A survey conducted among more than 140,000 German witnesses showed that 38 per cent were male and 62 per cent female. Once I attended a book study in Florence, Italy. All but the conductor were sisters... I´ve heard that in Russia, some 80 per cent are sisters....
InquiryMan
JoinedPosts by InquiryMan
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25
why have jws got so many women among thier ranks?
by cyrus inany answers ive got ideas but would love some input from u guys first thanks peeps...?
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Eurovision Song Contest
by Crumpet ini am sure i am the only one who will be posting on this thread given america doesn't have the contest and no one else is likely to own up to watching such a shameful debacle!!!.
i am only slightly ashamed to say i have only ever missed one contest in 31 years and that was because i was in canada.
i love it - terry wogan is brilliantly funny - and so are most of the acts.. tonight the voting for the british entry begins on bbc1 - given the new enthusiasm for reality/talent shows its getting prime time treatement for the first time in years.
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InquiryMan
Don´t make fun of the Norwegian entry ;-). I love Guri and her "Vene bailar conmigo".... I also read in the newspaper yesterday, the Palestine is trying to be part of the ESC family as well. Lebanon tried last year, but were not allowed to participate (even though they had a song already selected) caused they refused to broadcast the Israel entry. Morocco took part a year when Israel did not participate... So it is a lot of politics involved. But it is great fun indeed.
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JW says the tract campaigns are working
by truthseeker ini was talking to a pioneer yesterday; he was all excited over the new memorial tract, said how nice it looked.
he commented that the "society said we don't have to take not-at-homes for this campaign.".
i asked him what he thought of the campaigns and the fact that we have a convention campaign coming up soon.
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InquiryMan
In Denmark and Norway the number is half, perhaps even less. And interstingly, the hours drops in vacation months!!!
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2007 Yearbook
by RubyStevens ini'll always have a weakness for looking through jw literature, the illustrations, the soothing repeating mush of a cult kind enough to do all your thinking for you.
well i was looking through the yearbook and the seams are really starting to show.
like was said in another thread, they try to have it both "intrest waning means the end is near/numbers are booming!
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InquiryMan
Which countries are features in this year`s yearbook.
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InquiryMan
Hardly every met any wacko elders compared to the ones described here. A US phenomenon?
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Did you know any "ambitious" JW's?
by JH ini remember when the elders told us that it's not ok for a jw to be too ambitious.. wanting to have a big job, big house, lots of money, was not good at all.
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prior to that, i always thought that being "ambitious" was something very good.
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InquiryMan
Almost all elders in my "neighbour congregation" (well I am DA, so I refer to terms I used before) are all executes, earning way beyound average. Most elders in the congergation I attended are executives, or similar, making much more than the average. Still they tell the flock to be humble and not using the world to the full (In my country, all tax revenues are listed on the internet, free for everyone to see). I even told our PO that, why, was he not way to ambitious in his careerbuilding in order to give a talk at the assembly urging the audience to be modest, not being materialistic etc.... Now, he had never been amibitious (although he actually manouvered his place into his executive position, after intially not getting the position, very few in the congregation knows about that). He told me that his work was challenging, that is why he pursued it. Still his wife is denied a car, having to work night shifts at the hospital.
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Knocking
by InquiryMan ini just got knocking today.
the two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way.
their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though.
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InquiryMan
ordered it beginning of Februaryl, payment registered mid-February, received the copy beginning of March (overseas USA)
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Knocking
by InquiryMan ini just got knocking today.
the two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way.
their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though.
