Posts by StephaneLaliberte

45

What do you think of the ransom as proof of Jehovah's love?

by AlainAlam in

consider these excerpts from the bible and the publications:.

“no one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends” (joh 15:13).

“for hardly would anyone die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone may dare to die.

StephaneLaliberte

I never understood the logic behind the “ransom” teaching.

God's so loved the world that he sent his son to a certain and atrocious death so that he would not kill everyone. In the meantime, he has let everyone die, over thousands of years. What’s the worst death you can imagine? It is likely that it happened to someone since Jesus gave his life. Many who had a personal relationship with God as well!

Pay a ransom to who? Death? God created everything… life and thereby, death. If you say: "Death is the absence of life!". Than death is not a thing, it's a metaphor, it represents something, but what? God himself? Who exactly is the ransom paid to?

What it to prove that a human can remain faithful to the end? Could he not simply create another Adam and Eve? Restart the experience? Why make billions upon billions suffer and die? If it was to prove that humans without God would never be as happy as without him, wouldn’t his point been made as soon as Adam and Eve started getting old and experience back pain?

And how is Jesus an equivalent ransom? Demi-god is heavier in the balance than the first man, is he not? Jesus made miracles, talked to God and had infinite knowledge! He had special powers like a super hero! It’s like an athlete on enhancement drugs; it invalidates the result, it’s not fair, it’s not justice.

49

I'm interested in discussing basic JW doctrines that you believe are unscriptural

by AlainAlam in

background info: although i'm an apostate, i don't hate jehovah's witnesses, or the organization itself.

actually i find that many derogatory comments here are extremely biased.

i think most of them are amazing people, and i wish more non-witnesses were like them.

StephaneLaliberte

Let's see:

1) Detailed service reports

2) Concept of a governing body being spirit directed but not inspired

3) Elders not reporting crimes committed by their members to the police

4) Religious leaders not accepting any kinds of criticism

5) Practice of shunning includes close friends and family

6) Re-integration process (attend meetings at the back for 6 months to a year)

7) Prophetic dates they still consider valid (1914, 1919)

8) Baptizing kids (as early at 7 years old!)

9) Not participating in charity for the poor (soup kitchen and similar endeavors)

10) No blood transfusions

11) Disfellowshiping people for small sins such as smoking, celebrating various holidays, talking to disfellowshiped friends, etc.

12) 144 000 being a literal number and implying that the majority of the anointed ones today are self-deluded emotionally unstable Christians.

13) Reporting every faults and sins to the elders

14) Lying in courts defending practices that are unbiblical

38

My congregation is something else!

by nowwhat? in

not only do they want everyone dressed up for the zoom meetings( which i won't do) they decided to keep the zoom meeting at 1pm sunday!

so they don't upset their spiritual routine!

ugh!

StephaneLaliberte

Data-dog: I whish there was a sad emoticon I could have clicked on your post. :(

38

My congregation is something else!

by nowwhat? in

not only do they want everyone dressed up for the zoom meetings( which i won't do) they decided to keep the zoom meeting at 1pm sunday!

so they don't upset their spiritual routine!

ugh!

StephaneLaliberte

According to my PIMI parents, they started with multiple remote sessions during the week to get people accustomed to the new platform. Now, it’s back to the same time as usual; one meeting during the week and one meeting on Sunday. They don't have to dress up special for the meetings though they need to be presentable IF they want to turn on their camera, which many choose not to.

As for field service (phone calls and letters), that’s only for those who want to attend. Nothing changed there. So, yeah, they are scheduled, but no additional pressure to attend those.

So, quite frankly, I was a bit relieved for my parents as it’s far from being as bad as I originally thought.

While my parents and in-laws are in three different congregations that act about the same, I guess the experience differs in other congregations that have been mentioned in this thread.

11

No Need to pass the bread and wine!

by eyeuse2badub in

logged into a zoom 'pep talk' from one of the local elders last night.

about 9 families were connected via zoom which was pretty cool.

however the information shared was even better.

