How much do you think the internet has hurt JW growth?

by HereIgo 41 Replies latest jw experiences

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  LV101

  The internet is truly the universe's gift to mankind. I've made that comment around a few witnesses. The ex-witnesses I know of are still afraid to peek at anti-witness material online. One still believes in God and knows how bad WT is but must believe in the Satan drivel she was brainwashed about. The other person really doesn't have the time -- talks about how bad the JW religion is occasionally yet has never done any anti-JW research but is definitely long gone from the cult.

  The cult must know they still have tremendous power over the adherents or they wouldn't continue their same business strategy.
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  Vetiver

  You know what? Maybe that was that's one of the reasons they decided to create JW.ORG, as a way to try and control people's natural curiosity to explore others opinions and stories and of course history through the internet. I still remember the magazines in the 90's that warned wives and parents about the danger of the internet. "Your husband is watching porn, or talking to some sexy Cuban Jezabel in Florida, while Satan fills your children's mind with magic and online gaming addiction. Your daughter will also be kidnapped by pedophiles, leering them from online chat rooms. Just get to know the ones at the hall."

  JW.ORG literally made the length of the leash longer, but you're still restrained to the yard and are forbidden to run and learn to fall and get up on your own. Shoot, even the Amish have Rumspringa. I'm thankful for the internet because that's where I met my first friends. We never met, but it gave me some social skills. Not to mention finding silentlambs.org .
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  pale.emperor

  I always remember a demo in a district convention in Manchester about 10 years ago. The demo consisted of a brother on his laptop, thinking out loud like they always do in these demos.

  "What was it that man said on the ministry? I'll check it out on the internet... <click, click, click> what's this? "The truth Jehovah's Witnesses?" GASP!!! This is an apostate website!!" he promptly shuts the laptop down and reports himself to the elders.

  I shit you not.

  I remember it because i thought it was quite excessive even then.
  
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  LoveUniHateExams

  How much do you think the internet has hurt JW growth? - in a nutshell, a lot but not enough.
  
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  freddo

  I remember similar Pale.E.

  At our D.C. the "aghast brother" didn't specify what he saw on his laptop but it obviously shocked the poor darling to the core and he resolved to stay away from the nasty internet.
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  LV101

  LUHE - " . . . not enough" and that's what keeps the cult in business. Even if they did I doubt it would matter. Half won't look online and remain asleep and too old to deal with it.
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  JW GoneBad

  "How Much Do You Think The Internet Has Hurt The Jehovah's Witnesses Growth?"

  Numbers don't lie...

  1) Recently at the Casa Grande Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Arizona. 1625 attendance with 8 born-in youth baptized (ages 9 thru 16) and zero (Zip) new adult converts baptized.

  2) Recently at Norco Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, California. 1550 attendance with 9 born-in youth baptized (ages 10 thru 16) and zero (Zip) new adult converts baptized.

  It's interesting to note: I was told that each of the above circuits has a full force of well over 325 Regular Pioneers and still...out of approximatley 650 Regular Pioneers between these 2 circuits not one (1) new adult convert was brought forth to the point of baptism! I would say, yes indeed, the internet acts like a deterrent and hinders growth among Jehovah's Witnesses. Yay! Yay! Yay!
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  EverApostate

  For sure, the internet woke up one of my JW friend, and he in turn woke me up. Glory to internet !!
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  LV101

  JW GoneBad - the poor children of JWs! Should be a law to protect them. Good news otherwise and thanks for sharing.
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  HereIgo

  Good points, JW GoneBad