"They don't even know what they believe!" -- JW

by AlmostAtheist 12 Replies latest jw friends

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  AlmostAtheist

  is it just the societys rejects that want to be a part of something/anything?so they will be a dub?

  A fair whack of the "growth" is just kids of JW's getting baptized. And when that generation grows up and leaves, it should make for a nice drop in numbers. Particularly with the shunning thing then becoming such a huge issue. I wonder how that will play out?

  Areas of the world with low education are seeing growth, but that can't last. As they become more educated and more critical in their thinking, that generation (or its children) will also see through it.

  Dave
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  Narkissos

  Very good point Dave. One that religious studies have been increasingly taking into account lately. Simply taking for granted that the beliefs of all (or even most) members of a given religion are identical to its official creed leads to a completely wrong "religious map" and, practically, reinforces the power of the leadership "who knows" over the lay people who doesn't. A bit like thinking you know a country if you know its leaders and governmental declarations. Starting with what people actually believe and practice makes for a more colourful and interesting picture.

  And the lack of difference between "popular" and "official" belief is, indeed, the mark of the particular type of religion we usually call "cult".
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  stapler99

  The difference between Jehovah's Witness and members of more popular religions (with the exception of most Catholics) is that a major part of their beliefs is the God-inspired nature of an earthly organization. There isn't really such a thing as "Jehovist Witnessism", a religion containing the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses. In fact insofar as such a thing exists, it changes as the central organization changes.

  There are no non-Watchtower-affiliated JW's. (Except for these people: http://the-true-jw.oltenia.ro/index.html). There are no cultural JW's, the way you might have atheistical Christians who enjoy going to church or listening to church choirs, etc., but don't care that much about theology. What culture has come out of this so-called "religion"? Hint: the Kingdom Melodies don't count.