Annual Report

by St George of England 88 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  TonusOH

  I wonder if the slower decline of JWs is due, in part, to the door-to-door work they did for so long. That's a level of dedication that people cannot help but notice. Sure, many people notice it when they are being bothered on a weekend morning or accosted on the street, but at least some people will admit that it takes some dedication and a bit of brass to keep doing it, especially in places that aren't all that nice to walk around in.

  Could the recent changes lead to less activity in the field? And can this lead to a short-term increase, as people notice that JWs are not going door-to-door as zealously*, followed by a period of decline as they begin to fade into the background of public perception?

  * In other words, the cessation of the door-to-door work might be seen as a sign of the end.
• 

  slimboyfat

  I wonder if the slower decline of JWs is due, in part, to the door-to-door work they did for so long.

  To be clear, JWs don’t have a “slower decline” than other churches. They are increasing while other churches are decreasing. That’s not slower, that’s opposite directions. And yes, door to door preaching must be part of the explanation.

  Another common mistake is to say that JW growth is below population growth. But that’s not true either. World population growth is now under 1% per year. Apart from a couple of years, JW growth has been consistently higher than population growth.
  

  I have been expecting JWs to start declining for decades, but it hasn’t happened yet. I still think they will probably start declining at some point, maybe within 10 years, everything else being equal. But then who knows what will happen in the world in general, with wars, climate change, AI, pandemics, and more, and what impact all that could have.
• 

  Vidiot

  I think there’s something we all need to be reminded of…

  …that in the long run, it doesn’t actually matter how many alleged “adherents” the WTS claims.

  If more and more are just warming seats while scrolling their smartphones, Zooming in and tuning out, fibbing about their ministry activity, living as they please without fear of being “removed”, and most importantly, closing their wallets (either because they’re PIMO or broke as shit)…

  …any numbers the WT claims - fudged or otherwise - are essentially irrelevant.
• 

  Sanchy

  What Slimboyfat fails to see is the trend
• 

  slimboyfat

  What do you mean, Sanchy?

  And vidiot, if you think JWs are the only ones who play on phones in church you’d be surprised. Some churches I’ve attended young people are habitually looking at other stuff on their phones, much more than in the KH. It’s funny how people assume any indications of distractions or exaggeration are peculiar to JWs when in fact you get the same in other groups, often more so.
• 

  Vidiot

  I never said it was peculiar to JWs…

  …but back in the day, way more rank-and-filers were way more engaged in the meetings, assemblies, service, etc.

  Growing apathy over attendance and ministry (however it’s manifested), overall diminished fear of congregation discipline, and declining inclination and ability to support the Org financially can’t help but have an impact.
• 

  slimboyfat

  Yes definitely. I’m still reeling from the fact that people don’t have a physical Bible and don’t bother looking up the scriptures any more. It used to be at the convention that you’d hear the rustle of thousands of pages as everybody located the scripture the speaker was reading. Now, silence.
• 

  Journeyman

  The fact that - up until recently at least - it's been very hard to just be a passive attendee in the JWs may well have a large part to play in all this. Until recent significant changes, it's not really been possible to identify as a JW and "associate" without significant effort.

  Unlike many other faiths where it is sufficient just to turn up to the local place of worship now and then, the JWs have demanded considerable effort to be considered one of them. Attending two (originally three) meetings a week, monthly report of "significant" field service (usually at least 8-10 hours), regularly meeting with your local group for "hall cleaning", twice yearly circuit overseer visits and assemblies, a Memorial and a summer convention, and so on. Any significant failure in any of those areas used to result in awkward questions at best, and at worst, the dreaded "shepherding visit"!

  I'm sure this is a significant part of what has kept the numbers steadier for the JWs compared to many other religions. Until very recently, you've really had to work on being a "member" (and at the same time, suppress or erase any doubts or tendency to relax/back-pedal).

  However, I do suspect that the many "simplifications" of the past 5-10 years will begin to significantly eat into the JW numbers soon - perhaps in the next 3-5 years, and growing after that. Having said that, there is the opposite possibility that by becoming "JW Lite", still with the promises of paradise and resurrection, etc, but with a "softer" approach to discipline and lower "barriers" to staying in, that might actually give them a short-term boost, as inactive ones, hesitant family members and others who have previously hovered on the edge of the JWs might decide to join now.

  I’m still reeling from the fact that people don’t have a physical Bible and don’t bother looking up the scriptures any more.

  I'm with you on that. I've kind of got over not hearing the rustle of pages, but the fact that there are practically no physical publications used at all is so weird: the speakers use tablets, the songs are projected on screens, and everyone follows on their phone or other mobile device. And of course, in several places, significant numbers are not even physically present, but connecting online on a regular basis!
• 

  joe134cd

  This reminds me of a time when, for a bible reading, I took a print out for instead of a physical bible. I remember at the time been told of publicly from the platform not to do it. I remember because I felt so embarrassed. My how times have changed.
• 

  careful

  SBF:

  It’s funny how people assume any indications of distractions or exaggeration are peculiar to JWs when in fact you get the same in other groups, often more so.
  

  Agreed. I had a conversation with some game wardens in New England and they explained how fishing and hunting licenses have gone way down among the youth who had traditionally been strong supporters of both sports for over a century. When I asked what the youth are doing with their time instead, they said "playing games on their cellphones." It's actually damaged the tax income for this state and they've had to revamp their budget because of it. Furthermore, sales of hunting and fishing gear have also plummeted, damaging the sporting goods industry there.

  I was speaking to a Jewish woman about the youth in their synagogue, that is, the few who still attend because their parents want them to. She told me of two teens who I happen to know. She said they attend but are 100% disengaged the entire time, spending the entire hour plus on their cellphones, oblivious to what the congregation is doing.

  The fact is that the cell has, for very many youth, become the center of their lives, and this is bound to affect Witnessland too. It's everywhere.