The Society is contradicting its own condemnation of “name-calling” in its latest convention rant against so-called “apostates”

Jehovah’s Witnesses around the globe are currently attending the 2013 “God’s Word Is Truth” District Convention. One feature of Saturday’s programme that is causing a stir on YouTube is a talk that condemns “human apostates” – former Witnesses labelled by the Society as “mentally diseased.”

The Teaching Committee of the Governing Body is tasked with preparing material for conventions and assemblies, and it is these men who will have carefully worded the manuscript on which this controversial talk is based.

Having approved this material, the Governing Body will not be pleased to discover that one clever YouTuber has put together a four-minute video that uses their own words against them. Specifically, the Society has been shown to be hypocritically flouting its own condemnation of the spurious form of argumentation widely known as “name-calling.”

The video is based on a 2000 Awake! magazine entitled “Should You Believe Everything You Hear?” Under the heading “Name-Calling” page 6 says…

“Some people insult those who disagree with them by questioning character or motives instead of focusing on the facts. Name-calling slaps a negative, easy-to-remember label onto a person, a group, or an idea. The name-caller hopes that the label will stick. If people reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative label instead of weighing the evidence for themselves, the name-caller’s strategy has worked.” (g2000 6/22 p.6)

The new video brilliantly contrasts the above with the words contained in the venomous “Human Apostates” talk, which includes recorded statements such as the following…

“Like Satan, human apostates are unruly men who cook up wicked reasonings and season their brew with poisonous lies that deceive minds. Their preference is to partake of falsehood at the table of demons. Human apostates are part of the seed of the serpent spoken of at Genesis 3 verse 15. If we wish to please Jehovah, we cannot be feeding at his table and at the same time be nibbling at the table of demons, eating from the hands of Satan’s helpers – human apostates.”

The video itself can be viewed below…

Sadly, this is not the first time the Governing Body has resorted to underhand tactics in suppressing those who dare to oppose their authority. Earlier this year I wrote an article entitled “Secrecy and deception: Watchtower fights dirty in its war against “apostates”,” which outlined the vilification, mud-slinging, secrecy and outright lies that have been successfully used by the Society for decades in fighting dissent.

Many who like me are known among Witness friends and relatives as disagreeing with the Society will be cringing that their loved ones will be exposed to such overt propaganda during the convention – deliberately intended to stir up hatred and suspicion.

It can only be hoped that some loved ones will see through the manipulation and comprehend what it really means – that the Society is desperately trying to hide something. Sadly, the reason that name-calling and denigration is now being employed so freely by the Society is because, as they themselves recognize, such tactics work only too well.

 

 

87 thoughts on “Governing Body breaks its own name-calling rules in “Human Apostates” convention talk

  • July 2, 2013 at 4:38 pm
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    I was baptised at 17 yrs old, fearing I would be labelled Bad association if I didn’t take the plunge. I memorized the 80 answers to the questions. Now I ‘ve left, still a good person and daughter IMO and my mother says I knew what I was getting into when I made this very important decision, and that I knew the answers, so why should I have questions NOW? and there is no excuse for you leaving org. how would you reason and answer that dumbfounding question? my answer of I CHANGED MY MIND ! was not good enough. any thoughts ?

    also since this DC and the hateful and hurtful talks given on shunning, I’ve basically taken back my power and shunned them before the could shun me anyway.

  • July 2, 2013 at 4:47 pm
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    I was so angry one day, I bet my inheritance on the fact that the WBTS have stated that Jesus is only the mediator for the 144,000, I showed my mother proof from an article 20 yrs ago, she stated, show me something more current! So not only am I dealing with STUPID, can someone help and given me even more proof?

  • July 2, 2013 at 6:10 pm
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    A. “there is no excuse for you leaving org”

    a. Of course there is for anybody who chooses another course as did countless examples in the Bible and they were free to go without consequence.

    B. “I CHANGED MY MIND ! was not good enough. any thoughts ?”

    b. Of course it is!
    It is “good enough” for any autonomous adult person and you don’t need to answer to anybody for it but you need to decide whether you are ready to severe ties with unhealthy and dangerous people as far and as deep as it takes to be happy and healthy and whole as a person!
    It may not be what you wanted to hear but that’s… “The thought of the day and today’s Bicentennial Minute”

  • July 2, 2013 at 6:25 pm
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    Thank you for the response, talking about it with people that understand the craziness of it all really helps. Konrad can you give me at least 1-2 examples of people actually leaving wihout consequence? and once again thank you to all especially Cedars for putting this site up for people who just need to be heard.

  • July 2, 2013 at 8:39 pm
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    In the Bible there is first off no basis for the systemic process of “Disfellowshipping” or closed, secret and private “Judicial Committees” as these run contrary to the open and “Decently and by arrangement” process that was done openly for the descernment of the whole congregation when actual wrongdoing took place.
    Therefore the corruption and deceit, brutality, crime and Rights violations that I can personally attest to taking place in these committees would not be happening in a true christian congregation…
    Someone simply choosing to leave and take another course is not wrongdoing and as the Bible indicates that we have a choice or as the organization tells us before…we get baptized, “We are a free moral agent”…

    Even though the Society likes to apply this to alleged “Apostates” I would look at this because the first Century Christians did not! Also, they took no such action in that regard nor did they lable anyone nor did they see fit to bash or trash these people with banishment from any association as far as the scriptures indicate. It only mentions that their decision indicates their choices are not in harmony with their own…It’s a prime example of the Society tweaking the scriptures for their own use and benefit and people eat it up as spiritual junk food!

