Posted by Antique [Antique] on November 01, 1999 at 07:28:25 {2gTL9dbN6k6ii1RkHmng.lGYl4oc5Y}:
In Reply to: Apostates violate rules posted by Alan on November 01, 1999 at 06:49:51:
"you apostates are not free or independent if you follow the world."
Says who? We are all free if we have a "choice" to do something or not. You are free to choose to be a JW but that choice is limited. But you are not independent. You can not go apart from what is taught in the Organization or out you go.
But they have the "choice" to choose which way to go in the world which independent thinking allows. And they can gain more information and choose to change their minds again and again as they grow more knowledgeable with out someone ousting them from their present lives situation. A JW can NOT. Not everyone follows the same paths. (it's that FREE WILL thing) JW's have to follow what the GB says. Independence means you can do what you want and that INCLUDES following "The World" what ever you deem that to be.
You seem to make the mistake in your thinking that all exJW's follow the world as you think it to be, returning to other religions, celebrating Holidays, going on drinking binges, smoking, drugs, having sex with everything that moves. Some leave (most) and lead very quiet normal lives.
You just being here on the board shows you have thinking independent of the Society, thus in your own words a rebel!!
Apostasy means you renounce ones faith, principles or party what ever that might be. It does not mean you can't choose a new way to go to a new faith, principle or party. So if you went to another church and then became a JW then you are apostate from that other church. If you had a set of principles and chose to take on a new set then you are apostate from the old. If you were a Republican and are now a Democrat, you are an apostate. Apostasy in itsself just means you left one thing for something else. It is not the wicked evil term JW's and religion fanatics say it is.
Opps changed my mind----Darn, apostate again!
Wonder if there is a pill for that?! :))
Antique