Posts by davidl7

99

Jehovah's Witnesses - Once Again the Fastest Growing Faith in the U.S.

by davidl7 in

jw
friends

according to the latest statistics published by the ncc in its yearbook of american and canadian churches, the jehovah's witnesess had the highest growth rate, in 2010 growing 4.37%.

this is, i believe, is the 4th year in a row, that the witnesses had the highest growth rate.

roman catholics grew by less than 1%, as did most of the other churches listed.

davidl7

I don't know if the 15-minute rule is new...I remember back in mid 1980's a talk was given stating that we should report whatever preaching work we did no matter how little...The elder at the assembly said if its 1 hour or even 30 minutes for the month, you should report what you did. He said everyone circumstances may vary. That point was repeated several times after that, and many times they cited the Bible text of the elderly woman who donated less than a penny, but Jesus said that she in realty did the most...because that was all she could give. I myself use to report 30 to 45 minutes during the month, especially when I studying at college and was working at the same time.

Regarding figures reported - Witnesses do use a very conservative method of counting members. Rodney Stark in his paper "Why Jehovah's Witnesses Grow So Fast", pointed out that fact. And it is true...I remember reading an article that there maybe more active Jehovah's Witnesses than their are Episcopalians, even though Episcopalians report a higher membership figure. Unlike other churches, that count members just for attending church services, the WT only counts publishers, those that preach AND report their preaching activity. So a congregation can have 250 regularly attending their meetings, but only 110 preaching. Only the 110 are counted. In practically all Witness congregations, the attendance figure is at least 2 times higher than the number of publishers. The Operation World yearbook, counts all religious groups by reported members and affiliates. The affiliates figure is usually much higher for the Witnesses.

99

Jehovah's Witnesses - Once Again the Fastest Growing Faith in the U.S.

by davidl7 in

jw
friends

according to the latest statistics published by the ncc in its yearbook of american and canadian churches, the jehovah's witnesess had the highest growth rate, in 2010 growing 4.37%.

this is, i believe, is the 4th year in a row, that the witnesses had the highest growth rate.

roman catholics grew by less than 1%, as did most of the other churches listed.

davidl7

Blacksheep said "

"1154275 members in 2009
+ 35120 baptisms
= 1189395 expected members
- 11894 Deaths at 1%
= 1177501 expected members
- 1178349 actual 2010 members
= (very roughly) 848 extra publishers, over and above the expected increase, in the good ol' USA.

We like to think we are helping people out and that the tide might be turning against the WT, but according to my calculation, (and I hope it's wrong), smacking 'weak in the faith' JWs with doctrine, false prophesies, pedos', NGO, COC, JWN, JWFacts, Six Screens, etc is scaring more back in than it's getting out. "

You fail to take into account the growing number of Witness apologist sites that have very convincely responded to accusations and allegations regarding the NGO, so-called false predictions, pedos, etc....More and more Witnesses are now aware for instance that Russell never claimed to be an inspired prophet and that he openly wrote and stated that their may be mistakes in some of the expectations regarding 1914. Most Witnesses never believed allegations regarding those that claimed that they were protecting pedophiles...they knew that the WT had written an article clearly stating that the Christian congregation would not protect a pedophile from secular judicial punishment, and Jehovah's Witnesses were the first to announce a policy of banning anyone who abused children from the position of an MS or elder. They know that they are probably the only faith that expels unrepentant pedophiles from congregation....so maybe that's the reason they keep growing...they do not listen to false stories.

