Posts by winstonchurchill

55

JWs growing in numbers despite opposition and criticism from apostates and other religious commentators. Why?

by african GB Member in

jw
friends

i believe there are now over 7 million jws worldwide(correct me if i am wrong).

what makes this growth possible despite all the exposure on the internet and other media?.

not forgetting court cases and lawsuits.. is this not a sign that perhaps this is the true religion?.

winstonchurchill

A little thing called 'reproduction'. End of story.

That would explain part of the growth in the past. Currently JW's have the lowest retention rate (about 20%), which means only 1 out of 5 of those born as JW stay in the religion when they grow up, this according to a study Time (or was it Newsweek?) published some 4 years ago.

I think is a combination of many factors pointed here:

1) There's no significant growth; WT's 'publisher accounting' method is peculiar to say the least.

2) Many fake time (but by doing it they show they consider themselves JW's).

3) Frequently elders make fake reports for those not turning a slip (to look good before the CO).

4) There are people joining the religion (thousands get baptized every year), but this is offset by those leaving.

55

JWs growing in numbers despite opposition and criticism from apostates and other religious commentators. Why?

by african GB Member in

jw
friends

i believe there are now over 7 million jws worldwide(correct me if i am wrong).

what makes this growth possible despite all the exposure on the internet and other media?.

not forgetting court cases and lawsuits.. is this not a sign that perhaps this is the true religion?.

winstonchurchill

ANd you are not considering the fact that Secretaries fill up 'activity' for those who do not report. In our cong (and I know for a fact is common practice) when the CO visit is near, the secretary starts chasing after people to get their belated reports. I'm apaled wen at the elders meeting the CO commends us for having only one or two "Irregulars" when we all kow for a fact at least 10~15 publishers are in that situation.

40

Elder uses Congregation Bible Study as an opportunity to ban the movie Avatar

by easyreader1970 in

jw
friends

last night, during the congregation bible study, the conductor (overseer?

) used this as a platform to say that the movie avatar is of satan and no christians should see it.. .

he said that he googled the (original) meaning of the word avatar and it was of hindu religious origin.

winstonchurchill

By that reasoning, JW's would also not let their children play, WOW or Guild Wars or any RPG game that involved "Becoming" a character in a game.

Hey, TD, don't give 'em ideas!

29

WTF! Only JWs have a RIGHT to pray?

by Mythbuster in

*** w90 5/15 pp.

11-12 fear jehovah, the hearer of prayer ***.

a restricted privilege.

winstonchurchill

It boils down to the tendency -habit, i woud say- odf making a rule out of EVERYTHING.

Bible says God listens to prayers from righteous people + JW's are the only righteous people = Only JW's prayers are acceptable to God

They do it all the time:

Jesus says we have to be like children to inherit the kingdom + R Movies are not appropriate for children = JW's can't see R movies

I could go on and on... but they are not even original; the pharisees used to do the same.

After teh Bat-seeba incident, David was anything but just, but God did listen to his prayer. Cornelius was not a Christian, yet his prayer was answered.

54

C.O. Talked about the fact that we may die in this system

by life is to short in

jw
friends

being that my husband is still going to most of the meetings, i tied into the meeting sunday to see what the co had to say on his last day at the hall.

one thing i found interesting is that we may die in this system.

he said when he first learned the "truth" he just knew for sure that the system would end before he was baptized and he was so stressed out from it.

winstonchurchill

In my CO days I used to give a talk (that was before WT would give CO's outlines) I wrote myself along th same lines: how many of us grew up convinced we would never grow, marry, much less die in this system. But the main idea was we should stop thinking of dates and speculating, and just concentrate in behaving like christians. This was a very popular talk in the circuits I visited, and I would get frequent expressions of gratitude for voicing the way many felt. Some seemed relieved to be able to openly talk about it and see they were not alone. All this was done without criticizing WT (neither defending it), and therefore it was not seen as apostate or antagonist to WT. Only once, one of the DO's during his yearly week with us said I should be careful with my choice of words as it could be seen as critizing 'Mother'.

I don't know were thos particular CO is coming from, but I agree with a previous poster in that most R&F don't actually believe Armagedon is near (just look at the way they use their time).

