Posts by TheOldHippie

35

2013 Publisher Statistics now available from 2014 Yearbook.

by jwfacts in

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.

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.

55

Do You Own A Firearm? Would You??

by minimus in

jw
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..

TheOldHippie

No. Never.

6

Hey Bo Didley, another legendary pioneer of Rock passes

by designs in

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.

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?

14

Leaving a church in Germany?

by Nika Bee in

jw
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?

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 :-)

20

Just wanting clarification on the RBC

by joe134cd in

jw
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.

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.

21

Sweden Branch on sale - Promotional Page

by Viva la Vida in

jw
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.... .

TheOldHippie

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

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

85

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

by Space Madness in

jw
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.

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.

31

Are some JWs justified in staying in the org?

by greendawn in

most of us left the organisation because we could no longer stand one or other aspect of it, perhaps its very dictatorial administration, the disappointment due to the false promises and vain hopes raised by its leadership, disagreement with the blood ban or pedophile and shunning policies, the feel one gets that this is a business and not a religious organisation manipulating its members to its own profit etc etc.

these are of course valid reasons for rejecting this religion and refusing to identify with it but do the jws who stay in have a valid argument for rejecting leaving the org?

they will say: "ok our religion, our society has its flaws but what human society doesn't?

TheOldHippie

Interesting, by the way, how the Annual Meeting seems to have become the new Day of New Light, with all the GB members sharing in. Previously, there was a 20-lines notification in the WT that so-and-so had been re-elected or elected to fill in the vacancy after an earlier member had died, but now, the October date seems to be The Date to watch out for.

The brochure now being studied at the meetings, it was issued in 2012, some months prior to the Annual Meeting with the new light on who is the Servant, and the two small chapters discussing who is the Servant and what does the GB do - are careful NOT to spell out who is the Servant and NOT to spell out that the GB is its representative (as was said up untill then), so in hindsight the new teaching could be deducted from what was NOT said in the brochure. But the change had been prepared for months. (The brochure is outdated already as for the schools, since the new school that is a merger of the single brothers and the married couples school, must have been decided that quickly that the old schools are still medntioned.)

So the things NOT spelled out are the things to watch - and in that view, maybe something is brewing around the 1914 understanding.

23

JWS moving into the 2010s: GREATER FOCUS ON "PUBLIC' VENUE PREACHING

by steve2 in

increasingly, jw.org and its print publications show lots of pictures of witnesses preaching one-to-one to "interested" passersby in public venues in contrast with fewer pictures depicting the door-to-door work.

sure, d-t-d is still the organizatrion's mainstay activity - but clearly it pushes at every opportunity the need for the rank and file to "go" public.. this push could be a two-edge sword: there is obviously a hard core of witnesses whose dispositions draw them to this type of social outreach: they almost rush out to do this public-venue work, prefering it to d-t-d. but i'd hazard a guess that for the bulk of those in local congregations, the public-venue witnessing would be a total turn off.. to date, in new zealand, i have seen no evidence of jws doing this public venue witnessing - despite the huge push on jw.org and in the publications.

kiwis just don't seem inclined to put themselves out in public places - or if they do, it is in a kind of very muted way (i.e., almost out of sight and unobtrusive).. this site has shown that in a few places, including mexico, at least a few of the more publicly zealous witnesses are doing the public work big time.. is the public venue preaching happening elsewhere, such as asia?

TheOldHippie

"I saw one of their stands in Fareham yesterday. The sisters behind the stand were talking to one another and paying no attention to anyone around them. It was early and there were relatively few passersby but they made no effort to engage with anyone."

They did what they are trained or told to do, my friend. Those behind the stand are informed NOT to approach those passing by or those looking at or taking some of the literature. They should only respond to questions etc, but not take the initiative themselves. That is the point of these stands - people should feel free to have a look and take whatever they want without being constantly asked "can I help you?" as in shops.

10

English Speaking Congregations in Mexico...

by DATA-DOG in

has anyone read a letter or heard of english-speaking congos being shut down in mexico?

an elder told me that this was happening, and that it was based on a "scriptural precedent.

" sounds like downsizing with a made-up bs reason to me.

TheOldHippie

Learning English as a launching point for getting contact with US people and thereafter getting a job in the US. Sounds only familiar with what some 3rd world people are trying in Europe - getting a foot inside the JW community and through that being assisted in getting work / sosial aid that is available / contact with society / grabbing what is to be grabbed.