by JH 11 Replies latest jw friends
When I joined in the late 80's most witnesses didn't own a house, today, more than half does.
When I joined, sisters pioneered because they didn't work, today most sisters work and don't pioneer.
JW families had 1 car per family, today most JW couples each have a car.
Not too much street work anymore, and JW's don't go to cemetary's too much either. Holiday witnessing seems to be declining too.
Outaservice
Many have computers.
When I was a witness in the 70's all of the witnesses I new owned houses. They must have sold them for armegedon in the 80's now they got them back.
My JW bud was broke-ass 5 years ago, still broke today. Still has no life outside, still expecting to go soon. Maybe that's why he's broke.
Still see pitiful lives. Such a waste.
I definitely saw a decline in urgency throughout my years. When I was a small kid in the 80's, a lot of the old timers spoke about Armageddon all the time as if it were only a year or two away at most. A lot of the friends lived their lives in ways that reflected that they sincerely believed that they would not be around in this system of things for very long. As time went on, especially after the collapse of the USSR and the 1995 new light on the generation, the congregation began to acquire much more of a social club feel to it. There wasn't a decline in membership, but the people didn't seem to really believe that Armageddon was right around the corner anymore. The majority of the really active JWs seemed to do it for the reward of being put on a pedestal and having special titles given to them. There was much less talk about paradise and the great tribulation. It seemed as if most of the people had already resigned themselves to the fact that Armageddon may not be coming anytime soon, but few of them have left as a result. They seemed to have just changed their perspective a bit.
1970 to 1990 anybody graduating from high school did NOT go to college...Thank goodness so many do now! Higher learning/knowledge will be the demise of JW someday.....or they will only have ignorant dubs running the place....oompa
oh and there is a lot more interest in money by individuals and family.....and an overall lack of enthusiasm...except maybe at conventions
I have also noticed a decline in social "extras" within the congregations. Picnics and get-togethers have dropped off after the early 1990s.
some still invest in shares property and bonds