In addition, many individuals have been studying their Bibles, and have come to the conclusion that Jesus is really the Son of God. Upon further researchg, they found out that the Jehovah's Witnesses really believe Jesus is the Son of God, and not God Almighty himself... As a result they have decided to join in the worship of the God and Father of Jesus Christ, as did the early Christians (compare 1 John 4:7-14; Ephe. 1:3, 1:17; 2 Cor. 1:3; Rev. 3:12) Some former Baptists that I met when visiting Dallas, said they were studying Spanish and decided to buy a bi-lingual Bible, sold at their own church...the Spanish version was the Valera, which contains God name in Spanish as "Jehova". Their pastor hated using the name Jehovah in English, and didn't even like to use the name Yahweh. The couple asked the pastor why, and of course, was given the usual argument that Jehovah is a fake name, etc...interestingly...they did some research, and found pro and cons arguements against the pronounciations Jehovah vs. Yahweh...they decided to speak to the Witnesses to get their take on issue. Witnesses explained that they are aware of the arguements, and one of them noted that their appears to a growing number of scholars that are now saying that Jehovah is the correct pronounciation based on some ancient writings, even though most still think is Yahweh. The Witnesses pointed out that no one argues against the name Jesus (as welll as other Bible names), even though that was not the exact way it was pronounced in Greek or Aramic..The former Baptist also compared different Bibles, and found out that the ASV, YLT, BLE, NEB, LB, Websters, Darby, JNT, etc, all contained the name as the form Jehovah, even though their former pastor, who has MS degree in divinity, was saying only the NWT had the name. The pastor didn't even know that the bilingual Bible sold at his church store included the Valera version which has Jehova in Spanish!!! Anyway...to make a long story short, the couple concluded that the Witnesses are teaching the truth and like Jesus they believe in sanctify God's name and making it known. Many stories like these can be repeated over again...Interesting that couple, when I met them were still not baptized, and were preaching to their former church members, even before officially becoming non-baptized publishers with the congregation they attend.

And I mentioned earlier, their is a growing number of Websites that have been responding to the allegations presented by anti-Witness sites. Those are in addition to the official WT site. I will just list a few of my favorites:

http://www.jehovah.to/xlation/index.html

http://www.thirdwitness.com/

http://www.jehovahsjudgment.co.uk/watchtower-un-ngo/

http://web.archive.org/web/20040517235626/http://hector3000.future.easyspace.com/

http://www.scripturaltruths.com/

99

Jehovah's Witnesses - Once Again the Fastest Growing Faith in the U.S.

by davidl7 in

jw
friends

according to the latest statistics published by the ncc in its yearbook of american and canadian churches, the jehovah's witnesess had the highest growth rate, in 2010 growing 4.37%.

this is, i believe, is the 4th year in a row, that the witnesses had the highest growth rate.

roman catholics grew by less than 1%, as did most of the other churches listed.

davidl7

Alanv "I am a little confused here. The Watchtower has recently published it's worldwide report, and the figure they gave for USA was 2%

In fact the actual figure was 1.7% but they rounded the figure up.

David could you explain how they get to the 4.37% figure."

The NCC figure for 2010 was 1,114,000; in their 2011 yearbook it increased to 1,167,000...that's about a 4.37% increase.

99

Jehovah's Witnesses - Once Again the Fastest Growing Faith in the U.S.

by davidl7 in

jw
friends

according to the latest statistics published by the ncc in its yearbook of american and canadian churches, the jehovah's witnesess had the highest growth rate, in 2010 growing 4.37%.

this is, i believe, is the 4th year in a row, that the witnesses had the highest growth rate.

roman catholics grew by less than 1%, as did most of the other churches listed.

davidl7

According to the latest statistics published by the NCC in its Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, the Jehovah's Witnesess had the highest growth rate, in 2010 growing 4.37%. This is, I believe, is the 4th year in a row, that the Witnesses had the highest growth rate. Roman Catholics grew by less than 1%, as did most of the other churches listed. Others continued to lose members, including the Southern Baptist Convention, with a 3-year losing streak. See the article entitled "2011 Church Membership: Southern Baptist Decline, Jehovah's Witnesses Increase" at:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/2011-church-membership-southern-baptists-decline-cults-growing-48984/

75

...Watchtower World..A place where "Stupid is Better!"...

by OUTLAW in

"watchtower world"... "a place where "stupid is better!"...

the wbt$ is always doing something stupid..from the begining of the wbt$ to this very day... stupid is on the menu,in watchtower world... .

it never ends..there is always something stupid happening within the wbt$... these are bethel one liners..bethelites have posted on jwd/jwn... that i have collected over time... .

davidl7

mrsjones5 I wonder why so many here became JW's in the first place? (not including born ins)

"Low self-esteem? Superiority Complex? Take your pick. I just heard from my brother that he was told that my great-grandmother was into Voodoo before she became a jw. I suppose she needed a change."