    Their are others as well throughout the scriptures…

    1 John 2:19

    King James Version (KJV)

    19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

    • July 3, 2013 at 7:14 am
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      It is pretty easy to see these differences between what scriptures say, what early Christians did, and what JWs do and teach. But, it took a personal conflict (or perhaps many that piled up inside my brain) for me to SEE the differences as things I no longer wanted to try to explain away. I wish I could say that without these mishandlings, I would have seen what was real, but I can’t say that!

    • May 19, 2015 at 8:51 am
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      That scripture is stating that those who leave the congregation are anti-Christs:

      *** 1 John 2:18 Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Anti-Christ is coming, even now many anti-Christs have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour.

      *** 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have continued with us. But they left, that they might be revealed that none of them belong to us.

  • July 2, 2013 at 11:08 pm
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    All anyone really needs to do is research the name “Johannes Greber” and Google it to find enough information to know what the Watchtower Society is all about as well as The New World Translation of the Bible as if all of these other things aren’t enough?

    Here, I’ll even start your journey:

    http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/who_is_greber.htm

  • July 8, 2013 at 12:18 pm
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    name calling ???

  • July 8, 2013 at 12:29 pm
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    call your mother stupid ???? then call yourself christian ???

  • July 9, 2013 at 3:23 pm
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    Dombey, these questions are not offensive to me. It’s part of the normal questions that would arise for someone exiting Jehovah’s Witness organization or observing someone who has left. Personally, I wanted to hold onto “the truth” after I went inactive, and wanted nothing to do with the “corrupt” administration, as I saw it. But, after I really dug-in and was able to do my personal research and get hands-on to the old flip-flops and literature, I could see that JW’s were more than just a little quirky religion I departed. I found some serious issues that gave rise to skepticism of their belief system. Like Charles Russell and others who have a “crisis of faith”, I flipped to atheism–wipe the slate clean, then took an unbiased look at world religions, and a closer examination of Christianity. I have to say it’s more of an agnostic view, at this point, with a hefty dose of skepticism and inquiry.

  • July 13, 2013 at 9:03 am
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    They are and have been the master deceivers from day one. Their whole mind set is based on religious legalism due to their lawyer mentality which permeates their thinking and agenda. And we all know what lawyers are best at and that’s living in the Gray area.

  • July 17, 2013 at 11:45 pm
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    I don’t know what to do. I’m currently inactive but I don’t have plans to return.

    My wife and I were both raised as JWs. Our friends are all JWs. I have 2 daughters, one is disabled.

    From my side, only my mom is a JW and I’ve been talking to her as well, and she has been very receptive but still believe in the Watchtower. My brother disassociated himself 13 years ago. I don’t have any other family member in the organization.

    My wife is also inactive, and I’ve talked to her about what is going on but she still believe in the Watchtower. In her case, her family are all Witnesses. Her cousin disassociated herself not long ago, and family has not shunt her like others do. That’s a plus.

    But like I said, I don’t know what to do. Should I follow my brothers steps and disassociate myself? I don’t want the organization to label me as apostate. I don’t want to be in any judicial committee. I just want them to respect my decision without questioning it. Is that possible?

    Any suggestions on how to proceed will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

    • July 17, 2013 at 11:47 pm
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      shun*

    • July 19, 2013 at 8:51 am
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      Will your conscience allow for you to just simply stay as inactive? I at first felt I ought to be true to myself and write the letter. Because I felt that I had answered the three baptism questions “yes” making me one of JWs as part of my baptism. Then, thinking that over, I have reasoned that it was really unscriptural of the society to ask us to make that promise. They put me in this uncomfortable spot.They tricked me and a lot of others into thinking this was all about God, when it is mainly about them. What do I owe myself? I no longer think I owe the JWs anything. Not even a letter, a letter that will put another burden on me and my JW friends. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, just sharing MY decisions with you. I wish you the best with your family.

    • August 22, 2013 at 1:24 pm
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      There is only one error in the elder’s talk. Take out the object of the discussion “Human Apostate” and replace it with WTBS or Jehovah’s Witnesses and BINGO! It describes them to a “T”. Their hate filled literature and attitudes are an abomination to Jehovah and His son, reading or hearing it makes my stomach turn. Not one of us is good in Jehovah’s sight, so why be judgmental? I worry for their salvation since they refuse to come to Jesus. Since we are told that the measure with which we judge others is the measure by which we will be judged, they should be very afraid.

  • August 4, 2013 at 1:58 pm
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    I was very glad to hear that human apostes were exposed as Satan’s helpers at the ‘God’s Word is Truth’ convention.

