by jwfacts 11 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
The following figures are from the Australian Census 2006 as found at http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/d3310114.nsf/Home/census (30th June 2007).
Very interesting to see that the number of people admitting to being Jehovah's Witnesses has fallen over the last 10 years by 3%, whilst Baptists have grown by 7% and Mormons by 18%. Looks like JWs are not the only ones preaching afterall.
Interesting the see the Penecostal growth. I also noticed 7th Day Adventists are gaining on the JW's.
The growth of Catholics is most likely to migration from overseas.
The other graph that really stands out is the increase in Athiests/agnostics since 2001 and the "war on terror".
The decrease in JWs is more dramatic when realising that the Aust population grew by 2 million people. There's another 2 million Aussies for God to kill at Armageddon for being "patient with YOU because he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (tongue firmly in cheek)
LOL!
I wonder what it's going to take for the WTBTS to wake up and realize that their preaching methods are outdated, useless and a waste of time. I think it might take a few years of negative growth before any changes are implemented.
JWfacts,
How do the JW figures in the Census compare with the figures provided by the WTS?
Doug
How do the JW figures in the Census compare with the figures provided by the WTS?
Thats a good question doug!
*puts hand in air*
My family and i are of the many athiest on the 2006 census
Helen
The census figures are 18,000 more than the WTS figures. That is because the WTS annual report is for publishers, where as the census figures are for everyone that calls themselves a JW, which would include inactive ones and children.
One difference is that the Census shows the number went down by 2,500, whereas the WTS reports there was a 2,200 increase over the last 10 years. I would say the Census figures are more indicative of the true situation as people are reporting how they really feel, rather under pressure from elders.
I think it is the internet that has hurt the JW's more than anything else, people can read the history and all the phoney prophesies, the child sex problems and crazy medical bans.
But then a JW would say it is time of the end don't expect increase the love of greater number will cool of and the narrow gate, they will be quick to add that western countries have been preached and preached, but other countries and the third world have significant increases, especially Africa where KH are built at a rate of hundreds a month.
That is because the WTS annual report is for publishers, where as the census figures are for everyone that calls themselves a JW, which would include inactive ones and children.
I used to be so hopeful when noting the district convention and memorial attendance figures, because it seemed that there were so many interested people out there who have attended the memorial or the convention, and all we have to do is be a good witness to them. They were just all the non-reporting children, who are encouraged at a much younger age now to become an 'unbaptised publisher' to increase the stats. The census is the most accurate gauge of growth - even if somebody is inactive or faded, the census is a formal document where they put on paper how they feel about God. The census stats say that fewer people consider themselves JWs (count me as one less since the last census!).
