freddo

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Posts by freddo

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  25

  Why a drop of over 3,700 publishers in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

  by freddo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  looking at the figures for 2014 to 2015 the numbers have dropped from 180,343 to 176,585.. any idea why?.

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  freddo

  @SBF Both are "average" figures.
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  67

  EdenOne, Mrs. Eden & Son: DISASSOCIATED!

  by EdenOne in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  great news!.

  we are free!.

  as of the 9th of june, me and my dear wife mrs. eden handed over our letters of disassociation at bethel in portugal, thus making official our departure from the jehovah's witnesses.

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  freddo

  Brilliant letter!

  I wonder if there is anyone left in the Portuguese branch to read it after all the cutbacks! Maybe send a copy to some of the congregation members that you know?

  
  
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  19

  Question about 1940s Watchtower history

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was studying this fascinating composite graph of jw growth.

  lots of interesting things there.

  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/demographics_of_jehovah%27s_witnesses#/media/file%3ajwstats1931-2015.png.

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  freddo

  Maybe I'm preaching to the choir but it does feel different now. Jaydubyadotorgasm is not bringing an increase, trolley carts are not bringing an increase.

  The internet is more widespread and available on handheld devices with all the counter arguments available.

  I wonder if there might have been a very small spike in 3rd world and ex Catholic countries for Sept 1st 2014/Aug 31st 2015 (2015 service year) due to a residual effect from all the summer of 2014 hoopla assemblies and a slight retention for that year in the developed world.

  Yet the worldwide average figure was only up by a measly 119,321 and the peak to peak figure was only up by 18,560.
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  25

  Why a drop of over 3,700 publishers in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

  by freddo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  looking at the figures for 2014 to 2015 the numbers have dropped from 180,343 to 176,585.. any idea why?.

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  freddo

  So I saw Outlaw's post and will be sending him a bill for a new keyboard after spraying it with coffee!

  Then I saw Wifi's and that sobered me up.

  Done a quick bit of internet research and in simplified terms this war seems constant (maybe improving outside the East of the country?) yet the decrease is quite sudden after a run of steady growth?

  Has there been very recent migration? Or has the fact that things are a little more peaceful (in Central African terms) meant people aren't "running to God?"

  Has a bethel closed/reduced and so the control and communication isn't there?
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  25

  Why a drop of over 3,700 publishers in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

  by freddo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  looking at the figures for 2014 to 2015 the numbers have dropped from 180,343 to 176,585.. any idea why?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  freddo

  Looking at the figures for 2014 to 2015 the numbers have dropped from 180,343 to 176,585.

  Any idea why?
• 
  19

  My wonderful son

  by KateWild in

  1. social
  2. family

  hey everyone,.

  for those of you who don't know my story.

  i had a messy divorce i lost custody of my son in 2011 age 9yrs after four years of court battles to get him back i couldn't do anymore.. yesterday my wonderful son had an upsetting day as our contact was cancelled.

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  freddo

  At KateWild.

  If you cannot enforce the court order then "Determined Patience" is the way. Your boy will see it all for what it is. I'm sure you are thinking ahead. Does he live far from you? Will he be able to continue his education without interruption towards GCSE's if he comes to live with you?

  Best wishes
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  24

  Should I stay married to my JW wife

  by gatorguy in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  me and my wife were at the beach the other day and i finally told her, i don't think i believe in god anymore.

  i fessed up to the fact that it started with me doubting some jw beliefs and then it just led me to this point where i don't even believe in god.

  i wouldn't say that i even have a negative view towards jw's or religion in general.

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  freddo

  Welcome Banana1886 and freemamaof3 - please post more often. Very helpful.
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  59

  JW Witnessing Trolleys. To approach or ignore what is your preference and why?

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i saw two brothers this morning next to the main train station in liverpool city centre this morning.

  they were not actively approaching anyone.

  what i found strange was that they were from a cong that has different territory, so i don't know why they were there.. anyway i knew them both, and they know i was df'd, i was in my car and couldn't park up for a chat, but i did beep and wave to them as i drove passed and they waved back.

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  freddo

  Way to go Cofty!

  Keep telling us about each one - interchange of encouragement and all that!
• 
  59

  JW Witnessing Trolleys. To approach or ignore what is your preference and why?

  by KateWild in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i saw two brothers this morning next to the main train station in liverpool city centre this morning.

  they were not actively approaching anyone.

  what i found strange was that they were from a cong that has different territory, so i don't know why they were there.. anyway i knew them both, and they know i was df'd, i was in my car and couldn't park up for a chat, but i did beep and wave to them as i drove passed and they waved back.

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  freddo

  Hi Thaddeus thanks for posting.

  They will run away when the questioning gets tough even if polite. Google "jehovahs witnesses run away bristol" and the trolley shown in the first two clips are from I believe Bristol England.
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  36

  How long can this cult remain with only kids becoming members?

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it's become clear that very few from outside the religion are joining anymore.

  if only the kids of the people that are already in are the one replacing the members as they die off and 50% let's say of the kids leave then how long can they realistically last before the downturn becomes obvious?.

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  freddo

  Good post half banana.

  The "pressure on numbers" has started and will build. The wackier and harsher they get, more and more will wake up.

  More will leave, more will fly under the radar and seeing it for the crock of crap it all is will not shun their family like they are expected to. Imagine you are a parent with young teenage kids seeing the "don't pick up the phone/scowl at your kid when she is being disfellowshipped" video. The deluded diehards will continue but they will increasingly be the mentally and emotionally defective. More will delay their kids getting baptised.

  Others will become more apathetic and depressed. The congregations - especially in the western world - will hollow out and contract from the inside. I just hope the slow drip drip will become a steady stream.

  I don't see a sudden destructive force but I do see JW-ism stagnating/withering and those wanting to escape will have an increasingly good support structure to help them.