Aren't you a bit amazed that the WTS/JWS is still around ? (page 3)

steve2

What about the other two American-cult survivors, Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) and Seventh-Day Adventists, two thriving, flourishing religious organizations whose tentacles encircle the globe - with the obvious exception of lslamic countries? Who'd have thought adventism and Smith's lunacy would last so long?

GLTirebiter

The leaders following Herbert W. and Garner Ted changed them to a more mainstream Evangelical sect. They no longer call themselves Worldwide Church of God, and would hardly recognize the original teachings...though witnesses might, as their respective founders had many doctrines in common.

Finkelstein

Thanks for the clarification Compound Complex and GL Tirebiter

Would it be fair to say the GB of today are getting a bit nervous or paranoid as of late ?

compound complex

You're welcome, Finkelstein!

Urban myth or not, it has been written somewhere (The Freeminds Journal, by Randall Watters, I think) that Fred Franz read TPT magazine. If I can find the reference, I'll post it.

Edited to add: A wonderful thread by cameo-d on The Worldwide Church of God and H.W. Armstrong . . .

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/175584/this-man-responsible-many-your-nightmares

Finkelstein

Fred Franz read TPT magazine.

And probably thought, hey these guys are stealing are ideas !

venus

They were waiting for the greater Cyrus to dry the waters (members of Christendom) before great tribulation making it easy for JWs to preach with utmost urgency.

But the opposite is happening now. They are already dried in vast areas such as China, India, Gulf countries ... and going to be dried in Russia

Finkelstein

Here is some information that relates to the JWS .....

Doomsday cult is an expression used to describe groups who believe in apocalypticism and millenarianism, and can refer both to groups that predict disaster, and to those that attempt to bring it about.[1] The expression was first used by sociologist John Lofland in his 1966 study of a group of members of the Unification Church of the United States in California, Doomsday Cult: A Study of Conversion, Proselytization, and Maintenance of Faith. A classic study of a group with cataclysmic predictions had previously been performed by Leon Festinger and other researchers, and was published in his book When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World.[2][3]

Referring to his study, Festinger and later other researchers have attempted to explain the commitment of members to their associated doomsday cult, even after the prophecies of their leader have turned out to be false. Festinger explained this phenomenon as part of a coping mechanism called dissonance reduction, a form of rationalization. Members often dedicate themselves with renewed vigor to the group's cause after a failed prophecy, and rationalize with explanations such as a belief that their actions forestalled the disaster, or a belief in the leader when the date for disaster is postponed.

Some researchers believe that the use of the term by the government and the news media can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, in which actions by authorities reinforces the apocalyptic beliefs of the group, which in turn can inspire further controversial actions. Group leaders have themselves objected to comparisons between one group and another, and parallels have been drawn between the concept of a self-fulfilling prophecy and the theory of a deviancy amplification spiral

smiddy

No i`m not because of the many reasons already noted about the WWCOG ,Adventism ,Mormons ,even the Berean Bible Institute Inc. that a then P.O told me in the early 1960`s that they were an offshoot of C.T Russell`s teachings with their HQ in Rosanna Vic.Australia they still advertise in the Readers Digest.( how true or not what he said I dont know)

E.G. : "Israel and the Middle East" "After Armageddon Gods Kingdom" Free booklet and DVD is offered .

The very fact that the JW leadership can re-write their own history and the R&F dont give a stuff doesnt say much for their integrity for the truth does it .

Phizzy

I suppose the best example of unbelievable longevity for ridiculous cults/religions is that of the Shakers.

As they forbade child bearing their demise was inevitable, but took much longer than I would have predicted.

The JW Brand will be around for a good while, although they are not as savvy as the other cults when it comes to money, but the business model they have produces a good return with small overheads, even now.

Eventually Education will do away with all the really silly religions, and maybe do away with all organized religion, I do hope so.

pale.emperor

I think people are just coasting a long now, especially the younger generation. The older ones have invested too much time and energy to call it quits. From my own experience, i can see a number of ones a few years younger than me that are just waiting for their parents to die so they can stop going to the meetings. I look at my old KH and wonder who is going to be the next elders? There's very few young ones and virtually no young people are being converted.

Was speaking to my ex yesterday while we were taking our daughter to a hospital appointment. It struck me that i never noticed before how often she uses the phrase "we're not allowed..." or "are we allowed such and such?"

Allowed? You're a grown woman. Decide for yourself.

Aren't you a bit amazed that the WTS/JWS is still around ?

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