Who were the apostates I once saw?

ballistic

There was talk the other day of "modern day apostates" which made me think back to the pre-internet days at conventions where we used to get leaflets sprung on us by what I then presumed to be apostates. What I want to know is... where are they now? Who are the apostates of the 80s and 90s who used to spring leaflets on us? Are they now on the net with us modern day apostates? Do they still give out leaflets at assemblies? And if not, why not?

Valis

jj...I just had the thought of how sorry I feel for the early Apostates with the shunning and evil spin the WTBTS always put on them. They didn't have a place like this to come and find support and must have been terribly lonely in many instances. If any of them are reading this now, thanks for paving the way.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer

Swan

I agree with jjrizo that the Internet and technology is our best tool. The Watchtower is not fairing well in the information age. Their numbers are down in countries that are at the forefront in information technology. It's a lot harder to hide the truth from your members when it pops up on new websites each and every day. Thus the WTBTS keeps continuing its admonition that it's members not use the Internet. The two part Service Meetings aren't working, however. We keep getting new people to this site alone almost daily.

Tammy

Englishman

As an apostate of 30 years, I can tell you that it was very hard work getting out the message about the JW's.

I have lost count of the number of pubs that I visited in order to inform the regular drinkers about the evils of JW-dom, or the vast quantity of beer that I have been forced to consume whilst doing this.

Englishman. Hiccup.

Simon

Yeah, I think we have it a lot easier now than people did back then. You would have been reall isolated if you left in the pre-internet days.

pettygrudger

Eman - we all have to make our sacrifices aye? Kudo's to you!!! lol

Nikita

Good thoughts Ballistic, I was pondering the very same the past few days. I can recall being at a study and seeing a newspaper article where some "Apostates" were protesting at a District Convention. I can recall feeling as if they were "evil" people. Now, I think about how nice it is to be able to come to this place and find support, to find "family." I want to say thank you to you. Englishman, and all the rest who paved the way!

Does anyone have any idea how many "apostates" there might be worldwide?

Nikita

Edited by - Nikita on 6 October 2002 16:50:49

ballistic

jjrizo, I agree about the use of the term apostate. I use it in the same way as you and I expect most people here. I take it then you are really an old-timer at being an ex-jw then. One question though. I am obviously in the UK, so unless you did A LOT of travelling, you weren't one of the people giving out leaflets at Twickenham. So was there different groups of so called apostates or some kind of organisation / communication going on between ex-jw groups? Or was it completely piece-meal with seperate groups in different countries? I agree about the effect of the internet and can understand why they are running scared, but also believe the internet will become more and more a part of our everyday lives, work, play and education.

barry

When studying with a JW man I was told that there was a group called 'Witnesses of Jehovah' and they would go to conventions and hand out literature does anyone know of this group maybe they are only in Australia. Barry

DanTheMan

Barry:

One of the first apostate books I ever saw was called "Witnesses of Jehovah", it was put out by a group that called themselves (if I remember correctly) the Defenders of the Good News. Could this be what you are referring to?

In answer to the thread question, I have met some "old-time" convention-picketing type apostates since I've left. I think that the people who used to picket those conventions are a mixed group. Some Russellites, some born-agains, a few secular-leaning ex-jws.

Who were the apostates I once saw?

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