From what I read, you are on the right path. I believe that forums do occupy an important space that Facebook and other social media don't cover properly. So, keep it up!
StephaneLaliberte
JoinedPosts by StephaneLaliberte
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Simon: What happens when you can no longer support this site?
by StephaneLaliberte inhey simon, .
the recent closure of jwr made me realize that this site may not be eternal as well.
a great deal of people attach a lot of importance to xjw communities and yours is the best.
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Simon: What happens when you can no longer support this site?
by StephaneLaliberte inhey simon, .
the recent closure of jwr made me realize that this site may not be eternal as well.
a great deal of people attach a lot of importance to xjw communities and yours is the best.
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StephaneLaliberte
SlimboyFat, very happy to hear that!
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Simon: What happens when you can no longer support this site?
by StephaneLaliberte inhey simon, .
the recent closure of jwr made me realize that this site may not be eternal as well.
a great deal of people attach a lot of importance to xjw communities and yours is the best.
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StephaneLaliberte
By the way, if you accept donations, I will make one. Just tell how and where. -
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Message from Designer Stubble to the former JWR members
by Designer Stubble inmessage from designer stubble to the former jwr members.
first of all i am glad to see that many of you have found your way to this great forum, facilitated by simon.
i am sure that after the dust of the jwr shutdown has settled, you will find this to be a good new home.. i would like to apologize for the sudden closure of jwr.
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StephaneLaliberte
What if we could grab all the data that was previously available on JWR and import it into this site? I believe that there is a lot of recorded history in the forums and I do not believe that such history should be destroyed, given the size of our community.
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Simon: What happens when you can no longer support this site?
by StephaneLaliberte inhey simon, .
the recent closure of jwr made me realize that this site may not be eternal as well.
a great deal of people attach a lot of importance to xjw communities and yours is the best.
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StephaneLaliberte
Hey Simon,
The recent closure of JWR made me realize that this site may not be eternal as well. A great deal of people attach a lot of importance to xJW Communities and yours is the best.
This site has played an important role in my life in the last 10 years. From time to time, I look back at old conversations I had, observing how it helped me evolve… And what about the fact it acts as a true knowledge base for JW related information.
All this to say that it would actually be difficult for me to see this site disappear in the same way we saw JWR go this week.
10 years, I guess I started to take this site for granted. Reality is: do you already have plans to have someone pick up this site once you get tired of it all or b) if you get hit by a bus?
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StephaneLaliberte
If you have a sob story for a particular individual, it could work. That being said, there are charities in many places that help people in need, x-jws included.
Otherwise, you can help people you know. For instance, I have financially helped an x-jw, but she was also my friend.
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JW Witnessing Trolleys. To approach or ignore what is your preference and why?
by KateWild ini saw two brothers this morning next to the main train station in liverpool city centre this morning.
they were not actively approaching anyone.
what i found strange was that they were from a cong that has different territory, so i don't know why they were there.. anyway i knew them both, and they know i was df'd, i was in my car and couldn't park up for a chat, but i did beep and wave to them as i drove passed and they waved back.
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StephaneLaliberte
If I was in another city and saw them, I think I'd ask a few questions that don't appear too "JW savy". Like, asking a question on 1914, 1919 or 607 would immediately trigger their "apostate alarm". I'd like to ask some questions like:
When Jesus was there, why didn't he write any books? Did he asks people to build him churches?
I heard that you guys shun people, a lot of people. Is this true? Even family and very close friends? Why? Did Jesus ever shun people? How could he be tempted by Satan if he did not shun him? Why did he go in the desert in the first place knowing he could be tempted? What was the point of that? Wasn't that willfully putting his beliefs to the test?
If someone you know tells you that he's planing to kill someone tomorrow. Would you try to stop him? Would you inform the police? Why? How would you feel if you did nothing? Then why would God be able to stand by idle and watch so many bad things happen? I went to visit some concentration camps in Germany, I was amazed by how long it took the Germans to get to that final solution. They changed laws, organized trains, ghettos, build railroad, camps, etc. It took many years and God, who sees everything, knew exactly what was going to happen. Why? What did that change in the greater scheme of things? What is his excuse for doing nothing?
I'd try to get more random questions that are general, but easily puts questions in their minds.
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Why are some that post here JW apologists?
by ctrwtf inmy rant tonight is against the quasi religious apologists that post on this board.
those who at once rail against the jw's then later talk about how "orderly" and "neat" the witnesses are at their conventions.
those who site the benefits of bloodless surgery to some who have the luxury and time to actually make an educated choice, while ignoring the tens of thousands who've died because they happen to be in an accident or succumb to a disease for which there is no other treatment.. i understand the power of cognitive dissonance.
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StephaneLaliberte
I have been on this forum for almost 10 years and out of the cult for only 3. For 7 years, I
- knew of the issues with the pedophiles,
- Knew the dates didn't make sense
- the weird teachings of Russell and Rutherford
- I disagreed with the shunning, and the blood policy
- The UN, Malawi, etc.
Despite all this, I stayed in! I reasoned that in the end, they were doing more good than bad.
Then, I finally read the books of Raymond Franz: This truly opened my eyes. The fruits I'd see with the organization were all about sustaining the organization. They preach door to door and in kingdom halls leaving barely enough time to practice what they teach. Charity is not simply sharing ideas, it involves actual actions. Sure, they do some actions, just not enough compared to the time dedicated to talking about it.
In his book, he denounced how they expect the brothers to be "humble and not boastful with pride" by questioning their teachings. In reality, to set this expectation while also admitting that they are not inspired makes THEM the guilty party here.
Still, I stayed. At that point, I thought I could do some changes from within. I had fun from time to time in exposing their beliefs by playing the overzealous. Or presenting things in a truthful, accurate way, and yet, in a light that they were not used to.
For instance, at a super, a brother said how horrified he was that some Muslims had stoned a girl who committed fornication. I said: "Objectively speaking, there is nothing wrong with that. They are simply still following the Mosaic Law. Heck, under Moses, there was even a man who was stoned to death for picking up woods on the Sabbath. I don't think that the word "horrified" is advised here knowing that Jehovah himself definitely approved stoning only 3 days ago. You know, a day for a thousand years? – There was a very odd silence at the table.
Then my kids started to be old enough to listen at the hall. That was the deal breaker for me. I realized that I would not be able to teach my own beliefs. Being kids, they could express these contrary beliefs in the wrong place, at the wrong people, and I could have faced a JC at any time. Essentially, JWs are required to give complete authority to 7 men in NY, even over their own kid’s spiritual education. I could not allow this. I left.
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Do you work a lot of overtime?
by hoser inwhat is the normal attitude as to working overtime?
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how many hours do you work in a week?.
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StephaneLaliberte
I work about 40 hours a week. Funny thing is that when I was a witness, I used to work a whole lot! in average of 60 to 80 hours a week. But then since I left, I started to enjoy other type of activities. I was doing overtime just to have a good excuse not to go to meetings. I would then turn around and say: I wish I had a choice but there is no other way! Reality is: I was looking for a way out.
That being said, I don't mind doing overtime here and there. But now, I enjoy life while I have my health and my family. One day or the next I will end up losing these things and I don't want to look back with regret on the days that I knew that I could've been satisfied with less material possessions.
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StephaneLaliberte
And to think that my mother in law and my dad will see this crap.... it turns my stomach.