flipper

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Posts by flipper

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  44

  Decrease of numbers in Jehovah's Witnesses via Deaths, DFings, or Turning Inactive

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i'm sure a good number of us saw the chart that i believe the poster splash put on another thread of figures since 1990 regarding how many baptized and % of increase each year .

  i started analyzing it ( and i know some referred to it briefly on the other thread ) and guessing of reasons the % of increase didn't match the number of newly baptized.

  and of course common sense tells us that either jw's leave the cult each year through death, fading into inactivity, or getting dfed.

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  flipper

  O.K. now for page 2 responses. Thanks again for your replies.

  LISA ROSE- Thanks for supplying the graph from JW Facts. I find it pretty interesting that the rate of JW's exiting increased from 1996 to 2005 as compared with 1986 to 1995. I believe the generation changes in WT doctrine had a big effect on many in that time period leaving. I hope it continues. Thanks for your research !

  RATTIGAN 350 - Thanks for clearing up how publishers are counted as opposed to baptisms counts. I never paid attention when I was a JW as I was never an elder. LOL.

  THE GIRL NEXT DOOR- Good point you make about the " peak publisher " thing. It draws out all the irregular publishers to come out of their holes and report field service time occasionally- so that presents another variable.

  STEVE 2- You bring up another good question, " What percentage of active publishers are not yet baptized ? " Good point. Like I mentioned to another poster there are so many variables to consider it's impossible perhaps to get the figures accurate. But I agree I like Lisa Roses information - that's really helpful. Good point about jw.org being a babysitter for JW's who don't attend meetings.

  ONEEYEDJOE- Your point that the number of baptisms lag behind the newer unbaptized publishers is a good point. Most publishers eventually become baptized JW's. Interesting point you make about the WT Society artificially inflating the numbers. Thanks for sharing.

  Have to go finish cooking a Thanksgiving breakfast this morning- will be back later to respond to the rest of pg. 2 comments ! Thanks again
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  44

  Decrease of numbers in Jehovah's Witnesses via Deaths, DFings, or Turning Inactive

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i'm sure a good number of us saw the chart that i believe the poster splash put on another thread of figures since 1990 regarding how many baptized and % of increase each year .

  i started analyzing it ( and i know some referred to it briefly on the other thread ) and guessing of reasons the % of increase didn't match the number of newly baptized.

  and of course common sense tells us that either jw's leave the cult each year through death, fading into inactivity, or getting dfed.

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  flipper

  I'm finally off of work for a couple days in order to continue to respond individually here. where I left off ! Thanks for all your thoughts on this subject !

  LOSTNOTFOUND- I agree with you- I believe we may see a gradual downturn in the numbers each year but the WT Society isn't going away anytime soon. I don't see any mass exodus coming either. The further they get past 1914 it may affect their numbers gradually as time goes on- but nothing sharply drastic.

  THE OLD HIPPIE- I agree with you as well that there are so many variables to consider in counting these numbers that it's impossible to nail it accurately. As you say JW's come and go, some become inactive then they re-activate. They get DFed, then return or leave again. But considering the numbers kind of gives a pulse on what is happening in general - not just precise.

  JOOKBEARD- Good point. There is a huge crossover in that unbaptized publishers just get counted again as usually , eventually these unbaptized publishers DO get baptized - so who knows how much overlap there is in counting. Valid point.

  LISTENER- Yeah, I thought the 40,000 number for the exiting in 2014 was very odd as well, considering it was over 200,000 for 2015. Interesting.

  MEPHIS- I agree with you the 1914 teaching is like a millstone around the WT leaders neck. It will bite them but good in time. And since 2 out of 3 JW kids eventually leave the cult- they do have to have 3 kids just to keep 1 kid inside the JW religion. In more advanced countries the increases have really stagnated and hopefully due to Internet access the growth will slow in developing countries as well.

  PHIZZY- You make some good points. With the terrorist attacks in France and threats of war- whenever this stuff starts happening JW's amp up their preaching work and turn on the imaginary " fire alarm " scarring the crap out of non-JW householders they talk to and we see an influx of new JW's getting baptized, I hope it doesn't happen - but the WT Society uses allegedly " worsening world conditions " as a marketing tool indeed. I hope the JW growth slows down in time.

  ZOOS- Very good point . A lot of Witnesses stay in for family and only do token service or none at all. It would be interesting to know how many do that.

  CODED LOGIC- I understand what you are saying. I'm sure there is an overlap with baptized and unbaptized publishers being counted twice so it's hard to be accurate of course. But it's interesting to discuss the numbers. I'm not looking for perfection here or hard and fast numerical rules.

