by Blueblades 20 Replies latest jw friends
"APOSTATE" is the most hateful, disparaging term in watchtower vocabulary.
Yet, on page 15 of the Dec.1st, 1984 Watchtower they say,"It would be unscriptural for us ( WBTS ) to use disparaging terms when referring to ones who do not share our belief."
Talk about hypocrisy! When anyone calls you an Apostate, point them to this WT.and watch their reaction.
Blueblades
I'm curious as to the context for that statement. I wouldn't be surprised if they were referring only to those who don't YET share their beliefs. Anyone who USED TO share their beliefs seems to be fair game...
~Merry
My all time favorite WT term is "Evil Slave." No "disparaging term" intended there. :-)
One of my friends (never a JW) pointed out the 'dog returning to its vomit' thing and said that was the most disgusting thing she had ever heard in the name of religion. "And I was raised Catholic!", she said (we all chuckled).
No, they don't say disparaging things about those who have chosen not to follow their false g*d.
t
I always thought "disgusting thing" was pretty disparaging! But then it's from the bible, so maybe it is unscriptural of them to teach not to use disparaging terms to describe unbelievers as the bible is full of them.
I tried to look up the article that Blueblades mentioned on the WT CD ROM.
I wasn't able to find anything in the 1984 WT, but did find this:
***
w98 12/1 p. 15 Defending Our Faith ***However, the counsel to remain without spot from the world does not give us any basis for categorically belittling those who are not Jehovah?s Witnesses. (Proverbs 8:13) Recall the example of the Jewish religious leaders, discussed in the preceding article. The form of religion they developed did not win favor with Jehovah; nor did it contribute to good relations with non-Jews. (Matthew 21:43, 45) From their self-righteous perch, these fanatic men looked down on the Gentiles. We do not take such a narrow view, treating non-Witnesses with disdain. Like the apostle Paul, our wish is that all who hear the Bible?s message of truth gain God?s favor.?Acts 26:29; 1 Timothy 2:3, 4.
9
A balanced, Scriptural view should affect the way we speak about non-Witnesses. Paul instructed Titus to remind the Christians on the island of Crete "to speak injuriously of no one, not to be belligerent, to be reasonable, exhibiting all mildness toward all men." (Titus 3:2) Notice that Christians were to speak injuriously of "no one"?not even of the non-Christians on Crete, some of whom were known for their lying, gluttony, and laziness. (Titus 1:12) So it would be unscriptural for us to use disparaging terms when referring to ones who do not share our beliefs. A superior attitude will not attract others to Jehovah?s worship. Rather, when we view and treat others in line with the reasonable principles of Jehovah?s Word, we "adorn the teaching" of God.?Titus 2:10.
So there's your context. I laughed when they twisted the scripture in Titus 3:2 advising Christians "to speak injuriously of no one" so that "no one" refers just to people who have not yet accepted their belief system. Once you've been in and want to leave, you're fair game apparently.
Love, Scully
Yet, on page 15 of the Dec.1st, 1984 Watchtower they say,"It would be unscriptural for us ( WBTS ) to use disparaging terms when referring to ones who do not share our belief."
Yet for many years they have referred to other religions as a "whore".
Walter
An apostate mealy renounces their beliefs be it political or religious. What I find disturbing is the way it's used by the dubs to mean someone who's a pamphlet waving nutter spouting made up religious gobbledegook outside assemblies (as opposed to say the official pamphlet waving nutters spouting GB authorised religious gobbledegook inside). What right do they have to change the English language?
Every JW who was converted into dubland is an apostate.
iiz2cool writes:
Yet for many years they have referred to other religions as a "whore".
Yes, but you realize that this is exactly the kind of thing abusive and hypocritical people do to detract negative attention away from themselves - they accuse others of the very same negative behaviour that they are involved with. For instance: the UN NGO association being "whoring with the Scarlet Coloured Wild Beast" for other religions, but apparently very innocent and unimportant and somehow OK when they do the same thing.
What's that they sayy? "When you point the finger at someone, there are 3 pointing back at you!"
