by MR. BORN AGAIN 11 Replies latest jw friends
I'm often asked of people about the WTS "What's the motive, is it control or money?"
How much money do you think the average JW contributes to the WTS each month? Is this personal money, money from selling books or what? I've herd that many people leave money to the WTS upon their death...is this also a normal practice? I understand that all the labor is free but I'm just trying to get a better understanding on the money thing.
The motive is power and control for the sake of power and control. Money is merely a tool, but not the objective. Being on the GB is not a matter of becoming wealthy, but instead enjoying prominence, glory, honor, and having an almost god-like place among the JWs. The organization funds the travel and accomodations of the GB, which is not second rate. JWs welcome the GB with grand arrangements. And my understanding is that the GB also enjoy the finest accomodations in their New York Bethel homes. They have many of the privileges of money without having to account for money or being held up as rich people. But the main thing is the personal glory and prominence they receive.
The average JW family likely contributes little each month to the Society. In all my years as a JW, being a loyal faithful member, I never sent a dime to the Watchtower. I contributed to the congregation about $50 a month in addition to my literature purchases. I was well off compared to the average JW. The largest contributions come in from the congregations voting to send surplus funds, as well as literature contributions made when literature is first picked up. Some money comes in for the so-called world-wide work. Yes, many JWs leave their estates to the Society. These include cash, stocks, bonds, real property, and sometimes business assets like equipment. Yes, it is a normal practice among JWs and in most religions.
I have a copy of a Standard & Poors credit report on the Society from many years ago (1980s). It showed that their income in the United States alone is about $1.4 Billion per year. One can only guess at their world-wide income, but it should be at least double that amount. However, what we don't know is what their income is today. Thier growth in the western world has stalled to a trickle.
I posted a record some years ago of over 100 corporations owned by the Society. There have been new ones created since then. One of their corporations owns and operates the Patterson, NY facility, including the for-profit hotel on site. They have several farms around the country, including Colorado. They have stocks they own, and large cash reserves in the US as well as other countries. I have some of the bank account numbers as well.
Jim Whitney
Man, that's deep!!! Thanks. I don't see it wrong to own alot of STUFF but they don't paint that picture at all. The power trip though is sickning!
100 other legal entities associated with the WTBTS of Pennsylvania,
http://www.watchtowernews.org/reorganization.htm
Hi Gary,
100 other legal entities associated with the WTBTS of Pennsylvania,
Yes, I read that report sometime ago. It list three new corporations, Christian Cong of JW, Kingdom Support Services, and Religious Order of JWs.
I should post again the 100 corporations, as they deal with farms around the country, and other entities throughout the United States.
Jim Whitney
From what I've seen on tax returns, JW's give far less than other church goers. It's not unusual for people to have several thousand dollars in church donations, whereas the most I've seen for a JW was just over $300.
BB
JW's give far less than other church goers.
Yes, this is true. A mind-control cult doesn't expect a fortune from each follower.
They do expect devotion and low maintenance. What I mean is, they only make a
few bucks from a devoted follower, but it covers the literature cost and a small profit.
The local congregation is self-sufficient, making all the bills and the literature is paid for.
That leaves the rest as profit.
The big money winner (as far as percentage profit) is the District Conventions. They don't
pay for anything, they tell the circuits involved to get the operation costs from donations.
Donations always exceed costs (probably down from past years, though). They tell you
before the convention is over that they are currently running a deficit, so that people who
forgot to donate give, and people who donated some give more.
This was a well-functioning machine until the all-donations process came about. I think
they still are making profits, but it gets thinner and thinner. The average JW is afraid to
ask for donations very often, and he thinks that he got people to accept the literature, so
he's done his part, let those with more money do the rest. The average congregation
donates barely above the cost for all the literature they place, and that's only because the
literature got cheaper with paperbacks and flyers. I heard a CO tell us (as a way to get us
to try to boost donations from the cong.) that the USA used to finance the worldwide work, but
in the late 90's, the world started financing the work in the USA. That might be a slight exaggeration
but it shows the trouble they are in.
I expect the new released literature at conventions to get cheaper and cheaper. It's just about
always one book and one brochure. When I first joined, there were two books and a brochure, and
some of those books were rather large. NO MORE.
They are just now running out of hardcover Bibles. Many congs. have had the paperback Bibles in
stock, but haven't run out of the older nicer ones until recently. These things will get torn up so fast.
The average JW forgets his Bible or song book about once every month or so, and gets a new one
because he forgot the old one. That habit has been reduced by pressure, but continues, and is
worse among regular visitors. People want to "count" the placement on their monthly records, so
when their literature student forgets to bring their literature, the JW runs to the counter and places
more with them.
Mr. Born Again: Welcome to the board!!
I'll bet it might drop off even more in 2007 with a change to IRS rules.
Open Mind
There was a thread a little while ago that explained how they make it seem that every convention and assembly is always running at a deficit. But I can't rember the trick. Can anyone explain this again or post the thread?
And welcome Mr. BornAgain!
