Increase in Bible Studies - not a good indicator of growth

by truthseeker 15 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  truthseeker

  Joker said the following recently in his 2003 JW Worldwide report...

  Almost every country saw an increase in Bible Studies. From last year, tens of thousands more in the United States, and 10,000 in the UK. As expected, Bible studies rose to 5,726,509 (up 7.9%).

  Should we take this to be a good sign of potential growth?

  For anyone that can go back this far, when the Live Forever book was released in 1982, there was no special time limit (correct me if I'm wrong) on going through this book with a Bible student. Most studies took roughly a year, sometimes longer to go through this book.

  When the Society released the Knowledge book in 1995, it was said from the assembly, that as the remaining time left for this system is so short, we should consider covering the material in this book in no more than 6 months. A year later, in 1996, the 'What Does God Require' brochure was released, which is now the primary method of indoctrination for new bible students.

  Nearly the best part of a decade later, what do the results show for Bible studies?

  Let's look at the figures.

  Joker's report says that there were a peak of 5.7 million Bible studies. Looking at my 2003 yearbook, there were 5.3 million Bible studies. The service report as you know runs from 1 Sep to 31 Aug. Assuming that each Bible student took a year to go through the Knowledge book and got baptized, you would have had a peak of 11.7 million active Jehovah's Witnesses.

  Instead, you have a 2.2% increase and more Bible studies!!!

  Even if you account for just 50% of 2002 service year's bible students getting baptized, you should realistically have 9 million JW's.

  With 5.7 million Bible studies for the 2003 service year, one can only wonder what on earth there Bible teachers are telling them.

  How about another way...

  If it took 1 year to decide whether a bible student wanted to commit to the truth or not, theoretically, there should not be 5.7 million Bible stduies. It's just not possible.

  The Society have released a few hints in recent issues of the WT, that many Bible students are 'holding back' from getting baptised.

  5.7 million Bible studies is not a good sign - it's a disaster.

  There's no way that you could consistently have so many people studying the Bible year after year, with that number getting ever higher, and yet the actual number of JW's increases by only 100,000+.
• 

  shamus

  Well,

  Considering that they consider going to some jackasses door and talking for 5 minutes every week a bible study, what the hell does it take to have one? They're numbers are flawed at best.
• 

  blondie

  Remember that the WTS started this program of doorstep Bible studies where you talk to the person at the door for 5 minutes three times and then you can turn in a Bible study on your time slip. If the person, quits on the 4th time...you still have 1 bible study.

  Blondie
• 

  shamus

  I tend to forget the bullshit after a while...

  Thanks for reminding me, Blondie. How can you call that a bibile study? Talking with someone about a scripture or something... doesn't there have to be a meeting of the minds in order to say that something just happened???

  Example. A contract is defined as a meeting of the minds.... you need both parties to agree to something stated, or written. That constitutes an agreement.

  Where is the agreement that a person is having a "bible study"? I bet the householder would be very suprised that he is a bible study and is being entered into a statistic!
• 

  Allinclusive

  And then there is the work of reactivating "witnesses". Everyone has to study again
• 

  shamus

  Really? You mean, if I was to go back they would study with me AGAIN!!!!!

  OMG, forget it... they couldn't get me into that waste of time for all the tea in china.

  Seriously, though, do they do that?
• 

  Allinclusive

  Come on shamus, you have to be humble!! Don't you think you forgot so many doctrins? And what about all the new-ligtht while you were not attending?
• 

  shamus

  I just can't believe that they would make me study they're old books again about demons, paradise earth, yada yada yada...

  God, like that's gonna make me want to come back..

  Nice to meet you, BTW, allinclusive...
• 

  blondie

  February 2001 KM p 4

  The Congregation Service Committee will take the lead in arranging for shepherding calls to be made on all inactive ones. If it is determined that the individual would benefit from a personal Bible study, the service overseer will arrange for assistance, after consulting with other members of the service committee as to who would be best suited to conduct the study. Although it may not be necessary to have the study for a prolonged period of time, the one assigned to conduct it may report the time, return visits, and Bible study.
• 

  Enishi

  In my hall, most of the Bible studies either just lost interest, became to busy to study anymore, said that they didn't agree with or teachings, or put an end to the study. Many of them, I think, agree with the witnesses doctrine on Jehovah amd the ressurection, but don't want to enslave themselves to all the nonsense that is put upon us, or don't trust the WTS. Some of the studies don't seem to anywhere because the person conducting it would spend the vast majority of their time talking about things that had nothing to do with the study.