they wlll always have new people coming in but the majority of the congro's are getting older particularly the inner city ones were it is expensive to live.
they are struggling to get men to be elders and m.s's and this can only get worse as very few young ones stay around.
karter..
Island Man
As bad as the defection rate among youth is, the success rate for creating JWs from the womb is still higher than that for creating them from the doorstep. So they'll just try to increase the JW reproduction rate and intensify the childhood indoctrination process.
So, Mormonism style?
so, i joined just yesterday after coming across this forum looking at beth sarim, and i though that i would share my story with you.
it will no doubt be very similar to a lot of others, but it's a way of getting to know me at least.. i was brought up as witness from the age of 4 years old, my dad picked up the 'truth' from one of his friends in the pub and it seemed to go from there, he would quickly get baptised and progress to becoming a ministerial servant and then an elder.
from a young age i wanted to be like my dad and become a pioneer, a ministerial servant and then an elder... perhaps even becoming a co. the world, spiritually speaking, was my oyster.
Hi Sam, I love that you forged ahead until you created the life you have now. Good for you and welcome!
tyler mccumber, no, you probably don't know of him.
he may be one of jehovah's witnesses.
his dad, mark, was a member the last i knew.. .
I just got back to this thread FatFreak and I am loving your bucket list idea.
I think it is awesome!
A bucket list "potential" can still fuel our dreams and give lightness to our steps.
Hugs to you FatFreak,
i was going to put this in my thread about pyramid schemes, but i thought it's discreet enough to warrant its own.
1) there are many faithful jws.
2) there are many men and women who could take control and fill the void if the watchtower collapses.
I think they will morph, rebrand and stick around. I think we see the beginnings of that now actually.
With all the older ones dying off there is no one left to fact check anything.
It will be just another religion with its own little shtick.
Neither growing (while claiming to) or diminishing entirely.
Sort of like the 7th Day Adventists.
so if the gb changed its "bible based beliefs" on some teaching, would witnesses all of a sudden change their individual beliefs too?.
witnesses like to claim that "their bible trained hearts and minds" make them believe as they do, but we know that the reality is that all witnesses hold their "deep seated beliefs" according to what they have been told to believe.. so what would cause the average witness to question those that dictate their "personal convictions"??.
thoughts?.
stuckinarut2
So I am wondering what it would REALLY take for a witness to wake up and question the authority?
The thing I think is most effective is an act that is perceived as blatant injustice to the individual. Once they find that no one really cares about justice or theocratic reasoning, that is their best chance at eyes opening.
If this should happen, they will naturally turn to the system in place (elders, C.O. writing a letter to Bethel) and IF that fails, it can be just enough of a crack in the facade to quickly become a gaping hole in their "faith".
The good news is the caliber of elders is dropping and the rapidity with which a person can find themselves told to shush and "go along to get along" seems to be increasing.
hi folks.
i have been a lurker here for quite some time but i have now decided to make my first post.
i am originally from somewhere on the east coast, but recently, in part to aid in the fading process, i have moved to a city somewhere west of the mississippi.
Hi The Fugitive and welcome to the forum!
well how's it going round your way?
massive increase of interested ones?
did you even know it was supposed to be happening?
Interesting that they only count the ones who listen live and dont want to count the ones who listen later.
At first glance, that might look like they are trying to be more accurate.
In reality, I think they are embarrassed about how low the numbers are (and the general lack of interest) and dont WANT those numbers being looked at.
well, i got myself in a dilemma.
i'm currently 18, being baptised for a year.
i had my doubts, but due to a variety of reasons (getting subtle flack for not baptised, not having a support system even if i wanted to leave).
I agree with Pete also.
He doesnt have any emotions involved and isnt that great when someone can give you advice when you know your own emotions could get in your way?
(not saying they are - just saying they could)
If you decide to go ahead with things, by ALL means fade dont disassociate. That keeps as many options on the table for you as possible.
Later if you want to disassociate you always can.
Im glad you are being careful and thinking your way through this. That is really good.
All the best to you!
why were we ever a jw?
were we mad?
we must have been .... well, my excuse is that i knew nothing else.
Wow. Very intriguing to think about.
I was a born in who stayed longer than I should have and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I wouldnt have been a convert if called on at my door.
I am simply put, not a "joiner". So I might have been intrigued and studied even but wouldnt have "joined" without the familial pressure I felt as a teen.
As to those in my past...I think it was a different religion way back then. Perhaps people were more ripe for the picking with the lure of a "new and better" Christian religion.
when i was a jobo, i would say that anything in jobo history, eg.
miracle wheat, beth sarim et al (old light), wasn't worth considering as evidence that the wbt$ was a weirdo cult.. i think that's probably the jobo mindset now.. what would you show them from very recent lies teachings to encourage them to consider the possibility the wbt$ is a scam?.
stavro
Is having a blood transfusion no longer an automatic disfellowshipping offence?
Correct. It has now been moved to the category of IF the person is regretful and IF the person has a good standing and (most impt if) the matter is not well known ......
then a judicial comittee doesnt necessarily have to be formed.
They just get counsel.
