Posts by StephaneLaliberte

It seems that everyone is taking for granted that the sociaty has made 1 billion in profit. Could anyone tell me why it would not be a posibility that the society had a large number of mortgages attached to these properties? Wouldn't that explain the latest monney grab from the congregations?

11

I am sick and tired, I am proud, I am leaving

by never a jw in

jw
friends

for 2 years, soon after my daughter's baptism, i have been exchanging many emails with an elder of her congregation.

good man, but he is a jw and he just drove me to the brink of madness recently; that was the drop the spill the water.

it's a cult.

StephaneLaliberte

never a jw, it took me many years to leave the JW and the thing that really did it is focusing on Love. When I came to realize that they do not truely demonstrate the basic of it all, that is when I found the courage to leave. Also, the WT prevented me from looking at the what mattered the most by giving undue important to other things:

We are building halls, assembly halls and bethels. Did Jesus or even his deciples built anything?
We are the one that print the most and translate the most: Did Jesus write anything? How many books were written by his deciples over how many years... compare with JW today. Does the numbers make the information accurate and truthful? Old lights (erroneous teachings based on a flawed understanding of the scriptures) have been printed and distributed to millions.
We are united in one teaching: From one end of the world to another. How is this realy a good thing? Since many teachings have been changed over the years, isn't this a demonstration of oppresing the thoughts of individuals?
Guided by a few man, like it was in the bible. They do not claim to be inspired and much less performing miracles similar to Moses, how can they compare themselves to these man?
We are preaching worldwide! So are the muslim and the catholics.
We keep the congregation's pure by disfellowshipping. And how is this in line with preventing everyone, including family, from talking to a sinner? Bear in mind, we are under the christian law, guided by love, not the mosaic law.
Look at the fruits produced by the WT, you can't deny the evidence. Keeping the "fruit of the spirit" in mind, how can you corolate that to building kingdom halls, printing, accurate meeting attendance, preparing the meetings, etc. JW by large will judge individuals by there measured performane. How is this in line with Jesus' teachings? Where is the love?
Do not find insignificant issues with topics that are not important. If these are not important, then, why giving so much importance to the fact I am bringing them up? Who demonstrates the lack of humility: The one who brings forth a fact or the one that calls him an anti-christ for doing so?

I know you gave up on them, but please don't. Hold strong to the truth. I just hope this approach will possibly help you.

19

Awful experience: I threw my WT library out!

by StephaneLaliberte in

yes, i threw my wt library out: my recycle bin was full.

even if i had imagined this experience to be similar to a prisoner getting rid of his chains, this was not so.. instead, it brought up all the memories i had shared with my family where we were excited about the release of the revelation book; the clear feeling of ultimate knowledge when we showed the live forever book, the questions i had practiced with my family in the organized book, my cousins who got baptized as well.

somehow, all i could think of was only the good memories i had shared with my family and almost cried about it.. and then, i started to think of the division, the hatred and the pain that became prevalent in my family as some were disfellowshipped and thus, ostracized.

StephaneLaliberte

Rebel8, you're right! They constently brag about themselves and call it "upbuilding/faith strenghtening talks". And if someone brings forth questionable teachings or actions, they call it being negative, nit picking, selfish individual trying to sabotage your faith and the joy you could not find anywhere else.

So, when you're told that you are happy, you start believing it.

19

Awful experience: I threw my WT library out!

by StephaneLaliberte in

yes, i threw my wt library out: my recycle bin was full.

even if i had imagined this experience to be similar to a prisoner getting rid of his chains, this was not so.. instead, it brought up all the memories i had shared with my family where we were excited about the release of the revelation book; the clear feeling of ultimate knowledge when we showed the live forever book, the questions i had practiced with my family in the organized book, my cousins who got baptized as well.

somehow, all i could think of was only the good memories i had shared with my family and almost cried about it.. and then, i started to think of the division, the hatred and the pain that became prevalent in my family as some were disfellowshipped and thus, ostracized.

StephaneLaliberte

Hey Captain Obvious,

You’re right, I have been here for a long time. I got on this board in 2007 and was a visitor as far back as 2005/2006.

At first, I focused on the prophetic side of things and when I realized how wrong the WT was, I reasoned that it would not be wise to overly concern myself with details. I based this on the concepts of “arguing about genealogies”. At that time, I still believed that the Witnesses were the closest to the truth and had love as its central motivation.

