I remember there was a ministry article that went along the same lines right around the time I became PIMO. if you have the truth, no matter how you look at it, from which ever angle, it will still be the truth. That kind of rule is obvious fear of loosing control over people that don't have a firm grip on reality.
StephaneLaliberte
JoinedPosts by StephaneLaliberte
-
13
Was the latest letter about not having unauthorized studies announced yet to the congregation today is 3-18-21
by goingthruthemotions ini am just curios if the letter about not having unauthorized studies has been announced yet to the congregation?.
i am just wondering if it will opens anyone's eyes.
i sure hope it does.
-
-
-
43
When You Were A Witness Did You Believe Everything Taught?
by minimus inobviously at some point you stopped believing the witnesses had the truth or else you wouldn’t be here.
.
but for the most part, were you a true believer or were you typically a rebel or a doubter?
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
First time I disagreed with the WT teachings was in the revelation book we studied when I was 9 (1988). There was a bit on conventions in the states that accomplished the prophecy of the trumpets and I felt they were incredibly self-centered and boastful to make a claim like that. Then, as the years progressed, I never fully believed the prophecies based on dates. A lot of people around me got disfellowshipped for that and I perceived it as a weakness to believe the “dates” to the commas and periods.
When I was old enough, I had a conversation with an elder who asked me why I didn't want to be a ministerial servant. I explained that I could not, in good conscience, teach things I doubted. He advised me to "wait on Jehovah". That many things he personally disagreed with were eventually fixed on Jehovah's schedule. In the meantime, people came to the meetings, not to hear what we personally believe but what the faithful slave is teaching. So, when we’re on that podium, we may, from time to time, need the humility to teach things we don’t agree with.
That explanation appeared valid to me, and yet, I could never really shake off the idea that I needed to believe things in order to teach them. So, even though I stayed in for another 15 years or so, I never was able to become a ministerial servant. And as the years went by, I did notice many brothers who were teaching in some capacity or another seemed to be following that advise.
The breaking point was when I was supposed to teach these things to my kids… unable to do that, my family and I faded out.
-
66
Watchtower fined in Belgium
by Vanderhoven7 injehovah's witnesses in belgium have to pay €12k fine for shunning policy.
news.
you have probably heard of the trial going on in belgium about the shunning policy of jws.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
what other religious beliefs or practices might state legislation prohibit?
Anything that is abusive, violent, or causes harm to others. That's not too difficult. Do we accept stoning? Or cutting your hand if you steal something? Or do we accept the concept that a women might be owned by any man? Of course not. You want to wear a cross or a head covering? Go ahead! But black mailing people through organized shunning is clearly abusive.
-
66
Watchtower fined in Belgium
by Vanderhoven7 injehovah's witnesses in belgium have to pay €12k fine for shunning policy.
news.
you have probably heard of the trial going on in belgium about the shunning policy of jws.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
The basic situation is this:
Some religions/cults are actively abusing their members by breaking apart their family and social circle. What ever the legal arguments and path to make it punishable, religions are presently orchestrating the emotional abuse of thousands of people and this needs to stop.
Now, I understand that the legal systems is not easy, but it doesn't mean that it can't do anything about it. I believe this type of judgement is a step in the right direction.
-
47
What is the most insensitive thing an Overseer or Elder has ever said and done to you?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inwhat is the most insensitive thing an overseer or elder has ever said and done to you?
i have had many insensitive things said to me by some elders, but for some reason one self-righteous elder was always on my case.
he didn't like the fact that i missed meetings, didn't like that i never went out in field service, that i didn't answer at the weekly meetings and he didn't like that i carried my books and magazines in my hands and not a service/book bag.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Following up on my last comment, again when my sister passed away, my mom was also disfellowshiped at the time. Two elders came to my apartment for a pastoral visit. They started with a prayer, read some bible passages and then showed a kingdom ministry advising me not to use the current situation as an excuse to talk to my disfellowshipped mother.
I wasn't hurt by what they said as I was expecting nothing else from them anyways. I was so used to being double face with them that I actually said thank you for coming and right after they left, called my mother. And yet, to this day, I still regret not confronting them about their inhuman intervention/ I should have thrown them out of my place.
