Who’s That Knocking on the Door? Research Examines the Jehovah's Witnesses

by jgnat 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  jgnat

  Note that 28% are "unchurched" and 29% are registered to vote. So yes, I think these are people who identify themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses, but the organization would not. This is a full third of the respondents! This is good news on many levels. It could mean that the religion does not "stick" to all children. Or to the studies.

  Downscale adults (i.e., those with below-average levels of education and household income) are almost twice as likely as upscale individuals (i.e., those with above-average levels of education and income) to be active in an alternative form of church.

  http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=202

  Regarding conservative views, I think generally Witnesses are more vulnerable to quack cures. Both from a macro, social point of view and in their personal lives. They still are quite anti-establishment.

  Shocking to whom? Do they not know this about JWs?

  I bet Barna didn't.

  I think it is sad that there are so many unmarried Witness folks. I think it is lack of selection and opportunity, mostly.
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  Not Feeling It

  Regarding conservative views, I think generally Witnesses are more vulnerable to quack cures. Both from a macro, social point of view and in their personal lives. They still are quite anti-establishment.

  That describes my parents and many of thier JW friends very well. Granted there is no perfect government. The US Constitution even grants that it was to establish "a more perfect union". I love that.

  Anyway, many of the JWs I know are the most bizarre combination of anti-establishment, moral prudes you can find. It's like they went to Woodstock and said, "No free love for me, thanks. I'm just here 'cause The Man is keeping me down." Whatever works for you. I will say that JWs only advocate overthrow of government by Jehovah's hands. Hardly counterrevolutionaries.

  I think it is sad that there are so many unmarried Witness folks. I think it is lack of selection and opportunity, mostly

  This is sad. I knew two sisters as a child in the Hall who completely gave up on marriage because the New Order was so near. They were old (70s) then. I can't imagine they are still waiting now.

  I'm not so sure about the selection. Maybe it's tough if you are older and single, but the dating circuit was pretty brisk when I was a whippersnapper. I had no problem finding a girlfriend from 17 to 23. The real problem is that you get pushed to marry so soon if you do date. I've been married 13 years now. It's been tough at times but I wouldn't change it. Leaving the confines of JW church has been the best thing for our relationship. MUCH less catering to what others say you should do with your life.

  Yeah, I digress. Those JWs are an interesting bunch.

  -- Not Feeling It
• 

  willyloman

  My thoughts on this:

  Since dubs are counseled not to participate in such surveys, many of the "strong ones" would decline to answer because, to them, it's a matter of loyalty to the organization.

  That means the survey is heavily skewed since the only respondents are those who are "weak" in the faith or inactive but for some reason identified their religion as JW.

  My conclusion? The results of this survey are not truly reflective of the mindset of the average dub.
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  M.J.

  "The only thing that puzzles me is the 29% registered voters."
  
  Having a voter registration card is okay--it's just the voting that is looked down on. Some may get an easily obtainable voter registration card in hopes it can serve as another form of ID or as a bogus means of trying to prove citizenship ;)
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  jgnat

  Barna reports a 95% confidence level for their survey. I think they are right.

  This report is based upon telephone interviews conducted by The Barna Group with a series of nationwide random samples among adults, from which interviews with 323 Mormons and 186 Jehovah’s Witnesses were isolated for analysis. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample of Mormons is ±5.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The maximum margin of sampling error associated with the aggregate sample of Jehovah’s Witnesses is ±7.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

  No religion has 100% purity. If they say so, they are hiding something. I would have suspected a ratio of 20% nominal Witnesses (from the good old 80/20 rule), but it looks like that number is higher. Like I say, gratifying. Perhaps the higher number of nominal Witnesses is because really, with them, it's all or nothing. Attend or begone. So 28% have gone.