StephaneLaliberte
JoinedPosts by StephaneLaliberte
-
16
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief? (In Nepal)
by berrygerry indo jehovahs witnesses assist with disaster relief in nepal?.
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/assist-with-disaster-relief/.
what say ye?.
-
StephaneLaliberte
And the concept that there is almost no administrative fees... what about all the bethelites and all the expenses generated by the Organization, including the lawsuits? These are covered by the donations and thus, are to be calculated as the over-head (administrative fees). -
16
Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief? (In Nepal)
by berrygerry indo jehovahs witnesses assist with disaster relief in nepal?.
http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/assist-with-disaster-relief/.
what say ye?.
-
StephaneLaliberte
I always had a problem with the way the claim to be helping for disasters as there is no clear reports on the actual cost and transactions generated by the events. Its always general, very general as in "100 houses were rebuilt or fixed". I have seen this very often and that statement is amazingly broad in meaning.
At my age, I now understand that when an organization purposeful uses broad, non-specific information, then, you should assume the worst!
-
118
"In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth . ."
by nicolaou inso where did god exist before he created the heavens?
-
StephaneLaliberte
This is the eternal dilemma of "What was before God?". An answer no one has in the same way of "What was before the big bang?" Energy (or God) doesn't have a beginning? Or where was it? Where are we? What is after the end of the universe? So, I wouldn't hold it against that verse to say "heavens and earth" as obviously, no one knows. -
5
The parable of a king who forgives a slaves debt
by Splash inin the streamed program from bethel uk this weekend, mark sanderson relates the parable from mt 18:23-35 where a master forgives the huge debt of a slave, but when the slave refuses to forgive a small debt owed to himself, the master throws that slave into prison.. look at the details of this parable.. the master is owed 10,000 talents.
this is 10's of millions of dollars, completely unpayable.
this represents our sin which we cannot pay for.. the slave begs for more time, so the master "lets the slave off and cancelled his debt" (vs 27).
-
StephaneLaliberte
Humm, you seem to apply modern concepts to a different time. The king was the king and could change his mind about things he already said. Heck, just for the sake of the argument, lets say the first slave never owed him any monney, ever... as the king, he could still put that slave in jail for life simply "because", i don't know... he didn't like his face.
That being said, if there is one area that the JW do not forgive is when they disfellowship people. They will hold that grudge until you patiently site at the back of their hall for 6+ month, obviously not forgiving freely.
-
32
Seeking support during confusing and stressful 'cognitive dissonance'
by LHS123 insorry for the long post but i need help.
ive been a jw for 20 years - still active and attending meetings, baptised at 18, i have recently become very dissillusioned.
a few reasons: ill treatment of my kids by a prominent 'assembly speaker' elder, then my son left the truth at 15 (not baptised) and was 'dropped' instantly, despite this community having been his whole life for 15 years.
-
StephaneLaliberte
LHS123.... the situation you have at this moment is far from being easy. There are the obvious difficulties, that is, your baptized daughter and your husband.
Concerning your baptized daughter, I would advise telling her that if she ever was disfellowshipped, you would never ignore her. You could be surprised and perhaps she will leave the truth all by herself in the coming years. In the case of sisters, it often comes down to who she will be dating and marrying.
As for your husband, you reported abuse. Let him know in very clear words that you do not believe in the JW anymore and if he continues his action, you will leave him. Despite all the advises distributed through their talks and literature, many JW brothers rely on the idea that their wives are stuck and become abusive. Thus, perhaps your open willingness to let him will cause drastic changes in his behavior.
Other issues will be every JW you know who will stop being friends... well, join other clubs in activities you like... you will make other friends soon enough. Family and the very close friends you count on your hand: these are the ones that will hurt. Still, you need to confront them. I mean these ones, be in their face and let them know loud and clear that it is them who are ending the relationship: not you. You need to be affirmative, not aggressive. Remind them that the only disfellowshiping reported in the bible was a couple of months and not everyone followed that order given by Paul in one of his letters. You may also tell them that for the great majority of their existence, JW have been strongly opposed to disfellowshiping denouncing the catholic for this.
