What does the word "apostate" mean to you ?

skiz

I'm not asking for which dictionary definition you prefer, and I'm not looking for the BOrg's definition. What I'm asking is what thought strikes you when you hear an xJW being called an "apostate"

That term makes me think
FREEDOM

I my opinion, there are 2 main categories of xJWs
1 ) Out but suffering from guilt. These people still believe that the BOrg is "the truth"
2 ) Out and free from the mental and emotional abuse of the BOrg

I see the word apostate pinned on those xJWs that are now FREE

David

Aztec

David, you are the "ultra apostate".

To me an apostate was always someone who actively "preached" against the Witnesses. I guess that would make me one eh?

~Aztec

gumby

What is a aprostate to me?

I personally think it is something every single male should have checked out once he reaches 40 years old.

An apostate is like the word cult. It has a wide range of meaning. To a dub it is someone who does not believe jehovah's organisation is the 'truth' anymore, and SPEAKS out verbally against it.

To a christian it is one who denies jesus as the saviour.

Gumby

Mutz

It means nothing to me. It's a word used by a cult to scare it's followers into doing what it wants. If I used it to describe myself or others I would just be perpetuating the WT's bullshit.

Swan

I take their cult word "apostate" and wear it like a badge of honor!

Tammy

Sassy

In the past, I would have thought my comments in my heart and out my mouth would have made me the definition of one. But that was the defininition of a word I was brainwashed to believe it to mean. I don't think I am now. If I stopped believing in God, yes. But I haven't done that. I have just freed myself from tyranical rules of an organization I was suffocating in.

AlanF

To me, the word as used by JWs is a badge of honor. It means that they take you seriously and know that listening to you can damage their faith in the Watchtower organization.

To a typical JW, "apostate" includes not just critical ex-JWs, but all knowledgeable critics. Their use of the word has little to do with the biblical notion -- "someone who has abandonened God". Of course, they claim that anyone who criticizes them is criticizing God, and so their use of "apostate" is justified. But all "false prophets" claim that.

AlanF

Valis

In my mind I can see a couple different versions of what they call apostate and I'm sure there are varying defs amongst JWs, seeing as they all worship Jehover in the same way..

Those w/organizational or biblical differences

Those who speak out about something as simple as their own past experiences, which reflect badly on JWs in general.

Those who actively seek to make them change and treat the flock better.

Oh and people who hang out with us...*LOL*

Just leaving the JWs doesn't make one an apostate, as they have so perverted the word it doesn't have the standard dictionary definition of "one who walks away from a belief". Like my borther ambush23, he doesn't go to meetings anymore and doesn't believe that crap, but they don't consider him apostate, otherwise they have one living in their home..I remember some time ago Englishman was good enough to cross reference the places where the NWT placed the word apostate in exchange for the word hypocrite. I'm thinking to myself..."hi pot I'm kettle" over and over again...BTW if Eman sees this maybe we can bribe him with one of these to post that again for us.

Sincerely,

District Overbeer of the "Dirty South Apostate" class

Beans

An APOSTATE is someone who, is laughing inside like the guy on the left who is trying so hard not to laugh becuase he is an EXJW.

Listens to Satanic music, like this young chap!

And enjoys football on Sundays instead of going to the meetings! Like this fine ex brother!

Beans

http://Quotes.JehovahsWitnesses.com

Canadian District Overbeer

jgnat

After Minimus' thread about "worldly", I started to rethink my willingness to embrace WT terminology as my own. It is kind of like black men calling each others "nigga". In a way they are taking a derogatory term an making it their own, but on another level, it disturbs me that such labels of other human beings even exist.

When I dropped "worldly" from my language book, I felt noticeably lighter. I decided to do the same with "apostate". By definition I cannot be one, because I have never abandoned my faith.

http://www.apologeticsindex.org/a67.html

I guess by their definition, I am an Opposer. But I think I am simply another People living on the same planet as everybody else. So I guess that would make me a Neighbour as well.

What does the word "apostate" mean to you ?

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