hospital an order permitting a transfusion to be given if necessary. [...]

Mr Justice Kearns said he appreciated the way in which the hospital approached the matter and showed great respect for the parents' religion.

He also complimented the parents for the courteous and dignified manner in which they had put their views and made no order on costs of the application, meaning each side pays its own.

PREVIOUS COURT DECISIONS REGARDING BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS
Last September Ireland's High Court made an order allowing the Coombe Hospital in Dublin to carry out an emergency blood transfusion on a baby girl born prematurely last week. Her parents, Jehovah's Witnesses, had refused to agree to a blood transfusion were it to become necessary.

In January last year a life-saving blood transfusion was administered to a critically ill baby under a court order secured by a Dublin hospital at a late-night hearing in a High Court judge's home.

In September, 2006 the High Court intervened to save the life of a seriously ill adult African woman by ordering a Dublin hospital to give her a life-saving blood transfusion.

Legal representatives of the sect launched an appeal, but later abandoned it because they felt that the judgement did not necessarily set a case precedent as the presiding High Court judge had noted that the facts of the case were such that it was highly unlikely it would recur.

JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
Many teachings and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses contradict or otherwise deny the essential doctrines of the Christian faith. Therefore Christians consider the movement to be, theologically, a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically the organization, whose legal entity is called Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, has cult-like elements as well.

One of its most destructive teachings is on the subject of blood and blood transfusions. As it does on many other subjects the sect's leadership has flip-flopped and wobbled on the issue, though, but overall it's interpretation of the Bible's comments about blood are unsound at best. It should be noted that Jehovah's Witnesses have produced their own, widely discredited Bible 'translation,' -- the New World Translation -- which was needed in order to support the organization's un-biblical doctrines.

The doctrine on blood has led to countless unnecessary deaths among Jehovah's Witnesses and their children.

Christians, and many Jehovah's Witnesses as well, oppose the organization's teachings on the subject.

The website of Witnesses for Jesus, which reaches out to Jehovah's Witnesses, includes the online book, Biblical Answers To Questions Jehovah's Witnesses Ask. Several chapters in the book address the movement's teachings regarding blood.
Associated Jehovah's Witnesses For Reform on Blood is operated by current Jehovah's Witnesses who wish to see the organization change its stance on the subject.
Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Full story: Jehovah’s Witnesses who banned blood transfusion for boy (3) lose court battle

A Dublin, Ireland maternity hospital has secured court orders allowing it to perform, if required, an emergency blood transfusion on a child said to be at risk of being born prematurely to a woman who is a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious faith.

According to the Irish Times

The High Court was told the child's mother is about 26 weeks pregnant and recently presented to the Coombe maternity hospital with a spontaneous premature ruptured membrane.

Doctors at the hospital treating the woman, who cannot be identified by order of the court, say they cannot predict exactly when the child will be delivered but the likelihood of a premature birth is high.

If born prematurely, the child is likely to require a transfusion of blood or blood-related products in order to safeguard its life and prevent serious injury, the court was told. However, the parents had refused, for religious reasons, to give their consent to a transfusion should the need arise.

The Irish Independent says

After hearing from both the hospital and the child's father, Mr Justice Kevin Feeney said it was appropriate to make the orders allowing the treatment as the court had to consider the child's safety.

Mr Justice Feeney, who made the order for medical treatment if the child requires it, said the evidence showed it was likely the child would require a blood transfusion to safeguard its life.

Eileen Barrington, for the hospital, said the longer the birth could be delayed the better the chance of a successful outcome.

She said the hospital fully respected the parents' religious beliefs.

The child's father, who was not legally represented, told the court that he and his wife could not consent to a blood transfusion as it was something "conscientiously objected to" by him and members of his faith.

In the past, Coombe Hospital has won a number of court orders regarding blood transfusion for Jehovah's Witnesses or their offspring.

The Watch Tower Society, the organization Jehovah's Witnesses serve, is considered to be theologically a cult of Christianity.

The organization's teaching about blood transfusions are not Biblical, and have led to many unnecessary deaths. The Watch Tower Society itself has often flip-flopped on the issue, and the record shows the men making these determinations are clueless.

Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Full story: Judge puts baby’s life before parents’ beliefs

The official magazine for Jehovah's Witnesses has described those who leave the church as "mentally diseased", prompting an outcry from former members and insiders concerned about the shunning of those who question official doctrine.

