Posts by StephaneLaliberte

25

Inviting disfellowshipped to the memorial

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i read in a european ex jw forum that this year they are making a special effort to invite not only the inactive but also a special effort is made to invite all disfellowshipped.

.

i don't know if this as always been a common practice, or something started anew so they can boast about the numbers of attendees..

StephaneLaliberte

If I was disfellowshipped, I would have a lot of fun with this. I can imagine the conversation:

- Why should I go?

- Jesus said: "Keep doing this".

- Who was he talking to? Me or the anointed?

- The anointed, but, by extension, the great crowd, us, you.

- So, you want to invite me, and the general public, to a memorial celebration to which I am not part of. It doesn't sound right.

Could you imagine verses in the bible that would explain how Jesus invited the public to a certain place, had them seated in a large room and asked them to wait patiently while he shared wine and bread with his 12 disciples, no one else? Then, how he went to a podium and explained to them that though they were not part of that ceremony, they were welcome to have witnessed it; They too, would benefit from that arrangement. Can you imagine how that would be written in the bible? How it would actually have happened? What would it say about Jesus' personality?

I'm puzzled by what you're doing with this. The Jewish Passover was a "sacred" meal shared with the family and close friends; Jesus made it his own by adding the wine and the bread at the very end. Why would that not be sufficient?

Why not keep it simple?

36

The "most honest people" on earth....?

by stuckinarut2 in

have we noticed how often the society uses comments like this?.

"jehovah's witnesses are the most honest people...etc".

while it may be true that witnesses as a whole are decent, law abiding people, are they truely "honest" when the very foundation of beliefs are based on mistruths?.

StephaneLaliberte

If you start talking about the pyramids and how Charles Russel derived prophecies from its measurements, there will be an uncomfortable moment. JWs will immediately question your motives. On the other hand, if you talk about David sinning with Bath Sheba, they will say: The bible is truth as it did not hide anything!

The fact that there is a sizable discomfort about talking about anything negative about the WT is a big problem and makes them dishonest.

4

Conversation on FB with a witness who doesn't know me

by Peony in

jw
friends

so on my facebook feed this morning pops up a picture with the words 'jehovahs witnesses the happiest people on earth' i have no idea why i can see this must have come from a friend of a friend!

anyway i take a quick peak at the comments, about 30 of them all saying the same jw propoganda.

then ,non jw, makes a comment about a terrible person she knows that is a jw and that jw's break up families and listen to man and not god.. jw replies: just because someone says they're from a certain faith doesn't mean they're living it.

StephaneLaliberte

To be honest with you... she probably stopped reading and deleted the post at the UN bit of information.

I would advise, next time, to stick to your guns and simply asks the same question again. You may also expose her tactics.

For instance: You have yet to answer my question. Instead, you have used "ad hominem", that is, attacking the person making the argument rather than offering counter arguments. This is what you have done by calling me bitter, unhappy, disfellowshipped or disassociated. Please stay on track and explain, from the bible, why someone that did not commit a gross sin, should be shunned by his own family should he choose to leave the witnesses?

53

How did you feel when they eliminated the Con. Book Study?

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

years ago when i was "in" i loved the book study.

it was my favorite meeting by far.

mainly because it was a small group.

StephaneLaliberte

We were always told that the book study was the most important of all. That lie was one of many others that would show me the door through which I made my exit a few years later.

33

How to spot faders or "closeted" apostates in a congregation / meeting?

by nevaagain in

jw
friends

so i am awoken for several years now (never really bought the cool aid) but for family reasons i am still enduring everything.

but my wife knows ... .

anyway so yesterday we had this boring meeting and as i was sitting there trying to make time pass faster i looked around me and i thought who else feels the same as me and is completely bored?

StephaneLaliberte

You know, when I was in, pretending, sometimes, I would make the most zeleous comments that I didn't believe a bit just so that I could laugh about it later in the car with my wife.

Something like: We should always follow the Faithful slave, even if they ask things we don't understand. We need to remember that they have more of Jehovah's Spirit as a group than we could ever have as individuals. Thus, even if they have changed a few teachings here and there, we need to trust Jehovah and assume they are right this time - even when we don't understand it. We should trust and wait on Jehovah and pray for his Faithful slave."

Would you have guest that I was a closet apostate?

