Posts by Spiral

10

Jehovah's Witnesses Mega Halls

by RolRod in

i was thinking about this recently.

the society owns all the kingdom halls and with desperate need of money, their closing down and selling off properties.

consolidating congregations seems to be the order of the day.

Spiral

I think that's definitely an option, especially for urban areas. It's not as if they really need smaller centers to coordinate the preaching work, that's all gone by the wayside.

I have a couple of friends who attend megachurches. If they don't attend, they can watch online. Preacherman always is on one of the big screens, the choir on the other.

They love it. Being part of a big congregation (if you can really even call it a congregation, at that size) is part of the thrill. Occasionally there's a big event (picnic, hot dogs, music, etc.) in a city park.

It doesn't appeal to me, but as they always remind me, being a JW ruined me for all religion. (Yes, it did.)

25

For those of you who've watched the Witnesses documentary, let's suppose for a moment that...

by My Name is of No Consequence in

for those of you who've watched the witnesses documentary, let's suppose for a moment that the org was forced to make their database of abusers available to the courts.

if this database is as detailed and meticulous as it is claimed, how in the world could the org (in its present form) survive that?

assuming they don't go bankrupt after all of the new abuse claims, would they go underground, shut down the kingdom halls, stop the preaching?

Spiral

@StephaneLaliberte, I agree.

Why are they even keeping that information? I'd think it would be time to hit the delete button. (Although no one would believe that ever really happened.)

Does anyone know?

38

How Many Here Remember Hearing Details from the Platform on Why a Person was Reproved or DF'd ???

by RubaDub in

i just had this flashback when commenting on another thread about how they used to announce reproof or dfing from the platform.

at least in our congregation, it was a dramatic event (this is what i can remember from back in the mid-late 60's or early 70's when i was a kid).. at the end of the service meeting, just before singing the final song, the brother would announce, "we have a letter that must be read.

the "congregation servant" (my grandfather or later my father) would then slowly walk from the back of the kh to the platform.

Spiral

I can remember the brother using the phrase "so-and-so is disfellowshipped for conduct unbecoming a Christian".

Then, a week later, there would be a local needs talk about fornication, or something scandalous. So, you knew (assuming you hadn't heard already) what the deal was. The talks would sometimes be full of detail. The innocent mate would be sniffling in the back. Creepy and disgusting, really.

I also remember hearing that the previous practice of giving a reason was stopped because some people sued the congregation for slander. Not sure if that's true.

30

If you're "anointed" don't seek out other "anointed" so says the Watchtower January 2020

by RolRod in

when i was affiliated with the witnesses, there were barely 6,000 who profess to be of the anointed remnant.

i recently read somewhere that today there are over 20,000 who profess to be anointed.

that figure may be more when you consider those who meet and partake privately for fear of the stigma of claiming to be anointed.

Spiral

It does show that they are struggling to keep the message on track. Sounds like they are feeling threatened. Otherwise, why even put this in a WT?

28

Dissolved Congregations--Minneapolis--St. Paul.

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

we know all the dissolved congregations in minneapolis/st.

paul now:.

1. lake of the isles .

Spiral

Atlantis, thank you!

That kind of shrinkage sounds HUGE.

I think anyone - even the most devoted JW - would see this happening and understand that things are going downhill fast.

Even their own calculation of 17.3% decrease (best case scenario) in just one year is huge.

So I'm thinking that this frees up lots of real estate that they can sell, besides the KH on a superfund site. (And how does THAT happen, anyway?)

And what's going to happen to the assembly halls in areas where publisher counts are shrinking? Wait - more real estate to sell!

10

BBC News Article 4th Feb 2020. Jehovah's Witnesses sued over 'child sex abuse'.

by ThomasCovenant in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51006771.

Spiral

So they blame the parents for not protecting the children. Disgusting.

I know of a case where a parent was concerned about the proximity of a potential abuser who had just been released from prison (for various crimes). One of the brothers was studying with him and was letting him live for free in a small (nothing fancy, but free) house he owned close to them. This guy didn’t have a job so wandered around the neighborhood all day. The elder couldn’t figure out he was just being used, and children (JWs and others) were around.

She was totally shut down. This guy was horrible and did end up back in jail. But none-I repeat none-of the local elders would listen to her. Nor would her MS husband.

28

Dissolved Congregations--Minneapolis--St. Paul.

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

we know all the dissolved congregations in minneapolis/st.

paul now:.

1. lake of the isles .

Spiral

By the way, what percentage of total congregations in this area does this list represent?

8

How to jw's handle Luke 6:32?

by carla in

all or nothing said this in a previous thread, "we were told the "identifying mark of true christians is this love among the brothers".

it was said in the thread about not being invited to things.. i have seen it many times in re: to jw's.

how do jw's handle luke 6:32 then?

Spiral

BluesBrother, I have heard that line many times. Twisted and sick. Emotional manipulation of the drones, at its best.

28

Dissolved Congregations--Minneapolis--St. Paul.

by Atlantis in

jw
friends

we know all the dissolved congregations in minneapolis/st.

paul now:.

1. lake of the isles .

Spiral

I don’t know the area, but sounds like a lot of congregations.

Been hearing of lots of Spanish congregations getting the chop. They used to be more active (and fun to be around) than the English halls.

28

How many here believe the WTS really has has 8.5 million followers / 8.5. million members

by Hotpepper in

i think it's closer to 5 million with all the selling of kingdom hells and branch bethel's all over the world.

it's even hard to get a hard copy of the lastest craptower or afake mag now in new york city..

Spiral

I think it's all about context. I know of DF'd and inactive ones, that if asked by a census taker, would reply they are JWs. I know of active publishers that actually never go out in service. Do any of these people really believe in everything the bOrg teaches? Probably not. But they would still describe themselves as JWs in certain contexts.

So, even the numbers that the bOrg collects only really reflect those that would pass certain criteria. Some level of belief, some level of attendance, turning in some hours (accuracy varies). But these people still consider themselves JWs.

As to whether the organization cares about accuracy, I actually doubt that. They are so far down the honesty rabbit hole they probably just do their own thing. If they try to create the impression that the bOrg are growing (somewhere, not everywhere) then the believers will still give money. If they were to disclose (if true) that the bOrg is shrinking, the generous ones might quit giving. That's just human nature. Humans love numbers and they love numbers that get bigger. Ask any marketing manager or financial planner.

I don't think it matters. On a true, mental level, I doubt there is anywhere close to 8.5 million. I am also sure the numbers reported by the Mormons and the Catholic Church are inaccurate as well.