The Ethiopian-Eritrean Evangelical Church has16 million members. The Armenian Apostolic Church has 9 million. So I guess you can say the JWs influence lies somewhere between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Ethiopian-Eritrean Church.
Memory hole, international conspiracy, and the JW international network
by slimboyfat 22 Replies latest social current
-
-
slimboyfat
Some national churches have huge numbers, much bigger than JWs. What I’m talking about is the combination of high numbers and international spread. I don’t think there are many churches that beat JWs on that score. Or other organisations of any kind, for that matter. The Catholic Church is one, and the SDAs are similar to JWs, with higher numbers overall, but are weak in Europe. What other examples are there?
The Mormons are not comparable, for example, because 90% of Mormons are in North and South America and there are hardly any in Europe countries in particular. Plus their numbers are grossly inflated overall compared with JWs.
-
Vidiot
FFGhost - “…JWs are so vanishingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things that it’s not even worthwhile to post a correction…”
Ouch. 😁
-
peacefulpete
The JW church has grown through aggressive proselytism/marketing and resisted schisms through hierarchically directed aggressive shunning, this has resulted in the demographics you seem to be lauding.
There is no doubt this formula has been successful. Their recent adoption of colorful modern media and internet will likely offset the hard work of many concerned, abused former members and fact checkers.
-
Dagney
The JW church has grown through aggressive proselytism/marketing and resisted schisms through hierarchically directed aggressive shunning, this has resulted in the demographics you seem to be lauding.
Exactly my belief. I call it "Avon" marketing. I don't like Avon. But if a coworker brings we a catalog, I look through it and would always buy a mascara or lipstick or whatever even though I don't really need it. Same with the active proselytizing for all those years, and especially 70's, 80's and 90's. There is no way the current activity, dying/exiting of millions, and attendance support any growth whatsoever. D2D is not what it used to be, and the privileged can stand by their carts for hours with 0 results. Parking lots half full and regional attendance a fraction of what they were...do the math.
WBTS have lied all along about their numbers, ask any secretary who reported numbers. They will obfuscate anyone and anything for the preservation of the corporation. They know they what the future holds, and investments will go along way to keep the corporation alive.
-
Gorb
They have a branch in nearly every country.
I'm thinking about agencies that could use that.
G.
-
NotFormer
I don't have a problem with the premise that the WT organisation is of sufficient scope and reach that it might be a tempting place to insert some agents. What I do have a problem with is this: you would want to have said agents at or near the top, both in NY Bethel and the various national Bethels, simply to make things easier for yourself down the track. There's a problem with this, which is often alluded to here: there is no clear and predictable path to the top. GB appointments seem to happen without any predictability; it just seems to be the most loyal Bethelite available when an appointment needs to be made. I imagine senior Bethel posts are not much more predictable or inevitable.
IMO, government agencies or crime syndicates wanting to embed themselves within the JW network would have long ago made ascent to the higher levels of the organisation much easier and quicker.
Back to an objection in this thread that the JW network would not be seen as useful from any covert point of view. Let's remember that da Judge was able to get his booze supply smuggled across the Canada/US border by his own couriers. The WT straddles a lot more borders these days.
Do I believe that anything speculated about above has happened? Not firmly. It's possible, but not irresistibly probable. I won't say anything more than I have an open mind. Let's leave it at that. 😕
-
TonusOH
I don't think you'd need to get them all the way to the top. And they would be so easy to infiltrate that you could get plenty of people into positions where they could accomplish whatever work it was they are tasked with.
The only concern is the psychological damage to the agents who would have to lead a JW life.
-
careful
SBF, what have you been smoking? Drinking? Dreaming about? Have you looked into any side effects from medications you take?
Have you thought about fixing your concerns and energies on more tangible subjects?
Just a thought . . .
-
slimboyfat
I was just about to ask the same question – has slimboyfat lost his mind – but you beat me to it! 🤔 Then I remembered he’s me! 😮
When you talk about focussing on more tangible subjects what can you be referring to. 🤓