by slimboyfat 40 Replies latest jw friends
No huge figures, a per cent or two per year - but a long shot from the decrease some of you seem to see.
Wishfull thinking, anyone?
i don't think so. Some people speak only anecdotally, and that's plain to see. What a 1-2% decline shows, however, is the begining of a drastic fall off in growth, and a declining base. If anything, it's wishful thinking to think that this fringe religion will outlive another 20-30 years in any familiar form.
4. One could possibly argue that the contradictory internal versus census trends show that nominal Witness membership may be declining, but the number of those committed enough to spend time on the ministry is still increasing..SBF
All you need is 15 minutes of Preaching,to be a Publisher..
That is a big step backwards,from the days you needed 10hrs per month for 1 single publisher..
The WBT$ can now claim 40 publishers for every 10 hrs..
..................... ...OUTLAW
Parents are also now able to count time studying with their children - another clever trick to keep the annual worldwide report looking respectable.
More evidence that the decision to stop printing publisher stats in the KM each month is because the news is depressing. Now, they can just cherry pick which item (that shows the greatest increase in whatever category--placements in March of 186-page books on paper that yellows, for instance) to reveal. Of course, this is typical, razor-sharp JW logic: If we don't publish it in our lits, then it isn't true!
I thought they're still growing in the US, even more after 2001 than before. It would be interesting to have more recent data.
I thought they're still growing in the US, even more after 2001 than before. It would be interesting to have more recent data.
Then again the Watchtower figures showed growth in the US between 1990 and 2001 as well, contrary to the census figures.
I guess we'll need to wait until the 2011 censuses for an answer on what has happened to that measure of growth post-9/11.
All you need is 15 minutes of Preaching,to be a Publisher..
That is a big step backwards,from the days you needed 10hrs per month for 1 single publisher..
The WBT$ can now claim 40 publishers for every 10 hrs..
In general a good point, however the 15 minute rule came in after 2001 if I remember correctly, so would not impact the figures during this period. Plus you could say that the increasing number of hours reported and the increasing number of pioneers also argues in favour of Witnesses being more committed these days, rather than simply a lot more reporting because of the 15 minute rule.
It is interesting that publisher numbers increase slightly when the number of people that claim to be JWs decrease. The variable are inactive JWs and those that hang on the fringes.
I think it could be related to the increase of information that is available to people. In the past people that became inactive regularly still held an element of fear that it is the Truth, and so still classified themselves internally (an on Census forms) as JWs. These days people in the same situation are more likely to access information that allows them to become aware that the Watchtower is not the Truth, and so sever all emotional ties.
"Still, their Kingdom Halls stay packed. I don't know why..."
--easyreader
Based on my own experience it does not surprise me that "affluent" congos are still packing people in. "The rich are different than you and me," the famed author wrote. And this is true in dubdom as well.
Being a JW with money is much easier than being one without. As 'easy' said, they all buy big houses, nice cars, and take grand vacations. That makes the dub grind so much more palatable. You get a lot of breaks from the routine and plenty of material rewards, and it's easy to imagine that Jehovah is blessing your "efforts" or your belief system. Their are lots of nice cocktail parties in lovely homes where you are surrounded by people who don't envy your money. It's easier to go knock on doors if you feel superior to the householder, whether it's religious superiority or financial. Wealthy dubs are spared many of the problems that plague the poor. It is like a club where everyone thinks and acts the same as you do.
As we've seen, celebrity dubs live by different rules than the rest. And while notoriety and popularity plays a big part in that, it's the money that really makes the difference. People with money know that the rules don't actually apply to them.
I witnessed all this first hand; it's really true.
Who cares if they're shrinking or growing. The only thing that matters is if they're teaching the truth or not. At certain times in history, there were only a few or even one person pleasing God.
