Like with most religions, the general rule is that contributions are mostly from those who can least afford to contribute. Not surprised to see a flimsy donations in a wealthy area. California is probably the worst for this. No one gives anything from the prosperous areas!
A little example of how severely the contributions for the Society are drying up
by sir82 86 Replies latest jw friends
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OUTLAW
The WBT$ is a Real Estate company disguised as a religion..
Contributions dry up..So What?..
The WBT$/JW Religion is used to launder WBT$ real estate money..
Less contributions is the cost of doing business..
It`s cheaper than Tax`s..
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...OUTLAW -
LongHairGal
SIR82: I have no pity and no use for them. They feel no accountability for the countless people damaged by their stand against college and careers - not counting other negative things about the religion. If I were inclined to give to a charity it would be to one that benefits society - not a secretive religion that does not care about anybody else!
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No Room For George
Another aspect that should be mentioned is all the money spent "voluntarily" going out in field service, "voluntarily" attending the meetings regularly, "voluntarily" attending the circuit assemblies and district conventions, "voluntarily" participating in spring cleaning or fall cleaning, amongst a ton of other things including clothing and vehicle maintenance. Yet it's never enough for those greedy bastards.
Ohhh, I almost forgot one other item that should be mentioned, which to some of us may or may not be more valuable than material posessions, and that's, Time. One of my coworkers asked me in the most perplexed tone, "George, does anything in your life not involve your church?" You should have heard me stuttering like Foghorn Leghorn trying to not make a fool out of myself all the while in my heart knowing what she asked was a valid a concern. All the wasted time spent "voluntarily" doing things on behalf of a religious publishing company, wasted. I couldn't tell you the last time I donated any actual money to the WT, and have no intention on ever doing that again.
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MrFreeze
Has anybody here actually asked householders for donations since the literature because donation-based? I never did.
In fact, I never actually donated to the World Wide Work myself.
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thetrueone
The WBT$ is a Real Estate company disguised as a religion..
As Outlaw pointed thats true particularly in the last 50 years or more.
It more or less started out as religious publishing house which promoted their goods by themselves and people who were willing to
go door to door to distribute their literature, for profit as it were .
There was a modest set in place profiting scheme by the WTS. up to @1980's where even the Awake and Watchtower had
advertising on the back covers of those magazines for yearly subscription rates for $ xx.xx amount of dollars.
Over the duration of this organization's existence people have donated property to build Kingdom halls, bought much of the literature
that the WTS. produced and donated cash to the organization which availed them to buy more properties and add these toward
the organization's total assets. These properties over time have increased in value greatly, making the assets of the WTS. over above
one billion world wide, perhaps now of the WTS's recent sell off of their properties in Brooklyn NY close more to 2 billion.
The point I'm trying to make is that the WTS. is far from going broke and probly right now has never been richer in its entire histroy.
Goes to show what unregulated freedom of religion can do in a capitalistic system.
It also goes to show how far fear inducing exploitation and adverse commercialism can do for a religious publishing house.
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dozy
" How long before the design of KH's and Assy. Halls is modified so that they are even easier to sell ? "
If you look at the plans for the new WTBTS buildings in upstate New York , they already look like an obvious corporate HQ when they are sold on (I'd give it 20 years maximum.)
The great thing about the Bethels is that they do lend themselves to quite a lots of options eg the Ireland Bethel , for which the WTBTS are looking for 4.5 million euros is been marketed by the sellers for numerous purposes including corporate headquarters, a nursing home, retreat centre, conference facility, hospital, children’s home, medical centre, hotel, hostel, business training facility or cookery school.
http://www.mol.ie/property.aspx?id=193. http://cms.mol.ie/uploads/Watch%20Tower%20House,%20Newcastle.pdf
Incidentally , the idea that the UK & Dublin Bethels should merge was long discussed but always vetoed by the GB until they started selling off most of their European real estate. They could have north of 10 million euros had they sold this a few years ago - they must be kicking themselves over the timing.
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PaintedToeNail
NRFGeorge-I agree, all that expensive 'voluntary' stuff does tend to strain the budget. Also, let us not forget the special clothing needed, you can't simply throw on a nice pair of pants and go. If you live in a temperate area you also have to have clothing for the various seasons. Add children to that clothing equation and it is really expensive.
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wasblind
No room for george,
you have a God given talent for writin' you really have me laughin'
you could have been a writer for a sitcom, but you and I both know
havin' a talent is a no no even if you do put the bussiness of the organization first
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Farkel
When I was pioneering, I paid 3 cents for each WT and Awake!. I got ripped off. Most of them went right into a dumpster.
But I sure looked swell when I walked away with 50 of them under my arms each week!
Farkel
