StephaneLaliberte

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Posts by StephaneLaliberte

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  81

  Your feelings for the former travelling overseers

  by Hecce in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during our wt life we met a good number of friends involved in the circuit and district work.

  i am sure that we share the same experience and that we remember fondly some that we caring, loving and generally interested in the brothers.

  at the same time we might remember others that were arrogant, selfish, abusive and oppressive.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  I hear a lot of negativity concerning the COs and somehow, I personally feel just the opposite. Most of these people have made great deal of sacrifices for the WT believing they are doing the right thing.

  • Most of them live constantly on the road with minimal possessions.
  • They officially have as many holidays as the béthelite, which is less than most of the working populations in developed countries.
  • For the brother, most of the meetings, he has to give a talk… he can’t just sit back and enjoy his program.
  • They have to deal with a great deal of people who are emotionally unhinged.
  • The time they spend with their friends, family and personal past time is greatly limited.
  • Most of them don’t have kids; they gave that up for the WT.
  • They have no social security: If one of them falls sick, they won’t be looked after for too long by the WT and they know this.
  • They constantly have to visit people over lunch and supers
  • Not enough money to put aside for anything. Vow of poverty.

  Considering the above, I was always amazed at the amount of faith (or should I say, delusion) necessary for these couples to keep doing what they were with a smile on their face.
  

  Bad COs? I’ve seen some who annoyed me, however, considering the above, not enough to characterize them as bad people.
  

  If I find anything to complain about, it is at the WT, which I feel, lacks respect in the way they are using these devoted people.
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  35

  Do todays Jw's care at all about Russell and the pyramid?

  by olongapo joe in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  just wondering, as i will be visiting active jw family in ohio in a few weeks, do you think it will be worthwhile dropping it into a conversation, about the wtbts pyramid near his grave, or try some other topic to try and wake them up.

  i was never baptized and don't really care if they get upset or not, but it is only a day trip from ohio to pittsburgh, and thought it would be fun if they denied it, and then drove their to see it for ourselves.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  Something that may help a bit are simple questions like:

  About the Governing body
  

  • Why do we have 14 letters (Books) from the Apostle Paul and only one paragraph from the first Governing Body?
  • Since the GB is imperfect, it makes mistakes. Please show where or when and how they have apologized for their mistake.
  • According to your teachings, Act Chapter 15 describes a Governing Body meeting. Please describe how verse 12 and 22 would fit in today’s arrangements?

  About the organization

  • Did the first apostle build kingdom halls and bethels?
  • Did the first Christians own a building where they gathered?
  • Is there an example of a Judicial committee in the bible? Was this committee public or private?
  • Does the bible provide examples of people instructed to shun their own family, even for years?
  • How much study preparation was required to be baptized in the first century?

  Some more questions:

  • Did the first Christians pray using God’s name? Did they performed miracles using Jehovah's name?
  • If someone is on his death bed, would it be appropriate to pray jesus and ask him to receive his spirit? Please read Acts 7:59.
  • Is the name “Jehovah” realy God's name? What is the origins of that name? If this name is a composition, then what is the difference between that and saying "GOD", since there is only one God anyways.
  • Does the bible have example of families preaching with the kids?
  • In the bible, is there an example of someone who accepted the truth resulting of the door to door preaching work?
  • Since anointed Christians can still become part of the 144 000, since when Christians received the earthly hope? Could it go as far back as to the first Christians?
  • Why didn't Jesus write anything?
  • Why didn't John the baptist become a disciple of Jesus after he baptized him?
  • I understand that blood fractions are acceptable. Since these were obtained through blood that was stocked and processed, why is it permissible? Don't you accept that the only valid use for blood is to poor it on the ground?
  • If nothing, absolutely nothing survives death, then, is resurrection nothing more than making a clone of what you once were?
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  35

  Do todays Jw's care at all about Russell and the pyramid?

  by olongapo joe in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  just wondering, as i will be visiting active jw family in ohio in a few weeks, do you think it will be worthwhile dropping it into a conversation, about the wtbts pyramid near his grave, or try some other topic to try and wake them up.

  i was never baptized and don't really care if they get upset or not, but it is only a day trip from ohio to pittsburgh, and thought it would be fun if they denied it, and then drove their to see it for ourselves.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  We all have been awaken by different things. For some, it was the Pyramid. For others, it was the handling of sexual abuse cases.

  Believe it or not, I knew about the pyramid, the UN association, the sexual abuses cases, the flip flops in teachings, the wrong date for the destruction of Jerusalem (607), the 1975 teachings and subsequent denial of these, and so on.

  I knew of all these things and I simply rationalized it all away, thinking that in the end, they were doing more good than evil.