-
47
What is the most insensitive thing an Overseer or Elder has ever said and done to you?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inwhat is the most insensitive thing an overseer or elder has ever said and done to you?
i have had many insensitive things said to me by some elders, but for some reason one self-righteous elder was always on my case.
he didn't like the fact that i missed meetings, didn't like that i never went out in field service, that i didn't answer at the weekly meetings and he didn't like that i carried my books and magazines in my hands and not a service/book bag.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
To be honnest, most elders and overseers I met were nice people doing their best, so I don't have many stories. Still, I do have some. Here is the first one that comes to mind:
When my sister passed away in a violent car accident, she was disfellowshiped at the time. At the meeting, this guy comes up to me and says: "Far from Jehovah, there is only death." Had we been outside of that hall, I would have decked him. However, unable to give in to my violent urges, I had to absorb the violence of his words. It was the first time in my life that I truly understood how some people can be hurt by words. Oh, I've been ridiculed and bullied in my life, but this was the first time that words truly hurt me.
I shared my conversation with other elders and family and they were just as shocked as me by this. He had to call me and family back and say sorry. I also know that his responsibilities were lightened up a bit, which is actually a a light form of discipline, but discipline nonetheless.
-
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
I find many similarities with cults/religions in that there are no proper boundaries between the organization and personal life.
For instance, JW kids grow up in a controlling environment where they are told that everything, they do reflect’s on Jehovah (aka: their religion).
Same goes for people born into the monarchy: they can’t go where they please and a large portion of their personal life is controlled by others.
I was thinking of some similarities as well with the Vatican, or the GB. These people live in secluded areas. Sure, there are advantages, but in the end, you don’t have freedom.
We all have limits on our freedom. Everyone. For instance, though there is no law preventing me to traval, I’ve never seen the other end of my own country due to time and finance. But I do take for granted basic freedom such as walking down in the market and worrying about someone taking a pic of me scratching my bum.
For prince Harry, he was born into this. He’s trying to escape this and taste freedom. Still, even now, he doesn’t really have it. He needs to worry about security and a lot of media attention. So, he’s still not as free as most of us are. There is a lot of freedom in being anonymous.
As for his wife… well, she married into it… she had a choice and took that choice as a grown women… so, in terms of responsibility, a good part of it falls on her shoulder. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t feel pity for her.
-
14
Why I care about people who see racism everywhere
by StephaneLaliberte intoday, i was watching a tv show and a black celebrity in quebec said that his latest incident of racial profiling was being asked questions by the police as he was walking in a quiet neighborhood at 2am while wearing a hoody.
then the other guest next to him validated his claim saying that she, as a white women, was never stopped like this by the police.
i became very frustrated and agitated.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
I think you're right minimus. Recongnizing this is my first step towards healing. :)
-
14
Why I care about people who see racism everywhere
by StephaneLaliberte intoday, i was watching a tv show and a black celebrity in quebec said that his latest incident of racial profiling was being asked questions by the police as he was walking in a quiet neighborhood at 2am while wearing a hoody.
then the other guest next to him validated his claim saying that she, as a white women, was never stopped like this by the police.
i became very frustrated and agitated.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Today, I was watching a TV show and a black celebrity in Quebec said that his latest incident of racial profiling was being asked questions by the police as he was walking in a quiet neighborhood at 2am while wearing a hoody. Then the other guest next to him validated his claim saying that she, as a white women, was never stopped like this by the police.
I became very frustrated and agitated. Could they not see baseless this claim was? Any man, wearing a hoody, in a quiet neighborhood, walking in the middle of the night has very high chances of being talked to by the police. I’m a white male and I’ve been stopped multiple times for precisely this reason. Don’t you know what real racism is?
I was so frustrated about it that I had to call a friend of mine and tell him. My friend agreed with me, that it was just a bad claim of racism, but, unlike me, didn’t get worked up about it. This made me wonder: Why do I care so much about this type of thing? Why get all emotional about it?
I believe it has to do with my JW past. I was, and suffered at the end of, JWs accusing others based on some warped sense of superior righteousness. Having escaped this highly judgemental world that sees only the worst of people, I feel especially sensitive to anyone who, while proclaiming to be good, actually do harm by their words and behavior. JWs shun people and call it love. The “woke” place labels on people and ruin their reputations without proper basis and call it justice.
-
113
Try To Be Less White
by minimus inthat’s what coca-cola is telling their employees.
.
this is ridiculous!.
-
-
StephaneLaliberte
Racism is found in both white and blacks races. Somehow, many people don't seem to understand that a black person being racist against a white person is equally as bad as a white person being racist against a white. Racism is racism.