apostates are a figment of the jw imagination.
not necessarily the dictionary definition of the word apostate, which simply means a person who leaves their religion, for by that definition everyone who leaves a religion to become a jw is an apostate--but the jw conception of the apostate, both as an individual and as a 'group' is imaginary.. .
for starters, the watchtower goes beyond the definition of merely leaving the religion, if a person disagrees with a doctrine or practice of the organization, even if they dont voice it, that is a thoughtcrime called apostasy.
I was terrified of apostates and even going on apostate websites. They did a great number on me and if it wasn't for the "badness" I discovered first hand within the KH I would probably still be in there.
I don't know what we can do to counteract their arguments other than what we are doing already.
The "apostates" I have encountered have all been far more supportive, loving and understanding than even one JW out of any congregations I attended.
You guys are the best.
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i have been lurking here for about a month or two.
it is really awesome to read so many similar experiences.. for example, when i was still 'in' i wondered if i was the only one in the hall that really hated the meetings.
Welcome
i just got 2 emails from them inviting me to a conference call about the memorial.. i have no idea how they got my email address.. coffee .
Flashmob a memorial. That would be fun. I wonder which song would have the most impact. Lol
the meetings were cancelled in this area with only 2 inches of snow for the "storm''.
lol.
a month ago the co had the meeting cancelled because it was a bit tracherous, which i thought was a good call..... years`ago, if we cancelled a meeting it took until one hour before the presiding overseer would finally decide to cancel.. today's jws are wimps..
Meetings were always being cancelled in Spain because we only had 2 elders and quite often there was no visiting Sunday public speaker available.
We got to go to the beach earlier but I did wonder why if this spiritual food was so valuable in UK and not to be missed why was this not true in Spain.
Only 4 hours from Gatwick but clearly too far for holy spirit to make it. Lol
just a (slightly) quick introduction for now.
i am a 4th generation born in.
father an elder since i was an infant.
Welcome
I am glad you have found comfort here and hopefully some new friends too.
hi all - sure sure, you can call me a troll or brainwashed cult member.
i am totally interested in how your answers to these questions.. .
do you find yourself ignoring anything that jehovah's witnesses bring out in regards to their former status as an ngo?.
I wonder if the OP knows about Jimmy Swaggart?
That was even more massive than the NGO scandal for me
so my husband (who was never a jw) saw a christian bumper sticker today and asked me if the witnesses have any.
i said no (not that i know of anyway) so here are a few he came up with.. 'honk if you're a zombie'.
'my other car is noah's ark'.
I am happified!
Ask me how!
i was baptised --1963. left in 1978. fifteen years.
pre-baptism, another 5 years.
First study in 1984
Second study 1990
Third study and got baptised 1998
Out physically 2009 mentally out and apostate 2010
as i walked through the streets of my hometown i walked past a 'sister'tm).
at first i didn't recognize her as i wasn't paying attention.. she sort of gave me a bit of a smile (or did she have wind/gas?).
after i has passed her, it dawned on me who it was.. i'd given her family lifts to meetings and socialised with them.. i then realized she'd shunned me.
It is always good to hear of an escapee not feeling bad or anxious when seeing their former friends
http://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/stealing-is-bad/.
caleb sees some brightly-colored lollies.. caleb's mom tells him they're not buying candy today.. caleb puts down the lollies, sulking.. caleb thinks about stealing just one lolly, but remembers his dad's words at family study, that if he steals he won't be jehovah's friend.. caleb puts back the lolly smiling, and runs along.. .
hardly a gripping plot.
I remember seeing a programme on a cult that also used videos to indoctrinate children.
This Caleb video is no less creepy then those ones were back then.
I am surprised they haven't got Jehovah themed nursery rhymes.
