having a look through the march wt pdf and noticed the graph showing the growth of jws and did a little basic math.
now math was not my strongest subject at school so i can stand some correcting on this if need be... but anyway, a little fun with numbers:.
1970; 1'483'000 is a growth of about 390% (av 19.5% per year).
Wow Oz
I'm too tired at the moment to double check your facts and figures but it looks feasible from what I see.
The most telling tale about that is the percentages are way down.
Even tho the total number of pubs is up thats a big drop from what it should be going on the law of averages
and percentages.
Thanks for sharing that,
StoneWall
still a newbie!
first post i have ever made.
but realizing i need to move on....and for the first time in my life admitting i need support (have always been the "strong" one).
Still a newbie! First post I have ever made.
I think you meant first topic/thread you ever made since your post count was at 7.
(but very understandable, I've done similar)
As far as support, I believe you will find it here and find it in abundance.
This site has helped us all in some form or fashion and I'm sure it will for you as well.
Remember how when we were going to the hall they told us not to hate the person but hate the wrongdoing.
I still live by that even as regards the witnesses. I do not hate any of them as far as the person goes.
Just don't like when they do wrong and then try to deny or cover it over. Or intentionally hurt others by breaking up family.
If they as well as others would live by what is recorded at Matt.5:43-47 the world would be a much nicer place for all.
"YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to YOU: Continue to
love YOUR enemies and to pray for those persecuting YOU; that YOU may prove yourselves sons of YOUR Father who is
in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and
unrighteous. For if YOU love those loving YOU, what reward do YOU have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same
thing? And if YOU greet YOUR brothers only, what extraordinary thing are YOU doing? Are not also the people of the
nations doing the same thing?"
LoL
Now that pic is funny.
Someone else besides me has a lot of time on their hands I see.
If they made just one snowman every minute that would have still taken them most of the day to complete.
so what do you think is the second most pleasurable activity a human being can do?.
i reserved the 1st for the obvious.. .
ld.
I was thinking along the lines of laying on the beach listening to the waves.
But then it popped in my head about how pleasurable a full body massage is.
And then it hit me. A full body massage while laying on the beach with a drink in hand would be oh so sweet.
.
i would have made it clear right from the start that the book was for entertainment purposes only.. .
.
I would have had a lot more fantastic battles.
Such as Samson versus Goliath (instead of David).
And instead of a large fish swallowing Jonah I'd have like a Large whale and a Giant Squid battling over him to see
who got to swallow him.
And then when Moses rod turned into a snake and devoured the magic practicing priests' rods(snakes), then I'd have
it turn on all those frogs that came with the plague and eat them up and turn into a really giant snake. Then it would
go on a rampage across the countryside and start eating pigs,cattle,goats,sheep,camels until along comes Nimrod
(who is a great hunter) and slays the serpent with his mighty Nimble Rod.
Plus I'd let all the guys suffer for a little while by making them all have like 700 or so wives just like King David and
Solomon did. Then when they started to beg to die from all the nagging and complaining (Samson only had to put up
with Delilah but can you imagine multiplying that by 700) then I would release them from their bondage and say,
"Enter into your rest for you well deserve it." The curse has been lifted.
And they all lived happily ever after
my one disclaimer is this: to my theistic friends, i am not saying the following to be disrespectful of your beliefs.
however, since i don't believe as you all do, it is only honest of me to present this.. i bring this up because i have been caught up lately in debates that i normally don't involve myself in.
i have been left a little drained and confused as to why i allowed myself to argue a point till its beaten to a bloody pulp.
by using calculations involving scriptures found in Ezekial, Daniel, and Revelation,
I really didn't get much out of the rest of it after this part.
After seeing that Ezekiel was misspelled my mind kept thinking its so unlike AllTimeJeff to not check his spelling.
Just ribbing you Jeff. Keep fighting the fine fight
does anyone want to tackle the hypocrisy in this article?
here's the link and the text is below.
also, can any former dubs explain how a jw could read or write this and not see how it applies to themselves?
I know the problem with propaganda.
It has the word "pagan" in the middle of it. j/k
(I can almost visualize a WT writter putting that in an article though)
i'm a great fan of aphorisms.
zen has some of the classic ones.
the moral consequences of doing whatever you do is that you will be the sort of person who did that.. "it's best to ride the horse in the direction it's going.".
When all is said and done,
more will be said than done.
jehovahs day comes at this moment and u realize u were in the right place but because of leaving you are now doomed.
would everything gained (temporary) enjoyment worth it?.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE LEFT THE TRUTH
Again someone posing a statement as a fact that is merely suggestive,manipulative and argumentative.
If and when you read the majority of reasons people left the Organization (not left the truth but the organization) it
was because they were in pursuit of truth. I know thats what brought me to this site as well as many others.
The truth never runs,never hides, can stand up to any scrutiny thrown at it and still remain the truth.
But when one says they represent or stand for the truth and yet tells you not to question it because you may be led
astray then it sounds like its not built upon a strong (rocklike, truth) foundation.
Remember Jesus even answered the question himself when he said he was "the way and the truth and the life."
(John 14:6) I find it highly presumptuous that a man made organization would even refer to itself as "the truth" that
constantly has to change what "truth" is, with new light which becomes old light that becomes new light once again.
One thing I can give Jesus credit for is even when doubting Thomas asked for proof of his resurrection, Jesus didn't
get all bent out of shape and criticize him for wanting evidence. He merely said happy are those who don't see and
yet believe.
But as for your question about leaving the truth, I'll never leave something I know to be truth. I can't answer for
anyone else on here or anywhere for that matter but I can answer for me with complete confidence that I won't leave
truth.
Now let me ask you a question. In line with the scriptural admonition to 'make sure of all things,hold fast to what is fine"
(1 Thess.5:21) and with 1 Corinthians 2:15 which states, "However ,the spiritual man examines indeed all things,"
are you willing to put your beliefs to the test and see if they can stand up to scrutiny and indeed pass the test of fire
as anything that is truth will?
For if it is indeed truth it will survive the scrutiny,analyzing,examination.
If it is not then its works will become manifest.
i was raised in a larger city congregation.
there were many black and white families and there were other nationalities in the area.for the most part, i do not recall seeing obvious prejudice manifest in the congregation.
have you seen or experienced prejudice from congregation members?
slipnslidemaster,
I'm so happy to know I'm not the only one that happens too.
