by Witness 007 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
1960's -1990's Japan had a HUGE increase in Publishers sometimes 10,000 a year! This peaked in 1998...since then publisher numbers for unknown reasons dropped Dramatically!!!!
1998- Pubs. 222,912 Congs. 3,802
2006 Pubs - 217,519 Congs. 3,164 Where did these Publishers and Congs. Go????
This flat "no growth" has continued until 2012. I wonder if the devastation after the earthquake/Tsunami will finally cause an increase?
Is there any recognition of this drop by way of an explanation by the WT? (beyond a mere stat count)
like normaly they might blame some bad egg at the branch or some leadership tussle, maybe an apostate at the top or even a wave of demonised wind chimes being the cause...
Oz
I blame the deeemonzzz in the wind chimes
Remember when the Japanese Witnesses were set up as the shining examples of duty and obediance.
Tokyo sarin subway attacks took place in 1995 by brianwashed members of the Aum Shinryko Cult to begin World War 3 and Armagedon.....I think the publicity and shock of this incident had a negative effect on the Witness message.
2011 Service Report for Japan would have included 5+ mos of activity after tsunami. No increase in pubs. and 40 less congs. Baptisms decreased 11.5%. Japan's growth rate: -.278% http://www.indexmundi.com/japan/population_growth_rate.html
However, U.S. and Worldwide, shows 12% reg. pios; Japan shows 30%.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/175707/1/10-Years-Japan-losses-5-400-Publishers-and-638-Kingdom-Halls-Why
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/beliefs/175707/2/10-Years-Japan-losses-5-400-Publishers-and-638-Kingdom-Halls-Why
Probably, when "Aum Shinri-kyo" committed a crime, Jehovah's Witnesses in Japan were still growing.
In my opinion, the "incident of Aum Shinri-kyo" and the "decrease of Jehovah's Witnesses" are irrelevant.
In such a case, the Governing Body of JW can emphasize the difference from the other false religions.
Well, in Japan, people began to use the Internet in 1998, and then Jehovah's Witnesses decreased in number in the 21st century.
Probably, many active JWs have realized their/GB's false prophecy (Armageddon will never come).
http://godpresencewithin.web.fc2.com/pages/jw/prophets.html
possible
Thanks Possible-san......hard to imagine "Apostates" in Japan...the ones I met at the International Convention were like Samurai/Kamakazi Witnesses! Very, very dedicated and diciplined.
Witness 007.
People whom you met are not samurais clearly.
Rather, they are people who threw away the Japanese tradition.
I think that the "samurai" (People with the Japanese spirit "Yamato-damashii") means people who is like the crew of the Yamato.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/social/entertainment/222269/1/CG-Space-Battleship-Yamato-Star-Blazers-appeared-at-Nagoya-in-Japan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamato-damashii
Well, I seldom know the Japanese apostates.
Do you consider that I am an "apostate"?
I am not an apostate but am just ex-JW.
According to the definition of the WTS, I may be an "apostate", but my forum has much active JWs.
People who are mainly working in Japan are "active JWs" who are reformer, "ex-JWs" like me, and the "ministers" of the Christian church.
possible
Although get off the subject, I know the movie which I feel a "samurai spirit."
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/social/entertainment/191231/1/The-Last-of-the-Mohicans-1992
Well, in that thread, I gave the example of a "samurai spirit" in the Bible.
http://bible.cc/2_samuel/23-12.htm
http://bible.cc/1_chronicles/11-14.htm
