TheOldHippie

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Posts by TheOldHippie

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  31

  2013 Report - difference in av. pubs compared to % of baptisms

  by likeabird in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just took the first page of the 2013 report and added two new columns to look at alternative ways of calculating the 'increase'.

  first column: 2013 av.

  pubs minus 2012 av.

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  TheOldHippie

  You cannot use number of baptisms to calculate increase, because publishers are exactly that - publishers - before they are baptised. Baptism candidates come from the ranks of publishers, and added to that, some start as publishers and are baptised within the same service year, whereas others "cross the year border".

  Additionally, nobody when doing these calculations seem to bother about the fact that around 1 % of a population die during a year. Hence, a 0 % growth "in reality" is a 1 % growth because the 1 % that have died have been substituted. a 3 % growth therefore "in reality" is a 4 % growth.
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  8

  Yearbook increases and deceases: Top lands

  by Londo111 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  looking at the percentage of average publishers of 2013 over 2012 (not the peaks):.

  brazil 1.46%.

  nigeria 2.60%.

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  TheOldHippie

  And this - very interesting:

  http://www.indexmundi.com/facts/indicators/SP.POP.GROW/compare?country=jp
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  8

  Yearbook increases and deceases: Top lands

  by Londo111 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  looking at the percentage of average publishers of 2013 over 2012 (not the peaks):.

  brazil 1.46%.

  nigeria 2.60%.

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  TheOldHippie

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aging_of_Japan
• 
  35

  2013 Publisher Statistics now available from 2014 Yearbook.

  by jwfacts in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the 2014 yearbook is out, and i have scanned the publisher figures into a more readable format at 2013 service year report.

  i have updated some of the graphs at http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/statistics.php and will do the rest tonight.

  there are no real surprises, with very similar results as during the last couple of years.

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  TheOldHippie

  "Thanks to the EU/EEA, anyone can legally migrate anywhere within the participating countries (only exception being Croatia these days), and I don't see Switzerland or Norway being that much more welcoming than Germany to immigrants these days. Sweden has been taking on many immigrants from outside of Europe (and continues to do so, e.g. from Syria), but publisher counts are still stagnating."

  Welcoming to immigrants: depends on whether they come from outside Europe or not. Sweden with stagnating numbers - but the majority of immigrants come from Syria, Iraq, in short Moslem countries and not much increase can be expected from these nationals. Norway has a huge immigration from Poland and Lithuania, and has an increase partly due to these nationals. Close to one in eight publishers come from these countries. Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic etc experience a stagnation and even decrease in the population and therefore have a very ageing population, because the younger ones leave for the wealthier European countries.

  One has to look at the population development of the countries in question before making quick comments. Japan has a very much ageing population and will decrease hugely during the years to come.
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  55

  Do You Own A Firearm? Would You??

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  2013 was a record breaking year for firearm purchases.

  2014 is supposed to be a record breaker for ammunition.. do you own a firearm?

  but i support that right for others---if they are qualified..

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  TheOldHippie

  No. Never.
• 
  6

  Hey Bo Didley, another legendary pioneer of Rock passes

  by designs in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  bo diddley's distinctive rhythm rock style of playing was copied by buddy holly (not fade away) the rolling stones, everly brothers and every kid who picked up a guitar.

  he was 79. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yezhb3ozglq.

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  TheOldHippie

  Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American R&B vocalist, guitarist and songwriter (usually as Ellas McDaniel).

  Yes, he was 79, and yes, he has passed on - but as stated, five and a half years ago ..........

  New light? Old light?
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  14

  Leaving a church in Germany?

  by Nika Bee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a technical/bureaucratical question for anyone in germany who has experience with this.. the background is, i got baptised as a jw as a teenager in germany, then moved to the us, where i daed.. from my research on the internet, i seem to understand, that when you get baptised in germany, they inform the appropriate authority depending on the state you live in, in bavaria this would be the "standesamt".

  is that correct?

  or does one have to do this by oneself?

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  TheOldHippie

  Just send a letter to Standesamt asking what your Kirchenzugehoerigkeit is, and that you want to change it according to what it says.

  In my youth, the church tax was at 10 per cent, and so quite a few left the churches in order to get a somewhat better economy :-)
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  20

  Just wanting clarification on the RBC

  by joe134cd in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been reading threads about how the rbc operates, so i sort of have a fair idea of what the answers will be.

  but i would like to have a more direct answer to my questions.. where do the orders come from that a hall is in need of a remodel, or a new one to be built.. can the elders refuse a remodel or quickly built.. out side contractors are only allowed with rbc approval.

  what are the consequences if say a kh needed a new roof, and secular contractor was hired.. is it a case that orders a given that a hall needs a remodel, and that the rbc will have total control, and look out for who ever gets in the way, and elders just have to simply comply.. this is the question i most want answered.

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  TheOldHippie

  Different countries, different systems, it seems. Here, all is bought locally based on best prices/terms/quality etc., just ordinary procedures. Local purchases for showing that one is part of the community and not some strangers bringing in everything needed from somewhere else. So much more transparent here.
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  21

  Sweden Branch on sale - Promotional Page

  by Viva la Vida in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the swedbank is promoting the sale of the former sweden branch:.

  http://beskrivningar.capitex.se/objdesc.aspx?guid=42vin3cu91omqg5m&typ=cmfastighet&skin=swedbankkf.

  it includes some nice pictures.... .

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  TheOldHippie

  "Printing branches were always very expensive for the WTS."

  Printing for Northern Europe is done in Finland, in Sweden it stopped years ago.
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  85

  I'm Returing To Become A Jehovah's Witness Again

  by Space Madness in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a little background, i faded in 2007 and have been out ever since.

  i started studying at 18 and have no jw realitives.

  i'm returing because my life is heading in the wrong direction.

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  TheOldHippie

  "Jehovah's Witnesses are programmed to believe that psychology is a demonic profession,"

  How strange, then, that we have psychologists and psychiatrists in our congregations.