They are losing them...

by Aussie Oz 26 Replies latest jw friends

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  Morbidzbaby

  I can say with honesty that a good many that were JW youths when I was growing up...are still in. *sigh* In one family (elder's kids), 2 out of 3 of the kids are still in, very much active, married other elder's kids, and are raising their kids as JW's. 2 who were friends of mine, same thing...married JW's and raising the kids in it (although...with one of them, her husband was questioning things awhile back...wonder what ever came of that?). Very few actually left and believe it to be a cult. As a matter of fact, only one other than myself that I can recall.

  Maybe it's a regional thing...and an association thing. I find that those who have more association (that's supervised anyway) within the congregation tend to stick with it because they have so many friends and to them it really is a "Spiritual Paradise". They don't see the need to make friends with the "world", and so they're happy in their ignorance because they have a support system. I know of one group in particular that would get large gatherings together to go dancing and they never got into trouble.

  Those who were on the outskirts (the "fatherless boys" and "orphans", for instance) don't really get that same level of association, so for them, they're willing to go "outside" to find it. This makes them more open to exploring other things. And then you have some elder's kids (like the son in the first family I mentioned) who get sick of the stringency and rebel.
• 

  Disillusioned Lost-Lamb

  Out of the 20 kids I grew up with only 6 are still in and three of those lead double lives.

  Years ago information wasn't as readily available or easily obtained. Past generations haven’t always been able to check up on things, but that’s not the case anymore. Gen. y, x and beyond have free flowing available fast private information; they can find out anything they want, at anytime and do it without prying eyes. Most kids are pretty smart and when the “what the hell is wrong with this picture” light goes on they peek out from behind the wash-towel veil simply because they can. And when the cat gets let out of the bag it’s pretty hard to put it back.
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  metatron

  I recall an MS who was part of an extended family in which all 17 grandkids were out. A whole Witness generation wiped out. In time, he and his family left too.

  metatron
• 

  LV101

  Morbidsbaby --- w/respect to the orphans and fatherless boys guess God is protecting them and they get out in time to have a real life. If they endured being ostracized and excluded inside the demonic watchtower they should appreciate and cope well in the world --- hoping anyway.

  What a cult!
• 

  lilbluekitty

  Honestly I don't think most of the teens care about CoC, or the cult's history. I think they're just tired of it all and want to have some fun. I wasn't interested in any of that til my non-JW husband converted to Christianity. I think most teens would think it was boring, at least the teens I knew.
• 

  thetrueone

  Public awareness has grown dramatically over the years in regards to religious cults .

  This awareness has even extended to individuals who may be associated to anyone of these cults, either through family

  introduction or other prevailing circumstances.

  The reason in my opinion that the JWs has such low retention of its followers, is one way or another they come to realize

  that they are being corruptly exploited to support this organization by means of labor and money.

  There is a assumed fraud being portrayed that has prevailing damages to themselves as well to others.

  I honestly can say that more than 3/4 of JWs who were brought up a JW of my own generation have left,

  with about 1/4 remaining. Religion as a idealogical social concept is declining in most modernized countries.

  This also effects the JWS as a select religion.
• 

  watson

  Yes they are losing them, but it's interesting how many I see going back. Maybe they need the networking, maybe their parents are getting older and are pleading with them to come back, financial reasons.. If there is any growth, I wonder what percentage of that growth is/are "reverts".
• 

  BizzyBee

  it's interesting how many I see going back.

  The WTS may have them physically in the seats - but not their hearts and minds.
• 

  steve2

  Yes they are losing them, but it's interesting how many I see going back.

  There'll always be those who go wild as kids and who quieten down with age and are drawn back to the organization - but they're almost always in the minority. I do see some who drop out and who subsequently hover around the edges of the organization - not in and not quite out - in order to please parents and friends still in.
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  Aussie Oz

  I know for one that my boy has no feelings of guilt whatsoever about his double life.

  and i just planted a seed that moving out of home (as he is doing this week) is a great oportunity do do a fade...

  Oz