Internet VS WTS (page 2)

Pistoff

The idea in this post seems contradictory to the growth of evangelicals in the US; any stats on their rise?

OnTheWayOut

Don't underestimate the prevalence of internet all by itself.

All I can go by is my own path. I did a bunch of research at the library yet remained a JW. All my doubts finally allowed me to simply google "Jehovah's Witnesses" and follow the links. If a 40-something year old JW elder can break down and do just that, teens and young adult JW's and potential recruits can certainly do that also.

Jeffro

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love2Bworldly

This is an excellent thread. My spouse & I often listen to public radio or watch shows like Bill Mahr (think I mispelled his name, oh well). Honestly, I think that the majority of people who are extremely religious, think their religion is the only one, argue with others/debate about the Bible or obsess over the Bible are either: people who are uneducated with modern technology science, etc, or people who are so dysfunctional that it is a way of ignoring their personal issues like a diversion. My husband and I do a lot of research, reading etc on phsychology & mental health in general, so that is where my view is coming from, but I just don't understand why so many people are so obsessed with the Bible-- it was written thousands of years ago, and we can't verify the accuracy of a lot of the writings. Stop and think for a minute-- Jesus was a rabbi, rabbis were supposed to marry at a very young age-- why does the Bible leave out the history of Jesus' life between young child & being 30 years old? Jews break bottles at weddings-- Mary Magdelane broke a bottle of very very very expensive perfume and used it on Jesus feet. Some people say that Jesus was married and had children and they purposefully left that information out of the Bible-- early churches that is--- hence the Catholic Church forbids priests to marry--- a way to control people. Christian churches started out on the wrong foot from the very beginning-- all about control, stealing people's money in the early days, burning so called witches at the stake due to "pagan" beliefs or whatever. Sorry, don't get me started, I despise all religions/churches, not the people just the organizations.

nonjwspouse

It is an interesting bit of info that the Early Catholic Church did not forbid marriage. Though later is became a regulation ( not dogma that is not to be changed)

Peter the first Pope was married.

Currently, Anglican ministers already married when they join the Catholic Church can still remain married if they choose to join the priesthood.

Just an FYI

Faithful Witness

I am going to take the patriotic stand in this discussion.

I think that the Internet has been, and will continue to be a thorn in the foot for the WTS. This is especially true in America, where we cling to our freedom.

JW or not, US citizens can not avoid exposure to the idea that we are all red-blooded and born with certain inalienable rights... LIBERTY being the one we hold most dear. No matter what they may say aloud, Americans can't help having this feeling of entitlement and self-empowerment. The message surrounds us, and no matter your political views, this freedom is precious to you. (If it's not, "please leave!" is the subheading).

As the GB continues to bang their fists harder, forbidding JW's to use their own brains, more of them are going to wake up and realize their in-born potential to think, speak and read whatever they choose. This system is not set up for controlling information or people. Not in these United States of America!

Seeing teen JW's studying the WT on tablets, is a significant sign of their loss of control. The WTS seems to be taking on the philosophy of, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em," when it comes to the Internet. First with the inception and growing use of the blessed websites, now consolidated Into one JW. Org.

Their creation of this new app, being released on Monday, will likely turn into an attempt to replace the online library and the contents of jw org, and then all the information will be automatically piped into every JW's mobile device. This will end the need for an honest-hearted JW to ever go online. They can create their own little online world, feeding the sheep in real time with this new app. Instructions can come quickly, when the end of this evil system is obvious and present. Apostasy can be swiftly identified, with their tracking features that are certainly included in this JW Mobile app.

Phizzy

The number of people here in the U.K who identify as being of "no religion" is on the increase. Membership of Islam and evangelical type churches is also on the increase. The numbers joining the latter are much smaller than the numbers in the former.

Is any of this due entirely to the Internet ? some of it may be, in a small way, but I think it is all part of where we are as a Society here in the U.K.

Part of an increasingly secular Europe, and yet we have many immigrants, many of those start their own Churches, or join others when back home they were Catholic or something. Some, sadly, join the WT/JW farce.

The Internet though, as far as the WT is concerned, is their greatest threat, two or so clicks of your mouse and you are there, where the whole WT house of cards will fall, usually in less than ten minutes of reading.

I do believe we are on the cusp of the time when the Human Race as a whole begins to grow up, mature, and not accept the fairy stories, lies, false history and false claims of organized religion.

This does not mean that "belief" will quickly disappear, but that the need to be dictated to by men in funny dresses and funny hats with antiquated two-thousand year old ideas and teachings will be seen as what it is, an awful anachronism in the 21st Century.

paranoia agent

Allow more and more generations to die off and I predict that althought religion will still exist society in general will be a lot more secular. There is a natural tendency for history to repeat itself, but with the internet I see changes.

cofty

Personally I exited the Wathtower by reading only the bible and old WT publications. I never read any non-JW books or looked at ex-JW info on the web until long after I left.

Having info just a click away must make it more likely somebody will investigate. I still think they need a trigger to give themself permission to be diobedient.

Jeffro

Faithful Witness:

Apostasy can be swiftly identified, with their tracking features that are certainly included in this JW Mobile app.

They probably won't try to track actual location, but if the JW app requests access to your device's location services function (i.e. GPS), just say NO.

More likely, certain information (maybe eventually all information) will probably only be accessible through the app by registering an account to identify members.

Internet VS WTS

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