Neo

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Posts by Neo

• 
  91

  Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

  by Neo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

  the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

  here's the % increase for this decade:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  

  

  

  
• 
  91

  Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

  by Neo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

  the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

  here's the % increase for this decade:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  I must make a correction:

  I've found that the 1.9 figure for 2006 is the growth in the peak number of publishers.

  The actual growth for 2006 is 1.6%!

  My sources got the other numbers right, but now I see they miscalculated the increase. They compared 2005's peak with 2006's. The peak for 2005 was 6,613,829. For 2006, it was 6,741,444. So it was a 1.9% growth. But the number that has any real validity is the average number of publishers: in this case, the percentage is 1.6, the number found in the official report. This number is exactly within the margin I though it would be.

  Too bad for them. They can't score like they used to. Their decline is undoubtly confirmed.

  Midget-Sasquatch posted the Official Report straight from the WT magazine in another thread.

  Neo
• 
  59

  2006 WorldWide Service Report

  by Midget-Sasquatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here it is scanned straight from the feb 1 2007 wt:.

  http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/5103/rep01dc4.jpg.

  http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/3761/rep02xh5.jpg.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  Thanks, Midget-Sasquatch. That's even worse than what was told to me.

  The actual growth for 2006 is 1.6%!

  My sources got the other numbers right, but now I see they miscalculated their 1.9% increase. They compared the peak of 2005 with the peak of 2006. The peak for 2005 was 6,613,829. For 2006, it was 6,741,444. So it was a 1.9% growth. But the number that has any real validity is the average number of publishers: in this case, the percentage is 1.6, the number found in the official report. This number is exactly within the margin I though it would be.

  Too bad for them. They can't score like they used to. Their decline is undoubtly confirmed.

  Neo
• 
  34

  .....another Watchtower contradiction.

  by gumby in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  far be it from the jehovah's witnesses to talk out of both sides of their mouth.. far be it from jehovah's witnesses to doublespeak.. below is a perfect example of how gods chosen channel of truth has evidently forgotten what they previously stated in the "watchtower" which is their gods own publication for dispensing bible based truths to mankind.. .

  "at times explanations given by jehovah's visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view.

  but this has not actually been the case.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  Eduardo,

  gumby's post has cited the WTS talking about two different things...supposed (new light) progression in the tacking instance and a person's dedication to keeping a Christian life course..in the second...two entirely different things...

  its just silly to take two unrelated things and call it a contradiction simply because the analogies describe entirely different things on the surface...

  No, they are not two "entirely different things". Gumby's observation is perfect. They're speaking with both sides of their mouth because the individual path of the Christian cannot contradict the "new light" progression of the organization. According to WT doctrine, one will reflect the other. If the individual must rely on the organization for guidance and the organization "zigzags", his path will follow accordingly.

  Moreover, it's the WT itself that conflates the individual and the organizational paths by their application of Proverbs 4:18: " The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established." They take the same scripture and apply to both the individual and the organization.

  *** w97 9/1 p. 32 A Lamp to Guide You on Life’s Path ***
  
  Those who undertake a study of God’s Word, the Holy Bible, and apply what it says will be like someone who starts a journey early in the morning. At first, he cannot see much because it is dark. But as the sun begins to rise, he sees more and more. Finally, the sun shines directly overhead. He sees everything in clear detail. Such an illustration calls to mind a Bible proverb: "The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established."—Proverbs 4:18.

  *** w65 7/15 p. 428 Jehovah’s Advancing Organization ***

  18

  With the passing of the years in this twentieth century, Jehovah’s organization has advanced in knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures and of its responsibilities before God. As with God’s organization in the past, so today, it fulfills the words written at Proverbs 4:18: "The path of the righteous ones is like the bright light that is getting lighter and lighter until the day is firmly established."
• 
  91

  Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

  by Neo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

  the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

  here's the % increase for this decade:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  Wikipedia's Claims to be the fastest growing religion article.
• 
  34

  SHOULD JWS USE PREFUME?

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i understand that it was used originally in pagan temples!.

  therefore,should a true christian(tm)use prefume?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  No, JWs shouldn't use perfume. It's all Bible-based™:

  (Isaiah 3:16-23) 16 And Jehovah says: "For the reason that the daughters of Zion have become haughty and they walk with their throats stretched forth and ogling with their eyes, they go walking with tripping steps, and with their feet they make a tinkling sound, 17 Jehovah also will actually make the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion scabby, and Jehovah himself will lay their very forehead bare. 18 In that day Jehovah will take away the beauty of the bangles and the headbands and the moon-shaped ornaments, 19 the eardrops and the bracelets and the veils, 20 the headdresses and the step chains and the breastbands and the ‘houses of the soul’ [NWT footnote: probably perfume receptacles] and the ornamental humming shells, 21 the finger rings and the nose rings, 22 the robes of state and the overtunics and the cloaks and the purses, 23 and the hand mirrors and the undergarments and the turbans and the large veils. 24 And it must occur that instead of balsam oil there will come to be merely a musty smell.
• 
  34

  .....another Watchtower contradiction.

  by gumby in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  far be it from the jehovah's witnesses to talk out of both sides of their mouth.. far be it from jehovah's witnesses to doublespeak.. below is a perfect example of how gods chosen channel of truth has evidently forgotten what they previously stated in the "watchtower" which is their gods own publication for dispensing bible based truths to mankind.. .

