JWs: The Low Budget Religion

by cameo-d 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  cameo-d

  Did you ever notice that people choose their churches according to their status and wealth?

  That the better dressed people with the finer cars go to the bigger ornate churches located in prominent areas of town?

  Did you ever consider the contrast with the kingdom halls being tucked away out of view and the building being unrecognizable as a "house of worship"?

  Did you ever consider that the JW religion was basically promoted for the poor and the uneducated and that simple literature with illustrations was something of a 'poor man's bible'?

  Isn't it funny that the rich and the poor, and the educated as well as the uneducated, are all gullable to mind manipulation and social and peer pressure?

  Class distinction and wealth are no guarantee of intellect and wisdom.

  Still, religion institutions seem stratified according to status.
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  reniaa

  In Jesus day the rich liked their rich pomp filled religions too but Jesus always emphisised the way of no wealth.

  Luke 18:18-25 (New International Version)

  18 A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

  19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' [a] "

  21 "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

  22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

  23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."

  Keep our kingdom halls humble there is no harm in it, in Gods or his sons eyes quite the contrary indeed.

  Reniaa
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  cameo-d

  Renaai" "In Jesus day the rich liked their rich pomp filled religions too but Jesus always emphisised the way of no wealth."

  I think that is your interpretation. I do not believe Jesus promoted the "no wealth beach bum" lifestyle.
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  InquiryMan

  Interestingly, a sociological survey made in Britain by Beckford, states that few JWs belong to the working class, and few to the upperclass as well.

  The majority of witnesses are middle class people.
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  cameo-d

  I am not saying that Jws are all poor or uneducated. You are missing my point.

  I am saying that religious institutions have been designed to appeal to every stratification of social staus.

  It appears though that the kingdom halls are the bottom of the list as far as budget, culture, historical appreciation,etc.

  Inquiry Man: "The majority of witnesses are middle class people."

  I know some JWs that would be considered "middle class". However, they came from very poor humble background. They have achieved that middle class status through their own efforts.
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  oompa

  Inquiryman.......surely that is just a survey applied to Britain?........worldwide they must be way below middle class.......at least from my travels..........oompa
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  TheOldHippie

  Both US and European sociological studies have commented on the middle class structure.
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  InquiryMan

  In my homecountry JWs resemble the average general popoulation, perhaps not too well represented among the very affluent, but definitely average.

  A study from America, shows that average household income among american JWs is slightly below the average, but considering that quite a few work less than full time and the percentage of hispanics and afro-americans are substantially higher than national average, this is considered good. Also, the number of American JWs that owns their own house is exactly the same as the national average.

  I have travelled extensively, and visited JWs in many countries, definitely also average... Please bear in mind that in many underdeveloped countries, the number of literate witnesses is way above the national average and thus it might be that their socio economic status might be better..

  The link to the study is provided here:

  http://www.religionomics.com/old/erel/S2-Archives/Iannaccone%20-%20JW%20Growth.pdf
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  metatron

  Low budget religion? It's becoming a broke-a$$ religion!

  The average Witless doesn't get it but the Governing Body does! By their own tradition stretching back to C.T. Russell, their cash flow manifests Jehovah's approval or lack thereof.

  Let's see.....

  No food service at assemblies because the voluntary donation arrangement paying for it was a disaster

  Dumping magazine subscriptions to save money

  Radically reducing literature shipments

  Going to printing cheaper paperbacks

  Dumping one issue of the Awake per month

  Reducing Watchtower printing by creating a study and public edition

  Mass layoffs of Bethelites

  Selling off buildings held for many decades

  and much more to come

  Russell said if the money doesn't appear, it's a sign from Jehovah to shut down - and that's exactly the direction in which things are going

  metatron
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  JWdaughter

  I think that while the org. pushes the "leave everything and pioneer" theory within their own walls, they also work very hard to appear very very middle class. Which is why men on public assistance/SSI are wearing (2nd hand) suits and carrying attache cases. Their fave brag is that they appear 'well dressed'. I don't think there is anything wrong with frugal living and all, but it seems that the poorest and riches among them do their dangests to rub out any class distinctions-at least at the halls. In their actual lives, there is a definite class structure from my observation