i am translating jwfacts to spanish.
i am doing the "statistics" section.here are two graphs that show that the statistics have never been worse for the watchtower:quantity of hours required for 1 baptism: note how low it went in 1974-1975, and note that 2016 is much higher than the slump of 1978... about double, to be exact.
2016 was a historical record in this statistic (higher is worse for watchtower).. this stat is the baptisms as a percentage of the publisher average.
Do you think the generation change in 1995 had any impact?
Another difference between 1975 and the "generation" prediction is that they left lots of wriggle room in the event of disconfimatuon over 1975, whereas the "generation" teaching had been stated clearly and uncompromisingly for decades.
1975 was suggested as an"appropriate time" for God to act, whereas the "generation" teaching was described as the "creator's promise" in every issue of the Awake!
i am translating jwfacts to spanish.
i am doing the "statistics" section.here are two graphs that show that the statistics have never been worse for the watchtower:quantity of hours required for 1 baptism: note how low it went in 1974-1975, and note that 2016 is much higher than the slump of 1978... about double, to be exact.
2016 was a historical record in this statistic (higher is worse for watchtower).. this stat is the baptisms as a percentage of the publisher average.
The downward trend starts too early for the Internet to be the main factor.
Plus the 1995 generation change was different from 1975 in important ways. In particular, when 1975 failed, JWs still had the "generation" teaching to ensure Armageddon was not far away. Now since 1995 they have nothing, at least nothing credible, to prove the end is near.
Look at the statistics of religious decline in general, in particular since the 1990s. JWs are not exception. Most churches are dealing, many much more significantly in decline than JWs.
i am translating jwfacts to spanish.
i am doing the "statistics" section.here are two graphs that show that the statistics have never been worse for the watchtower:quantity of hours required for 1 baptism: note how low it went in 1974-1975, and note that 2016 is much higher than the slump of 1978... about double, to be exact.
2016 was a historical record in this statistic (higher is worse for watchtower).. this stat is the baptisms as a percentage of the publisher average.
Why not attribute the decline to the 1995 generation change? (A big turning point for many)
Or the fact that people are becoming less religious and leaving churches in general? A huge trend in most developed countries from which JWs are not immune.
Or the organisational cutbacks that have discouraged many?
I don't think it's safe to attribute the decline primarily to the Internet.
For what it's worth, some Mormons did an analysis of their figures and concluded the Internet was not an important factor in growth or decline. Not sure how robust their methodology or how reliable their findings were, but I do share their scepticism about the commonplace assumption that the Internet is causing decline.
i always found it uncomfortable to informal witness to people but trying to convince a jw to jump ship brings much more pleasure..
In this situation I sometimes I think it might be an idea just to say you've changed your beliefs and act like it is a totally normal thing. Because it is a normal thing, to most normal people, and not the occasion for ostracism, name calling and abuse. If JWs want to act crazy, give them a calm backdrop of normality against which to act it out.
i always found it uncomfortable to informal witness to people but trying to convince a jw to jump ship brings much more pleasure..
There's such a thing as using a term ironically, however.
this is probably going to unnerve some on here or make them uncomfortable.we always hear, why didn't the elders call the cops first instead of the wt society (lawyers/attorneys).
in cases of child molestation or other incidents.this video is why and if you're smart you'll follow their example.i'm not taking the wtbts side on this just so you know in advance because i do not agree with the two witness rule at all.but be that as it may,this is by far the best lawyer/attorney and law professor i've ever heard on the subject of why you should never talk to the police and always let an investigation be made through counsel.this is why in the usa you have the right to remain silent when talking to police/authorities but even more important what the fifth amendment really entails and why it would behoove us all to understand what can happen even if you are totally innocent and have nothing to hide but how things can go horribly wrong.if i ever have to go to court for anything i can only hope that i got a lawyer as competent as this one the vid is approx 46 minutes long but well worth investing that time because if you had to talk to a lawyer it would cost you a lot to receive what this professor covers in this.the majority is from the law professor and the remaining minutes are of a former police captain/investigator with his insights and opinions.and just to be clear, i'm not suggesting that the elders not call the police because they should in cases of child molestation but rather they better get legal advice to protect themselves so that they don't have to answer for the wtbts decisions.look how many former (ex) elders we have on sites like this one and others and i'm so happy they got free of the wt but also they didn't get in trouble by accidentally saying/doing the wrong thing.all of us can benefit by following this advice in the video and i hope you enjoy it and to know what your rights arehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xyp7ee.
It's a good video, and quite amusing, especially when the lawyer shouts at the audience not to answer the policeman's questions.
It's been posted and discussed on this forum before and it's been pointed out that the same right to remain silent doesn't necessarily exist in the UK or other countries as it does in the US.
But as a general principle it is always better not to say anything much in any sort of situation and to wait and see what the other person says instead. Not just with police, or with elders, but anyone. Listening carefully is always a better strategy than talking too much.
could the teaching that jesus is michael the archangel, be soon to be discarded?
first of all, watchtower is big on image and this is one of those teachings that paint the jw religion as being rather kooky and heretical.
secondly, this teaching is not an original watchtower teaching but one they inherited from their second adventist ancestry.
I don't see any reason to change it. It's a reasonable position. I see no advantage in changing it. To distance themselves from Adventists? JWs have very little sense of having anything much to do with Adventists anyway.
this poor girl was baptized at 9yo.
.
she isnt old enough to buy alcohol, to vote, to decide her own medical treatment, to buy a pet, to travel alone... yet she was deemed old enough to dedicate her life to a religion that will cut her off from her family if she ever leaves.. here she is applauded for shunning her own sister who tried to keep in contact with her after waking up.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yzgnfda8ki.
This is awful.
august 11, 2017 to all bodies of elders re: 2018 memorial invitations and date of special talk .
fyi:.
the 2018 memorial will be held on saturday, march 31, 2018.. the 2019 memorial will be held on friday, april 19, 2019..
Ha, I've heard it said, the word "special", as used by the Watchtower Society, deserves its own entry in dictionary, meaning: "not special".
the song is supposedly about marveling at god's creation but instead includes over the top adoration of the elders, conventions, and family worship.
lol getting a brother who sounds like a wannabe josh groban only adds to the cheesiness.
https://youtu.be/tzxf25gvs_m.
How could you not like that?
