Bros before ... on the watchtower CD (page 2)

unshackled

Strange, dramatic dip there in late 70s for 'ministry'...

How 'bout earthquakes, natural disasters, pollution.

bohm

unshackled: there are definate events like the "whoops" bump around 75 and the "apostacy" bump around 84 which are seen quite clearly in a number of the curves.

The 80s spike for 'apostate' makes sense following the Franz shakedown. But the 'ministry' decline after '75....were they just cooling their jets after pushing it so hard prior '75? Didn't think they'd ever let up on pushing ministry...

bohm

Unshackled: Yes, it is a bit unexpected. The change could also reflect a change in the way of pushing the ministry, eg. a different catch-phrase. Funnily it coinside with the introduction of "elders" and the spike in the use of the word "evidence" :-). This is mostly meant to be a for-fun thread, i dont really think to much should be put into these things.

r51785

Regarding the downward trend in the use of the word ministry: In the 70's they de-emphasized the word ministry in favor of the word service. Our Kingdom Ministry became Our Kingdom Service. Prior to this time all JW's were said to be "ordained ministers." During the period of emphasis only elders, MS and pioneers were "ordained ministers." If I remember correctly this change was made due to research on the book "Aid to Bible Understanding." As you may remember this book was largely worked on by Raymond Franz. After they showed him the door they went back to their old beliefs regarding "ordained ministers" and put the name back to Our Kingdom Ministry.

r51785

Correction to above: In line 3 I meant during the time of de-emphasis.

GOrwell

do peace and security - I'm expecting a bump around the mid 80's of course, but what else?

Broken Promises

Regarding the downward trend in the use of the word ministry: In the 70's they de-emphasized the word ministry in favor of the word service. Our Kingdom Ministry became Our Kingdom Service. Prior to this time all JW's were said to be "ordained ministers." During the period of emphasis only elders, MS and pioneers were "ordained ministers."

I'll second this comment. If you searched for the word "service" for the "ministry" graph you'd see the spike around that time.

These graphs are great - good work, bohm!!!

ambersun

In the 70's they de-emphasized the word ministry in favor of the word service. Our Kingdom Ministry became Our Kingdom Service. Prior to this time all JW's were said to be "ordained ministers."

Yes, 'ministry' became a dirty word for some reason, and did not appear in any of the publications as far as I can remember, the word 'service' being used instead. I remember Our Kingdom Ministry being changed to Our Kingdom Service and wondering why. There was no proper explanation in my opinion and I found it all rather irritating. I was pioneering at that time and I remember being verbally corrected whenever I said I was going out "on the ministry" someone would say "don't you mean you are going out in field service?" Then, as we know, it all reverted back again.

TheOldHippie

Our Kingdom Ministry being changed to Our Kingdom Service

That was "obviously" an "English thing", since other languages saw no such change, but for the change from "KM" to "Our M for the K".

Bros before ... on the watchtower CD

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