What about the possibility that there were mortgages on these properties and that most of the profit was to pay them off? So, in reality, they would not have a billion in the bank but a fraction of that money... let’s say a quarter: 250 million. Wouldn't that change our perspective of the WT being profitable?
StephaneLaliberte
JoinedPosts by StephaneLaliberte
-
13
Where Is All The Money Going from Sales of WTB&TS `s Real Estate Properties.
by smiddy inwhat governmental requirements are their for full disclosure of the proceeds from sales of property made by a not for profit organization such as the wtb&ts.. how does the wtb&ts explain their charitable status when they do not provide any charitable benefits to anyone , when all their members , jehovahs witnesses are not employed by them , they are just volunteers.. does american law allow religous institutions to hide monetary transactions or is their full transparency regarding their use of their money.. how can a multi million $ publishing company , engaged in a multi million $ real estate organisation be considered as a not for profit organisation .. is their anything like an auditor general in the usa that needs to investigate these things ?.
just asking.. smiddy.
-
-
-
12
Update on my fade
by Jon Preston ini apologize for the strangeness of my topics of late.
im in antight spot.
i havent been to a meeting for over a month...wife is sick again and wants me to attend but i am having the most difficilt time getting motivated to go...i mean every molecule in my body wants to stay home..but ive got an elder friend texting to ask if we are going and another asking for our service reports....grrr.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Say yes! Then don't show up. while he's at the meeting around 8:45, text the following :
"Sorry bro, I dressed up and everything. As I was ready by 6:30, I thought I could take a power nap til 7pm, but I woke up at 8:30!!! I guess I needed the sleep... work has been so stressful lately. Ahhh well. I undressed and went straight to bed."
See? Oh I know it is lying, but they, as a group, are threathening you with, so, it is strategic spiritual warefare. Fair and square. :)
May Jah bless your efforts toward freedom.
-
1
Fruit of the spirit
by StephaneLaliberte inwhen i was "in" i mainly associated the fruits bared by the witnesses as all "love, joy, peace, etc" being demonstrated through field service.
now, i have come to realize that it is simply how you are with people around you.
take for instance this old lady who waved at kids going to school: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/83926034/?autoplay=false.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
When I was "in" I mainly associated the fruits bared by the witnesses as all "Love, joy, peace, etc" being demonstrated through field service. Now, I have come to realize that it is simply how you are with people around you.
Take for instance this old lady who waved at kids going to school: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/83926034/?autoplay=false
She nailed the first two attributes of the fruit right there!
-
26
Seeds of Doubt.
by donny inseeds of doubt.
what was it about the jw religion that first gave you serious doubts as to its truthiness?.
for me it occurred in late 1984 when we were studying the brochure the divine name that will endure forever which had been released at the summer convention that year.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
villagegirl, I found your comment interesting as I recalled that both titles had been used. That is, "Millions now living MAY never die" and "Millions now living WILL never die".
Looking into this, I found that the WT Library 2013 used "WILL" most of the times, however, the expression "MAY" has still been used on numerous occasions.
I also found the following quote in the old magazines:
We strongly recommend the classes everywhere to arrange for one public meeting when a Pilgrim visits your class. Secure a well-located hall and announce an up-to-date subject, such as, "THE WORLD HAS ENDED--Millions now Living may never die!" and give a good public witness to the Truth.
Zion's Watch Tower, January 1, 1918, page 2. "IN RE Public Meetings" heading.
Therefore, the society is not distorting history when using the title "[...] may never die". That being said, it is obvious that the "[...] will never die" was the one pushed forward in the following years and also used as the title for a book. Thus, this does not deminish the society's role in preaching a false prophecy as all those who heard this talk, have since, died.
-
26
Seeds of Doubt.
by donny inseeds of doubt.
what was it about the jw religion that first gave you serious doubts as to its truthiness?.
for me it occurred in late 1984 when we were studying the brochure the divine name that will endure forever which had been released at the summer convention that year.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
When I was 10 or eleven, the book “Revelation and its great climax” was released and we studied it in the book study. Some of these teachings didn’t add up. For instance, the idea that prophecies were fulfilled by assemblies or other modern Watchtower Society events appeared very self centered to me. However, discussing these doubts with my Dad, he reason with me that “Jehovah has an imperfect organization. Hence, this is one thing that I am finding out, but won’t be the last. Ignore these things, stay with Jehovah, stay in the ark, and you will be saved”. I bought this and went on to get baptized.
Then, there was the 1995 assembly: “A generation actually means a period of time”. Additionally, for the French bible, all the names were changed in the bible to get closer to the Hebrew pronunciation. That year, I seriously doubted things, but pushed things of as I believed the Jehovah’s Witnesses were the only one displaying the fruits of the spirit.
A few years later, the book “Daniel’s Prophecy” came out and I read it within two days! I felt it had a great deal of information that didn’t make sense, even some of the numbers didn’t add up! I was very disappointed. It took me a little time to swallow. But in time, I reasoned about the same thing I did for the Revelation Book and stayed in the ark.
Six years later, I started to seriously reconsider my faith. Many doubts that I had pushed aside through the years could no longer be silenced and I researched everything I could in the publications and various sources on the web, including sites such as this one. During this period, I mainly focused around the prophecies, past and present and concluded that the organization was in the dark.
Yet, despite my new findings, I rationalized these things out as “foolish questionings and genealogies” (Titus 3:9). These teachings, as I understood them then, did not have an actual bearing on the Christian conduct and thus, could be set aside. For instance, what good is it to know who the 5 th king of Israel was if I do not know how to demonstrate love to my brothers and sisters?