No, no, no... it was the truth of the Bible and the love of God that made them become Jehovah's Witnesses...

so you would have preferred that your great-grandmother continue to practice Voodoo?

75

...Watchtower World..A place where "Stupid is Better!"...

by OUTLAW in

"watchtower world"... "a place where "stupid is better!"...

the wbt$ is always doing something stupid..from the begining of the wbt$ to this very day... stupid is on the menu,in watchtower world... .

it never ends..there is always something stupid happening within the wbt$... these are bethel one liners..bethelites have posted on jwd/jwn... that i have collected over time... .

davidl7

Ou"talw wrote " My response: Attending college was always a matter choice.

Bullshit..You can be Removed as an Elder,if you have a kid at home,in college."

My response - Even Raymond Franz in his Crisis of Conscience admits that the GB body allowed elders to send their children to college if they chose to. In 3 congregations I attended, 1 or 2 elders had children that were studying at college.

"Guess what Genius..In Bulgairia it`s a concience matter now,just like college..Make the wrong decision and you DF yourself."

My response : I guess you believe everything you read on the Internet, huh.... that Bulgaria rumor is not true, it is really just a rumor...

"This is a Thread about Stupid Things in Watchtower World..So at least your on the Right Thread..

LOL!!..

Try to stay on Topic..

If your not Smart Enough,to point out Stupid Things in Watchtower World..

Then don`t Post on this Thread.."

My response - ""stupid" - that's more or less what the Pharisees said of the 1st century Christian apostles...

I refused to be censored from the Internet....I will continue to exercise my freedom and voice my opinions...

75

...Watchtower World..A place where "Stupid is Better!"...

by OUTLAW in

"watchtower world"... "a place where "stupid is better!"...

the wbt$ is always doing something stupid..from the begining of the wbt$ to this very day... stupid is on the menu,in watchtower world... .

it never ends..there is always something stupid happening within the wbt$... these are bethel one liners..bethelites have posted on jwd/jwn... that i have collected over time... .

davidl7

wasblind wrote "If these JW's have this much education, you best believe they are no longer asleep in the WT world

and that they now see it for the bull crap it is, they are just goin' through the motions as JW's

but that's ok cause the GB don't even believe in the mess they put out anymore"

My response: You're right...all of the educated Witnesses I know are wide AWAKE!, but not in the way you think... they have concluded that the Jehovah's Witnesses teach the truth, and believe that the GB and others are the ones teaching the biblical truth (Eph. 4:10-16; Matt 24:45; Matt. 28:18-19; Romans 10:8-18; Matt. 24:14; Matt. 4:17) I was in Dallas this summer, and met 2 recent Witness converts, both with Masters in Divinity, one which was an associate pastor of a church... both have read anti-Witness literature, had conversations with the Witnesses, and to make a long story, short, at the end agreed that the Witnesses teach the Truth of the Bible... and rejected the lies and arguments of our opposers. We hear of these converts coming into the truth, accepting the true God of the Bible, finally really believing that Jesus is the Son of God, more and more...

And more, and more educated Witnesses are becoming known as apologists for true Christianity... you may have heard of Rolf Furuli, Carolyn Wah, Hal Flemings, David Jakubovic, and Matthew Alfs, to name just a few, all of which have written scholarly articles and/or books defending the Witness point of view. There is much more to come just before the end.

75

...Watchtower World..A place where "Stupid is Better!"...

by OUTLAW in

"watchtower world"... "a place where "stupid is better!"...

the wbt$ is always doing something stupid..from the begining of the wbt$ to this very day... stupid is on the menu,in watchtower world... .

it never ends..there is always something stupid happening within the wbt$... these are bethel one liners..bethelites have posted on jwd/jwn... that i have collected over time... .

davidl7

wasblind "


[I assume that you meant, "prove" ????] Yeah, "some" Witnesses like Ted Jaracz, Freddie Franz, Nathan Knorr, etc, etc, etc...

[I assume that you meant, "prove" ????]

Yeah, "some" Witnesses like Ted Jaracz, Freddie Franz, Nathan Knorr, etc, etc, etc...

