The Survey is now CLOSED (temporarily)!

by cedars 10 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  cedars

  Hi everyone

  I have now closed the survey down temporarily, because we need to migrate the results over to an identical survey that will have its own unique domain, etc. Once the survey is settled in its new home, I will be revealing the new URL for you to access it and/or get updates on its progress.

  In the meantime, I thought you might like to be made aware of the results as they stand:

  2011 Global Survey of Jehovah’s Witnesses

  Results as of 18 th October 2011 (74 days remaining)

  Number of respondents: 802

  Current status of respondents:

  Active…………………..14.2%…..114

  Inactive………………..36.1%…..289

  Disfellowshipped….15.2%…..122

  Disassociated……….26.5%…..212

  Never baptized…….8.0%…..64

  “Calling” of respondents:

  Anointed*…………….3.7%…..20

  Great Crowd…………30.4%…..163

  Neither………………….65.9%…..354

  Note, of the 20 who claimed to be of the anointed, 7 are active witnesses.

  Reasons for leaving organization:

  I broke a bible command……………………….9.9%…..41

  I went against the policies of JWs………..12.8%…..53

  I disagreed with the teachings of JWs….71.1%…..295

  I would rather not say……………………………6.3%…..26

  Positions of respondents:

  Ministerial Servants…………………….5.5%…..37…..(22 are active)

  Elders…………………………………………..3.4%…..23…..(11 are active)

  Circuit Overseers………………………..0.0%…..0…..(0 are active)

  District Overseers……………………….0.1%…..1…..(1 is active)

  Branch Committee Members………0.0%…..0…..(0 are active)

  Gilead graduates / missionaries…0.0%…..0…..(0 are active)

  MTS (or BSSB) graduates………….0.6%…..4…..(1 is active)

  Bethel volunteers……………………….0.7%…..5…..(1 is active)

  Regular pioneers………………………..3.4%…..23…..(10 are active)

  Special pioneers…………………………0.1%…..1…..(1 is active)

  None of the above……………………..89.8%…..608…..(72 are active)

  Beliefs/practices disagreed with (most contentious in bold):

  Shunning…………………………………………………………….94.0%…..750

  Blood transfusions………………………………………………87.7%…..700

  Paedophilia – judicial matter rather than crime.92.2%…..736

  Paedophiles not barred from serving as elders…83.5%…..666

  Paedophiles – two witness rule………………………….89.1%…..711

  Paedophiles - names kept confidential……………..85.6%…..683

  Bible prophecy…………………………………………………….83.0%…..662

  Governing Body as God’s sole channel……………..91.0%…..726

  Governing Body – no contact with remnant……..75.6%…..603

  Increasing light concept……………………………………..89.8%…..717

  Stance on higher education……………..95.1%…..759

  Stance on extra-curricular sports……………………….89.6%…..715

  Only anointed partake of emblems…………………….63.8%…..509

  Treatment of women…………………………………………..74.6%…..595

  Masturbation………………………………………………………..76.9%…..614

  Birthdays……………………………………………………………..89.1%…..711

  Beards………………………………………………………………….89.2%…..712

  Apostates = mentally diseased…………………………..90.0%…..718

  Fall of Jerusalem in 607 BCE………………………………83.6%…..667

  Christ only a mediator for 144,000……………………79.8%…..637

  Evolution……………………………………………………………..60.2%…..480

  Others not mentioned………………………………..………29.4%…..235

  Agree with Governing Body*………………….………….2.4%…..19

  *Of the 19 who ticked that they agreed with the Governing Body, 10 appear to be genuine, based on their other entries on the survey. 9 evidently ticked the box mistakenly.

  The UN / NGO Scandal:

  Knew about it………..72.1%…..568

  Didn’t know…………….28.0%..…221

  Of the 221 who said they didn’t know, 23 were active publishers.

  I hope these results are informative, and I would like to thank everybody for their responses so far.

  Once the survey is settled in its new home, I will let you know!

  Many thanks,

  Cedars
• 

  finallysomepride

  thanks cedars, great job
• 

  jwfacts

  Interesting results. I was surprised that more were disassociated rather than disfellowshipped. Being an internet based survey, it is skewed towards people that have researched and left rather than did something wrong. Still it is an important figure, especially since combining the disfellowshipping/disassociation announcement means the average JW does not know that there is a probable increase in the number leaving of personal choice rather than as punishment for sin.
• 

  cedars

  Thanks finallysomepride and jwfacts - yes, well spotted. It is noteworthy that most of the ex-jws participating left of their own volition rather than being forced out. It's also noteworthy that a meagre 9.9% of those who left said that it was for breaking an actual 'bible command'. This would also come as a surprise to most Witnesses, and disrupt the normal stereotype of ex-jws.

  I also find it interesting that the Society's attitudes towards higher education have met with even more indignation in this survey than the practice of shunning, which so far is in 2nd place.

  I'd like to thank everyone (including jwfacts, with your excellent link) who have contributed so far. It isn't over yet! We should have the new dedicated survey website up-and-running in a few days, and then we can progress with collecting responses as normal.
• 

  cedars

  I'm bumping this thread, just so people get the message!

  Cedars
• 

  besty

  9 evidently ticked the box mistakenly.

  LOL
• 

  life is to short

  Sorry cedars I did not see this tread and I just bumped up your old one. I worked until really late last night and when I saw your old thread was so old I got kind of worried.

  I just really appreciate all that you are doing so please forgive me.

  Thank you again I think this survey is such a great idea and I know it is a lot of hard work. Just thank you for taking it all on.

  LITS
• 

  cedars

  LITS - there is absolutely no need to apologise whatsoever, it's a simple mistake to make and there was no harm done!

  I really really appreciate your support of this survey, and I hope you continue to play a role in drawing attention to it moving forward...

  Many thanks indeed,

  Cedars
• 

  factfinder

  Thank you cedars!
• 

  talesin