Sunrising, thank you for your comments, I appreciate you contributing to the thread. What you say confuses me though, on more than one instance you say that this Organization is Jehovahs channel for giving information. Then you say that if you questioned it, as should be your right (although discouraged to the point of being lableled apostate) and were disfellowshipped, you'd rejoice! Then where would that leave you? Away from Jehovahs only channel?? What then?
Of course people fear the elders more than Jehovah. When was the last time Jehovah himself came down and rebuked someone for not doing as they should? Not in our lifetimes. How many can sit at their computer and raise a hand that they know of someone the elder has punished. Keep em up if the DFing of such one was unjust, hasty, witch hunt, or uncalled for? I'd venture a guess that it's quite a few. So why are you surprised at the fear of the elders? They've elevated themselves as trial - judge - jury - and god...decision maker. But aren't they Spirit directed and appointed by jehovah? Who's in charge here?? Would Jehovah make mistakes? Can men read hearts, or does jehovah tell them?
An apostate is defined by the WTBTS as someone who disagees with them - not necessarily the Bible. That may be their 'definition', but is the correct one? Merriam Webster defines it differently as renouncing of ones faith, or abandonment of religious belief. So are they rewriting a dictionary too? Wonder what the release date on that one will be.
**Corrected for spelling and added a few more thoughts