As atleast 65% of young ones are dropping out,Are the J.W's getting older??
In the inner city congro's were it is expensive to live there is not alot of young ones in the congro's there,seems the average in them is going up and up.
Karter.
Is the average age of a J.W going up???
by karter 12 Replies latest jw friends
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wha happened?
It's been discussed quite a bit. One country to take notice of is Japan. Their population is getting older, and the younger ones seem less likely to be involved in a religion than before
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zeb
yes
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joe134cd
The simple answer to this is yes. Since I found out about this on joining this site (I'm guessing the WTS ain't going to say anything) I have just been doing random counts of the ages of the people sitting in the hall (and by all means i invite you to do the same). In the counts I have done 2/3 of the people sitting in the hall would be 40 and above and 1/3 would be 40 and under. So it makes me wonder how the congregation will look in another 40 years time. I also saw a photo taken of a recent elders school and out of the ones I observed in it only 3 wouldn't of had grey hair, which would back up the rumour that they are finding it hard to get elders now. Even before I joined this site, I sort of suspected that the youth may be leaving. I honestly believe the WTS has to be more proactive in catering to the youth e.g youth groups, increasing social interaction etc, but they don't seem to be interested. I suppose you keep doing the same thing you keep getting the same results. I believe if the society is wanting to grow (well in westernised countries at least) it has to focus on caring for its existing members and retaining them rather than trying to make new converts. When comparing this to some developing countries that I have visited, this is almost the reverse. In fact I just couldn't get over the youthfulness of the congregations. Another surprise was the amount of young converts e.g early 20s and were realy doing well. Something that just isn't seen in the west. But how long this can be maintained for is anyone's guess. I suppose this would explain why most of the growth is coming from developing or 3rd world countries, and why the majority of people from this sight are from westernised countries.Got it homie.
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ballistic
On a philosophical note, could it be that the Watchtower started out as a pre-war pre-apocolyptic
cult with dates such as 1914 and other specific dates and events driving the ideology, (and driving the fervor of the rank and file)
and now the Watchtower have watered down these events and years and are unlikely to pluck any new
precise dates, and so they are loosing substance to their teachings and what are you left with when all these dates are left far behind.
I hate the saying but perhaps they need a war to keep them going.
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nonjwspouse
Older converts bring with them donations via wills quicker rather than later.
Akso, my husband said in the 70's he and his brother were almost the only children in the hall. When I went to a few memorials several years ago I noticed maybe 5 children in the whole place.
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DesirousOfChange
Please note that the general population is aging, so if JWs simply have a cross-section of the general popuation, there will be a lot of old folks.
Doc
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gingerbread
The population of 60 and older persons in the US is holding it's own - much better than in decades past. So this will be reflected in the congregation. Your observations about the lack of younger members is spot on. Just scan those in attendance at assemblies - the 20 somethings are virtually non existent. I think that younger people born in the "truth" - in the last 30 years - really pick and choose what they believe. Information is easily available and shared via the web. Unlike my generation, they are not isolated or uninformed.
The WT's recent push through the website - kids videos, activities, worksheets - attempts to halt the exiting of young adults. The GB wants to indoctrinate (and create an emotional attachment to the org) very young ones as soon as possible.
Anthony Morris admits that during the introductory part of the Be Jah's Friend video.
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Simon
The average age is probably skewed / more complex than first glance would suggest ... there is the issue of faders / leavers (whether they are counted or not) plus the people who leave tend to be early 20's to lates 40's (I'm just really guessing at that) which will affect the stats.
Most halls had a lot of old people and then a lot of families with younger kids. The old people die, the young kids grow up and leave but the average may hover the same.
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joe134cd
If they are wanting to grow in western lands they really have to focus on the youth. They have to form a sense of community and social interaction. Other religions invest a considerable amount of money into youth program's. The society produces a couple of books saying how fun it is to go knocking on doors and if you don't keep your legs together you could end up with an itch. I also believe future growth now will not come from knocking on doors but from looking after and caring for its existing members, to stop the exiting. The society has to realize that the youth of today will be the future of tomorrow.