Do you think Apostate info (books, sites, etc) slow growth or speed exit?

free2beme

Do you think Apostate info (books, sites, etc) slow growth or speed exit? When I joined the religion, I didn't read Apostate information at all. Once I left, I read a ton. I don't even remember a desire to do so when I entered and yet I see comment on site from former Witnesses that people feel it might be slowing the growth of the religion. Which, with the age of the internet, may be true. Yet for the most part, books by Franz and sites like this, helped speed the exit ... but I jumped in without ever seeing them. What do you think?

Frannie Banannie

This forum has a LOT of newbies this year. Also, we have a LOT of faders and many lurkers keep coming out of the "woodwork," so to speak, though again....many still lurk....guess it's a "lurk 'n learn" thang.

Many may leave because of disillusionment with the WT policies and practices, while still holding on to them as the "troof." Sites such as this one, Randy's "Freeminds" and Franz's "CoC," etc. will help open their eyes, dispell their feelings of guilt and shame and help to put their thinkability in balance once again....or perhaps for the first time.

Frannie

luna2

All I can say is that If I'd had internet access when I was first contacted by Witnesses, I know I would have looked them up and it might have made a difference. Finding a sites like this board, Randy's and others' would certainly have given me some hard questions to ask the at the very least.

I hope that anybody who is contacted by JWs now and is tempted to start a Bible study with them does some research online first to see what they are getting themselves into.

georgefoster

It seems to be most effective for those who already have doubts. My wife won't even consider the stuff cause she's up to her eyeballs in the "truth."

I doubt the people who get sucked into the bible studies and love bombing bother to research the apostate stuff before they join.

jgnat

Both.

How many "I am in love with a JW" threads do we deal with in a month? I am betting for everyone who posts to those threads, there are fifty just like them reading. I think we help a few of them avoid baptism.

How many teenagers of JW's do we wean to adulthood in a year? I am betting there are a hundred teens just like them, reading, not posting. I think we help a few of them avoid baptism.

More and more people go to the internet first to check out the dirt. For instance, when my daughter considered joining Watkins, I did an extensive google search for any sort of scandal. I couldn't find any.

The JW's by comparison, get over a thousand hits.

Search: "Watkins Incorporated" scandal (40 obscure hits. Unfortunately, since my last search, a Mr. Watkins, not to be confused with Watkins incorporated, became associated with Enron)
Search: "Watchtower Society" scandal (1,940 hits, starting with e-watchman.com, randytv.com, watchtowerinformationservice.org)

...and, just in case this makes the JW's feel especially "persecuted" in these last days, compare,

Search: "Promise Keepers" scandal (7,280 hits)
Search: "Pyramid Scheme" scandal (8,200 hits)
Search :"Church of Jesus Crist of Latter-Day Saints" scandal (13,100 hits).

homesteader

via the internet i found randy at freeminds, was able to order crisis in conscience from amazon, found this web site and was finally able to free myself. hats off to all those sincerely working to help ones like myself.

I quit!

I don't think it effects the hardcore JW. A hardcore j-dub wouldn't be on the net or accept any literature against the watchtower. If a witness is on the net no matter what they say the are 100% dub or they wouldn't be on the internet. The tower says stay off it. It helps those aren't obeying the wt in all things or who have just a tinge of doubt whether concious or subconscious. These people will probably look at it. It may take a while for it to sink in but it will be there to fall back on when they are ready. That is where I was I guess about a year before I left. A friend at work gave me "A Slave of the Watchtower to read. It got me to start thinking. The process was slow but after reading it I started to question things more. I began to wonder what if there was a chance that the author was right.

It also helps those who have left for not because they don't believe the watchtower is the truth but for other reasons, It helps them realize they are not the problem, the watchtower is. People who leave and don't come across negative info (I don't like to call it apostate info) on the tower often think they are the problem and usually aren't very happy. Once they see that the watchtower is the problem it helps them work it out.

skyman

You betta I know this and other sites work very well I am proof of that.

PaulJ

Definitely both. It slows growth cos many new interested ones might check out JW's on the internet. It will also speed exit because those JW's daring enough to look on the internet will find sites like this, and possibly leave after finding the 'truth' about the religion.

Moridin

I know for me if it hadn't been for this website and freeminds.org I would've never left the witnesses. These things and the ppl on this board helped me so much and I'm forever in their debt.

Do you think Apostate info (books, sites, etc) slow growth or speed exit?

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