Jeremy Taylor at The Independent writes

An article published in July's edition of The Watchtower warns followers to stay clear of "false teachers" who are condemned as being "mentally diseased" apostates who should be avoided at all costs. "Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease," the article reads. "You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are 'mentally diseased', and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings."

A copy of the magazine, distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses around the world, was given to The Independent by a current member of the church who has become unhappy with official teaching but is afraid to leave for fear of losing his family.

"Many like me remain associated with the Witnesses out of fear of being uncovered as an 'apostate' and ousted, not just from the organisation, but from their own friends and families," said the man, who would only give the name John. "I find I am now branded as 'mentally diseased' — giving any who discover my true beliefs free licence to treat me with disdain."

As a faith with a centralised leadership, many forms of discipline are used to counter criticism of doctrine, with punishments ranging from restriction of official duties to excommunication. Those who have been thrown out of the church often find themselves ostracised by fellow believers.

A growing number of former and current Witnesses have begun to argue that the church's use of the word "mentally diseased" to describe defectors could be in breach of Britain's religious hatred laws.

Jehovah's Witnesses serve the Watch Tower Society, an organization that is theologically a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically the organization has many cult-like elements as well.

Note the differences between the theological and sociological definitions of the term 'cult.'

Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Full story: War of words breaks out among Jehovah’s Witnesses

An official magazine for Jehovah's Witnesses that described those who leave the church as "mentally diseased" is at the centre of a police inquiry, it has emerged.

British newspaper The Telegraph reports

Detectives are investigating whether the article, published in July's edition of The Watchtower, is in breach of Britain's religious hatred laws.

The article, published in the magazine which is distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses across the globe, reportedly warned followers to avoid "false teachers" which it condemned as being "mentally diseased".

"Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease," part of the article stated.

"You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are 'mentally diseased', and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings."

A group of former Witnesses, based in Portsmouth, have made an official complaint to Hampshire Police about the article. Police have launched an investigation.

They are considering whether to complain to the Charity Commission. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Britain, which prints church doctrine in Britain, is a registered charity.

The church is known for handing down harsh punishments to followers who criticise doctrines or raise questions about the faith.

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, whose followers are known as Jehovah's Witnesses, is theologically a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically the high-demand organization has cult-like elements as well. Many consider it to be a destructive cult that destroys relationships and -- due to its un-biblical teachings regarding blood transfusions -- has caused many needless deaths.

See also:
• Jehovah's Witnesses and mental illness
• Why Jehovah's Witnesses Have a High Mental Illness Level

Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses
Research resources on cults
Research resources on apostates

Full story: Police inquiry over Jehovah’s Witness magazine ‘mentally diseased’ article

Ireland's High Court has made an order allowing the Coombe Hospital in Dublin to carry out an emergency blood transfusion on a baby girl born prematurely last week.

The Irish Independent says

The baby, who weighs less than one kilogram, was born in the Coombe hospital in Dublin to Jehovah's Witness parents, who have refused to agree to a blood transfusion should it become necessary. [...]

Members of the Jehovah's Witness church believe that passages of the Bible forbid blood transfusions. Members who do accept such treatment can be cast out of the church.

According to RTE

Doctors said [the baby] was at risk of infection and a range of other complications and a blood transfusion could be required.
Because her condition could deteriorate rapidly, a court order was needed in advance to allow the hospital administer life saving treatment.

The baby's father told the High Court they were very happy with the treatment their daughter received to date but could not consent to a blood transfusion.

He said: "We love our girl, we want the best treatment for her.

This is a very difficult time for us and we would like all other options to be tried first." [...]

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy granted an order allowing the hospital to give the necessary treatment to the baby but told her father he could re-apply to the court in future if her condition changed and he was unhappy about any aspect of her treatment.

The Watch Tower Society, the organization Jehovah's Witnesses serve, is considered to be theologically a cult of Christianity.

Among other things that means the teaching and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses are outside the boundaries of historic, Biblical Christianity.

Sociologically the high-demand organization has cult-like elements as well.

The organization's teaching about blood transfusions are not Biblical, and have led to many unnecessary deaths. The Watch Tower Society itself has often flip-flopped on the issue, and the record shows the men making these determinations are clueless.

Since the Bible does not support Jehovah's Witnesses theology, the organization has produced its own 'translation.'

