APOSTATE TROUBLE MAKERS.........

nomoreguilt

Are a very UNIQUE people, wouldn't you say? No, we aren't trouble makers, we're just a a people that have a common BOND. Save for a minority of posters here, we have all endured trials and tribulations that only we can relate to. Granted, some of us may have involved ourselves in activities knowingly questionable to those that carried a power over us that were wrong. In our own consciences we had to deal with that on our own. We all make choices in life and some for certain reasons.

We have our own language, we have a like mind and spirit that unites us. We have come to the realization that we have been misled and lied to, duped is a better word for it. Under the guise of religion we acted in a manner that we thought was reasonable. We tried to abide by rules and regulations that were set forth in order to conform to a sense of sprituality.

We were taught for so long that the people of FALSE religion were ensnared by a falsehood conjured up by Satan himself. Little did we realize that we OURSELVES were enslaved to a publishing company acting under the guise of RELIGION, and TRUE religion at that. Shame on US! However, through OUR perceptive powers of reason and with the AID of others, we have overcome the shackles that bound us.

I, personally, am enjoying my new found freedom. Although I am not free to openly oppose the jw's locally, I embrace those who have that opportunity with in their own families. I am encouraged by the expressions of many on the board that share my like mind and spirit.

We all have many heartbreaking expierences , some that can only be expresssed in confidance for fear of being OUTED by the powers to be. But our hearts are with you all. ENCOURAGEMENT should be the opperative word here. Share it, be a part of it, reach out to others in their time off duress.

I want to thank those who have privately encouraged me and shared my pain by their expressions of concern.

Thank you

NMG

lfcviking

Its good to feel part of the 'club' isn't it?

Respect Bro.

LFCv

Alpaca

Hey there NMG,

I understand how you feel, but in IMHO you need to let go of a little more guilt.

WE are the ones helping one another to heal from the wounds inflicted by the true TROUBLE MAKERS. It is NOT the other way around.

It is interesting that the words apostles and apostate share the same root word. It is all about perspective. Apostles are sent away (presumably by divine mandate) and apostates stand away (presumably because they scorn the group from which they departed).

In any event, we all had no choice but to stand away as apostates from an abusive, cruel, greedy, dishonest organization. That's why I really like the expression I discovered on this site...the "Borg." It's perfect, if you are familiar with the Star Trek episodes that feature the Borg. "Resistance to the collective is futile...you will be assimilated..."

Anyway, hang in there. Life gets better and better as you spend more time away from that wasteland. By the way, how long have you been out?

All the best,

Alex

Jeffro

Why apply their pejorative label of 'apostate' to yourself?

SirNose586

There are 'poztate trouble makers out there. There is a well-known kook in one part of the neighborhood. He goes out of his way to harass the poor dubs out in field circus.

Although I think the term "apostate" is a convenient way to describe what we are, as opposed to simply "ex-JW," those who go out of their way to bother others really do deserve the term. That's why I'm in favor of " 'poztate": it describes who we are without the pejorative label to go along with it.

Hope4Others

This is a really nice post, and very up beat!

hope4others

Tyrone van leyen

Keep in mind, apostate is part of witness language. Although apostate may be a correct term, the word has negative connotations. I refuse to be labeled by their terms. If I am someone who disagrees with false teachings, unjust pronouncements, and conditional love, then that makes me the good guy and them the bad guy.

So how about something like " I'm a guy who opposes jerks." In fact how bout we reverse the whole thing and say it more like, we are shunning you, until you decide to take your heads out of your asses.

Could it not equally be said, that the witnesses are apostates for disagrreing with our veiws, or even the veiws of the bible. Things can be work both ways. I refuse to be conditioned to their mindset and wordplays.

Gopher

Enjoyable post, NMG. Yes we've had heartbreak over missed opportunities and disappointments while we were shackled to the organization, and now we can really be true to ourselves without some organization telling us how to think.

In my view, this next part below isn't about guilt:

Granted, some of us may have involved ourselves in activities knowingly questionable to those that carried a power over us that were wrong. In our own consciences we had to deal with that on our own. We all make choices in life and some for certain reasons.

We former JW's can choose to stretch our boundaries and grow. Perhaps it is simple things like celebrating the 4th of July or singing the national anthem, or celebrating a birthday or holiday, or voting, or going to an apostafest. It may feel odd, with little voices questioning whether we can be right doing any such thing. But then if we realize there is nothing wrong in any of these kinds of things, we grow and learn to enjoy these new behaviors rather than worrying.

And many of us do feel comfortable calling ourselves "apostate". I refuse to let the WT Society tell me what to think about that word. The word "apostate" now means freedom to me. Call me apostate, and I'll smile. I'd rather be called apostate than associate with any self-righteous JW who would use that word against good people who have merely left them.

WTWizard

We have made some bad decisions based on even worse information. In some cases, the decisions have been made by others before we were even born, or while we were little. Those who are sent out to spread the cancer are doing so because they think they need to, because a few slimes in Brooklyn told them that it is necessary so they can make the money and get the power.

Shame and guilt heaped to the most distant galaxy for those humanoids in the Filthful and Disgraceful Slavebugger for running this racket and programming people to spread the cancer. I hope your time in whatever Hell has to bring is either as miserable, stagnating, or both as possible (and, the time just before you die, you are heavy in heart for wasting your lives in ruining others' lives). Hopefully those at the top find themselves suffering the ultimate punishment, whether in hell, Gehenna, in some ostracism wasteland, or spending their final years destitute and with no one to take care of them.

Kinjiro

I find very interesting the concept of Apostasy... When the JW visit you and invite you to read and study their literature, aren't they prompting you and inviting you to commit apostasy to your former beliefs and or religion? If you accept their version of god and religion and whatnot... the apostasy you against your former religion is good...

But when you study or read literature outside the sanctioned and sanctiminous WT literature.. then that kind of apostasy is wrong! You get expelled shunned and feared by your former brothers... the double standards a gallore!

I feel proud to be called an apostate if that means I quit believing what the JW or any other religion for that matter... It shows I've grown and progressed beyond that self limitation of drone and dull total acceptance of other people's idea and now I have my own... For that matter, Jesus was an apostate because he went against the religion he was born into, didnt he?

Abraham didnt follow the gods of the people of Caldea, who were politeists... therefore, he was an apostate too...

So the next time a JW calls you an apostate.. be proud of it... cause because of that apostasy you are free from the mind controlloing child-murdering family shattering cult were you already spent, if your case is like mine, all your youth...

So if not believing in the WTBS anymore makes us apostates, MORE POWER TO US!

I am free and at peace.. I wish you all the same...

APOSTATE TROUBLE MAKERS.........

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