Then, I had kids who grew up enough for them to understand what was being said at the hall. I realized then that I could not keep up the charade, I could not teach my kids that the JW had the exclusivity to the ultimate, unchangeable truth. It just didn’t make sense.

It is then that I focused my attention on the core teaching of Jesus: LOVE. And the following really got to me:

How can you reconcile the disfellowshipping procedures with the prodigal son story?
Threatening (with disfellowshipping) individuals with different views on small teachings that are not central to the Christian faith.
Measuring the activities for of all members, congregations, etc, leading them to believe that such compiled numbers are equivalent to “spiritual fruits”.
The WT never apologizing for anything.
Not effectively partaking in any charitable work.
etc…

Lately, I have come to the conclusion that these shortcomings of the JW were in fact worst then that of the sinners that Jesus was known to be eating with. Compare the number of occasions where Jesus SCREAMED at a fornicator and how many time he SCREAMED at the Pharisees or the Scribes. Yet, in many ways, the JW do act like these religious leaders. For instance, ask what is worst to a JW: Fornicating or shunning a fornicator? Their answer will be similar to that of a Pharisee.

Having understood this, I have stoped attenting the hall and recently became inactive. And with actions like throwing out that Library, I am getting closer to being free.

It just felt weird that dispite knowing all this that I have written above, that I still felt pain and sorrow when I through these books out.

19

Awful experience: I threw my WT library out!

by StephaneLaliberte in

yes, i threw my wt library out: my recycle bin was full.

even if i had imagined this experience to be similar to a prisoner getting rid of his chains, this was not so.. instead, it brought up all the memories i had shared with my family where we were excited about the release of the revelation book; the clear feeling of ultimate knowledge when we showed the live forever book, the questions i had practiced with my family in the organized book, my cousins who got baptized as well.

somehow, all i could think of was only the good memories i had shared with my family and almost cried about it.. and then, i started to think of the division, the hatred and the pain that became prevalent in my family as some were disfellowshipped and thus, ostracized.

StephaneLaliberte

Yes, I threw my WT library out: My recycle bin was full. Even if I had imagined this experience to be similar to a prisoner getting rid of his chains, this was not so.

Instead, it brought up all the memories I had shared with my family where we were excited about the release of the revelation book; the clear feeling of ultimate knowledge when we showed the Live Forever book, the questions I had practiced with my family in the organized book, my cousins who got baptized as well. Somehow, all I could think of was ONLY the good memories I had shared with my family and almost cried about it.

And then, I started to think of the division, the hatred and the pain that became prevalent in my family as some were disfellowshipped and thus, ostracized. Of the things my Dad and Mom thought me with absolute certainty, radicalising the worldly people with a superior attitude. My family was supposed to be protected from the world when in fact, it was victim of the WT that did this through abusive messages disguised as love.

And then, I started to be very mad, even cursing at the man at the top of that organization that are fully aware of what they are doing. Disfellowshipping, “house to house” is not “door to door”, computing the “field hours”, holding as “absolute”, teachings founded on uncertain biblical references, condemning, on a continuous basis, anyone who reason differently, etc. How can they not be afraid of the God they claim to serve? They have elevated themselves to a position above their brothers and sisters, can’t they see this is out of line with Jesus’ teachings?

I now realize that I actually hate what they represent and what they are doing to so many people that I love.

In the end, this grieving process brought me to a stronger resolution to fight against the actions of this group. Yes, there were good times and good memories, still, when all considered, it feels more like that battered wife syndrome. She keeps remembering the good things and forget that her husband is about to kill her. How else can I consider a group that, in short says: “If you don’t believe the full, integral, inventory of our teachings, God will kill you. In fact, if we had our own country, we would, for we are God’s mouth piece as Moses was!”

36

BOE re:Adjusted Process to Accelerate Kingdom Hall Construction

by TTATTelder in

may 12, 2014. to all bodies of elders in the united states branch territory.

re: adjusted process to accelerate kingdom hall construction.

dear brothers:.

StephaneLaliberte

Its interesting that they specify that the projects under 5,000 dollars are to be handled by the congregation. Most maintenance cost don't exceed this individually... I can envision something of the like happening:

In the same year: Sound system needs fixing: 1,000$. Furnace requires repairs: 4,500$. -- they already busted their 5,000 $ funds and anything else in that year, they will need to ask the branch.

Interesting... I guess it won't be as glamerous for many Elders to hold to their positions.