StephaneLaliberte

Before I became a PIMO, it was important for me to pass the plate and wine along as it gave me time to pause and imagine they were indeed the flesh and blood of Jesus and I took the time to medidate.

When I became a PIMO however, I realized how this practice was not in line with the bible at all. I realized that "Do this in rememberance of me" was taking a meal with your close ones who shared your belief and to drink and wine meditating on Jesus' sacrifice. To do this at the kingdom hall took away all the personal relationship with your close ones and your lord.

Now that I have left entirely, I don't even practice this at all any more as I don't even in the concept of a loving God condeming billions of people to suffer over thousands of years for the actions of the original parents.

All this to say that if I had still been PIMI, this would have been a huge deal for me.

9

They're all alone in their respective houses!

by StephaneLaliberte in

when you look into all the publications and predictions about the last days, the jws are always represented in groups in someone's house.

this isn't happening right now.

they are all told to stay in their individual homes and watch jwsteaming!.

StephaneLaliberte

When you look into all the publications and predictions about the last days, the JWs are always represented in groups in someone's house. This isn't happening right now. They are all told to stay in their individual homes and watch JWSteaming!

I guess they will have to update a lot of artwork in their publications!

656

Covid-19 (Coronavirus) - Status Update Thread

by Simon in

jw
friends

this topic is to focus on status updates & advice (no opinion or politics please).. status.

latest status is that it's serious, probably isn't going to be contained and most large companies are making contingency plans, cancelling large events etc... which i don't think would happen if it was just people being alarmist.

the incubation period means it may have already spread further and infected many more people than are currently known, so expect jumps in the numbers over the coming days and weeks.. tracking.

StephaneLaliberte

I voted for Trudeau as I felt we needed a change and to move away from the conservatives. However, what happened in the last days is outrageous. While the prime minister of Quebec stepped up and did all he had to as a true leader and someone who genuinly cares about his fellow citizens, I have seen the Trudeau make broad, general meaningless statements. Not even blocking the borders between canada and the US. What a shame.

32

Can single sisters get Breast Augmentation?

by friedchicken in

i am curious can a single jw sister get a breast augmentation?

will the elders disfellowship her?

will jehovah be angry with her or upset?

StephaneLaliberte

probably depends on the size of the augmentation. For instance, if the girl was flat and than goes for C size, probably it will be welcomed by everyone. Seriously, I doubt anyone would complain about this.

However, if the sister already has a decent size (B or C) and goes for a E, there will be talk.

17

School project on evolution

by Leonie1234 in

hey!.

first of all i want to mention that i'm not a member of the jehovahs witnesses.

however i'm open and non-judgemental towards any kind of religion.

StephaneLaliberte

Most of the arguments in favor of creation will often use a strawman approach: That is, to attack a position that someone does not really hold. For instance, they will say that the theory of evolution is "just a theory", making it sound as if it stands on shaky grounds. Or that evolution is a random series of fortuitous, almost miraculous changes. Or that there is no missing link. All these are easily debunked as these arguments are based on dis-information.

You are welcome to search religious teachings. Science is open to you searching facts and has a lot of respect for people who study religions and history. On the other hand, many religious groups, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses will often dissuade their members to even consider portions of what science teaches calling them out as devil propaganda.

Science believes in the truth being challenged. If it is indeed the truth, it will withstand challenges.

47

What Makes. Person A Pedophile?

by minimus in

jw
friends

it seems the news always has another report of a pedo stalking children or hurting them.

i know this has gone on forever but i read another report of an illegal alien with a history of abuse taking advantage of another poor child.. i just don’t understand why some people do this.

is there an actual brain abnormality?

StephaneLaliberte

RubaDub, based on your logic, we should kill everyone who ever fantasized about killing someone else. I mean, they are potential murderers, are they not? So, why not kill them in case they act on their urges.