i've seen many topics about how things are changing or might be changing in jw doctrine/culture.
some have extrapolated how those changes would result in declining jw membership.
i'm curious to know what changes others think would stabilize those numbers.
Great suggestions above!
The best way for them to "stabilize" the numbers, is to encourage more births!
The only way they will get more numbers is from the Born-ins.
It is a "revolving door" religion. Many leave...and the numbers are propped up by new born-ins getting baptised.
to all bodies of elders .
re: audio at sign-language meetings .
dear brothers: .
What a ridiculous letter!
that's what a very elderly jw sister said to me this afternoon, in response to all the sell-offs.
i didn't contradict her - she's far too close to the end, but if it had been a younger jw i'd have suggested this:.
"isn't it a pity that the society doesn't have a section on its web site where it could post photographs of all the new kingdom halls that are getting built every week/month?
Oh dear...the level of cognitive dissonance is appalling!
yeah, i know ... who would want to step foot anywhere near a new-age religious church after being brought up a jw, right?.
i know some will already be judging me, but hold-on - it maybe even worse than you imagine!.
the group i meet-up with ... don't go inside, we never pray, we, erm, we just hang out in the car-park.. you're thinking "wtf?
Why dont churches want people playing pokemon go inside?
Because they dont want people chasing after make-believe beings!.....
it really hurt to hear brothers and sisters commenting about this at the meeting yesterday.. "as in solomon’s case, one of the greatest threats to spirituality is friendship with those who do not understand or respect jehovah’s standards.
some may be associated with the congregation but may be spiritually weak.
others could be relatives, neighbors, coworkers, or schoolmates who are not worshippers of jehovah.
Yes!
That study article last weekend has to be one of the most direct and disgusting forms of cult manipulation ever!
I am sure she will post a separate thread on it soon, but my wife and I had her father directly say that he "has to give careful and prayerful thought to cut association with us" based on coming home from that article!
I hope he does! After all, he is just a leach on our time and money anyway....
do you have examples of hymns you will never hear in kingdom halls in any country.. here are a few of my favorites:.
https://youtu.be/cjivdc-_njs.
https://youtu.be/7gfvl0ef-be .
Well, when they have amazing songs like those on JWBroadcasting instead....
my wife (uber) mentioned today an elderly man who comes to the kh and he suffers from a sever stomach complaint which needs surgery and that there is a 'waiting list' at the local hospital.. so i says, "why dont the elders put the $$ together to get his op done privately.
" (ie out of the govt system and 'waiting lists').
her answer was telling.
Great thread Zeb!
Many years back, there was a young teenager in the cong with a rare form of cancer. His family was doing it tough, and so I wanted to arrange a collection to help the family out towards all the expenses.
I asked why we couldnt make it an official Congregation activity to help them out.
What was the Elders response? I was also told "this is not what we do".
So I took up a private collection amongst any who felt inclined to help out. I was told "not to do it while at the KHall!"
Things like this make me so angry when the Society has "charitable tax-free status" in most countries, and yet they wouldnt know the meaning of the word "charity"!
i just wanted to share with you the thoughts that i've had lately.. my plan was to get a job, become independent and then leaving the org throughout this year 2018. i'm going to achieve the first step in a matter of weeks, the second one soon afterwards but maybe i will wait a little longer for the last one.. one year ago a friend of mine was reinstated.
we weren't very close friends back then, although we got along well.
but, since no many jws in my town want to hang out with him (because of his being a former disfellowshipped), we started to talk and go out more often and in a matter of half a year we've become very close friends, like brothers.
It is always your choice. Only you know your situation and circumstances.
But, I will say this: The longer you are IN, the harder it can be to extricate yourself out.
Also, dont think for a moment that those "edgy witnesses" who you hang out with and do fun activities together, will not take a sudden guilt-induced turn one day and rat you all out!. It happens.
Take care. It is more rewarding to live an honest life than a fringe life....
i had a family relative use this scripture found here to justify shunning.
the scripture reads as followed.
if, now, your right eye is making you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you.+for it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be pitched into ge·henʹna.
Further to everyone's great comments above, it is clear by the context that the JWs are misapplying that scripture.
It says nothing about shunning family members.
Any group that interferes with family relationships and causes division is a cult. Pure and simple.
no really, its golden stuff.
i just listened to it and it contains an amazing interview with an australian activist who i only vaguely have heard of called steven unthank.
he is one of the best guests i've heard on that show, competing with the governing body helper they interviewed once.
Yes!
Really great podcast. He is an amazing guy!
Much respect to Steven!
