by Gorb 37 Replies latest jw friends
Gorb-No end of the world in sight.
The Armageddon thing is quickly losing steam, especially after covid came and went. I believe a WT article will soon be reviewed at the meetings regarding the current stance on Armageddon, which is 'no idea when it's coming except it's soon'. Which means nothing to the reasonably logical person.
So JW is definitely aiming to become what all other Christian churches are, a way of life in this present life. Not in some post Armageddon world.
DESIROUS OF CHANGE:
You are SO right that it is very difficult, if not impossible, to build a new circle of friends (at 50 or 60, etc.) since most friendships go back to school or childhood friends.
If you look at my Facebook list of friends, there are childhood and school friends plus relatives and some secular work related.. In real life, I have two ex-JW friends but they, like me, were not raised as Witnesses but came in as young adults.. We all readily admit that our pre-JW lives made it easier to exit the Witness religion!
Besides making friends, there is another very important thing that must be done early in life as it will be very difficult (and in some cases impossible) to do at a later age: that thing is earning a living with a decent job/career.. (I will get down on my knees ever grateful I did this!).. This is another life lesson learned a little too late for Witnesses leaving the religion later in life.. I wish them luck because they will need it!
Another interesting thing I heard regarding the Regional Conventions is that the workers/volunteers serve at conventions other than the one to which they/their Cong is assigned. JWs who are members of any Cong assigned at any specific convention are NOT to "volunteer" to have work assignments during the convention session.
GEEZ! What are all those prominent Elders/MS going to do? Will they actually have to SIT & LISTEN to all the dribble being said?
DOC that's very interesting. How many volunteers would be needed at a convention?
JWs have been encouraged to attend only their assigned convention if possible. I would think many would be happy to volunteer at other conventions, even single sisters, including younger JWs.
This is going to inflate the attendance figures quite nicely.
Another interesting thing I heard regarding the Regional Conventions is that the workers/volunteers serve at conventions other than the one to which they/their Cong is assigned.
This is going to inflate the attendance figures quite nicely.I'm a bit unsure about all this. Firstly, for as long as I can remember, a lot of JWs (who choose to work at conventions) have often worked at a different convention to their own assigned one, so that's nothing new.
Secondly, I'm a little confused as to whether the renewed emphasis from the GB in recent letters about "only attend your own convention" will make any difference. They've issued reminders like that a few times before, and AFAIK it only applies to listening not working, so JWs may still continue to attend their own convention to listen and work at another. What this might reduce, is the habit of having a "listening convention", which is where many JWs would work at their own assigned convention and go to another to listen. It used to be used as an excuse for a holiday. If they feel unable to do it that way, they may choose not to volunteer at all anywhere else, and just show up for their assigned convention to listen.
(Not to mention that, although I have no specific figures to support the feeling, I would suspect there are fewer volunteers coming forward each year to take part.)
IF that does happen, the net effect could actually be to REDUCE overall attendance figures, since fewer JWs will be showing up at two different locations. Time will tell.
Halcon - “…JW is definitely aiming to become what all other Christian churches are, a way of life in this present life…”
And if they’re just like everybody else (rather than “God’s Exclusive etc., etc…”)…
…why stay?
Sort reminds me of this, choosing the lesser evil is still choosing evil.
Whether it's a 'necessary evil' or not.
Evil is still,,evil. Yes exactly.