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InquiryMan
Have not got the time yet to explore that materiel. Got it in the post just a few hours ago... But I will sure go into that material as well. It was, btw, because of your recommendation I did order it. And I was glad I did. It was a nice piece of work, not Watchtower-made, and not "apostate" made either, or made by some other religious group trying to pinpoint beliefs. I would call it a documentary, with a human touch perspective, highlighting JWism American side, being quite acceptable of Witnesses, but not totally in control of Watchtower cencorship... (I would think the Van Halen guitar play would by some witnesses be regarded as somewhat off, also some witnesses might dislike the statements made by the non-witness family members, but none of the statements made would be unfamiliar to a witness. It was, I guess, a bit more pro-Witness, than the other way. However, I guess that a non-witness impression would be that the faith is in a way naivistic, believing in utopia and an authoritarian system. American witnesses seem to be more outgoing in a way, their European counterparts more mechanic at the doors. Most Scandinavians do not have any deep religious needs. E.g. in Oslo, the number of non-believers in God, is higher than those who profess to believe in God. Less than 2 per cent attend church... So to be a witness, with that kind of commitment, is perhaps in a way regarded with more suspicion here than in the US.
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Knocking
by InquiryMan ini just got knocking today.
the two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way.
their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though.
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InquiryMan
I just got Knocking today. Saw it together with my boy-friend. It was well-made, I think. The two families tales were moving, though not the standard witness family in a way. Their challenges were to extreme for that, but they gave a good impression though. It was interesting to see the non-witnesses relatives give their views as well. However, how well made, we both sort of thought the film was mostly a film of those two families, as well as the legal battles. There was little information on the JW life apart from that. No glimpses of baptism, family study, witness get togethers, congregation bookstudy, DF announsements or whatetwer. Was kind of suprised they allowed the cameras record a prayer. But a well made film. I see now problem on why it should be sent on PBS or other TV stations as well. I DA myself recently, have been four years inactive, been an elder. It did move me to see the KH glimpses, as I am not bitter or hateful. I am shunned by my family, I remember the good things, but the prize of being captive to a cult is larger than any desire to get the "benefits". But each witness or ex-witness have their story, based on their own personality, family background, congregation attitutude etc.
It seems to me that American witnesses have an even stronger emphasis on family worshiping together. I could never imagine a Scandinavian JW of 23 going preaching with his father.... Most teenagers I know, either preached with other teenagers or other adults, not very often with their own parents... Nor did they sit together on the same row with their parents. Most teenagers sit with their friends. But in Germany, i saw witnesses sitting with their parents, being in their mid 20s. Kind of strange.
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Stuck in a dead-end job because of obeying anti-higher education policy?
by nvrgnbk indid you refrain from obtaining a degree or advanced studies when you had the chance because it wasn't the witness thing to do?
how has this affected your life?
comments, rants, and personal experiences please.
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InquiryMan
I was also living through the early 80s period of the strong anti-education propaganda of the society. My parents never stressed it though, but they did not encourage me to pursue higher education either, which would have been the proper thing of parents to do. I did attend four years of school after compulsury nine year school. 3 years of "grammar school" and 1 year of trade school after that. I even had a grain of bad conscious attending those schools. I ended up graduating as the best student of all my classes. More than one of my teacher told me that was a scandal that my religion stood in the way of me pursuing more education, but I was an ardent, obedient witness at the time, able to stand for my "choice".... The normal thing for me would definitely had been to go to university, preferably abroad. That was my dream. I, however, refused to pioneer, although everybody though I was one... Otherwise, I was very theocratic. Today, I am working in the same place as I have done since I left school. Being a graphic designer, I do like my work, however, it is varied, creative and social. But, I of course, know that my life would have been different if not been in the organization in my formative years (I quit four years ago, DA this year). I never opted for a career while working either. Was so naive that I believed the crap. Discovered that everyone on the witness community around me did otherwise. They were making careers, making twice or three times more money a year than the average salary in the country, still preaching to the flock that they should be modest and not seek a place in the world, that is doomed to be destroyed. Those double-standards, I guess, in part, paved way for my exit, although to a minor degree. I would have left anyway... But I have decided not to become bitter. But the facts are there nevertheless: after a divorce, I live in a rather small, yet modern flat, taking care of three children half of the time. Get by, but nothing more.. But due to my upbringing: I am content having the necessary things of life and able to be on holiday once a year.... I have the ability to be pleased for very small things. That is a gift I appreciate...