I'd much rather be a living breathing apostate, with the freedom to think and decide for myself, than to be a JW ORG BORG, existing like a robot.
I really don't undermind anyone's freedom to have the religion of their choice. But, I will hastily and wholeheartedly help someone who's riding the fence of indecision, or someone who is out and who is struggling to survive the borg. And I will happily and joyfully share all my positive words and sources of encouragement.
My mother will not accept that I am happy now, and that really grates on me. I can't make her accept that fact. Apparently it gives her some sort of power over me, to speak freely her own happiness and joy of the meetings, the service, her friends, her assemblies. But, just let me mention one good thing that's happening in my life, and her first response is that god is being lenient now on the non-believers, and we are being allowed this final moment of blind joy before we are destroyed.
When I was as young as 15 and began to question certain aspects of the scriptures and how people were being treated, etc., she said that I was next thing to an apostate. It scarred me to death then, because I thought I'd die at armegeddon. Now, it doesn't bother me at all. I believe JW's use the term very loosely to frighten members into total subjection.
"The Truth Is Out There"
Karen/Sentinel