Posts by StarryNight9

68

Cart work faces headwinds.

by lastmanstanding in

my little bethel bird has whispered in my ear some encouraging news.

it has been reported to the canadian branch that some witnesses doing cart work had police stop them from carting in public parks.

the direction sent to the southern ontario congregations is to cease carting until further notice.. this is no joke.. have a jw-free day..

StarryNight9

Just a thought... I challenge the posters with a good grasp of photo editing to take a pic of street beggars and shove in a literature cart LOL - lastmanstanding

Challenge accepted :)

64

Why is there such a 'high turnover' within the Jehovahs Witnesses?

by UnshackleTheChains in

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.

StarryNight9

It was my observation that back then the born-in Witnesses were socially stunted, weird and uneducated with the mentality of people in a small town who refuse to accept the newcomers and who suffered from serious envy over people who looked prosperous and had some education.

There are also 2 categories of born-ins. One group is everything you described (including a serious case of "holier-than-thou"). This first group are the ones love-bombing the new recruits and creating the next generation of born-ins. I've heard some pretty mean things said about the new converts they're actively love bombing. Don't be fooled - even members of the first group often have a double life.

The 2nd group typically leaves the JWs or are mentally out. They break every rule they can without getting caught (education, socialization, etc...) - the art of the double life. The push to baptize at a really young age is probably due to this second group. A lot of born-ins wouldn't choose baptism once in their mid-teens.

64

Why is there such a 'high turnover' within the Jehovahs Witnesses?

by UnshackleTheChains in

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.

StarryNight9

New JW converts generally fall into 2 categories:

1. Those who are conned into believing JWs have ultimate Bible secrets. These typically burn out fast and are now less likely due to easy internet access. Those that last, drive the born-ins up a wall (which they can't admit). Most born-ins I know have a JW side that's paraded out when needed, but they're just like non-JWs when the pressure isn't on.

2. Those who seek support/benefits from an anyone-can-join group. They may have even been 'discouraged' from other churches after attending for a while. The JWs are a great way to get "insta-friends" if you can't get the real thing. I bet everyone can remember several "odd" people at their hall. Many born-ins just tolerate them for the sake of appearances/expectations.

The new converts are helping to drive out the born-ins.

12

Recent JW Literature Trolley Experience

by Athanasius in

the j ws have set up a literature trolley in one of our local shopping centers.

since the goodwill thrift store at the center has an excellent selection of second hand books, i stop by twice a month and buy a book or two that catches my interest.

as a result i've become friendly with the j ws who mind the trolley.. usually the minders are two 70 something j w ladies.

StarryNight9

One of the latest videos is horrid. It parades out a woman born with major birth defects (limbs/spine) to guilt trip people into doing more. I'd love to point out that she probably doesn't have to work a 40-hour job. She's free to spend her time as she pleases. I'd hazard a guess that the whole thing is probably a social experience rather than a desire to preach. It's not applicable to most people's lives.

130

2017 Annual Meeting

by Jules Saturn in

this just in from the 2017 annual meeting:.

1. watchtowers and awakes won't be released regularly, at least three watchtower and awakes per year.

6 magazines a year.. 2. a new book is being released: remain in god's love, more of an update like how they did for the what does the bible really teach book.

StarryNight9

The study watchtower touches on some pretty cringe inducing stuff from a non-JW standpoint. I wouldn't be surprised if that's partly why they're distancing the public version away from it. I also wouldn't be surprised if the study versions were just re-studied every two years. Perhaps this will all move to a standard show-up-for-a-sermon church format.

9

blood

by Akid48 in

my family hasnt signed the blood paper but still say no blood (well the adults do).i overheard a elder taking to my aunt about the blood papaers she needs to fill out.but he also aid she needs a make a small little letter saying i wont take blood.some times i wish i never heard that talk.. even tho i knew i would have to stand up for me being hable to have life.now i just zone out and think will i die for something thats a lie?.

im going to try not to think about it for a little my head hurts after this..

StarryNight9

If JW kids can stand up against blood, you can stand up for it. Being better informed will give you a stronger position to argue from. Knowledge is power! Here's a link to start your research:

http://jwfacts.com/watchtower/blood-transfusions.php

130

2017 Annual Meeting

by Jules Saturn in

this just in from the 2017 annual meeting:.

1. watchtowers and awakes won't be released regularly, at least three watchtower and awakes per year.

6 magazines a year.. 2. a new book is being released: remain in god's love, more of an update like how they did for the what does the bible really teach book.

StarryNight9

They said not everyone is that intelligent these days so WT knows best how to reach them.

It seems like modern converts aren't... "high-caliber" for lack of a better word. Every single one I've personally seen has been very uneducated, not all there, or emotionally needy (or all three). The average person googles the JWs and then runs in the opposite direction. Accurate info on JWs has been slipping down in the google search listings. I hope that can be corrected.

45

2017 Annual Meeting

by obarac in

on saturday, october 7.. any chance to get user name and password for stream?.

StarryNight9

He stated that the main purpose of "our" ministry is not to save lives, it is to praise Jehovah.

I noticed that too. I got momentarily excited that the next announcement would be the winding-down of door-to-door preaching. No such luck, but I do see that being the eventuality.

Rubber face should have had his eyebrows stapled to his cheek.

I counted at least 73 eyebrow raises. The guy should try injecting botox into his forehead.

I'm pretty sure that I heard "Hallelujah". Can anyone confirm? My JW family were pretty scandalized about "The Kingdom-100 Years and Counting" video because it featured the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" song. Saying "Hallelujah" was always banned at our house.

9

Help! Jehuba Is Casting Doubts In My Mind!

by sinboi in

remember when we were "in"?

we were told that if we have doubts regarding the bible and regarding the wt, it is satan that is casting doubts in our mind?.

i have been out for 4 months now.

StarryNight9

People have been complaining that things are getting "worse" since the dawn of time. Inter-racial marriage used to be what had people screaming about the end of days (and there were other things before that). Those couples couldn't get cakes either. We'd be horrified if that happened today. Our brains are wired to remember a version of the "good old days" instead of how things really were.

https://www.vox.com/the-big-idea/2016/12/23/14062168/history-global-conditions-charts-life-span-poverty

https://www.elephantjournal.com/2014/08/why-we-long-for-the-good-old-days-why-they-never-really-existed-marianne-stenger/

130

2017 Annual Meeting

by Jules Saturn in

this just in from the 2017 annual meeting:.

1. watchtowers and awakes won't be released regularly, at least three watchtower and awakes per year.

6 magazines a year.. 2. a new book is being released: remain in god's love, more of an update like how they did for the what does the bible really teach book.

StarryNight9

It wasn't specified just how much they would dumb it down. A cross between simplified and standard was implied. It will be a new layout with elements from both. The standard watchtower is already at a 3rd grade reading level.

The plan to evaluate a 2-year Awake/Watchtower cycle is interesting. If they go through with it (highly likely), there will be no new articles after 2 years. That would mean 6 Awakes and 6 Watchtowers total - to be reprinted as needed.

Also, no more year books.