In the past, Coombe Hospital has won a number of court orders regarding blood transfusion for Jehovah's Witnesses or their offspring.

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions?
Research resources on Jehovah's Witnesses

Full story: Irish High Court grants transfusion order for Jehovah’s Witness baby

Nancy DiGeronimo, a Jehovah's Witness, received a life-saving blood transfusion when complications arose after she gave birth to a healthy boy.

But even so, reports Frank Donnelly in The Staten Island Advance, DiGeronimo then

sued her doctor and Staten Island University Hospital for medical malpractice alleging the transfusions of another person's blood conflicted with her religious beliefs.

But a Staten Island justice has dismissed the 5-year-old case against Dr. Allen Fuchs and University Hospital, ruling the transfusion didn't deviate from accepted standards of care and that Ms. DiGeronimo had failed to show the infusion of someone else's blood had hurt her.

Ms. DiGeronimo, then 34, was released from the hospital on April 9, 2004, five days after giving birth.

"The plaintiff's argument, taken to its logical conclusion, is that the doctor should have allowed her [the mother of two children] to die rather than give her an 'allogenic' blood transfusion," state Supreme Court Justice Joseph J. Maltese wrote in a decision handed down Thursday. "Since the plaintiff's transfusion saved her life, this action is analogous to one for 'wrongful life' against the doctor. However, there is no cause of action for 'wrongful life' in the state of New York.

"In this case, there is no departure from good and acceptable medical care and there is no proximate cause of a legally recognized injury."

DiGeronimo v Fuchs

Jehovah's Witnesses

Theologically the Watch Tower Society, the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses, is a cult of Christianity.

Sociologically the movement has cult-like elements as well. (Note the differences between sociological vs. theological definitions of the term 'cult.')

Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings regarding blood transfusions are not shared by legitimate Christian churches.

The doctrine has led to countless unnecessary deaths. In many cases hospitals have obtained court orders permitting them to apply blood transfusions -- particularly, but not always, in the case of minors.

Full story: Judge dismisses ‘wrongful life’ lawsuit by Jehovah’s Witness

Fifty-eight-year-old Bruce Huff believes it is a sin to receive any blood or blood products. When his wife, 58-year-old Candy Huff, became unconscious several weeks ago and was rushed to Clark Memorial Hospital, he wrote a letter to the staff telling them not to give her blood transfusions.

The News And Tribune reports:

The hospital filed a petition in Clark County Circuit Court asking that someone be appointed to make medical decisions for Candy Huff, alleging Bruce Huff was unable to make decisions in her best interest. Bruce Huff believes the decision to not allow him to make medical decisions for his wife is because of his religious beliefs.

The hospital flatly denies that claim. [...]

Bruce Huff was baptized as a Jehovah's Witness several decades ago, and although he only sometimes attends church now for health reasons and does not consider himself a member, he still shares the beliefs of the church. According to the official website of the church,  www.watchtower.org, the belief is based on their interpretation of the Bible, especially Acts 15, which reads to "keep abstaining from things sacrificed to idols and from blood" and Leviticus 17 which reads to "not partake of the blood of any flesh."

There have been numerous court rulings across the country dealing with Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions, mostly whether they can refuse on behalf of their children. [...]

Pamela Thompson, an attorney for Clark Memorial Hospital, said Bruce's religious objections were not the reason for the petition.

"This situation was very, very unique," Thompson said. "[Religion] was not the substance or basis of the petition." [...]

Because of privacy laws, Thompson said she could not explain their reasons, but said they had good reason to believe Bruce Huff was not able to make the best decisions for his wife. [...]

Candy Huff never considered herself a Jehovah's Witness but shared his beliefs, Bruce Huff said.

Our View

Theologically, the Watchtower -- the organization Jehovah's Witnesses follow -- is a cult of Christianity. While it claims to represent Christianity, its doctrines and practices violate or deny several essential doctrines of the Christian faith.

The Watchtower uses its own Bible 'translation' in order to support some its un-biblical doctrines, such as the organization's views regarding blood transfusions.

The Watchtower claims that followers are free to choose whether or not they wish to receive blood transfusions, but in practice those who decide for it are excommunicated and shunned.

Due to the Watchtower's extremist views on this issue, which has led to unnecessary deaths, the publishers of Religion News Blog consider the organization to be, sociologically, a destructive cult.

Full story: Man opposes his wife receiving blood