32

Will the Society Ever Print Another Evolution Verse Creation Book?

by frankiespeakin in

i think if they do they will have to make many revisions now that information is so prevalent on the internet.

and with all that is known about dna and how it proves darwin was right i don't see how they could.

but i guess you can never put nothing past the wt and it's crack smoking writers to dig up something ridiculous to blur the lines of reality for the friends, for sure its got to be way harder to write such a book today and keep a straight face..

winstonchurchill

Yes they will, and this is why I'm so sure:

1) 'The end' ain't coming anytime soon

2) They have been recycling old books for the past 10 years. They take and old book, they slightly change the name, edit a bit, new pics, and voila!

3) They did "Great Teacher' (now is learning, not listening) 'Worship', "Youth", etc. Eventually it will be 'Creation's turn.

47

Can JW's run the New System without worldly people?

by moshe in

jw
friends

http://www.history.com/content/life_after_people/about-the-series.

i get a chuckle when i watch that show on tuesday nights as it portrays what would happen the the world, if people should all dissapear.

since jw's are only 2/10% of the world's population and almost zero% in many countries the infrastructure would rapidly decay.

winstonchurchill

You're wrong dgp: it's right around the corner. And I know, because I've been told so for over 40 years!

40

Elder uses Congregation Bible Study as an opportunity to ban the movie Avatar

by easyreader1970 in

jw
friends

last night, during the congregation bible study, the conductor (overseer?

) used this as a platform to say that the movie avatar is of satan and no christians should see it.. .

he said that he googled the (original) meaning of the word avatar and it was of hindu religious origin.

winstonchurchill

Star Wars = God doesn't like war. Can't see it!

Dances with wolves = Wolves are bad, sometimes disguise as sheep. Can't see it!

The beauty and the Beast = Satan is the beast, UN is the beast. Can't see it!

Little mermaid = Mermaids are mythological. Can't see it!

The odd couple = Are they married? Oh, it's two guys? Can't see it!

The godfather = a Catholic practice. Can't see it!

It never ends...

45

Which book ,studied at the Book Study, you Hated or loved more????

by deep-blue-sea in

jw
friends

during my life as jw i have studied many, many books of the wt at the weekly book study.. here you will find some of the books considered during the years with their publishing date:.

1955 new heavens, new hearth.

1961 from lost paradise to..... 1962 let your will be done on earth.

winstonchurchill

Hmm - I quite liked the mankinds search for god book, until it gets preachy at the end. Learing about other religions, even with a 'they're all wrong' slant was interesting.

Sapphy, I agree it is a great book, and I anticipated very much studying it in the BS. That's why I'm pretty sure we never did. I was dissaponted.

The worst: Hands down, the Isaiah books. How many time scan you repeat the same? Second: Revelation. I hated how it forcefuly applied every prophecy to WT dates.

The best: Greatest man... Not a lot of doctrine, but true christian teachings.

47

Can JW's run the New System without worldly people?

by moshe in

jw
friends

http://www.history.com/content/life_after_people/about-the-series.

i get a chuckle when i watch that show on tuesday nights as it portrays what would happen the the world, if people should all dissapear.

since jw's are only 2/10% of the world's population and almost zero% in many countries the infrastructure would rapidly decay.

winstonchurchill

This is where my doubts about the WT become doubts about the Bible...

WT anwer to this is that by miracle, all will be solved and handled. It wil take 1000 years to achieve perfection, yet God will make sure no one gets sick form day one. No allergies, stomach flu, or migraines... by miracle.

Of course there will be no arguments, fights or violence, by miracle.

Instructions will be announced to the world via angels form the sky.

By miracle plutonium rods and 7 billion corpses will not contaminate.

By miracle survivors will have a place to dwell, and enough food from day one...

My point is: Why did miracles happen in the past, and will happen in the future, but conveniently do not happen today? If God is going to perform such wonders, and he did in the past, why not now? Can't he kill all wicked people without destroying the infrastructure? Does he have to make 'his' people go through say 200 years of reconstruction just so he can enjoy seeing all the destruction? If an angel made anouncements in the past, and will make them in the future? Why not now? Hell, that would convince -and save- a lot of people. But no, not in our lifetime... too convenient for my taste.