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JW Terms's definitions

The Society

When used by Jehovah’s Witnesses, refers either to their religion as a whole or specifically to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.
The Society has published new direction about proper dress and grooming.
by JW Terms December 8, 2018
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COBE

In the Jehovah’s Witness religion, basically the boss elder of an individual congregation.

Stands for “Coordinator of Body of Elders.” Formerly called “Presiding Overseer” or “PO.”
My COBE says we’re not allowed to wear skirts above the knee.
by JW Terms November 17, 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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Worldly

When used by Jehovah’s Witnesses, refers to any person, thing, or practice NOT associated with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
You’ll never find happiness if you marry a worldly person.
by JW Terms December 8, 2018
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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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Home But Hiding

A phrase used by Jehovah’s Witnesses conducting door-to-door ministry to jokingly refer to the occurrence when a householder is obviously home but pretending not to be.

This phrase is a play-on-words based on the official phrase “Not at Home.” Jehovah’s Witnesses preach methodically and keep lists of every home they visit where no one answered the door, so that they can go back at another time in the hopes that someone will eventually answer. The list is referred to as “the not at homes” and the house itself is referred to as “a not at home.”

“Home-but-hiding” is not an official category and those houses are recorded as “not-at-homes” so that someone can return at another time.
JW 1: “Was that last house a not at home?”
JW 2: “No, it was a home but hiding.”
JW 1: “Ha! At least it wasn’t a do not call.”
by JW Terms September 26, 2018
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DF’ed

When used by Jehovah’s Witnesses:

Short for “disfellowshipped” (see disfellowshipping).

Frequently used as a code word because the speaker does not want non-Jehovah’s Witnesses to understand what they are talking about. This reflects the fact that many JWs are ashamed of or embarasssed by the practice.

However, it is sometimes used purely out of laziness as the word “disfellowshipped” is very long.
Jeremy can’t come with us to Europe anymore because he got DF’ed.
by JW Terms October 20, 2018
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