You have your faith. That's fine. But I know and am 100% convinced that those passages would NOT have been referring to a practice that didn't exist. Christians ignore everything else (OT and NT!), but JWs have fixated on the blood issue. I have read much history, I know about historical context, and I disagree.

Like I said, Christianity disapproves of suicide, yet I think it's suicidal to refuse a life-saving blood transfusion. No JW I have ever spoken to (and they proselytise frequently on doorsteps!) has ever been able to counter that point.

Those passages would NOT have been referring to blood transfusions. And ignoring a physician's instructions to save your life is deciding that you will die. Yet Christians are forever telling me that only God can decide when you die.

Sergio, this is the problem I have with religion as opposed to science. There's never a willingness to re-examine anything. What is stated, even when misinterpreted, is eternal. No amount of evidence - and I could provide even more passages - will change the mind of a religious person. I have nothing against a religious person on a personal level, but I have NEVER known one change their mind on anything; and I have NEVER known one ever say, sincerely, "You may have a point, let me go off and think about this." Religion is dependent on people NOT doing that.

Also, you may want to look up the year in which JWs started refusing blood. It wasn't that long ago in historical terms. 

And receiving a blood transfusion is not the same as digesting blood. Those blood "rules " are specific to a period of time, e.g. commands given to Noah about pouring blood out of animals. There is NO WAY they would apply to modern blood transfusions.

On a final note, and one could post all day about this, do JW women breastfeed? A woman transfuses white blood cells when doing that (I read about that in a Nature journal once). So if JWs are to be consistent with their "no blood" policy, then JW women should refrain from breastfeeding, too.

Where does one draw the line?

It should be noted, I don't think JWs necessarily focus on blood transfusions. I mean, we also literally do not eat  blood. Blood sausages are very popular in Spain, yet I don't eat that. But while eating blood remains easy to avoid in modern society, the difficulty has arisen in the medical use of blood. That is why it seems to others that we focus on transfusions.

Things enter the vernacular. I bet many atheists have said, "Oh, my god!"

As for Xmas, I confess, I love the time off, I love the wine, I love the food, etc. It does not make me a believer.

But yet, perhaps facetiously, some will use that against me when they find out I'm an atheist. 

I was also once asked why I capitalise God. Someone told me I should type "god" rather than God. I capitalise God so as to make it clear I'm discussing the Judeo-Christian God in a debate. It doesn't make me a believer.

I suspect scientists who use God as a metaphor receive similar criticisms.

...do you celebrate Christmas?"

Well, everyone else is doing it. It's kind of hard to avoid. But I do eat Chinese food and go to movies... so I don't celebrate it. I endure it.

...do you say 'God bless you' after someone sneezes?"

I was taught that it was polite and good manners, and fifty years of a habit is hard to shake off. Would you prefer "Gesundheit"? Or "To your health"? Or just say nothing and seem rude?

...do you capitalize God?"

Robbie handled that one perfectly. I also capitalize Thor, Ra, and Ares, but I don't refer to them as Gods. Just gods.

...do you do this, that, or the other thing?"

Hey, you know what? My beliefs are none of your God damned business. Am I hurting you? Am I keeping you from believing what YOU want? Then go find some other cause to support. I'm doing fine and I don't need to be persecuted by you. Shoo. Shoo, shoo, shoo.

And it's the same with Easter. I just want a chocolate egg.