  "at times explanations given by jehovah's visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view.

  but this has not actually been the case.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  By the way, check another blatant WT contradiction I recently posted:

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/124500/4.ashx
• 
  34

  .....another Watchtower contradiction.

  by gumby in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  far be it from the jehovah's witnesses to talk out of both sides of their mouth.. far be it from jehovah's witnesses to doublespeak.. below is a perfect example of how gods chosen channel of truth has evidently forgotten what they previously stated in the "watchtower" which is their gods own publication for dispensing bible based truths to mankind.. .

  "at times explanations given by jehovah's visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view.

  but this has not actually been the case.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  Spot on!

  I can't help thinking of the following scripture:

  (Ephesians 4:14) in order that we should no longer be babes, tossed about as by waves and carried hither and thither by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in contriving error.
• 
  91

  Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

  by Neo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

  the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

  here's the % increase for this decade:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  voltaire,

  These low rates can probably be rationalized as a slowing down due to the cooling off the love of the greater number

  Well, they've officially said that verse applies to "nonbelievers", not those inside the organization. So any Witnesses who uses this excuse is not in harmony with the official doctrine!

  met,

  I completely agree that fake publishers are a growing phenomenon. Not only those who have "seen the light" turn in a couple of hours, but worn out publishers find that they can have some peace if they simply fill a monthly sheet with a few numbers.

  moshe,

  I'm not sure what constitutes a KH Bible study today.

  Well, like other posters have said, they have a loose concept of what constitutes a "Bible" study. If you come for a second visit and considere some material, WT says you can count one study. So the 2006 BS numbers are just soap bubbles.

  dozy,

  Thanks for the figures - higher growth than I expected. The poster tries to put a negative spin on it , but seriously , almost a 2% increase is not bad at all , and will cheer the suits in Brooklyn. It will be interesting to see a country by country breakdown. There is just so much momentum behind the Org and so much loyalty from most of the members that I just can't see any tailing off over the next few years. ... The figures probably mask a lessening of activity , however - although JWs are loyal , they aren't as zealous as they used to be.

  ... Even in the more established lands , those who wish to see a decline in "High Control" groups like the WTS are likely to be disappointed - the trend in the West is definitely for a shift from institutionised religions to more "fringe" religions , like JWs , Mormons & Pentecostals http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=554452003 .

  I agree for the most part. Of course Brooklyn will feel some relief; they are obsessed with statistics. But that's only because things are going too bad lately in Watchtower world.

  I love your insight on loyalty X zeal. But I don't believe in near-future noteworthy growth for the WT. Unlike most high-control groups, they don't adapt to change. They are on auto-pilot and make changes only when they can't visualize any other option (as on financial matters).

  ozziepost,

  I think we're "protesting too much" with this thread.

  I don't think so. It's the other way around - we're not criticizing enough. They have been so presumptous about "increases" for so many decades that we should keep on pointing out that, considering the expectation they created, the actual numbers are a real shame now.

  R6Laser,

  The only time when I would be happy is when we finally see 0% increase or an actual decrease in their yearly numbers.

  I can totally relate. But before we reach that point there will have to be smaller increases. I'll try to enjoy the ride until then. Each suceeding annual report has been a delight to those who can see GB's lies.

  slimboyfat,

  I want to know the number of congregations too. 100,000 will have a psycological impact on the JWs.
• 
  91

  Watchtower Decline Confirmed - Only 1.9% growth in 2006!

  by Neo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the official watchtower 2006 service year report is not out yet, but i have it on good sources that this year's increase on publishers number is 1.9%.

  the average number of publishers will be around 6,500,000. .

  here's the % increase for this decade:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Neo

  "The little one himself will become a thousand, and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, shall speed it up in its own time."
  Isaiah 60:22

  Joker10,
  I stand corrected on the issue of growing slower than world population. That was true for 2005, but not for the current year, since 1.9 is higher than 2006 estimates I checked. It will prolly be around 1.4. But if you can interpret those numbers, you can also figure what is going on in WT Land - a blatant contradiction between the GB teachings and the facts.

  The WT applies Isaiah 60:22 to itself. They say we're living in the days when this prophecy is being fulfilled, when the JW organization is supposed to experience an amazing growth. They say that Jehovah will speed it up. There's no other way to interpret that: it means that there should be an acceleration of the organization growth. That's what to accelerate means. As Dictionary.com says in its entry for "accelerate":

  [Origin: 1515–25; < L acceleratusspeeded up (ptp. of accelerare), equiv. to ac- ac- + celer swift + -atus -ate 1 ]

  If we are living "deeeep into the time of the end" and "in the last days of the last days", as Witnesses say, there's no other option but the "speeding up" one. Now take a good look at the graph I posted on page 1. What do we see there? The growth rates are steadily going down! The curve shows that the organization growth is decelerating! It is still growing, but at an increasingly slower pace. IOW, we are literally experiencing the very opposite of what they have foretold.

  

  Acceleration vs. Deceleration. Is there a clear-cut contradiction or not?

  Neo