JW: Please help me understand the nature of "apostate thinking"?

I am about to find out first hand! I have been baptised over a year now, and have been doing my own private studying(discouraged HEAVILY) and as a result, have found out that those niggling doubts I had where perhaps my concience screaming at me to open my eyes!

I have yet to make public my desire to leave the organisation, but that is purely logistical. Since I will be telling them that I cannot believe in certain aspects they teach, expect and enforce, I believe I will be dealt with and viewed in the worst possible way to them- "Apostate".

When I informed my mum of my decision she told me that I lacked faith, and that I just think too much!

As for how they feel about independent research, look at this article from a watchtower of 1994:

In addition to helping others believe the Bible, we ourselves need to take time to read it regularly. Are you doing that? Of all the books ever produced, this one is the most important. Of course, this does not mean that if we read it on our own, we need nothing else. The Scriptures warn against isolating ourselves. We should not think that we can figure out everything by independent research. Both personal study and regular attendance at the meetings of God’s people are needed if we are to be balanced Christians.—Proverbs 18:1; Hebrews 10:24, 25.

8 Regarding this, the Bible tells about an Ethiopian official who was reading from the prophecy of Isaiah. An angel directed the Christian evangelizer Philip to ask the man: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” Humbly, the Ethiopian replied: “Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” He urged Philip to explain the passage of Scripture. Now, Philip was not merely an independent Bible reader who gave his opinion on the Scriptures. He maintained close contact with God’s visible organization. So he could help the Ethiopian to benefit from the instruction that Jehovah was making available through that organization. (Acts 6:5, 6; 8:5, 26-35) Similarly today, no one arrives at a correct understanding of Jehovah’s purposes on his own. We all need the aid that Jehovah lovingly provides through his visible organization

Notice how they push toward being in the organisation.

There is a much stronger case they give for NOT studying the Bible alone in the Kingdom ministry (i think it was September 2007) When I find it I will email it to you-it is amazing!!

It totally discourages studying the Bble alone or in small groups.

By the way, I cannot truly be an apostate since I have never denied GOD, just the Watchtower, and remember the Watchtower is NOT GOD!!

I too have a library of non witness reference works.

Harper's bible dictionary

Strong's Concordance / dictionary to name a few.

Biblegateway.com is in my favorite list.

I have the KJV, RSV, Amplified, ASB, NASB, an 8 in NT, and a 4 in Complete bible, NIV, are just a few of the bibles I have.

When I went to visit the World Headquarters in Brooklyn, I got to see the library that was available to all bethelites, and they have access to all kinds of reference materials.

Add to the library at my local Kingdom Hall, which has a Vines Dictionary.

Contrary to the half truths you are being told, most of Jehovah's Witness have their own libraries and have studied prior to coming into the truth.

Most Witnesses have had to unlearn many of the lies they were taught in other religions.

After being a Witness for 15 years, my job required me to take a personality test.

My most dominate quality per this test was "Independance"

When I mentioned this to a sister I know, she said that it made perfect sense.

All of Jehovah's people can not be mere followers, but had to have a spirit of independence so as not to follow the vast majority.

The easy way is not to think and follow the 'major' religions in your area.

The easy way is not to study and to just accept what your minister tells you.

Most children of Jehovah's Witnesses do very well in school because we've been trained to study.

I go door to door putting my faith on the line.

I've talked to minister, and priests, and yet they have not been able to show where the Witnesses are wrong.

As to going to 'special' links or accepting literature from other organizations ~

Why would I want to learn a lie or at best a half truth.

By learning the truth, you learn how to disprove the lies.

By learning the truth, you learn how to disprove the slander.

I don't have to study the slander to prove it wrong.

I left Christendom, why would I want to go back?

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This is a very good question and thank you for providing the links to support your claim...The Witnesses are a Cult and any thinking that is separate from the teachings is quickly and completely squashed.

I was a Witness for over 20 years and I knew of no one who read the bible without one of the Watchtower aides.

questions such as the one you have posted will result in you being questioned behind doors by a least 2 Elders.

They assume anyone who's ever been a JW and left simply must be lying about the dark side of the WTS. It's not even worth considering what they (so-called apostates) have to say.

I am NO liar! I only report my experience and the FACTS that I have found years after leaving.

