a bethelite was telling me that there are 83,000 theocratic facilities world wide.
he compared that to 35,000 mcdonalds and 21,000 starbucks roughly to show the size of the theocratic organization.
i am not sure where the 83,000 comes from what would he be counting?
millie210
I would be more interested in hearing about comparable religious holdings. S.D.A. or Mormons for example.
Sorry for my poor scan. It is a chart of the GENERAL SURVEY OF ORGANIZATIONS for the S.D.A. church for the years 1863-2013. In 2013 they declare a total of 76,364 churches. I don't know if this is buildings or congregations. Total organizations are listed as 85,428 and again I don't know how this number is calculated but it is interesting just the same.
a bethelite was telling me that there are 83,000 theocratic facilities world wide.
he compared that to 35,000 mcdonalds and 21,000 starbucks roughly to show the size of the theocratic organization.
i am not sure where the 83,000 comes from what would he be counting?
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
(That could be either a good point or a bad point depending on whether you are on the receiving end or not)
for those that lurk or havnt decided to post yet.... living a lie is difficult.
nobody would likely disagree with that... many of us lived or are living the wt lie for the sake of friends or family.
it can eat at us and put us in situations where we frame half truths, try to find tactful way to avoid telling people what we really think.. there is great freedom in being able to admit truths.
back in 1991, a young brother maybe 18 years old living next to my place committed suicide.
his father expected him to be very zealous just like he was, but the son never wanted to be like that.
he was always controlled by his father.
Here is a suicide from the '70s that many Bethelites remember and SHOULD NEVER FORGET! 42 years ago.
I did not know Jim but his brother Marvin was my roommate.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/129592/my-bethel-esperience-part-19
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
The Jehovah's Witness religion is not a smorgasbord where you can take what you want and leave behind what you don't want. It is a full on commitment. If you don't understand that lsw1961, than you are not a REAL Jehovah's Witness and your posts are meaningless claptrap.
1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).
2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.
this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.
JWs have more good points than bad.
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." - Mark Twain
firstly, there are cash flow problems in wt town.
i don't think it's necessary to list all the cutbacks and layoffs, but there have been many.. their thirst for money seems higher too in my opinion.
more entitled may be a better way of putting it.
Read Hebrews chapter 7. This chapter could be spun by the Governing Body(tm) to show that tithing that is not based under the Old Law covenant is scriptural. Melchizedek asked for a tithe from Abraham and received it! Hebrews 7:5-6 says: "True, according to the Law, those of the sons of Levi who receive their priestly office have a commandment to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, even though these are descendants of Abraham. But this man (Melchizedek) who did not trace his genealogy from them took tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises." Voila!!!! New Light The Greater Melchizedek, Jesus Christ asks us to tithe apart from the way the ancient Hebrews tithed as set out under the Old Law covenant.
dear anthony morris, iii:.
i wanted to send you a note of "thanks" on this special day.. why is this day special, you may ask?
one year ago today, you, tony, woke me up to the fact that the governing body could not have jehovah's blessing or direction.. last year, on november 8th & 9th, 2014, the united states branch visit was broadcast to over 1,000,000 jehovah's witnesses across the country.. as i sat at the kingdom hall listening to the "historic occasion," i was ignoring certain doubts that had surfaced in the few months prior.
firstly, there are cash flow problems in wt town.
i don't think it's necessary to list all the cutbacks and layoffs, but there have been many.. their thirst for money seems higher too in my opinion.
more entitled may be a better way of putting it.
Anything is possible! Maybe they are keeping an eye on their spiritual half-sister the 7th Day Adventists. Their total tithe and offerings for the year 2013 were: $3,354,863,946! That's a helluva lot of scratch and could make Tight Pants Tony and crew really sit up and take notice.