And in the end, I assure you, the truth will set you free. You will have a different outlook on life as a whole. You will see and understand differently. You will understand that there is plenty of good people doing good things and that in the end, the fruit of the spirit is not measured by meeting attendance and preaching hours, but how you live your everyday life and preaching by your actions, not solely by your words.
-
30
4 New BOEs just Arrived!
by Atlantis in4 boes just arrived and we appreciate our informants assistance... click the links below and then click the green download button.. .. 2015 april 6, boe (re: electronic convention program and convention releases).
.. http://wwwb.fileflyer.com/view/gqk7qat.
.. .. .. 2015 april 21, boe (re: programme for special meeting with headquarters representatives).
-
StephaneLaliberte
Obviously, this would apply to those who called upon the elders for help in kicking there porn habit. This could potentially be documented in some way and thus, they (the elders) would actually know if you watched porn in the last two years.
Still, this requirement simply means that 99% of the brothers submitting to this course will have lied on their form.
-
64
Shutting down the Judicial Committee "invite".
by kairos injudicial committee invitation comes, with be there or be square consequences.. ( come or we will df you ).
what are the sure fire, tested and true tactics that will keep the elders off your back?
( for good ).
-
StephaneLaliberte
One more thing.... talk to them in person, or by phone before the JC.... Its easier to talk things out and laugh it off than to explain things by letters which tend to become threatening by their vary nature. Serious, who sends a letter today? -
64
Shutting down the Judicial Committee "invite".
by kairos injudicial committee invitation comes, with be there or be square consequences.. ( come or we will df you ).
what are the sure fire, tested and true tactics that will keep the elders off your back?
( for good ).
-
StephaneLaliberte
But seriously, I believe that the best strategy is to ask them first what are the charges and who are the witnesses against you. They might not have enough to make a JC against you; mMost people simply confess at their JC and the elders often rely on this. If you can convince them that you have no intention of confessing anything, you have a very strong chance of not getting into a JC at all.
If it is a hard evidence such as a photo, an email or anything else, you can still deny saying that the person who brought the proof to them fabricated it; thus, they will need to stand by the two witness rule.
Also, there is the question of how the other evidence(s) was obtained. You may explained to them that you will not accept that anyone invades your privacy and may ask them what they intend to do with the ones who obtained the information illegally. You will first take the steps described in Mathew. That is, talk with your brother, then talk with that brother and another witness and then, bring him to the elders if he still doesn't listen. If the situation cannot be contained within the congregation, you will have no other choice but to use the legal system as there is no way you will accept such violation of your privacy. Of course, you hope that the elders will do what is right and avoid all this as the entire process will be painful for everyone involved. And think of how this could bring reproof on Jehovah's name? You may also state that you would not one minute believe that the Elders, representing the watchtower, would condone illegal actions by using illegally obtained material in the course of their proceedings.
Keep in mind though that such arguments are to be brought BEFORE a JC. Otherwise, the elders will feel pressured to render a decision and that decision will not necessarily be based on logic.
-
64
Shutting down the Judicial Committee "invite".
by kairos injudicial committee invitation comes, with be there or be square consequences.. ( come or we will df you ).
what are the sure fire, tested and true tactics that will keep the elders off your back?
( for good ).
-
StephaneLaliberte
A guy I know threatened the elders telling them that he knew where they lived and that they would have to face the consequences if they ever made his mother live through his disfellowshipping again. Told them he didn't mind going back to jail.
Amazingly enough, it worked on those particular elders. That being said, knowing that some of them are willing to face firing squads for their faith, I wouldn't count on that strategy.
-
32
Do JW Children Still Call Adults "Aunt" and "Uncle"?
by cofty inwhen i was young we were taught to refer to other adult jws as aunt or uncle.. was this also the case in other countries and does it still happen?.
was it just a custom or has the literature ever commented on it?.
thanks.
-
StephaneLaliberte
When I was a kid living in Quebec (Canada), 30 years ago, I would hear uncle and aunt here and there; it was not uncommon. Still, I did not do it myself.
Today, there is only one friend (and his wife) that I let my kids call uncle and aunt. Our parents were friends before we were born and we've been best friends forever, so, I consider him to be "my brother from another mother".
Otherwise, I think it's wrong to let your kid believe there is a bond as strong as blood that ties you up to a complete stranger. Especially if this individual is ready to shun you at any time based on a "star chamber" judicial committee.