What changes have you noticed in the Witness (page 2)

LV101

sounds like good, positive change for the jw's according to your post, DesirousOfChange. hopefully, it continues.

Just prior to my exit which is a little over a year ago now - I saw a group that was despondent, zombie-like, going thru the motions but lacking any fervor or delight in the "Good News" - giving lip service but the hearts were far, far away. They appeared like a group of heavy-laden donkeys, some actually balking, a few braying, but for the most part just plodding along fast enough to avoid the "stick." It was very very sad to me - the older ones were disappointed the end hadn't come, the middle aged were busy trying to make ends meet and hadn't time for spiritual concerns, meeting attendance was the max for their efforts, and maybe 2 hours a month Field Service if they could fake it somehow at the coffee shop, and for the most part the young ones seemed sullen and withdrawn, many disappeared entirely. There were exceptions of course but they were few and far between per my experience.

And probably the biggest change was a total lack of new converts - the baptismal lines were 97% made up of children that had been raised up in the WTS, with maybe about 3 adults out of 100 that were actually found in the territory or thru incidental witnessing, friend of a friend type stuff. In fact I think I've made that estimate too high in truth - the ones coming in were not found in the territory - they were most often relations of someone else who was already in the WTS.

d

Many today look burned out, and tired.

JW GoneBad

DesirousOfChange stated: Meeting attendance ....down.

That is the first thing that came to mind.......Meeting Attendance.

Years ago it seemed that most had if anything a goal of perfect meeting attendance. Today it seems more & more could give a S#$T about it and allow recreation, family, holiday and anything else to interfere. I know for myself and many friends & family, our attendance has gone from 95% or better to around 70% & dropping.

I see the same trend in the rest of the servant body & their family.

I see this as a big indicator that the GB are difinitely losing their grip. It is as though the WTBTS needs a new theme, facelift, name or something in order to recapture the R&F's interest.

I sometimes imagine WTBTS like WoolWorth Discount Department Stores of old ........if you know what I mean.

Anyway this is a change in the Witnesses I've noticed of recent. Put that in your pipe & smoke it!

av8orntexas

I second the fact of people just doing what they want to do.

Facebook. One friend whom just came back, and is involved heavily in the gym and does shows I believe. Is constantly posting pictures ofg such events or commentinmg on working out and such.

Today she posted a picture and stted she was able to aux pioneer for the first time in 10 years. A friend of hers commented, "______ you're a JW ?"

From viewing most of my friends profiles,it is hard to tell sometimes. 10-12 years ago youi wouldn't have to guess by an persons actions if they were a witness. Their would nbe no doubt. Now it seems most as some have already said, obey most rules,but bend those they feel don't apply to them or frankly don't care for.

I would say most now would be considered spiritually weak 10-13 years ago. Most watch movies I thought witnesses are not supposed to watch. Most I notice are quite liberal in their choice of music as well.

Many things. So many,that I often wonder why be a witness if you doing this or that ?

Todays Witness is a bit more liberal socially. At least the young ones and young adults.

DesirousOfChange

Another change I see is that people get away (esp elders) with things that years ago would have gotten them DFd (or at least removed from positions).

Overdrinking/DWI -- Everybody is entitled to one (more) mistake, thankfully it didn't make into the newspaper...and there wasn't an accident....and nobody (else) knows and we know that you're imperfect just like the rest of us [shit! I left the bar at the same time and this could have been ME), try harder not to let that happen again (too soon -- hahaha, slap on back, let's go get another beer).

Lying -- well, now, is it really lying if the person you're speaking to doesn't really have the right to know the truth? As long as it wasn't lying to a JC, then who else really has the right to know any of your business. And lying in a divorce definitely doesn't count (or any other time to save your ass or a$$ets). Everyone knows that everybody lies in court. It's not really lying, it's strategy. (You probably just beat them at their own game! That's smart thinking! hahaha, slap on back, let's go have another beer).

Stealing -- if your employer didn't give you the raise that you deserved and you just helped yourself, then that wasn't really stealing, it was just an equalizing (I think that may even be scriptural). Besides everyone does it, so employers figure in a certain amount of theft/embezzlement/shrink into the pricing and payroll structure. It's really just another fringe benefit. If you don't get your share, you're shortchanging yourself. No different from speeding -- when it says 55 mph, we really know they expect drivers to do 10 mph over, and in fact, it would be DANGEROUS if we did not keep up with what everyone else is doing. (Can you get some for ME too? hahaha, slap on back, let's go get another beer).

(Soft) porn -- Not OK "officially", but everybody has done it, so we'll look the other way (again) this time, but you know you have to stop doing that.....(that is, stop feeling guilty about it or stop getting caught by your wife -- hahaha, slap on back, let's go get a beer -- at the strip club).

Oral sex? -- You shouldn't feel guilty, hell that's a personal matter between two conscenting married people, we're not policemen. Just don't bring it up to anyone (the wrong person) again (.....and we should all get together more, maybe you could get your wife to talk to my wife...... while we're all having another beer and the gals get loosened up.....)

IF NO ONE KNOWS -- THEN COULD IT HAVE REALLY HAPPENED? (Not without two witnesses!)

That is, unless they are out to nail ya, then YOU'RE SCREWED!

Found Sheep

they don't talk to me, or even look at me!

I do think they are more paranoid, satan, demons, apotates

there is the "strong" JW that are snobs and then the "weak" ones that could almost pass for nonJW's

They seem scared, oh that's all I get from them cuz they run away from me

wobble

They avoid me too quite often. I think a good number who have served for many long years are smelling the BS to a degree, but they shove it to the back of their minds, because they have invested their life in the damn thing.

They are weary and sad, because it ain't so much Paradise Delayed, as Paradise Failed.

It is an arid place spiritually, and nowadays because of the rigid control, an arid place socially too.

We must pity those poor souls, they are trapped, lost and cheated, but do not know it.

d

Their are way more depressed and deviod of hope and to think I felt like that a few years back.

willyloman

saltyoldlady: What you said (above) is exactly what I saw, too.

What changes have you noticed in the Witness

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