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Imagine that you were raised your entire life to believe that the Creator of the Universe demanded that you not accept a blood transfusion.
You have watched friends and family die due to this rule, but comforted yourself with the belief that it was God’s will and that they were choosing to honor their faith with the most selfless act possible.
Suddenly, the rules change, and it’s okay to receive the blood components that would have saved their lives.
This month, my blog post in Psychology Today, Blood Donation and the Burden of Memory, focuses on the leadership of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and their recent change in rules for accepting a blood transfusion.
Over the past decades, countless thousands of people have died believing that they were following the will of Jehovah in refusing life-saving medical care; now, the Governing Body has stepped back their prohibition and explained that accepting blood components is a “matter of individual conscience.”
While Witnesses may now decide to accept blood components and reinfusion of their own blood, whole blood infusions remain prohibited.
What of those who had been previously disfellowshipped (and subsequently shunned) for accepting blood components? Will their families be allowed to speak to them again?
The article in Psychology Today explores the hurt and trauma of past Jehovah’s Witnesses and the careful approach needed going forward when working with current and ex-members.
For further reading, check out my talk about the rule change with former Jehovah’s Witness Elder Isaac Carmignan and Jerry Minor, and also my blog post on the tragic death of Éloïse Dupuis, who gave birth while refusing a blood transfusion.
In this week’s episode of my Cults, Culture & Coercion podcast, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, I spoke with filmmaker and author Ben McKenzie about his documentary of that title, based on his book, Easy Money. We also talked about financial manipulation, the need to belong, and protecting our freedom of mind.
Catch the full episode here: Listen on Apple | Spotify | Watch on YouTube
You can also read my accompanying Substack article about our conversation here.
Next week’s episode will feature a conversation with author Kate Cohen about her book, We of Little Faith: Why I Stopped Pretending to Believe (and Maybe You Should Too). We also discussed atheism and Jewish identity, authoritarianism, and making a meaningful life, no matter what your beliefs may be.
Also, Mathew Erpansizo of AlterNet has written an article, Donald Trump’s Conduct May Involve Medication and Removed Guardrails, Geriatric Neurologist Suggests, talking about last week’s podcast episode with Germaine Odenheimer.
This past Friday, I was a guest on a special edition of The Necessary Conversation, Can A Cult Expert Change Mary Lou’s Mind?.
This podcast is hosted by brother and sister Chad Kultgen and Haley Popp with their parents, Mary Lou and Bob Kultgen. Bob had a stroke and was not present. Finding themselves split along political lines, the family has been using their podcast to discuss their differences. Chad, Haley, Mary Lou and I met for the first time and I really focused on helping Mary Lou. She said she wanted to read The Cult of Trump and I mailed it to her along with Combating Cult Mind Control and Freedom of Mind. She should receive them Thursday. We will see.
Today’s livestream will take place at 2pm EDT. I will be answering viewer questions, talking about Information Control (the “I” of BITE Model of Authoritarian Control) and most importantly, how to stay energized so we can flip the House and the Senate. We can do this!
Friday’s livestream will feature two special guests: Cheryl Bawtinheimer and Richard Marsh who are former members of the Plymouth Brethren (Exclusive Brethren), a billion-dollar cult that is under scrutiny for being involved with Nazis and influencing politics in Australia. This cult are big Trump supporters. We’ll have a lot to talk about!
And if you missed last week’s livestreams, you can see them here:
Trump’s Election Tactics: What You NEED to Know Before the Midterms - with special guest Dick Gephardt - Wednesday, Oct 7th
When Does Silencing Discussion Become Information Control? - with guest psychiatrist Ravi Chandra, MD - Friday, Oct 9th
Remember, check with legitimate state election officials that you are registered and request a mail-in ballot if you wish. Be sure that your neighbors and everyone you know is registered to vote and able to do so! We must defeat MAGA in the coming elections!
As always, please let us know what you think about these pieces or what you’d like to see us discuss in the future. Thanks so much!
Some of my family members were part of this religion, they are no longer here. I'm sorry that it took so long to abolish this rule.
I'm thankful that this hideous doctrine was finally changed.