What is an apostate?

by esther 24 Replies latest jw friends

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  mommy

  I just had to add my 2 cents in. I asked my active jw mom this question the other day. Her response was....someone leaving jehovah's earthly organization and spreading falsehood about it.

  Now we see that this is not mentioned in the reasoning book. So where do they get apostates spread falsehood? I remember many times when I was growing up the wtbts told us to stay away from apostate literature. Well they feel anyone who leaves the org is an apostate, and so refuses to listen to them. But I had never talked to my mom about religion, and asked her why she had labeled me an apostate, since I did not fit into the definition she had. I was told by her since I went to another church I was an apostate, but still...I did not preach to her about what I was doing. Oh well...she is even confused by the definition I suppose.

  But it is obvious why the wtbts makes such claims about apostates. They want their R&F to stay in line. I think as a child I had more nightmares about apostates then I did about demons. Surely if any active Jw was allowed to read some of the points an apostate makes...well they would not be active for very long.
  wendy
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  Amazing

  Hi Esther: The word Apostate is an English Noun form of the ancient Greek simple verb Apostasia which literaly means to stand away from or separate. The other features associated with it, such as to rebell or the like are attributes assigned later on. The Roman Catholic Church is the first religion I know of to employ the word "Apostate" to those who teach against the Church. Among the vows taken by Roman Catholic Bishops is to ... 'resist, hate, and fight apostasy.'

  In ancient Koine' Greek, the word Apostasia is a simple verb and no special significance was assigned to it. Much the same as in English when we say that someone 'walks' or 'is walking' we speak of a simple action. We never say, 'Oooo, look at those Walkers! as those 'walking' was an evil activity.

  Whereas, in English if we say, 'rebel'(verb) or 'Rebel'(Noun) it can be used in the simple verb form or as a label in Noun form. Apostasia in Greek can be formed into a Noun, but according to various Greek professors I have spoken with, it is never done that way in ancient writings, whether secular or Biblical. In fact, the word is rarely used in any writings contemporary with the Apostles, whether secular or Biblical. The word Apostasia is not related to Apostle as you suggested. The common root Apo' is involved, but otherwise the two words are not really related. Another similar Greek word, Apostasion simply means to separate or divorce.

  Somehow, by the time churches got hold of the word Apostasion it was given a Noun usage to label those who left the Church or who taught against the Church. But, an Apostate in the true Biblical sense is only one who leaves Jesus Christ. It can include those who teach against Christ.

  Oddly enough, Jesus never gave any judgmental remarks about those who would teach against him, but instead was far more concerned about how Christian Sisters and Brothers treated one another, and Specifically Jesus directly condemned those who place labels on their brother, such as calling them a 'dispacible fool', etc. So, the fact that the WTS has practically copyrighted and trademarked the English label Apostate to slander those they once called Brother or Sister is something for which Jesus will destroy their religion. - Simply Amazing
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  riz

  thanks, mox and amazing, for clearing up the definition.

  rizzy
  (p.s. I prefer heretic too. It has that ominous flavor that I find so appealing.) and

  It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
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  seven006

  I am new to this board and this is my first post. Some of you know me but most of you don't. My story is much like all of yours so I will not bore you with it. But I would like to make a few comments about this topic.

  I see far to many exJW's worrying about what elders and other members of that religion think. There stated purpose for disfellowshiping is a twisted sense of discipline for bad little JW's who have not kept in perfect step to the marching orders of the twelve senile old men in Brooklyn.

  Until your mind is completely resolved to the fact that they are wrong in their interpretation of how humankind relates to the entire universe you will always in some way be a part of them. If you except any of the labels they have so kindly put upon you then you continue to accept that they are in some way correct in their thoughts and actions.

  The JW's say they set up the concept of disfellowshipping to keep the congregation clean but in truth it was set up to keep the congregation from hearing anything that might bring about doubt or open discussion resulting in freedom of thought. As long as they keep their followers in the dark with the fear of death for stepping outside the line they will keep the congregation in tact. It has nothing to do with keeping it clean. Their thoughts of a clean congregation does not include turning child molesters over to the authorities but rather hiding the fact that they are within the group and can find protection within their secrecy and denial.

  They are more concerned with keeping a pseudo appearance of being gods people than they are about the victimized child that has to spend the rest of their life feeling that in some way they are at fault. This traumatic experience for them causes life long damage and effects the lives of everyone they will try and have a relationship with. I have had a personal experience with such a victimized woman that went through exactly that and I have seen the pain and felt the heart ache resulting from the practices of the JW congregations cleaning practices. Child molesters are hidden while open minded free thinkers are expelled. They did not kick me out, I chose to leave. My parents chose that religion for me, I did not chose it for myself.

  With that in mind, they can consider me what ever they like and give me any label they wish but I myself do not accept their labels or their warped sense of discipline. Any category they wish to put me in is only in their minds, not mine. I do not accept their teachings, I do not accept their categories, I do not accept them as any influence in my life. This is why I did not go the elders meeting that was set up for me to discuss my future in relation to them. Four men that do not even have the ability to run their own lives and families are not going to try and make me feel I am wrong for making my own decisions. To accept their labels is to accept their thinking. I am not an apostate, I am not a disfellowshipped person. I am a free thinking human being that happened to spend my youth in a cult. That's it, no more no less.

  Dave
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  safe4kids

  Bravo Dave! And welcome...I've talked to you a few times in chat and I enjoyed your post today. Congratulations for owning your own mind...after years spent in the borg, that's not easy to regain. Look forward to reading more of your posts....

  Dana

  "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle."
  Somebody else
• 

  chester

  Dave,
  What a great Post!!!

  Welcome to the board.

  I don't think that anyone could have said it better.

  Thanks and I hope to hear more from you.
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  Scarlet Pimpernel

  JanG: Was that definition one of your original thoughts? Don’t even try to be an intellectual. That label just doesn’t fit.
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  riz

  Rock on, Dave.

  Way to show those brooklyn bitches who's boss!

  Welcome to the board. The keg is in the garage, help yourself.

  rizzy

  It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
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  seven006

  You offer me a keg? What kind of person do you think I am? If you think just because I am no longer a JW I would lower my standards and partake of beer in an atmosphere polluted with drunken unchristian like conduct, you'd be right. Where are the big red plastic cups?

  Dave
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  riz

  If you think just because I am no longer a JW I would lower my standards and partake of beer in an atmosphere polluted with drunken unchristian like conduct, you'd be right.

  Yeah! Dave, you are my kinda guy. No man can resist my feminine allure. Or is it the free beer? Hmmmm... don't answer that. Anyway, welcome! I'll find you a big red plastic cup.

  rizzy

  It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.