jwfacts

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Posts by jwfacts

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  23

  Aust 2016 Census observations: JW's getting older, more kids leaving, and 30+ group aren't returning

  by shepherdless in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  1. median age.

  experts will tell you that if you want to know if a population is in growth or decline, the best single number to look at is the median age of the population.

  i have extracted aust census data and calculated the following approx median ages:.

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  jwfacts

  Amazing information. You highlighted information I had not thought of.

  It is a good point that inactive ones return when having children. Sadly, I have seen that is often the case with ones that leave and marry unbelievers and then return upon childbirth.

  There is regularly discussion around Watchtower collapsing suddenly, which is quite unrealistic. Older ones don't leave, they die out. Your analysis of the median age shows what will likely happen. The religion will slowly decline as the members age and die, with fewer new recruits to replace them. The 5 year increase in median age over a ten year period is quite astounding. Pity not all countries have reached this stage yet.
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  17

  "But it gives my life meaning"

  by Coded Logic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's not enough that we simply raise empirical challenges to these iron age beliefs saying, "jesus didn't really rise from the dead" or "muhammad didn't really fly to heaven on a horse.

  " we must also give no quarter to this falsehood that religion can give peoples lives real meaning.

  the truths about our identity, experience, and the future impacts that our decision will have on the world around us are much deeper and more profound than any culture or religion.

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  jwfacts

  I don't see any value in lying about Santa. Christmas is a most enjoyable family occasion, even when stripped of all the falsehood and religious connotation.

  Similarly, life is no less enjoyable without belief in an afterlife, in fact it becomes more precious and valuable.
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  32

  The big mistake of jw.org property management

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  today i read some news story's about the property deals of jw.org in brooklyn.

  they made good money and good connections.. but i'm sure jw.org made a very, very big mistake in brooklyn.

  they did.. they sold and are selling all the property for money.

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  jwfacts

  Yes, the new country side paddocks they own won't rise in valuation nearly as much as land in Brooklyn. The sale was short sighted, as can be expected of doomsday cults.
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  25

  Aust Census Data shows decrease while Yearbook shows increase

  by shepherdless in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  on threads about 8 or 9 months ago, i put up some detailed data from the 2011 and 2006 australian censuses.

  data from the 2016 census is becoming available in stages, and i mentioned recently that i would do an update.

  finally, as of about today, some data of interest is available, and i have started to look at this, but it is time consuming, and i am time-poor.. anyway, the first search i have conducted is just a simple breakdown of the number of people describing themselves as jw's.

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  jwfacts

  Sheperdless - thank you for the information. I have not seen the break down by age group before, and have used your data to update the page at http://jehovah.net.au/of-interest/australian-jehovah-s-witness-statistics.
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  25

  Aust Census Data shows decrease while Yearbook shows increase

  by shepherdless in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  on threads about 8 or 9 months ago, i put up some detailed data from the 2011 and 2006 australian censuses.

  data from the 2016 census is becoming available in stages, and i mentioned recently that i would do an update.

  finally, as of about today, some data of interest is available, and i have started to look at this, but it is time consuming, and i am time-poor.. anyway, the first search i have conducted is just a simple breakdown of the number of people describing themselves as jw's.

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  jwfacts

  a few JWs who are counted as publishers because they submit reports but who, for one reason or another, don't describe themselves as JWs on the census ... because they don't believe in JWs any more and only adhere for social reasons.
  

  That was me in the 2001 Aus census.
• 
  25

  Aust Census Data shows decrease while Yearbook shows increase

  by shepherdless in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  on threads about 8 or 9 months ago, i put up some detailed data from the 2011 and 2006 australian censuses.

  data from the 2016 census is becoming available in stages, and i mentioned recently that i would do an update.

  finally, as of about today, some data of interest is available, and i have started to look at this, but it is time consuming, and i am time-poor.. anyway, the first search i have conducted is just a simple breakdown of the number of people describing themselves as jw's.

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  jwfacts

  Here are a couple of graphs that highlight what is happening.

  

  This shows how much Jehovah's Witnesses are lagging behind population growth.

  

  The second graph shows that the Watchtower is reporting some growth over a 20 year period, whereas the census is not.

  As SBF points out, there are a number of reasons. One is the ability to report less time (ie 15min per month). The other is that inactive ones are less likely to still believe it is the truth and claim to be JWs on the census, due to the growth of information on the internet over that time.
• 
  25

  Aust Census Data shows decrease while Yearbook shows increase

  by shepherdless in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  on threads about 8 or 9 months ago, i put up some detailed data from the 2011 and 2006 australian censuses.

  data from the 2016 census is becoming available in stages, and i mentioned recently that i would do an update.

  finally, as of about today, some data of interest is available, and i have started to look at this, but it is time consuming, and i am time-poor.. anyway, the first search i have conducted is just a simple breakdown of the number of people describing themselves as jw's.

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  jwfacts

  To add to that, it is less than 20 years ago:

  1996 - 83,414

  2001 - 81,069

  Australia's population has grown 33% in that time period.

  1996 18 million

  2016 24 million
• 
  37

  What Happens If the JW Beard Policy Stumbles a Person

  by Cold Steel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  some of the videos on youtube really make the beard policy look ridiculous.

  i wondered what would happen if the jw beard policy caused someone to stumble?

  jesus most likely wore a beard, and charles taze russell had a beard.

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  jwfacts

  
  Drearyweather

  Youtube videos do make the beard policy look ridiculous. In fact, Youtube videos can make anything and everything under the sun look ridiculous.

  
  

  Youtube videos "make the beard policy look ridiculous", because it is ridiculous. http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/beards-jehovahs-witnesses.php shows exactly what the policy is. It is irrelevant that you cannot be disfellowshipped, this is a ridiculous and contradictory policy that shows just what a petty and Pharisaical religion Watchtower really is.

  all religions in this world are technically like corporate organizations
  

  You got that correct. Watchtower is nothing but a corporate organization.
• 
  27

  Dealing with Elderly Parents Who Still Believe the jw Religion is the truth

  by lancelink in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i left the religion back in 2008 right after my mother died,( the total lack of natural love/ affection was the final straw for me).. but my dad has become more and more focused on doing the wt bidding.. it just amazes me how he gushes on and on about the last days, his new bible studies, and meeting parts .

  but yet he makes no effort to have any type of relationship with his grandkids, there are 5 of them , non are witnesses.

  they are the children from several different sisters of mine, and myself.. so how do you deal with the witness stuff always being presented in conversations?.

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  jwfacts

  Respect needs to go both ways; you respect his right and need to cling to his beliefs, and he should respect that you do not want to hear about it. IMO you should explain that he needs to be mindful that you do not want to hear about Watchtower related topics, though that may leave him with little else to talk about.
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  22

  Who holds the Burden Of Proof?

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when we as former witnesses wake up and choose to leave the society, it is mainly because we value truth and honesty.. the society tries to make out that we are in the wrong.

  that we have "left the truth".. but, who really holds the burden of proof?

  do we (who leave) need to prove that the society is not the "truth", or does the society need to prove that it is the "truth".. thoughts?.

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  jwfacts

  The onus of proof is usually on the person bringing the accusation. So they need to prove the truth when witnessing, but it is on the "apostate" when confronting a JW.

  A JW would say they have 100 years of publications that outlines their proof for the truthfulness of their teachings. It seems that whilst I get your point, it would not make any difference to a JW. It is up to you to prove them wrong, and it takes a lot of work to get through the indoctrination.