Posts by never a jw

73

The Bad Science Scandal - Research Fact Fabrication - UK News article.

by *lost* in

the independent neswpaper uk - tues 18th june 2013 .

the bad science scandal - how fact fabrication is damaging uk's global research name.

after a string of high profile cases, a new agreement between scientists and the people who fund them aims to usher in a new era of .

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

You missed the point altogether. Lonely and immigrant count just as much as anyone else. The point was that the religion of JW is appealing to less and less people. My observations are only anecdotal, buit certainly true. The Spanish congregations in California are stagnating. Qute a different story from just 15 years ago. I don't claim to know objectively the reason behind the change, but the change is palpable. There is growth Ok, but not what it used to be. So, if the trend continues, they will hit zero growth eventually and then go into negative numbers.

Use me as a reason why their numbers will decline. Two years ago I was willing to praise JW's over Catholics. Today I am spreading the word about the WT leaders' arrogance, dishonesty and manipulative tactics. I may be a lonely crusader against the WT in my social circle, but I was not a crusader against the WT before. You can bet your butt that in the next 30 or so years of life left for me I will be able to disuade few people out of the WT grasp. People like me and many others here were not actively undermining the WT before. Things are changing, slowly may be, but they are definitely moving against WT best wishes

153

The antidote to the myth that JWs are declining

by slimboyfat in

one of the most persistent myths on this website is that jws are already in decline, the rot has set in, and the descent of the watchtower is inevitable from here on in.

unfortunately the facts do not bear this out.

jws are still increasing even in most developing countries, and they are still growing worldwide at a faster rate than the general population.

never a jw

Somewhere in your analysis there's a flaw. In other words, you are wrong slimboyfat

What I see in Hispanic congregations is that people who get baptized are mostly born-ins and few immigrants who feel lonely, have limited education (9th or lower) and/or have no access or interest in the internet.

It's a new world, it's not what it used to be even 15 years ago when congregations had to split every few years to accomodate newcomers. English congregation actually are merging because they are losing "parishoners" and therefore there are too many empty seats.

4

GB not recognized as such till 1944, is this the cutoff for F&DS?

by Wasanelder Once in

ok so this is from the w71 12/15 p. 757 a governing body as different from a legal corporation.

governing body.

according to the apostolic example of the first century c.e., these dedicated, baptized christians known today as jehovahs witnesses have a governing body, as specifically noted from the year 1944 onward.

never a jw

1944??? When did Ruthlessford die? 1942? Sounds like they are embarrased by the Judge's record (1918-1942) and Charles T. Russell (until 1916). The latter founded the religion, the former shaped it. What a bunch of ingrates!. They are rejecting their roots and those who gave them a religion.

66

So apparently I'm now a Secular Humanist

by Oubliette in

jw
friends

i was doing some research on the subject of beliefs and belief systems when i came across an on-line survey/test that supposedly helps you determine which religion or philosophy is most like your current beliefs.

if you're curious, you can take the quiz here: belief system selector quizafter answering the 20 questions the results were spit out!

tada!!!.

never a jw

secular humanism 100%

jw 0 %

Quite predictable

24

Racist ideas still present in the org.

by sosoconfused in

another thread on this board recalled to my mind the various thoughts and ideas in this organization that are still very prevelant among many.. .

for instance i already mentioned the late 70's to early 80's segregation in the kingdom halls, but in the 90's clear through to now for instance:.

at bethel in the mid 90's if you listened to or were found with rap music you were gone, no questions asked.

never a jw

Heard first-hand overt racist comments by several elders and m.s of a Hispanic congregation during a dinner that seemed to have been organized for me. Out of nowhere someone said that blacks were "not hard working people"--they actually put in different words. Promptly others echoed the comment. I was quite taken aback by the comments of these "spiritual" leaders. I was invited to this dinner because the body of elders was trying to get dirt on one elder that was not popular in the Body of Elders. This zealous, but unpopular elder had previously given me a book study and the other elders thought they could get something on the elder from me. It backfired because I wrote a letter to the Watchtower, and among other things, I wrote the racist comments that I had heard from the elders and m.s. Two months later a black elder who had learned Spanish was transferred to that congregation. He didn't stay for long, but I strongly believed that my letter caused the transfer of that elder.

The elder who gave me the study was in the end demoted and stayed "out of service" for several years.

145

If you believe in Gods laws why dont you go live in Saudi Arabia ?

by mP in

i think we all know that shariah law is basically mohammads copy of the torah, with minor edits.

slavery, womens inequality, anti homosexuality are obviously written in the same spirit.

so believers why dont you go live in saudi arabia if yo u believe gods law is perfect or at the last useful ?.

never a jw

Atheism is a religion of the rich and wealthy.

James Brown,

Don't forget that there is a correlation between wealth, education and intelligence. Atheists are generally smart and well educated, while the most fervent believers are poor and uneducated.

I choose education, wealth and atheism. You stick to fervent believers

427

If man evolved?

by tornapart in

i know anyone who believes in evolution is going to say that there is no 'if' about it.

however.... if man evolved over hundreds of thousands of years ago, why were there only about 200-300 million people alive 2,000 years ago?

surely there'd have been many billions by then?.

never a jw

Impressive and educational. Kudos to you Cofty.

Regarding population growth, it's quite interesting to see that from the days of Jesus Christ to the 19th century there is very small growth. But it is in the 20th century when we have an unprecedented growth rate. I believed, it tripled in just a century (from the 1900's to the 2,000's). The reason is quite simple, we have learned to reduce significantly mortality due to disease and famine. This is precisely what makes the huge difference between the 20th century and any other time before.

Quite interesting how an elder last year in the Special Talk tried to convince the audience that the 20th century was the worst ever. Why? Because famine, wars, disease and earthquake had gotten worse!!!!! Unbelievable, completely the oppossite is true and a population graph can prove it beyond doubt.

Read the article. It confirms what I had learned before and wrote above.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Population_growth

28

Bible Teach Book has been getting a facelift WT Style

by RayPublisher in

well the book they use to conduct bible studies is already showing its age, and just like the changes they made to the live forever book they are doing it to the bible teach book as well.

here is something i found on the kool aid site jw talk .

net:.

never a jw

"lost"

You are lost in the Watchtower world. The conditions today are way better than in any other time in the past. The problem with you is that you watch too much television and spend less time interacting with your down to earth very normal neighbors (I hope you don't live in a ghetto). Life is not perfect for many, but it is much better for the majority of people in the world then it was decades or hundreds of years ago.

71

MIL letter to my wife

by AggieNostic in

background: my wife and i are inactive, we stopped attending in 2005. raised as jws, were pioneers, i was elder etc... .

our kids are in college, also inactive but are baptised.

my wife went back to college, getting her degree this month at age 48!

never a jw

Be resolute in your position regarding your religious beliefs, but you may want to tell them that they are welcome to your house, social gatherings and parties anytime. If they don't want to reciprocate, that's their prerrogative. Show them more love than they are capable of showing to your wife.

Your letter only hardens my resolve to fight the cult.

Also, tangential to the subject though, what difference is there between anniversaries and birthdays? The former are annual celebrations of two individuals, the latter are the annual celebrations of one individual. I guess anniversaries should be twice as bad as birthdays.