    • August 4, 2013 at 6:21 pm
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      The human apostates were the very one’s who developed the talk you were listening to. I do hope it does not take you as long to realize this fact as it did myself.

      As long as you have this wisdom motivate you from the heart, you won’t be mislead. Pay attention to the following Scripture.

      John 14:6
      New King James Version
      6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

  • August 8, 2013 at 2:41 pm
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    Bill, as apostle Paul in Galatians 5:7 I only can ask: ‘You were running well. Who hindered you from keeping on obeying the truth?’

  • August 9, 2013 at 7:32 am
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    What?

  • August 31, 2013 at 4:13 am
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    Emancipate yourself from the Governing body’ slavery!!!!!

  • September 10, 2013 at 6:57 am
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    I am a JW apostate. Believe it! I am proud of the label. The WT GB has the right to free speech but I have the right to take them to court for emotional abuse too, if I so choose to. We all have heard of the little saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”… WRONG! Name calling is Psychological abuse…..
    As a matter of fact all of us who are “”mentally diseased”can probably take some sort of positive action to show others how hurtful this cult / religion can be.

    • September 11, 2013 at 1:04 pm
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      Well said, Barbara.
      Doug, We are commanded by Jesus to come to him for truth and salvation, not to any organized religion or any organization of men. Did we not learn from the OT ways as an example that did not work? When Paul asked Jesus WHO was truth, He said He was! The answer is right there, John 14:6. He again said “Follow Me” John 21:19. Jesus was talking about people including JW’s when he stated “you search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life…but you are not willing to come to Me”.(John 5:39,40). When I took off my WT glasses and began to read my Bible without being told that clear scripture meant something else I couldn’t see it either. Most of scripture really is pretty understandable.

  • September 11, 2013 at 8:56 am
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    quote doug”can we find someone out there that is perfect that can teach us the truth ??” unquote

    Jesus can. I have found Jesus but it seems like they say “where is this promised presence of his?” His presence is in your midst, isn’t it? Has God not always been with us? The son always does like his Father. He is always here as his Father is always here. Why do you say can we find someone? What is lacking in Jesus that you need someone else to teach you?

  • September 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm
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    The name calling and bullying tactics was one of the first things that alerted me as a child that there was something wrong with the JW organization. As a small child I remember learning the fruits of the spirit (Ga 5:22) and then reading articles in the WT publications that were very insulting towards others but self righteous for the organization. I remember thinking that they did not display the qualities of love, kindness, or humility. As a child my non witness mother taught me those things, not the organization. The WT and books, Awake etc have always been full of insults towards anyone different than them. By age 16 I was O-U-T. I now attend a church that demonstrates these qualities and it is a night and day difference.

  • January 9, 2014 at 5:08 am
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    Well Erik,
    Once you have not been baptized by water in any religion you are not of that religion. So no sweat.

  • January 9, 2014 at 5:13 am
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    Whatever,
    If you don’t want to be in association with something you should disassociate yourself. Its like someone who says they are not into criminal activity but every time the cops drive by they are right in the middle of the illegal act.

    Do the right thing disassociate in writing, just prepare you mind for what you life would be like after. Can you deal with it and how are you going to?

  • February 25, 2014 at 5:53 pm
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    Crazy how they’re deliberate Hypocrits!but as Jehovah brings out ; ” the one that understood his masters will ….Will be punished.(Luke 12:47) Good thing that our lives are in Gods hands not humans. (Psa 146:3)
    The GV body always brings up the fruits of the spirit but then fail to read Gal 5:24 where it says those who belong to Christ nail to the stake the flesh together with its passions. They dont like to bring that up because their hypocrits. They only go by vrs 23 to shut anyone up who wants justice and truness.

  • March 5, 2014 at 5:54 pm
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    Its so unbelievable how the Governing body are such hypocrites. I’ve seen them have their elders go after ‘so called apostates.’ Interesting that in their insight on the scriptures book ;the meaning of apostate is someone who goes against Jehovah and his organization members. The twist in this is that some of their elders don’t care if you go against Jehovah or the bible as long as you say nothing negative about the organization or them. I’ve seen elders LIE and twist the bible For others to Follow Them and most do what they say ;and simply respond “this is ok BECAUSE hes an elder”, but anyone who questions the one in authority that’s doing wrong is marked as apostate !lol. This is NOT of the true God.. The Governing body really needs to look in the mirror and see who’s the real apostate and look into their elders lives and see THEIR apostate power. Until somethings done about this evil slave then innocent lives will continue to be marked by the king hypocrites (The Governing Body)

  • March 6, 2014 at 5:52 am
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    quote “Until something’s done about this evil slave then innocent lives will continue to be marked by the king hypocrites (The Governing Body)” unquote

    With all that is being done they are not budging. Also, it is Jehovah’s Witness belief that the young children who are under the care of anyone will suffer the same fate as the adults who will or won’t do something righteous about Jesus Christ. So to them there are no “innocent lives” on the Day of Judgement.
    I see that they are baiting God Almighty to do something.

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