last circuit assembly there was 700+ present and 1 baptized.. recently there was a foreign language assemble of over 500 and 1 baptized.. in the last 5-10 years i haven't been to one assembly where there has been more than a handful baptized.
at the memorial all i see are the same old faces that have been coming since the flood.. the hall complex i attend has 6 congregation and several groups-there is negative growth.
when you factor in the demographically aging folk and the many who have already passed away, i don't know where they get the 8 million.. i know that most of the growth is from the developing countries, but still i think they are fudging their numbers.
If the numbers are true, it is no gage of the quality of its membership. How many are are there now just putting in time for the sake of looking active or one step below that, just reporting time without the effort for fear of reprisals.
Religions in the main are social affairs and to be a member and to belong somewhere is one of its perks.
Doctrine can be a take it or leave it thing. Perhaps to remain in business JW org will recognise this...but I hope they fail very publicly and completely.
how accurate is the bible?
the "compiled" version (council of nicaea) was not established for hundreds, or even thousands, of years after events happened.
stories were handed down generation to generation to generation before being written down.
Welcome to the fray Wire rider!
The Bible is no more accurate than AK Rowling's books which share the same motifs of magic realism.
The great confidence trick was that performed by the Roman Catholic Church in the fourth century onwards demanding from the illiterate masses a belief that the Bible is sacred and from God. This untruth has been handed down the generations to the gullible ever since.
Science has an infinitely better method of determining truthfulness. The Bible as a guide to everything is an ignorant superstition which has had its day.
first off, i'd like to state that i currently have "privileges" in the congregation and volunteer at bethel on and off throughout the year.
that's as much information as i will currently give about myself.. starting off, i think something big is coming in the form of lawsuits and bad pr.
they seem to be batting down the hatches in preparation for something the last few years and even more so the last few months.
for people who already are bedazzled by the current stream of information about watchtower / jw.org real estate planning, renovation and the emergency stop on the building programma called out, i found today that the renovation design of the (impressive!
) toledo buildings for the watchtower real estate staff, is designed by a state of the art designer.
http://www.hudsondesign.pro.
for people who already are bedazzled by the current stream of information about watchtower / jw.org real estate planning, renovation and the emergency stop on the building programma called out, i found today that the renovation design of the (impressive!
) toledo buildings for the watchtower real estate staff, is designed by a state of the art designer.
http://www.hudsondesign.pro.
do any of you ex-jw's still believe in god?
even with the new rebranding/softening of this religion, i still don't see how people can believe in him.
the god of the old testimate is an angry murderer who approved rapes and slavery and killed thousands of men, women and children.
I have a friend called Rodney, he wants everyone to be good towards each other, he looks after everyone but dang! The trouble is; he is invisible. As it happens, it was he who created the universe and he told me that he will kill those people who don’t believe in him but for all those who do, they will go into an everlasting paradise.
Qualitatively and philosophically is there any difference between my psychosis and theism?
could anybody give us a brief summary of what these facilities are please?.
brit who has been out for 20 years is confused.
thanks..
back in 2005 a new branch was opened in guatemala with a great fanfare and the ritual praise of god for his blessing on his people.
the triumphal chant was hail the theocracy ever increasing!
since the branch has now closed so soon after opening, does this mean withdrawal of blessing and theocracy is diminishing?
Back in 2005 a new branch was
opened in Guatemala with a great fanfare and the ritual praise of God for his “blessing”
on ”his people”. The triumphal chant was “Hail the theocracy ever increasing!” Since
the branch has now closed so soon after opening, does this mean withdrawal of
blessing and theocracy is diminishing? I would suggest it was never there in
the first place but it was showcased as evidence of Divine approval. In Watchtower
theocracy all the negatives are buried from the eyes and minds of the flock.
Propaganda obscures the counter arguments.
The 1914 generation fiasco should reduce the number of sentient witnesses in their ranks, those whose brains haven’t yet completely shrivelled. But many of the older ones in the org had been hanging on for dear life for a fulfilment of the 1914 generation. It had been repeated so much that in the minds of a true believer it was as good as done. No amount of repetition or flaying the brothers with threats and rewards makes a cult doctrine a real world fact...only a cult fact. That cult fiction is like a fairy gift fading away and the listeners to the propaganda are chastened and disappointed...but are they going to wake up?
A third conspicuous piece of propaganda is the idea that the scripture using Jesus’ words to foretell the generation in his day would see all thing come to completion etc are to be fulfilled in our day. How convenient! Now, it is no longer in Fred Franz’s generation but to be in subsequent overlapped ones. (Pull the other leg!) This whole idea is so far removed from any real life, real world reality that it should be where it belongs; in the garbage of religious history. The JW org has contritely recognised that events do not have types and anti-types as Russell would have you believe so for heaven’s sake why would Jesus’ failed prophecy have a further fulfilment at a later time? It doesn’t make sense yet the Watchtower is built on this very foundation!
Propaganda, the relentless repetition of ideas to a captive and willing audience has made JWs comfortable with the belief that the failed prophecy is for our time... this pivotal belief and motivating hope is nothing but empty propaganda. There was no mention in the scriptures of two thousand years later and the world is vastly better not getting worse than it ever was which the prophecy demands.
JW propagandists should be aware that if there is to be a parallel with the first century, it will be that it is to be fulfilled today in the same way...by total failure. What a relief! But who is waking up?
more ikea catalogues were printed last year than bibles.. ikea is a swedish flatpack furniture store..
nasa is holding a press conference today entiltled " mars mystery solved".
speculation is they will announce the discovery of flowing water on mars?.
the significance of this is that it raises the possibility of possible past life or future existence on the planet.. the rebel..