  Then, I had kids and I had to face the fact that the WT would not allow me to teach them based on my conscience. It would have to be their entire program, otherwise, I risked being disfellowshiped for apostasy (I envisioned at least two scenarios would lead to this). The thought that my kids would indirectly have to be thought by man that were essentially threatening me was the final straw.

  That is when I left. Since then, I also came to understand a few more things that solidified my current position.
  
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  33

  So , how "worldly" did you get?

  by greenhornet in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i even hate to use that word worldly tm.. any way i'm probably the worst.. 1 when the jw s come to my door i say i'm not interested .

  2 i have gone to many churches and volunteered.. 3 i shredded all my jw books and magazines out in the woods.. 4 had the mormon elders over and studied with them.. 5 tried pot (its legal here).

  6 open carry my fire arm every where (legal here also).

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  StephaneLaliberte

  • Started to doubt. Studied and could not find answers.
  • Read old literature and news articles - Became convinced that JW could not be the only true religion.
  • Watched a lot of apostate content online... became one myself (fader).
  • No longer attend service and meetings
  • Threw out most of my JW books.
  • Did not go to JW's Memorial
  • Made friends with worldly people, neighbors, even homosexuals
    
  • Gave to worldly charity and helped total strangers.
  • Provided help to XJWs I know
  • Celebrated Halloween, Christmas, New Year's even, birthdays, St-Valentine
    
  • Grew a beard
  • Watched unchristian movies
    
  • Went to private clubs
  • Tried weed
  • Slight increase in cursing
  • Started Martial Arts
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  161

  I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

  by scared and lonely in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

  i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

  i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  I loved Robin Williams.
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  161

  I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

  by scared and lonely in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

  i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

  i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  Giordano, I have been on this forum for 9 years and this is the very first time that someone starts a thread by asking for money. Thus our desire for him to be properly identified.

  If he does not want any physical help from members from this site (Money, food, shelter), than, he does not have to properly identify himself. We will be more than happy to continue providing useful counsels and emotional support.

  On the other hand, if this kid (he lives with his parents) does need physical help, then, we want to make sure we are not taken for a ride. Now, how can we trust this guy from across the planet while allowing him to remain anonymous? At least, until he is properly disfellowshiped? I believe the most obvious way would be for an old timer of this site, a respected one, to be able to meet up with him and follow his case. Seriously, if he needs some money, I’ll be very happy to give him a 20. I just don’t want to be taken for a fool.
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  161

  I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

  by scared and lonely in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

  i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

  i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  Can the 3 people you refer to simply come on this thread and write: "Yes, S&L did confirm who he is. He is not a troll."?
• 
  161

  I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

  by scared and lonely in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

  i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

  i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  S&L, concerning you being an Elder despite an obvious lack of life experience, do not take it personal. It is a critical observation of the ever more common practice of the WT to assign such a role to youngsters. The word "Elder" ("Ancien" in French) obviously implies someone who has a great deal of experience and wisdom, and yet, we now see 23 year olds become "Elder".

  Of course, we understand that the young Elders are especially used to provide talks and carry on administrative tasks while the older ones generally stay responsible for real matters such as shepherding calls, JCs, counselling, etc. Still, we can't help but believe that perhaps they should instead assign a greater level of responsibilities to Ministerial Servents rather than promoting young ones to "Elders".
• 
  161

  I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

  by scared and lonely in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

  i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

  i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  S&L, you spend too much time replying to negative posts. You will get these until you confirm, who you are. You can do this with the old timers we have already named above. Please do so, it will make your life much easier on this site.
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  161

  I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

  by scared and lonely in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

  i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

  i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

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  StephaneLaliberte

  scared and lonely: If you can in fact validate your information through personal messages, not posts, with cofty, jookbeard, katewild, dozy or freddo, please do. Then ask them to come back to this thread and simply state if they do in fact trust you.

  In terms of money, you may get help from charities and government organizations. However, if you are 1) male and 2) fit to work, and 3) single, money won't be a problem in a short time. Also, scripturally, you're Dad does not have the right to throw you out to the curb quickly. Tell him you need to find another job first, than leave. If he tries to force you out, don't hesitate to contact the elders and say loud and clear that your dad is not meeting up to his scriptural obligation. If they try to ignore you, go out to some of the JW friends you know and explain your situation. Yeah, I lost my JW friends to, but I know I have at least two that would have help me for a week or so - just to help me enough to find another work somewhere.

  Trying to steal clients from your evil boss that fires you would not be a good idea. Don't mix religion and business. However, if you are a paid employee, report him to your local government authority, it is simply illigal to fire someone on religious grounds. Even better, call him up or visit him with a recorder. Have his confession on tap. Then, you will be able to take it much further.

  Best wishes to you.