For the next 7 years, I gave greater attention to articles pertaining to the young, the elderly, the widows, the disabled, the poor, and anything thing that promoted Christian love to those in need. In the meantime, I have seen good and bad things in the Congregations. Every time something good was done, I would say “only in Jehovah’s Organization” and every time something bad was done, I would say: “focus on the organization and not just the bad members”.
About a year ago, I paused and seriously thought: If I acknowledge the good things to the benefit of the society, shouldn’t I also acknowledge the bad things? I profoundly reflected on the fruits that Jesus thought about and came to the conclusion that these fruits would be visible, first and foremost, within the organization. As I have moved around quite often, I have attended a good deal of congregations and came to the following conclusion: Though the Watchtower clearly teaches wonderful and core Christian values, the environment created by its various rules and traditions becomes an obstacle for Christians in applying these values.
For instance, a brother may become an elder if his service report is acceptable, prepares and attends all meetings, reads everything printed by the society, takes on various responsibilities, makes great talks, etc. Anything that is visible and measurable. Yet, the most important things such as assisting the disabled, the elderly, the widows, the orphans… tend to be unrewarded (Mat 6:3). As a result, the visible things are generally prioritized over the most important ones, thus, defying the very purpose of the entire machine. This is what Jesus denounced vehemently with the Pharisees (Mat 12:7). I had some interesting conversation with close ones on this matter and some told me that in the same manner Israelites had to go over the short comings of there priesthood, we must overcome those of the Organization. However, this argument fell flat as the Nation of Israel was chosen by blood. Today’s Christians are chosen by the fruits.
About a year ago, it became very clear that I would leave the society, yet, being a born-in, I still had nagging doubts. So, over the last year until now, I have researched everything back and forth. I also read the books authored by Raymond Franz. I must confess that it is these books, especially the one on Christian Freedom that help me settle my decision for good.
Since then, due to family reasons, I have been slowly fading away and hope to be entirely free in a few years.
Peace be with you all.
Ecan6
-
53
Jehovah's Witnesses Street recruiting thwarted by "Apostates"
by Watchtower-Free inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fylyfc_0we.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
I had fantasized about bringing a big sign next to one of their literature stand and now that I have seen the vid, I have to say that it makes the persons with the signs look nut.
The reason is simple: it is a direct attack on JW. Sure, JW do attack people, but in the end, much more indirectly and thus, it doesn’t look so aggressive… even though we know they are actually very aggressive, much more than a simple banner (ex: shunning, insulting dissenters through press and talks, etc).
I think the best way to cause them issues is to persistently go there, ask them simple, yet, very provocative questions and leave. Let these doubts slowly eat away at them as they did to us and one day, they will be among us.
Simple questions like:
- In regards to the first Christians, provide an example of :
- Construction projects
- Door to door success stories
- Family preaching together
- Buildings owned by the congregation
- Judicial Committees
- Instructions pertaining to shunning family members.
- Prayers using Jehovah’s name.
- Miracles performed in Jehovah’s name.
- Letters/books detailing organizational procedures
- Member being excommunicated for sharing teachings not in line with the GB.
- How many writings were written by the first Christians? Knowing the success met by the first Christians, why does the WT need to publish so much information?
- If there was a Governing Body in the first century, why does the bible have 14 books from Paul and none from this Governing Body?
- According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, Act chapter 15 describes a Governing Body meeting. Describe how verse 12 and 22 fit in today’s arrangement.
- In regards to the first Christians, provide an example of :
-
53
Jehovah's Witnesses Street recruiting thwarted by "Apostates"
by Watchtower-Free inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fylyfc_0we.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Yeah, I remember doing street witnessing early in the morning, downtown. I would give magazines to people walking to work. At the same time, in my head, I was judging them all, thinking: They are all so focused on this life that they are missing the everlasting life. Poor SOBs.
Yeah, I used to judge alot.
-
37
Chat with Elder, how would you reply?
by awakening inhad a sit down chat with an elder who is aware of my doubts.
we were on the subject of new light, i was saying that if the org changes a teaching then the old teaching was wrong and cannot qualify as truth at the time it was taught, so where did the falsehood come from?.
his response was the gb is imperfect!!
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
The selection of Judas was made so as to accomplish a prophecy.
Is there a prophecy on how the Faithful Servant would provide, at various times, erroneous teachings? Does that prophecy elaborate on how this “wise” slave would force these erroneous teachings on his fellow slaves? Does it also indicate that this slave would take a strong stand by taking the initiative by throwing out of the house of his lord any of his fellow slaves who dares to challenge these erroneous teachings?
In a Jerry Maguire voice: “Show me the prophecy!”
-
29
Graphic comment on last week's book study.
by Slidin Fast ini offer this with out further comment:.
12 the mosaic law made it a capital offense to profane gods name.
(leviticus 24:16).
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Agreed.
-
29
Graphic comment on last week's book study.
by Slidin Fast ini offer this with out further comment:.
12 the mosaic law made it a capital offense to profane gods name.
(leviticus 24:16).
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Wow... I just saw the video. By "stoning" standard, that is very humane. They left only the head out of the sand so that all the projectiles would hit the head and nothing else. That is much more efficient than if rocks were to hit the arms, legs, foots, and body as well.
By the way, please don't think that I condone stoning. I think it’s barbaric and such a practice makes me question the part that God actually played in the Mosaic Law. That being said, I am not against capital punishment either. Some S.O.B. have it coming. In such case, a bullet to the head (or heart) is probably the best way to go. It’s like getting stoned with one really fast stone right on the target! So it still is approved by God!