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JW Terms's definitions

Society Literature

When used by Jehovah’s Witnesses, refers to anything published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (or, “The Society” for short).

Antonym: Apostate Literature
Wouldn’t you prefer to read some society literature instead of that worldly novel?
by JW Terms December 8, 2018
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Raised in the Truth

To be raised in the Jehovah’s Witness religion. (See definition for In the Truth).
Both my parents are Witnesses, I was raised in the Truth.
by JW Terms December 8, 2018
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JW

Depending on the context, “JW” may be short for:

1. Jehovah’s Witness: see JWfacts.com

2. Just wondering: commonly used in online forums immediately preceding or immediately after asking a question, often to justify the question itself

3. Joss Whedon: American screenwriter. Has a cult following due to his early acting career in Star Trek Next Gen, and subsequent cameos throughout American pop-culture

4. Jungle Warfare: techniques used by the military to survive and fight in the jungle

5. Junior Warden: position in the Masonic Lodge or the Anglican Church

6. Johnny Walker Scotch
“JW, are you a JW?”
by JW Terms October 13, 2018
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Apostate

In the Jehovah’s Witness (JW) religion:

Any baptized JW who openly disagrees with or speaks out against either the JW religion or the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (WTBTS).

Apostates are considered dangerous “followers of Satan” and are therefore shunned.
JW1: I haven’t seen Kyle recently. Where has he been?
JW2: You haven’t heard?! He’s an apostate!
JW1: Too bad. I liked him.
by JW Terms January 12, 2019
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In The Truth

A phrase used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to refer to the state of being a Jehovah’s Witness (JW). It is based on the assumption that the JW faith is the one true religion and is the only one that teaches “the truth.”

Synonyms: One of us, baptized, in good standing

Antonyms: Disfellowshipped, apostate, out of the truth (or simply “out”), worldly people
Example 1
JW 1: “How long have you been in the truth?”
JW 2: “My whole life, I was raised in the truth.”

Example 2
JW 1: “Is Roger still in the truth? I saw him hanging out with some worldly people.”
JW 2: “Oh no, he’s out. He got disfellowshipped for knocking up his girlfriend.”
by JW Terms October 13, 2018
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New in the Truth

Used to describe a new convert of the Jehovah’s Witness religion (see definition for “in the Truth”).

Witnesses will often use the phrase to alert each other of a new member so that everyone knows they need to be on their best behavior.
This is my friend Jason. He’s new in the Truth.
by JW Terms November 17, 2018
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Worldly People

A phrase used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to refer to persons that are not and have never been Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs). It is sometimes derogatory, but not always.

The phrase stems from the pervasive JW teaching that because the JW faith is the only one truth, it’s memebers are the only truly spiritual and moral people on earth. All other humans (including memebers of other closely-related Christian faiths), are amoral and “of the world.”

Synonyms: Non-believer, goyim, shiksa
Antonyms: Baptized, in the truth, one of us, one of Jehovah’s Witnesses
JW 1: “Did you hear, Racheal’s son is on drugs?”
JW 2: “That’s what she gets for letting her kids hang out with worldly people.”
by JW Terms October 13, 2018
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