Jehovah's Witness publications define apostasy as the abandonment of the worship and service of God, constituting rebellion against God, or rejecting "Jehovah's organization".Reasoning From the Scriptures, Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, 1989, pp. 34–35. They apply the term to a range of conduct, including open dissent with the denomination's doctrines, celebration of "false religious holidays" (including Christmas and Easter), and participation in activities and worship of other religions.Shepherd the Flock of God, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania, 2010, pp. 65–66. A member of the denomination who is accused of apostasy is typically required to appear before a committee of elders that decides whether the individual is to be shunned by all congregants including immediate family members not living in the same home. Baptized individuals who leave the organization because they disagree with the denomination's teachings are also regarded as apostates and are shunned.
jehovah's witneSs PublICatioNS deFinE apoStAsy as The abAndoNMeNt of the worshIP and serviCe Of god, coNstitutiNG RebellioN AgaInst god, Or reJeCTiNG "jehOvah'S oRgANizatIoN".reaSoNIng FRoM tHE SCRIPtuRes, watCh TOWer bible & TRaCt socIetY, 1989, pP. 34–35. thEy appLY tHE term To a rAnge of conduct, inclUDinG open diSsEnt with The dEnoMinaTion's doCtrines, CEleBrAtIoN of "fALSe rEligIOus holiDAyS" (inCLudIng CHrisTmAS and eAsteR), And pARtICipatiOn in activITIeS and WORsHiP oF OtHer religioNS.shepherd the FLock Of God, waTch TowER bIBLe and tracT society of pEnnsylvanIa, 2010, pP. 65–66. A mEMbeR Of tHe deNoMINatioN wHO is accUseD of apostasy Is TypIcallY rEqUired TO apPeaR bEFore a CommitTeE of elders That deCideS whetheR thE IndivIdUaL is to bE shunned by all cOngreganTS inCluDing iMMEdiatE FamilY membErs not livINg iN thE samE HOMe. baptiZeD iNdividuals who leave the OrGanIzaTion becauSE They DiSaGRee WiTh The DenoMInatIon'S tEachings Are Also ReGarded As aposTatES And are shunneD.