"

Correct, I did mean prove.

Nathan Knorr did not attend college; he was a high school graduate... but a very savvy, self-educated manager.

Frederick Franz studied for 2 years at the University of Cincinnati. I don't believe Ted Jaracz attended a university..

75

...Watchtower World..A place where "Stupid is Better!"...

by OUTLAW in

"watchtower world"... "a place where "stupid is better!"...

the wbt$ is always doing something stupid..from the begining of the wbt$ to this very day... stupid is on the menu,in watchtower world... .

it never ends..there is always something stupid happening within the wbt$... these are bethel one liners..bethelites have posted on jwd/jwn... that i have collected over time... .

davidl7

Outlaw wrote " Right..

Just Like Voting or Blood transfusions..

Make the Wrong Choice and Face the Consequenses.."

My response: Attending college was always a matter choice. Blood transfusions were always seen as wrong, going against the biblical command. But attending a university never was, although some WT admonished that if we decided to attend, we must be careful not to be deceived by worldly philosophy that rejects the Bible... Accepting a blood transfusion was also seen as disobeying God's command based on the Bible text such as Gen. 9:4; Lev. 17:10, 11 and Acts 15:19,20,28,29... even in the early 1950's when it was not a disfellowshipping offense, it was still seen as breaking God's commandment based on the biblical principles I just cited.

75

...Watchtower World..A place where "Stupid is Better!"...

by OUTLAW in

"watchtower world"... "a place where "stupid is better!"...

the wbt$ is always doing something stupid..from the begining of the wbt$ to this very day... stupid is on the menu,in watchtower world... .

it never ends..there is always something stupid happening within the wbt$... these are bethel one liners..bethelites have posted on jwd/jwn... that i have collected over time... .

davidl7

Responses to above:

thetrueone "How about god is love so he felt like killing all human inhabitants except one family (Flood) all for nothing , with no attaching purpose at all.

Or how killing all the world inhabitants again in the soon to take place Armageddon all because they didn't believe in his publishing house in

New York or they were brought up to believe in another god. This is a god of love and justice ?"

My response: Noah and his family spent years warning them, hoping some would repent. They refused. God allowed them time to repent and sent Noah and his family to warn them. God does not wish the wicked to die or perish, but wants them to repent (compare 2 Peter 3:9). God sends his messengers to warn people, urging them to repent, but he does not force any to follow his ways. It is up the people to choose. So those who choose to disobey, will not receive eternal life. So God, in his love, provides a warning before hand. In that manner he is a just God. Unlike what many churches teach, he does not torture living souls forever.

thetrueone"The JWS are being exploited and mentally coerced by fear to support their self devised organization, which is observantly corrupt and rooted in false teachings to preach the Watchtower's gospel not god's. God would never support bogus religious charlatans ($) even if they did used his (mis-pronounced ) name."

My response "Like the Berean Christians of the 1st Century, Jehovah's Witnesses study and read the Bible to make sure that what is being taught is biblical based (Acts 17:11). We have come to the conclusion that Christian association of Jehovah's Witnesses is the one single group teaching the Bible truth (Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 4:10-16). The NT only showed that there was one Christian group of organized believers, preaching the good news of God's Kingdom. They were called uneducated, although some were well educated, such as the apostle Paul (a lawyer), and Luke, the doctor. Many people who have become Witnesses did so even after reading books published by opposers, including Ex-Witnesses. After intense discussions with Witnesses, and seeing from their own Bibles what it really teaches, they have come to the conclusion that the Jehovah's Christian Witnesses are basically the same Christians, holding the same beliefs, as the 1st century Christians. These have included individuals who were also clergymen of other churches, many holding master of divinity degrees. We were no mentally coerced by fear. We were moved by joy of finding the true God of the Bible, and the true Jesus of the Bible. And were moved to support those that taught those teachings. It is a joy to finally really believe the Jesus is really the Son of God... and that is Father name is Jehovah. And regarding God's name as Jehovah, if you are well read, you should know that there are many non-Witness Bible scholars who support and believe the God name was indeed pronounced Jehovah.

Even the Jewish Book of Why states "Yehova" is considered to be correct.

E