The last real "meaty" witness discussion I had with my mother, she said "You must have gotten that information from an apostate website, because that is the EXACT line of reasoning & order that ALL apostates use" I said that she was rude to call me an apostate, and that I am not afraid to read information, I like to gather facts. (OH, by the way- that was BEFORE this website, now I am PROUD of being an apostate :-) Thanks everyone) ANYWAY, so I asked her what exactly the "Unforgiveable Sin" is. She said "Saying the truth is not the truth" So, I said- so if I say the witnesses aren't the truth, and really believe that, then later on , if I decide it IS the truth, Jehovah won't forgive me? She said of course he would forgive you, he's a loving god. I said- then it really isn't the UNFORGIVEABLE sin- we went round & round & round & round about it. Of course, the witnesses say Apostacy is saying the truth isn't the truth. Well, thats THEIR truth. Other religions say the only unforgiveable sin is to say there is no god!
I liked one post in here that said every witness is an apostate, since being an apostate means leaving behind former religious beliefs.
Main Entry: apos.ta.syPronunciation: &-'ps-t&-sE
Function:
nounEtymology: Middle English apostasie, from Late Latin apostasia, from Greek, literally, revolt, from aphistasthai to revolt, from apo- + histasthai to stand -- more at STAND
Date: 14th century
Inflected Form(s): plural -sies
1 : renunciation of a religious faith
2 : abandonment of a previous loyalty : DEFECTION
So, yes, according to this- I am an apostate, because I have abandoned my previous loyalty to the ORGANIZATION! But, I take great offense when someone says I don't love Jehovah. I do. I am a firm believer in God, pray daily, and try to live my life according to his commandments. BUT, I am a grown adult- and can read the bible & figure out for myself. I don't need an organization telling me not to talk to certain people.
I saw a brother of mine yesterday- he said "lets put the hostility behind us. So you don't love Jehovah & I do- we can still get together as long as you don't say negative things in front of me" I was boiling mad head to toe- and wanted to defend my love for God (Jehovah) but figured as usual, I would get no where with him.
Maybe I have been gone too long, but what would be wrong with a witness coming in here, to see the "flip" side of the coin? Whats wrong with them taking literature at the door- to see what others believe- and then be able to help them by understanding their beliefs? I was SO afraid to even HEAR about these sites when I was a witness. Now, I think what if I had come here & read it while being a witness, wouldn't it have helped me to know what others think? Surely, it HAS to be that they are afraid of someone seeing the REAL LIGHT.
Well, this post has gotten long, but I just take offense to the way people say "YOU'RE AN APOSTATE" in a way that they think you have no hope of everlasting life. An apostate, by REAL definition, not the WTS definition isn't a bad thing.
Ok- well, thanks for "listening"
Melissa