@ Gayle,
Right on!
I was thinking... How cool it would be if a group of X-JW's in New York got together and all sought help from a mental institution. Maybe even take out an add in the paper asking for financial help for their "Mental Disease" . Mental institutions cost money right? They could say "Jehovah, the Great Physician has rejected us and we need help!" Maybe they could get someone like Jerry Lewis to do a telethon! I'm just joking of course
@ AGuest,
I think we ALL are guilty of name calling at one time or another. I know I have in times past. These days I honestly try to live and let live without condemning anyone. I think it is one thing to call someone a name and another to label them as "fit for everlasting destruction" . I would venture to say that not many on this thread stoop to that level. If so, I haven't seen it yet. The JW's do do this. When they call someone an "apostate" they are actually judging them as "fit for everlasting destruction." They even admit this is a 2006 Watchtower article where they said this:
The Watchtower of 2006, 2/15 “Questions From Readers” article asks this: What three dangers was Jesus warning against at Matthew 5:22 ?
"What, then, did the expression “despicable fool” signify? The word used here sounded similar to a Hebrew term that means “rebellious,” or “mutinous.” It designates a person as morally worthless, an apostate and a rebel against God. So the person addressing his fellow as a “despicable fool” is as much as saying that his brother should receive a punishment fit for a rebel against God, everlasting destruction. From God’s standpoint, the one uttering such a condemnation against another could merit that severe sentence—everlasting destruction—himself.— Deuteronomy 19:17-19 ."
Do you see the point here? The Watchtower here admits to call someone "apostate" is the same as calling them a "despicable fool" or rebel fit fir everlasting destruction. Jesus condemned such speech. It truly is HATE speech.
Even though some use terms such as "crazy/delusional/schizophrenic" as you mentioned, it does not carry the same meaning the Watchtower has employed does it? That they are fit for destruction? Or am I missing something?
Your brother in Christ,
Greybeard