OTWO - Interesting observation. I didn't notice that...
I have finally figured ot how a lot of JWs gain more members besides having more kids...
by cognac 23 Replies latest jw friends
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Open mind
Quote from a recently "reassigned" Bethelite to Special Pioneer status:
"It is a MIRACLE when someone comes from the territory to the baptismal pool. The growth in the US English field just isn't what it used to be."
Long pause. Looks of depression and dejection spread 'round the table of gathered 2nd, 3rd & 4th Gen JWs.
"BUT THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE!!!!" (Quickly added in desperation.)
om
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Lillith26
Thats probably why the whole "process of assimilation" didn't work on me- I asked lots of questions... then I researched them myself. Thats how I learn- I read, I ask, I cross reference, I seek multiple sources of information, I know that there is two sides to a coin so I study both sides to get the full picture...... critical thinking and an independant personality killed my chances of becomming a convert! Thank Gawd!
Looking back now I see that my study lasted for 18 months because during that time I moved house 3 times, towns twice, had two children under the age of 6, and was busy making and having baby number 3..... by the time all that was said and done, I got motivated enough to "catch up on reading" and actually paid closer attention to what I was learning... I had learned too much! so I left very abrubtly!!!
To her credit- the lady I studied with was good at diverting away from 'touchy' subjects and glossing over the more hard core doctrines and dates like 1914 etc...
The 'what does the bible really teach' book leaves out some the more freaky JW rules and regulations that any worldly person would turn away from... the whole scarf wearing thing if you pray out loud in front of or preach to a baptised male BS/ the materbation will turn you gay business/ how to treat a disfellowshiped person/ flag saluting, voteing, and national anthem singing crap..... this stuff your not supposed to find out untill you've been caught hook line and sinker!!!!
I have heard it said on this board so many times, but I am giong say too now...
"I would rather have questions I can not answer then answers I can not question!"
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TheClarinetist
I remember when I was young and going in the door to door ministry I used to avoid "touchy subjects" like the plague. It never occured to me that not talking about disfellowshipping and such was just a way to control people by not letting them know all the information until they were already in.
Fortunately, I was never a very successful minister.
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WTWizard
This not answering questions until later in the study is the same system that soap operas use to addict people. Except, most soaps are not going to start hounding people to waste all their time (not just the hour when the soap is on) going door to door, and make big changes to blah-ify one's life. Also, they are not going to divide families if one should suddenly get tired of the soap or be able to figure out the plot without waiting for the next episode.
And they do make promises to solve personal problems, only to break them (and, at their discretion, make them worse and exploit the problems for their own advantage). They almost never actually solve anyone's problem (and, even if they do, it's something like getting them the push to quit drugs that they could have gotten from the medical community). However, they generally create many more problems--often worsening ones that exist and making new ones that didn't.
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Chalam
They also use a lot of the same scriptures over and over again that are most likely to make a person believe what they want...
Agreed. As I read the bible I find more and more scripture that directly refutes what the WT teaches.
The WT distort the gospel of Christ and are accursed as is written here.
Galatians 1:6-9 (English Standard Version)
No Other Gospel
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. All the best, Stephen -
lisavegas420
When I was having my 'bible studies'.(they didn't know I was an ex) I would ask questions, lots of questions. I remember one of the answers that always bugged the shit out of me was, "You'll understand once you've become more mature in your understanding." What the hell does that mean?
lisa
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Black Sheep
What the hell does that mean?
It means that when your brain goes numb you'll stop asking.
An example is the Trinity brochure. John 20:28 is discussed in the last pages. If the victim has made it that far through the brochure there is a good chance they will swallow the non-explanation given. If they gave that same non-explanation at the start of the brochure, they would only ever convert the seriously retarded.
Cheers
Chris
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cognac
When I was having my 'bible studies'.(they didn't know I was an ex)
- Do you have a post about this??? Tell us more!
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lisavegas420
I've posted about my experience here and there. I talked about every study on Women Awake, a Yahoo XJW site.
The first study last almost 2 yrs. Then suddenly she stopped coming, no note no message...just quit.
A second set of sisters came by a few years later. I started a study with them. I asked about the first sister, they said she had quit coming to the meetings, but they didn't know why. Interesting, huh?
The second group, also quit coming after a few months. I would say things like....I see the point the paragraph is trying to make, but I don't agree at all. Something is seriously wrong here, don't you see it?...This just seems weird.
lisa