Posted by Snowball [Snowball] on November 04, 1999 at 06:53:48 {yxewwqp4aACuspFhnTUgzJJpNQgSp.}:
In Reply to: To Mod 102 posted by Alan on November 04, 1999 at 05:54:52:
Encyclopedia :
a·pos·ta·sy (ə-pŏs'tə-sç)
n., pl. a·pos·ta·sies.
Abandonment of one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992, 1996 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
apostasy, in religion, especially Christianity, a complete abandonment or renunciation of a faith, which makes a person a deserter or former member of the religion. See also heresy.
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The Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia
apostasy noun
An instance of defecting from or abandoning a cause : defection, recreance, recreancy, tergiversation.
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Roget s II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary Copyright © 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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ABK,
My parents are apostates. They abandoned their "rich spiritual heritage" in the Catholic organization to become a part of the Watchtower organization of Jehovah's Witnesses when I was very young. My grandparents felt it necessary to cut off association with my apostate parents. Should I despise my parents for being apostates?
Most of my friends in the Kingdom Hall are apostates too. I know of Jehovah's Witnesses who have abandoned the Mormon faith, the Lutheran, Methodist, Buddhist, etc.....should I not asociate with these apostates? How do I know YOU are not an apostate? What religious organization have YOU abandoned? Are you vocal in criticising your former religion?
Perhaps we should also not read anything written by the Apostle Paul? Acts 21:21
Peace,
Snowball