Maybe it is not a myth that JW's are declining ...maybe they are declining not in numbers but in quality?
edited to add that by quality I am reffering to things that make a great JW (field service, shunning, following directions etc)
The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining
by slimboyfat 153 Replies latest watchtower bible
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steve2
SBF, again thank you for drawing my attention to what I said and make it appear like a contradiction. With you I need skills in ballet because you do keep me on my toes - which I appreciate because your responses help me take greater care in what and how I use language. Yes, I sharply disagree with, not so much the minutiae of what you say, but the sweeping conclusions you draw. Seemingly, you repeat the mantra that JWs are not declining - even adducing the hardly-eye-opening fact that they have continued to grow by thousands in my country alone since I left in 1982. A striking blow to my ego and my whole "argument". Not. You use a broad brush in your argument ; I use a more finely-graded one. I have never stated the witnesses are declining worldwide. I have, however, drawn attention to slowed growth rates particularly in the West. I have also noted the intransigent non-appearance of a witness presence in a predictable array of countries, particularly those where other Christian groups are not present, those of a predominantly moslem-governing base. Just as you baulk at immigrant converts seemingly being downplayed by some posters, I baulk at the witnesses persistently incorrect claim that their message has a worldwide spread. I have talked about the way immigrant populations within some western countries, my beloved New Zealand included, are thriving in terms of witnesses, tending to obscure the reduced presence of English-speaking witnesses. Yes, these immigrant witnesses are every bit as valid as any active witness. But you glide over the point being made and chirrup about it still being increase. Huh? Who said it wasn't? I have shown how much longer it takes average numbers of publishers to reach earlier peaks - so even dear old Steve is not denying growth is occurring - only that in specific countries it has slowed down. Other points have been made as well - but these suffice to show that the arrows of rigid querying you aim in my direction are consistently missing the actual target of what I say.
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Julia Orwell
That chart assumes growth will continue as it does now. If it doesn't, or the rate of people leaving speeds up, then the rate of increase will not be greater than the world population increase.
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Splash
sir82: The "less than 1 hour" rule does not apply to 99.9% of JWs.
I don't think this is accurate.
It suggests that 1 in 1000 can use the 'less than one hour' concession.
At the DC, I watched as the coaches pulled in and the congregations disembarked.
There were so many old ones heaving and scraping themselves into the venue, it looked like a zombie apocalypse.
In my own congregation we have many old ones.
At a pure guess I would estimate your 99.9% should be more like 40%.
Let's face it, if there's a choice between not being able to submit any time at all, or submitting 4 x 15 mins, the elders will say submit 4 x 15 mins per month.
Splash
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Jeffro
One of the most persistent myths on this website is that JWs are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the Watchtower is inevitable from here on in.
That isn't really what people have said. At least I certainly haven't. What has been said is that the rate of growth has declined. And that is indeed the case. It is also the case that in many countries, the rate of growth is lower than population growth, which results in a relative decline.
And the countries that are seeing the most growth tend to be those that are less sustainable because the people in those countries have less money to give.
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punkofnice
edit as I commented on the wrong thread.
My understanding was that although the JW membership numbers are growing that they are not growing anywhere near the growth one would have expected.
...but then can you trust the WBT$ figures?
They do tend to blow their own trumpet and use 'theocratic warfare(TM)' to lie.
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Julia Orwell
" At the DC, I watched as the coaches pulled in and the congregations disembarked.
There were so many old ones heaving and scraping themselves into the venue, it looked like a zombie apocalypse.
In my own congregation we have many old ones.
At a pure guess I would estimate your 99.9% should be more like 40%."
This will affect the net gain of JWs as these oldies die off. JWs around here seem to be oldies or middle aged, and with 63% of born in kids leaving when they grow up, combined with smaller family sizes, means that there will be a death rate higher than that of the general population. If you did an age pyramid of JWs, you'd probably find it top heavy indicating an older population in the West.
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20yearfader
when i stopped going which was in 91,i always heard the 40k a year that were dfed.If anything happens to the WT it will come from within.i see jws now that are allowed greater freedom then i was able to enjoy.When the older hardliners pass on you will see the WT change a lot of it's policies if only to stay relevent.The org that i left in 91 doesnt look like the one that operates today teenagers can attend college join in activities that i couldn't org sports.etc...I see born ins like myself everyday that are no longer in the org many are hostile to the Wt others want to be as far away as possible from the org.The wt has laid the seeds to there demise since many of the born ins that have left want nothing to do with the org.In my own family the older gen is the only one that attends the meetings my generation has not embraced the Org and likely never will.Once this gen the baby boomers has passed on expect them to take a lethal hit to the org,at least that's my hope lol.
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slimboyfat
What does it matter if they are still growing?
Well firstly it is simply interesting if somewhat surprising that despite everything they are still managing to grow.
And secondly it could be quite useful, to avoid complacency, to realise that JW decline is not underway nor is it inevitable. Among those former JWs who are interested in any sort of activism this realisation could be useful to stave off the notion that history is on their side, or that a Watchtower collapse is likely to happen without much effort. The evil empire has a lot of life left in it yet, and it's good for those who want to combat it to appreciate that it is still a force to be reckoned with.
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blondie
*** km 10/02 p. 8 par. 6 How Congregation Book Study Overseers Show Personal Interest ***
The book study overseer is interested in those who because of their circumstances are able to have only a small share in the preaching work. He makes sure that those who are very limited because of advanced age or because of being shut-ins and those who are temporarily limited because of serious illness or injury are aware of the provision that allows them to report field service time in 15-minute increments if they are not able to report a complete hour during one month.(The Congregation Service Committee determines who qualifies for this provision.)