23

It is 5am and I still can't sleep. Contemplating life, doing research on religion, world history, science...

by Stepford Wife in

my husband is still asleep but he will get up in about an hour for work so i'm going to quickly tell you my inconclusive conclusion.

i don't know if i can believe in god anymore.

i have come to the simple conclusion that he is either dead or evil but he is definitely not loving.

StephaneLaliberte

As I have wrote in previous comments on this forum, I believe in doing Good. If God exists, he will be able to judge me for my good deeds as I hope to be remembered as a good man by people who knew me. If he does not exists, than, once I die, I won't know about it... i'll be dead.

One thing I know for sure is that if God exists, he chose not to interact with humans at all. You cannot tell me he lets women and children being raped and murdered or die of starvation and than, give a fridge to some JW pioneer out there.

36

Memorial campaign with videos??

by BeautifulMind in

jw
friends

good morning from the east coast.

i have a question.

a friend of mine texted me and one of the things she said was that they were getting a lot of great responses with the campaign because they are showing the video.

StephaneLaliberte

An elder and his wife showed me the video...

I must admit that I found the experience quite intreging.

First, saw a preview of the paradise similar to a travelling agency ad. Than, it was the first time that I saw a sneak peek of the "Passion of the Christ" with a stake rather than a cross. In the mist of this, in the cold of winter, I reflected on how my old conditional friends, standing there, needed to do this in order to feel good about their lives and themselves. I was overwhelmed by a feeling of pity.

And than, the video quoted Jesus saying do this every year in remembrance of me; all the while, showing a bread plate being passed, untouched, from one hand to another. At that point, I had a hard time keeping my composure as I found it hilarious.

When Jesus said "this", do you believe that "this" meant "siting in large groups at various churches and basically, don't eat and touch anything?". What does that have to do with the Passover? Jesus simply brought a twist to the Jewish Passover, which is essentially a meal with your family and close friends reminiscing the past. Now, Christians were expected to reflect on the death of Jesus when they ate the bread and the wine. Small change really. Yet, JWs made it something entirely different!

Sadly, I had to pause and remind myself that behind those nice smiles, and despite the fact that they sincerely looked invested in bringing me the best they had, this couple would not hesitate a second to drag me in a JC for apostasy should I ever express my thoughts on the matter.

So, I remained very polite and courteous and wrapped things up with something like: "Well, that is very thoughtful. Thanks for stopping by." And off they went.

Than, as they walked away, I was thinking: Once my remaining living JW family passes away, I will be such a vocal apostate, you won't believe!

30

"New light"?

by winstonchurchill in

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-study-june-2016/man-with-inkhorn/.

so i guess baptism is no longer the "mark for survival".. as a matter of fact, that key aspect of the 'old light' is not even acknowledged in this article.. they are just publishing new understanding without even bothering to explain the full extent of the change, hoping nobody will remember how it was... and they may be right about that..

StephaneLaliberte

Thanks mmThinker, I had not seen that post back when you brought it up. Very interesting.

This is not a small difference in teaching. I see this as a big deal. Yet, I am willing to bet that most JWs barely notice it.

30

"New light"?

by winstonchurchill in

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-study-june-2016/man-with-inkhorn/.

so i guess baptism is no longer the "mark for survival".. as a matter of fact, that key aspect of the 'old light' is not even acknowledged in this article.. they are just publishing new understanding without even bothering to explain the full extent of the change, hoping nobody will remember how it was... and they may be right about that..

StephaneLaliberte

What do people need to do to be symbolically marked for survival? They need to react favorably to the preaching work that is taking place, put on the Christian personality, dedicate themselves to Jehovah, and loyally support Christ’s brothers. (Matt. 25:35-40)

There is nothing left to interpretation here... If you are not a baptized JW, you will be destroyed. With that paragraph in mind, Jesus' selection, or separating of the goats and sheeps will be WITHIN the JWs since those who are not baptized don't stand a chance.

I need to bookmark this crap so that if I am ever brought to a JC, I will be able to quote it.

63

Tight Pants

by pixel in

today is friday.

so let's see something refreshing on the new june 2016 study wt.

tight pants!.

StephaneLaliberte

ToesUp: Nahh, he does like the Maestro in Seinfeld: He hangs his pants when he sits so that he doesn't have to iron them out later. :)