Death Knell -- the Internet for the WTS

by Francophile 43 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Francophile

  I'm new here -- I confidently disassociated in 1994 (but really left the organization in 1992). I was a ministerial servant and gave talks at Conventions. I'm not bragging, but just giving you an idea of my involvement. They loved me because I was harvested from The World, rather than being produced by JW Breeding. Never looked back since. This forum seemed intellectually interesting.

  Perhaps, this topic has been raised before...forgive me, but, how can the WTS survive with the Internet?!!

  The WTS's major tour de force of being able to control information amongst it's masses must surely be severely mitigated by the WWW. The cat's out of the bag, right?

  I remember joining in the late 1980's when the internet was not ubiquitous, if existent at all, and apostate literature was maybe available in the local library, if lucky; and, then a book was easier to avoid than that seductive, glowing, throbbing internet that we have today.

  I've always thought that the Internet would result in a huge spike in the Exodus? Any ideas, insights? Are more people leaving? What do we know from the inside? Is the WTS peeing its pants?

  Just curious...
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  I tend to agree with you about the internet. I was faithfully avoiding the "apostate" sites
  for quite awhile, but once I was ready for them, I went to them.

  The WTS relies on their cry that "apostate" means "evil." They have a core of older
  ones and a few young ones who won't ever look at the anti-JW sites, for fear that they
  will be destroyed at Armageddon.

  But new studies in huge numbers WILL LOOK AT THESE SITES. Also, many young
  ones raised JW will eventually look. Many people here expect that JW's numbers have
  nearly or even already peaked. The decline will take some time.

  Welcome aboard.
• 

  penny2

  Hi Francophile and welcome to JWD!

  Sorry but the cat's not out the bag. Most active JWs steer clear of "apostate" sites and are as brainwashed as ever.

  penny2
• 

  Stealth453

  Welcome to the forum.

  I believe that the internet will have a devestating effect on the watchliar sociopath society, but it will take time. The wts has "demonized" the internet and us good ole apostates, so the damage will have to come from outside. Public awareness rather than a mass exodus.

  Again..welcome.
• 

  5go

  Same could be said for all religions, but they grow despite it.

  No it will take a Jonestown to kill it.

  I do think that one maybe in the making. We will have to see next year with the WT change.
• 

  SirNose586

  The internet can't kill the beast, but it can hinder growth in developed lands where the citizens are educated and have easy access to the it. Consider the privilege we all have to share our words instantaneously with people far away from where we are: we are a lucky, lucky minority on the planet! The growth will still come from the 3rd world--in fact, it'll have to--but in the developed world, the growth will slow, certainly.

  If the "cult edition" mags are too rough for people to handle, that'll be another shot in the foot for the Society.
• 

  Francophile

  Thanks, all, for the welcomes.

  After I left, I only read Franz' Crisis of Conscience and no other literature, books, or anything. So, curiously, I didn't leave because I went on the internet or read any apostate literature. I left because, well...geez...you all know.

  Years later I surfed the net curiously about JW's and there was such a motherlode of information!

  I asked myself, would I have joined in 1987 if I had access to such freely available information? I remember looking for some "apostate" literature before I joined-- cautiously, but still curious, even though warned of Satan's wily attempts to get me "doubtful". But, it was slim pickins at our library, and all of the criticisms that I was hearing verbally from others were eloquently explained away by my Bible Study teachers. Then, those of you who joined from the outside know the routine: the "love" chemicals take over and new converts become google-eyed about the JW's in the same way that people fall in love and then discount the negatives of their lover, even though their friends are warning them away. So, it took years for the voice of my conscience to yell loudly enough for me to stop ignoring it.

  But, I think if I had access to the internet then before I "fell in love" and was in the more cautious, early stages of talking with the JW's and in the Bible study, I think the sheer amount of criticism on the Net would have made me slow my row much more.
• 

  Crumpet

  You would think so but since you left the emphasis on not using internet sites that allow worldly association - chat sites, myspace, dating sites have all been covered - and of course avoiding any site re JWs that is not the official site is also stressed. So you will have the same issue - there will be some that will have questions and go do research anyway and they may leave, but most will obediently avoid those sites. I'm sure that for most dubs the temptation to view porn is 100 times greater than the temptation to research their religion. Sad but true.
• 

  Nathan Natas

  Welcome, Frankophile!

  I'm more of a Kielbasa-phile myself, but this deli offers freedom of choice!!

  I agree with your assessment: the WTS cannot survive the free flow of information.

  Their expectations, speculations, blunders and frauds are all on public display, 24/7.

  THAT is where their weeping and the gnashing of their teeth shall be.

  - Nathan Nackwurst
• 

  sir82

  Interesting...

  Baptized in 1987, left in 1992....so in for a period of 5 years.

  No one will appointed an MS with less than 3 years of "experience", so let's say you became an MS in 1990. So apparently you went from "1st public talk" to "convention speaker" in a maximum of 2 years...

  Typically one would give several public talks as an MS before even being assigned to speak at a neighboring congregation, let alone "give talks at a convention". You must have been one heck of a "shooting star" to go from just-appointed MS to giving talks at a convention....when, in my experience, I've never seen any MS give a talk even at a Circuit Assembly, let alone a convention...some elders wait decades to get even a Circuit Assembly part, and you bypassed all of them, straight to the top, a talk at a DC while still an MS...

  Hmmm....