JWs - A View From Outside (page 2)

Phizzy

Good observations Joe ! and I have to say I always enjoy your insightful Posts, your perspective is a unique addition to this Forum, as you are one of the few who have hardly suffered directly because of the JW religion.

I have to say that I agree 100% with your view that it is not right to take away any comfort or hope from JW's or any religious person, it may well be the only way they can cope.

I to, like Smiddy, when I left for good, made the point about how irrelevant they are, and ineffective their "preaching" has been, and now of course it is even more so.

In my youth a good number of JW's could make a fair job of explaining their beliefs, and many conducted "studies", you were a bit of a failure if you did not conduct at least one "study" as far as C.O's were concerned.

The majority of today's JW's are only capable of the "Hit and Run" method, drop a Tract and leg it. They know, deep down, that they cannot defend their "faith".

Their demise is inevitable, what do they have to offer anyone in reality ? Only the Mental Prison that is life in a Cult.

punkofnice

they remain a minor sect/cult that few normal people have any interest in or knowledge of,

'ello Joe, how you doing bach?

Yes. I totally agree with this sentiment. The JWs think they're part of a bigger plan and the most important thing on Earth.....Twits!!!!

insidetheKH

Jehovah's Witnesses themselves are aware they are just a minor and tiny religion and throughout history it was always like that. The israelites were just a tiny nation.... noah and only 7 others were saved.. abraham and Lot only ones that were saved etc etc always tiny amounts of believers that were seen as 'right' and the big majority seen as 'wrong'

But Jehovah's Witnesses are confident that this will soon change. They are expecting all other religions to be done away with in a short period of time and are confident they alone will stay.

DesirousOfChange

So very true joe , before I left I would point out to" associates" that if you canvassed every housholder in any given street asking them what JW`s beleived , I would say 99.9% wouldnt have a clue and wouldnt care.

So much for the effectiveness of the World Wide (Disciple-making) Work.

Doc

sowhatnow

thats a good thing right?

bemused

Couldn't agree more with Joe. I'm also a never-in (a close relative converted some years back so I use this site to keep up with JW developments in the hope that I can one day persuade them of the errror of their ways).

The vast majority of people have no knowledge of Witnesses beyond the fact that they knock on your door about once every three years. They don't know their beliefs, history or governance and have zero interest in finding out. If they stop going door to door then their profile will drop even lower. Any idea that people might choose to look at jw.org of their own accord is ridiculous in the extreme.

While it's good to see some mainstream media having a laugh at AM3's tight trouser issues, it's ultimately an irrelevance what the external world says. This at most confirms their view that the JWs are part of a minor crackpot sect that they can safely ignore. (Pantsgate is far more valuable internally as it has the potential to sow seeds of doubt in Witnesses's minds about the quality of their supposedly divinely inspired leadership.)

I can never really get my mind around why Witnesses are so convinced that their beliefs are right - if it's all so compelling then why does almost everyone ignore the message? Still, that's cults for you I guess.

steve2

Fair observations from InsidetheKH. They certainly do see themselves as 'the narrow way to life'.

That said, their readiness to perceive persecution and become whipped up with importance regarding their alleged role and prominence on the world of warnings scene is something else again.

Watch the hard core Witness puff up with outrage at the suggestion that, on a world wide scale, they are a puny, irrelevant organization. Like handfuls of other self-appointed 'heralders of the coming kingdom', they take every shake and shiver of attention personally, seeing these as divinely foretold signs of persecution for being unique bearers of 'truth'.

For a small group, me thinks they puff up and protest too much.

Brock Talon

Joe Grundy,

I've been thinking quite a bit about this issue. That is, I've been contemplating just how important and impactful to the world the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and its attendant Jehovah's Witness faith is. Your first post takes the position that it is a minor cult and of little size and concern. But I'd like you to just consider the numbers, just by themselves. (The legal ramfications of Jehovah's Witnesses are not considered... things like religious freedom issues fought in courts, etc.)

I am putting these thoughts into the prologue of my new book, "Escape from Paradise". Here is an excerpt from it for your consideration:

--

"At the time of this writing, Jehovah's Witnesses claim over 7 million active followers as tallied during the only holiday they observe: their annual "Memorial of Christ's Death". That means that with over 7 billion people on Earth, Jehovah's Witnesses average 1 out of every 1,000 of the population. This average includes China, India, Indonesia, the Middle East, and other populous, yet Bible adverse, parts of the world. If you take into account those associated with the religion (the total in attendance at that "Memorial"), like inactive members, non-Witness spouses, and those newly interested, the number becomes an incredible 1 out of every 400 people on the planet that the Watch Tower organization has influence on!

The impact of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society becomes even more remarkable when you consider the number of ex-Jehovah's Witnesses there are. Nobody is certain as to how many that actually numbers to... millions? Tens of millions? Well, it's for these unnumbered and unnamed that I write. While I will not presume to speak for these people, I do want to tell my story in honor of them, because many can't or won't speak for themselves. I believe that in most cases, my story will be their story, and it's not a pretty one either."

Brock Talon

neverendingjourney

They are at best a minor footnote in history.

I was terrified at first that people would find out about my JW past and would be able to deduce what a weird and awkward upbringing I had. It was a surprise to learn that for the most part people had very little to no idea what it meant. Many simply didn't care. They don't have the context to be able to appreciate what it fully means.

Losing the fear of having people discover I was once a JW was a big step forward in my recovery.

berrygerry

JWs are pursuing outdated model of proselytation that had worked 80-40 years ago, but does not work anymore.

It must have been quite a battle at the top when a marketing company told the WTS to concentrate on a website and on cartoon characters, when so many influential old-timers would be saying what has worked in the past will work today.

JWs - A View From Outside

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