Posts by Fisherman

34

1290 JW Congregations have been deleted since 4th Dec 2022

by ComingOutaMyCage in

jw
friends

https://i.redd.it/hd9p1g3ssr2b1.jpg.

1290 jw congregations have been deleted since 4th dec 2022. i have a full map so you can explore active/deleted congs, and also orphaned halls https://analytics.jws-library.one/viewmap.html.

many of the deletions in the usa appear to be foreign language groups.

Fisherman

There was a time in the US when property was cheap and there was a lot of people coming in too and halls had too many people. Things are expensive nowadays so convenience will have to be put aside and people will need to travel to get to the hall. Congs need to be consolidated for financial reasons, I’m just guessing.

I will say that it appears that people nowadays don’t have the interest and fervor and excitement to join a religion in response to the preaching work and coming into the JW. Not so inclined.

In the generation will not pass away era, the excitement of the end coming and the cut off dates was a catalyst compelling( and the new teachings about jesus not dying on the cross and the trinity, etc) people to convert but Christian living theme of study presently is not very interesting.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

Name any religion that advertises that they are NOT the true religion.

And in every trial each litigant presents his case; so it depends not on the presented claims and conclusions of the litigant but on the trier of facts to form an opinion. Of course if he is angry or offended with one of the litigant, he doesn’t care and doesn’t want it.

I remember the moonies, and harykrishnas who had a dwelling close to wt back in the day. On his way to work, RW saw HK in their garb every morning. They also played the moonies film in the theater close to wt back then. I saw the film. We had a hk come to the hall once and he told us he was there because he wanted to invite one of our females to a leave feast. We kicked him out.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

So without 1914 or 1919, what exactly makes association with wt essential to salvation?

JW teach that the wt is part of the Messianic kingdom aka God’s org and JW are the faithful and discreet slave. Obviously, Jesus is the final judge at the separation of sheep and goat but according to JW , JW is true Christianity.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

What doesn't depend on wt?

The substance of it.

For example, the conduct of the Jews or their beliefs true or false had no effect on the truth of scripture and their role in God’s purpose to write God’s Word and to produce the Messiah. It did not depend on them—for example.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

99.9% of JWs would accept it

And you are also right that JW and lot of of other people just believe things without truly understanding it but belief does not mitigate truth nor validate it.

Let’s say hypothetically that you witnessed an event and you know with certainty that the event occurred because you measured it. And you draw certain conclusions from what you experienced. Your conclusions derived from your measurement might be wrong but you know that the event is real.

Even if in court your conclusions are debunked and even if the event itself was proven not to have occurred, nobody is going to unconvince you. You know what you know although you accept your mistake about your conclusions.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

If the GB released an "new understanding" article tomorrow dismissing the 1914 math, 99.9% of JWs would accept it

That is never ever ever going to happen for the reasons I gave:1914 is JW standing.

But let’s say that 1914 teaching becomes defunct. You are right that JW are still convinced on the org and in the Bible and that is because their faith doesn’t depend on it. JW are convinced that God is real and the promise of eternal life and relief is true. It doesn’t depend on wt.

53

What`s the reason some of you think JW`s are in decline ?

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

from what i can see no such thing is happening.i became a jw in 1960 and remained for about 30 years and the numbers of active jw`s today in the world are far greater than they were back then.. and here in australia the numbers are much higher than they were back then .. so i don`t see that their in decline or have any worries about losing support .. don`t the numbers speak for themselves ?.

is it just wishful thinking on your part ?.

Fisherman

when are the still in believers going to learn that the JW religion is a false religion

That’s what the majority thought of JC back in the 1st century. But the evidence he showed convinced the apostles and others. Same with JW.They are convinced. Even if conclusions about time turn out wrong, what the Bible says about God’s promise of eternal life and relief of suffering are believed to be as good as fulfilled and more real that empirical science.

53

What`s the reason some of you think JW`s are in decline ?

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

from what i can see no such thing is happening.i became a jw in 1960 and remained for about 30 years and the numbers of active jw`s today in the world are far greater than they were back then.. and here in australia the numbers are much higher than they were back then .. so i don`t see that their in decline or have any worries about losing support .. don`t the numbers speak for themselves ?.

is it just wishful thinking on your part ?.

Fisherman

Depends on how decline is defined. On the one hand, based on one definition SBF shows numbers compared to other religions declining in numbers. On the other hand Nicolau shows a decline maybe not in overall percentages in growth but in other ways. For example when you go to a convention and not many people get baptized compared to the golden years. Also, everybody thought that the number of anointed would decline and non-anointed would take over the gb but there is no short supply of younger than the other sheep and the great crowd anointed. —And the end did not come within the expected Biblical time frame. Also, the 1914 generation of people linked to the JW preaching work died so what was the point of the preaching work if their rejection of the kingdom message was in fact inconsequential as it relates to them. Obviously it was important to those that became JW. But now it appears that the preaching work is unlinked to 1914 and applies to a new generation of humans not contemporaries or related to 1914. The generation teaching, the end of the 6000 years and the beginning of the Millennium, the great tribulation have not materialized—JW are all in waiting for something to happen…..

Concurrently, JW have a relationship with God that they enjoy. So as much as JW are waiting and groaning for relief, even if nothing happens, they are still convinced that it will happen. They won’t lose faith because their relationship with God substantiates their beliefs. This is how JW think.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

“In the days of those kings..set up a kingdom..” The scripture refers to God’s kingdom set up while earthly governments or kings are still ruling. Compared to “7x will pass over you.. God is ruler… kingdom..” JW extrapolate 1914 but not withstanding 1914 as the date, the scriptures imply a future date when God’s kingdom will rule even if you take JW and 1914 out of the equation. JW also link “Go subduing in the midsts of your enemies.” Which can be interpreted to mean God’s kingdom would be unbeknown to the governments that think they are in power. Another scripture that ties in is: “The kingdom of God is on your midsts.” All of this is ironic and poetic and insidious, checkmating and catching everybody —with or without JW and 1914.

39

Is 1914 still a major belief in JW land ? Or has it been abandoned ?

by smiddy3 in

i just wonder about this topic as it is now 109 years since that date and what was expected to take place has never happened ..

Fisherman

1914 is written in stone because to JW the Messianic Kingdom was set up in heaven circa that year and is now ruling and can intervene in human affairs whenever it likes since the Gentile Times were fulfilled on that date. So, whatever happens or doesn’t happen on earth doesn’t mitigate 1914. It is there “and it will stand till time indefinite” as JW see it. So 1914 isn’t going away.