Me too Billygoat, I witnessed my father tell my sister she was dead to him. In her face, she was dead, if she didnt come back to Jehovah. He took me out on the porch at HER place of work, what nerve he had, and told me he has ALREADY lost one daughter, and didnt want to lose me..it was before I d/a myself. I was just so sickened at the look on my sister's face, he said it so matter of factly, and devoid of any real hurt or sadness. I am convinced that he prefers we are not in his life and now can have what he always wanted, his other family, new wife, new daughter , whom he had get baptized at age 9.
I havent heard from him since, nor has my sister.
When they say you are dead to them, they really do mean it.
It is so shameful to know that I once believed this way too, but I dont think I would have ever told anyone that they were dead to me, I dont think I have that in me, not over a religious belief anyway.
As mad, and hurt as I am with my father, I still dont think I could tell him he is dead to me, looking right into his eyes. This is truly sad.