Jehovahs witnesses that believe its "The Truth" vs JW's who know it isn't (page 2)

Christian Gutierrez

We used to feel like we fully knew the whole history of the organization when we were witnesses too. So much that it never crossed our mind to feel the need to do more research!

LongHairGal

CHRISTIAN GUTIERREZ:

Years ago I would have said more people in the JW religion were "true believers".

Nowadays, I am inclined to think fewer are true believers - mostly elderly maybe...The answer is complicated though. There are those who believe the religion has 'problems' and something is not right, but they still consider themselves believers. They use the excuse of "imperfect men".

What I DO think is that today there is a significant number of the "conscious class" in any given hall. These people found out all the religion's dirty secrets on the Internet. Some still attend because family is still in. Others are anxious to be gone but are biding their time until the moment is right for them to do a "fade" like many others.

Finkelstein

It would be an honest guess that there are a large number of participating JWS who know it isn't totally the truth but go and participate for family and social interaction, maybe holding in thought that's its good to be involved with the organization nevertheless.

I've heard some JWS even say this openly.

Wasanelder Once

Interestingly they used to ask "what book did you study?". Since the books changed doctrines like a revolving door they often only know what they studied in the book they used. To be instructed any more than that isn't needed for them. They have the basics, 1914, tribulation, Armageddon, new world, Panda time. So I don't think they care if its still the Truth. They have the version of Truth they learned, they are in the club and on the hamster wheel with no time to learn new things or reflect. They don't read the magazines, they nod off during talks and do little service but will defend it to their grave, That's our JW's these days.

stuckinarut2

Actual knowledge of doctrinal facts or belief in the specific teachings are secondary to OBEDIENCE to the GB and OBEDIENCE to the routine of JW life.

Diogenesister

Depends if you included children and young people in that percentage.

If you did it would be pretty high....after all something like 66% of people raised as JW eventually leave.

If we are taking about baptised established jw's over the age of 25, I'd say a good 5 - 10 % are trapped in and would walk out tomorrow if they wouldn't be shunned. At least.

scratchme1010

Hey guys! What do you think is the percentage of JW's believe that it is the truth and the percentage of those who think it might be some false or all false???

I took some time thinking about this before entering an answer. What I think is that the question is a little too broad. In order to accurately quantify this, I think one has to consider that many current JWs may not believe in certain things, but believe in others. It's not a believer/non-believer thing. So there might be a need to define what constitutes a person thinking that the WT is a "false religion". Will that be based on a percentage of the things that they teach that they accept versus the ones that they don't?

Then there's the issue of believe vs action. Many people still follow their rules and act as JWs out of fear, not trusting their own doubts. I'm not referring to those who are truly PIMO. I'm talking about people who don't believe or have doubts, but are too afraid of acting on it, out of not trusting their own feelings. Will that be considered people who think it's a false religion? The same concept applies to measuring actions and activities. Will there be a percentage of practices that a person does according to what they teach versus the ones they don't?

Also, in this very forum there are many people who are in various stages of leaving, some no longer attending meetings, but still holding on to some or all of the JW believes. A sample of those might increase the number of believers if you can count them as believers of that religion being "the truth", or otherwise counted as believers of it being a "false religion" because of where they are now in relationship to the WT.

Then there's the issue of "true religion"/"false religion". If you ask me, all religions are false. They all have at least one believe I don't accept as right or truthful. I am sure that I am not the only person who thinks that way. There may be others that still consider it to be truthful in spite of things that they don't accept or understand. What exactly constitutes a "true/false" religion?

Finally, there's the issue of the real reasons why people join religions in the first place, especially one like the JWs. According to research, the main reasons why people join and stay in a given religious organization have nothing to do with what the religion teaches. They are related to relationships with loved ones, or because many people feel safe from abusive families, or that's how they abstain from abusing drugs and alcohol, or to find a suitable mate. They care more about the structure and guidance that religion gives them (or the opportunities to socialize) than whether or not they actually believe (or even understand) what they teach. To me, it seems like by default, the vast majority of people can't care less about what they teach.

Sorry if I'm being too analytical.

Phoebe

I never doubted it...not for a minute. Until this year.

I now realise I've learnt more about the religion this year than I ever knew before. I was one of those than went blindly along with everything. I had total trust in the GB that they were doing the research for us and we could rely on them 100%

In hindsight, it was lazy. I couldn't be bothered to check for myself, but then why should I?

I think most people I know believe what the GB tell them. A few may have niggling doubts but have a 'well, I don't really believe that but I'll go along with it for now' attitude.

One thing I do know, is a lot of JWs today seem to have very little bible knowledge. When my husband was talking to the COBE the other day, he said he was shocked at how little the COBE knew. They are so busy getting in the hours, I don't think they study deeply. I didn't. I just studied WT material and accepted it as fact.

AverageJoe1

PIMOs 60% in the developed world I’d guess.

steve2

It is hard to doubt what you don't know or care that your organization teaches and/or your organization expects you to believe.

Example:

Several decades ago, when I was still in, a householder asked me some hard questions about JW doctrines. I said I'd find out the answers and call back.(I cannot now remember what those questions were - but the elders' reactions stick in my mind to this day).

I asked a couple of elders who replied, "We don't believe that," and continued on their way to meet with other JWs at the local tennis club. I'd like to say that they talked the questions over with me - but they didn't even do that.

I wondered at the time how they could so easily dismiss the householder's questions and continue on their way to recreational activities when even I knew we did believe it. They didn't even know what their organization taught on those issues - and simply concluded "we don't believe that." Is that arrogance? disinterest? lack of curiosity - or all three?

Where does such unthinking confidence come from that even difficult questions do not have the power to disturb one enough to investigate?

BTW, I returned to the householder but kept it brief, telling her she had got it wrong: We didn't believe what she had said we believed even though I knew we did. That experience disturbed me for several years before I left.

Jehovahs witnesses that believe its "The Truth" vs JW's who know it isn't

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