i happened to come across a time article in 2008. it was basically talking about the high turnover in american faiths.
it mentioned the jdubs and highlighted the following point.. an even more extreme example of what might be called "masked churn" is the relatively tiny jehovah's witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.
that means that two-thirds of the people who told pew they were raised jehovah's witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts.
Thank you LongHairGal.
The implication of my post is that people that stay in this religion are:
I have abundant scientific data to back this up. So if anyone doubts this, bring it on. Show me your evidence to refute my claims.
BTW, again note that intelligence is NOT a reliable predictor or who will or will not join a cult.
i happened to come across a time article in 2008. it was basically talking about the high turnover in american faiths.
it mentioned the jdubs and highlighted the following point.. an even more extreme example of what might be called "masked churn" is the relatively tiny jehovah's witnesses, with a turnover rate of about two-thirds.
that means that two-thirds of the people who told pew they were raised jehovah's witnesses no longer are — yet the group attracts roughly the same number of converts.
since i don't have you,i conjure up an image thatis both real and ideal.. what i do recall is etched in sharp relief, but deeply, in dark caverns of my mind.. the heart is a better well of reminiscence as it draws upan intangible but true past.. a newfound, tranquil corner inme reassures that love, thoughgone missing, is never lost..
CC, that is a very powerfully poem and timely for me as I just learned this morning that one of my dear aunts died last night.
Thank you for sharing it.
Question: Is that a typo in the first line of the third stanza? Did you mean “The heart is a bitter well ...”?
ha, another visit from the jws.... thankfully they are few and far between (seem to roll around whenever the co visits or is about to visit...)an elder and his wife, presenting the magazines and inviting us to the talks, which are "so encouraging".
he had the saddest, most hang-dog expression, as he bemoaned these last days, so critical to deal with, and how the world was getting so terrible, things are so bad, blah blah blah, and every time i looked at her, she smiled encouragingly at me with that bright-eyed, put-on "sincere" smile.
i thanked them for coming, and said, "i appreciate you thinking about us" (after they said how the "missed us" at the meetings, ugh) -- "but we know where the kingdom hall is if we decide to go back.
They said how the "missed us"
Cool. I’m available for dinner this Friday night or we could go out for breakfast Saturday morning ...
i was just thinking about the account of adam and eve, and how they both attempted to 'pass the buck', or shift the blame to someone else.
eve to the snake, and adam to eve.... does that sound familiar??.
the society has never taken ownership of its mistakes!
Hypocrites are they!
Don’t tell me you’re just now noticing this for the first time!?!
🤔
if any member of the gb were to turn apostate---and join this site-----who would you like it to be ?
and why ?.
and--least like--and why ?.
EA: I would be happy to see any GB as an apostate and would greatly commend him for his guts and honesty.
This is why none of them will ever leave. They all lack both: guts and honesty!
if any member of the gb were to turn apostate---and join this site-----who would you like it to be ?
and why ?.
and--least like--and why ?.
I'd like to see the smart, humble one that would have no problem admitting we was wrong and that the GB's policies and practices have ruined countless millions of lives ....
Oh, I guess none of the current GB answer that description.
this has possibly been brought up before however here goes.. constant reference is made by many posters to scientific research as being the only way to prove something factual that would otherwise have to be taken on faith.
there actually seems to be "faith" in scientific findings.. my experience over many years is that most scientific research is fake.
nothing oftencomes of the big announcements made to raise more money.. money, prestige, pride, human error, suppositions etc., are rife amongst the scientific community.. i realise that there have been many advances over hundreds of years but humankind is in a mess, although very different to even a century ago.. the medical profession now has vaccinations for everything, antiviral drugs etc.
Amicabl, you really don't understand what science is and what it can and cannot do. Here is a useful working definition that might clarify some things in your mind:
"Science is a way of learning about what is in the natural world, how the natural world works, and how the natural world got to be the way it is. It is not simply a collection of facts; rather it is a path to understanding."
I suggest you educate yourself a little bit more so you can have an informed opinion. Here is a great website that can get you started:
well went on a vacation cross country for 10 days to see relatives, and so decided to drop in on my old kingdom hall to get a look at some old friends i haven't seen in more the 27 years.. came in around 1:15 pm middle of the public talk wearing tight fitting jeans and an old sweat shirt, and sat down in front of person i served with as an elder.
the talks was so boring i can't remember a word of it, i can only recall that it was very disjointed with tremendous leaps in logic, so that my mind could not and would not follow the speaker.
watchtower study was a complete brain shrinking repeat of putting on the new personality or something, with the conductor fishing for baby food comments where none of the 3 or 4 young ones gave any comments only the hard core braindead were answering.
BBW, Very interesting experience(s) you've had.
Thanks for sharing!
jp
january 2012, at the age of 24 i “woke up” to the truth about the truth.
march 2012, i joined this esteemed message board and was welcomed.
this forum was such a help.
Captain Obvious: Yes people it is quite possible to get your wife out without burning your entire family down.
Congrats to you and your wife! Your story is indeed encouraging in regard to what is possible.
However, and this is more for others that may be reading your post, it is essential to keep in mind that what is possible is not the same as a guarantee.
I know several ex-JWs that followed almost the identical strategy as you and their spouses (mostly wives) are still die-hard JWs that have no intention of ever leaving the religion. Some have stuck with their mates, although they live together their relationships are fairly superficial because they cannot discuss so many subjects. Others have ultimately separated and/or divorced because they could no longer stand to live with someone that would not support them being themself and living an authentic life.
Captain Obvious: Be who you were meant to be. Anyone who doesn't want that for you doesn’t deserve to be in your life.
^^^ THIS ^^^