(I followed the link. I just wanted to point out that if you select the text, the highlighting makes it easier to read it)

Edit:

I believe Debbie that she has an extensive library. However, I think she is a minority among JWs. No one in my congregation would have looked at opposing views. It was considered dangerous and "out-of-line." Even she limits what information she is willing to consider.

And not all masons are bad, just the elite group at the top (which would include Charles T Russell)... a lot like the Jehovah's Witness' Organization. And you can be certain that if a prominent "Christian" leader was guilty of the things that the WTS is guilty of, I wouldn't trust him for theology... let alone believe that he is inspired by God, or allow him to DICTATE my life!!! That is where the JWs are failing, since they ignore the inconvient truths, and continue to worship this false prophet!

A waiting attitude also helps us to avoid presumptuousness. Some who have become apostate were unwilling to wait. They may have felt that there was a need for adjustments, either in Bible understanding or in organizational matters. Yet, they failed to acknowledge that Jehovah’s spirit moves the faithful and discreet slave to make adjustments in His due time, not when we may feel that this is needed. And any adjustments must be in harmony with Jehovah’s will, not our personal ideas. Apostates allow a presumptuous attitude to warp their thinking and stumble them. But if they had adopted the mental attitude of Christ, they could have retained their joy and remained among Jehovah’s people.—Philippians 2:5-8.

Of course, maintaining a waiting attitude does not mean being lazy or inactive. We have things to do. For example, we need to be occupied in personal Bible study and thus show the same keen interest in spiritual things that the faithful prophets and even the angels showed. Speaking of such interest, Peter says: “Concerning this very salvation a diligent inquiry and a careful search were made by the prophets . . . Into these very things angels are desiring to peer.” (1 Peter 1:10-12) Not only is personal study a must but so are regular meeting attendance and prayer. (James 4:8) Those who show an awareness of their spiritual need by regularly taking in spiritual food and associating with fellow Christians demonstrate that they have adopted Christ’s mental attitude.—Matthew 5:3.

I have just recently come to start studying with JW's and I have spent my entire life looking for the truth. For the first time in my life I am at peace with what I am learning. Every question has an answer that can be found in the scripture and the old testament. Keep searching and asking questions and you to will one day reach the truth, and how great it feels.

I can only answer this in a personal. My exwifes parents were devout jw's and she left the church, her Mom wouldnt talk to her for five years,as she was "apostate". Weird, i was ok cause I had never joined the church, and was only a nonbeliever.

Hello.

I'm not sure what you mean about are we allowed to educate ourselves on non JW subjects? So I'll take my best guess.

Most of us have a library of our own. We collect not only JW publications, but Bibles and references of both Protestant and RC faiths. I have online links to countless Bibles and Bible commentaries that are Non-JW (in fact, I cut/paste and give links to them a lot in R&S). I also have history books, encyclopedias, religion books such as Leo Rosten Religion in America, etc.

I don't bother with denomination literature as it is not really useful to me. Just general stuff, or telling about a churches upcoming events, etc.

I don't bother either with anti this or that church stuff (JWs, Mormon, Muslim, anyone) as I know it will not be complimentary and will likely contain half truths and outright lies.

An apostate is not one who reads the Bible for themselves or does Bible and religion research. An apostate is one who has left the religion and has a hateful attitude toward it, and acts solely for the purpose of stumbling others away from JWs. The "main" thing about them is they on purpose make up false things about us to scare people away from the faith or asking us about it. They try to stop people from talking to JWs or finding out for themselves what we believe. Their main tool is misinformation.

Christendom also tends to do that. For example, they are all over the Masons all the time on here....Claiming it is a nutty thing and a cult...buy many big Christians are Masons....IE: Norman Vincent Peale (yes, the big famous preacher so many love with the motivational books and such).

Here's a list of famous Masons.

http://www.masonicinfo.com/famous2.htm

Another things oppsers (apostate or not) try to do, is condemn people for their pasts. Even IF Masons have occult stuff and if Charles Russell who started the printing work had been one, that would not make JWs false....

You'd be surprised what really stupid things people say about JWs. Bad thing is, a lot of people feel no qualms about making anything up right on the spot to get a rise out of JWs and ooohs and aaahs from non-JWs....it is mostly a bid for attention to themselves, not sincerity.

Debbie