I think the there is a very different feel to the JWs in the developed countries vs the undeveloped countries. I have a family member living in an African nation, and their description is very different. A lot of it has to do with the abject poverty people are in, and they think that becoming JWs will make them rich, or at least more financially secure. The ones that get to Bethel there and get their monthly $100 allotment or whatever it is and a free place to live with healthcare think they have really hit it big. They even send money home to their family in the bush. Its a different world. Not good news for the WT society overall, as countries like this are a net drain on the finances, but in terms of growth of publishers, etc, they are growing with no sign of letup.
dropoffyourkeylee
JoinedPosts by dropoffyourkeylee
-
48
2019 service report is out
by slimboyfat inthe 2019 report is out:.
https://download-a.akamaihd.net/files/media_publication/29/syr19_e.pdf.
the “average publisher” figure for individual countries has made a comeback!
-
-
48
2019 service report is out
by slimboyfat inthe 2019 report is out:.
https://download-a.akamaihd.net/files/media_publication/29/syr19_e.pdf.
the “average publisher” figure for individual countries has made a comeback!
-
dropoffyourkeylee
Nearly all the African countries are showing a increase in the 3-5% range.
-
23
Russell's followers in British Columbia?
by dubstepped inso i was interviewing a guy for a podcast episode today and he went and saw his grandmother over christmas to gather some history.
he wasn't raised a jw but it turns out his family was actually opposed to the jws because they went all the way back to russell.
according to him (from her stories), they refused to follow rutherford and that's where the split took place.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
Yes, I have heard of the StandFasters. What I would be interested in is the details of the commune they created in BC. Where exactly was it, how long did it last, what was the economics of it, etc.
-
8
Update on Mom's Book.
by vienne inseparate identity, volume 2, co-authored by my mom, is scheduled for release in march.
b. w. schulz, the series editor and mom's co-author has posted an update.
https://truthhistory.blogspot.com/.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
Thanks, I will definitely purchase a copy of Volume 2 -
43
Did You Know Any "Genuine"" Old School Anointed?
by Number 6 ingrowing up in scotland in the 1970s in scotland the anointed were few and far between, but we had one old dude in our cong who claimed to be one of the anointed.
in the days when it was taken seriously.. i'd be curious how you viewed them.
thing is, he wasn't an elder, or even a ministerial servant, just a plain old publisher.. but he was revered like he had a hotline to jesus.. the other week i was talking to a friend of similar age to me but who hung around the wt a lot longer than i did, and he just commented "oh him... he was a doddery old fool who used to just sit and piss himself.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
I knew a few back in the seventies and into the eighties, one of them I knew quite well.
You have to remember that all the JWs back until '35 were anointed. It was just the average JW, men, women, some pretty smart, some loony. It had nothing to do with maturity or anything else but their age and when they came in.
-
5
Vera de Saint Croix
by Anna Marina inanyone heard of vera de saint croix?
if fred franz had got married she would have been the one he would have married.
she wasn't his girlfriend but she was a very special lady to him.. that's all i know.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
Holy cow! I haven’t heard this story before!
-
23
Great Crowd and a pair of elephants, invisible.
by waton infor lurkers: current study article 1st december wt.
in sept. study edition.
details hidden in the discussion: a pair of 'elephants in the room', and their calves.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
I seldom go to meetings, and never read the WT, but today I did and couldn't help carefully reading the WT today.
I have read all the Studies in the Scriptures some years ago, and lots of the early literature. I used to have all the Zions Watchtower reprints and spent a fair amount of time reading through them. I can't help but feel there was some mis-stating of the facts this morning about the beliefs of the Bible Students.
First thought: The 'Great Multitude' (ie Great Crowd) to the Bible Students was the heathen nations, all the non-Christendom nations. The non-elect nominal Christians were the secondary heaven class 'before the throne''. I forget where the Jews fell in to this scheme. Today's WT made it sound like the Great crowd was the secondary heavenly class before the throne, which I think is not a correct statement.
Second: There was a lot of discussion of the 'before the throne'' , 'in the courtyard' (naos) identification in the early '80's because this was a major tenent of the ápostates'' who were purged in the '81 - '82 period. Which makes me wonder what has motivated them to dig all this up again in today's WT. Is there a resurgence of the '81 beliefs I haven't heard about?
Just my thoughts, feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
-
89
Do You Think “Higher Education “Is All That??
by minimus inas jehovah’s witnesses, we were regularly told how awful a college education is.
i’m no longer associated with the religion but i am not so pro university.
it’s not because i think you are better off without a degree.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
College made it possible for me to get a career in a field I liked, work with people who I like to work with, and make more money.
I don't think it is for everybody, but for me it was a good move and well worth the time and expense.
-
70
2034 - A Future History of Jehovah's Witnesses
by slimboyfat ini don't know what i am talking about... read this post at your peril.
back in the 1960s there was, seemingly, a brief period of relaxation in authoritarianism among jehovah's witnesses.
those who have read raymond franz's 'crisis of conscience' will have heard the story about dan sydlik's remark about the need to 'open some windows to let some air in here'.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
Original post:
Back in the 1960s there was, seemingly, a brief period of relaxation in authoritarianism among Jehovah's Witnesses. Those who have read Raymond Franz's 'crisis of conscience' will have heard the story about Dan Sydlik's remark about the need to 'open some windows to let some air in here'.
There is a little mismatch of time periods here, I think. There was a time period in the years '77-'81 where there was more open discussion, quoting Barnes Notes, other Bible Translations, etc. Sydlik's quote would have been in that time period, not the '60's. Then the lockdown came with the events Ray Franz describes in his book in '81-'83. That is my recollection anyway.
There hasn't been any period of relaxation of authoritarianism since then. But on the other hand, most of the JWs anymore don't care much about doctrine or study. When they get together now, there is no discussion of Bible, doctrine, or anything like it used to be. It's more of a social club now.
-
3
Requested--Millennial Dawnism-The Blasphemous Religion which teaches The Annihilation of Jesus Christ!
by Atlantis inrequested by a member of the board.. millennial dawnism- the blasphemous religion which teaches the annihilation of jesus christ; haldeman, d. d.. .
https://docdro.id/amrlkcb.
petra!.
-
dropoffyourkeylee
LOL, I had an actual copy of this pamphlet at one time. I have no idea what happened to it