  SIR 82- I agree there is a correlation between new publishers and new baptisms . And it is impossible to say just exactly what the numbers are because we don't know if the WT Society is fudging on the numbers or not, or just how much
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  100

  10 Years out of the JW Organization- What I've Learned ( For what it's Worth)

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  10 years ago i stopped attending jehovah's witness meetings for good.

  walked out of the kingdom hall cold turkey never to return based on injustices i observed among others and myself at the hands of elders giving out not god's counsel but personal opinions as counsel .

  some of them weren't even giving out wt society counsel- just personal opinions.

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  flipper

  ON THE WAY OUT- Happy Thanksgiving to you friend ! We'll have to catch up this weekend . Good points you make. Depending on WHICH kids parents are exiting yes indeed teenage children who may be hating the JW experience anyway will be really glad when one parent exits the JW cult as it gives them a reason to exit. The problem with that working all the time with young folks is like what happened in my case - I exited the cult cold turkey and my fanatic JW ex-wife used it as an opportunity to try turning all 3 of my teenagers against me claiming that, " your dad is rebellious because he is disagreeing with the elders and not being obedient to Jehovah. " So from then on in late 2003 onward my two daughters started shunning me.

  JW's are some of the most manipulative, deceitful people I know on the planet who use circumstances to turn friends and family against one another- I know as I have lived it. But as you say leaving cold turkey IS a good thing for the person leaving AND if the JW teenagers are ready to leave as well- but it can have a reverse effect too. And go the other way.

  As you mention getting away from the " thought control speeches " is essential to freeing one's mind from the WT Society scummy dross teachings and mind manipulation. I'm glad we are free ! Take care, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  17

  HAPPY THANKSGIVING ERRRRRRRRRR BODY.!!!

  by brandnew in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wanna say.....im thankfull for y'all....n stuff

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  flipper

  Happy Thanksgiving everybody ! Enjoy eating your turkey and stuffin' this weekend and get fat and sassy not worrying about evil calories and get so much tryptophan into your system from that turkey that you sleep peacefully for days if you so desire ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  100

  10 Years out of the JW Organization- What I've Learned ( For what it's Worth)

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  10 years ago i stopped attending jehovah's witness meetings for good.

  walked out of the kingdom hall cold turkey never to return based on injustices i observed among others and myself at the hands of elders giving out not god's counsel but personal opinions as counsel .

  some of them weren't even giving out wt society counsel- just personal opinions.

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  flipper

  TORNINTWO- Thanks for the kind words, I just noticed you bumped this up. I think all of us as ex-JW's can do a lot to support one another. We get a lot more support here than we ever did at a kingdom hall. Take care have a nice Thanksgiving ! Peace out, mr. Flipper
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  194

  For the Supporters of Those Who Love Jehovah

  by lovesjehovah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am jehovah's witness, despite some of the questionable teachings, crimes, and other outlandish behaviors of specific people affiliated with the religion.

  i know that my relationship with jehovah is not influenced by any outside factors.

  i do not condone any crime.

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  flipper

  LOVESJEHOVAH- In order to " talk about love and Jehovah in a positive light " - wouldn't that include FIRST acknowledging that within the organization WT leaders claim that he is using - it would involve admitting that Jehovah needs to either clean out that organization or else take his approval away from that organization if the WT leaders refused to do justice as Jehovah states ?

  A person just can't bury one's head in the sand ignoring unrighteousness if the actions don't harmonize with the Bible or Jehovah's laws and principles - correct ? o you agree it needs to be addressed even on this thread ? Otherwise it's just like trying to stop the Titanic from sinking while the band plays music sinking into the waters of destruction in the ocean ? You see my point ? Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  19

  Yeah, my parents plan to will everything to this parasitic organization and forsake their seed

  by Phaedra in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yeah, they'll leave it all, their home, savings, etc.. never mind helping out their struggling children who never had a chance.. fuck this organization and everything it stands for when its members think god will favor them more by willing everything to a corporation instead of their own struggling seed..

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  flipper

  PHAEDRA- I'm so sorry to hear this is happening to you. I worry as well about how much of my older JW's parents money the WT Society will end up getting. We are here for you, go through similar anxious moments. Hang in there, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  194

  For the Supporters of Those Who Love Jehovah

  by lovesjehovah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am jehovah's witness, despite some of the questionable teachings, crimes, and other outlandish behaviors of specific people affiliated with the religion.

  i know that my relationship with jehovah is not influenced by any outside factors.

  i do not condone any crime.

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  flipper

  LOVESJEHOVAH- I was a born-in JW also . Raised from birth. I left the organization at age 44 about 13 years ago for very just and righteous reasons. And for standing up for what is right. Your statement, " Some people have been a part of this site for years and years. It troubles me that they would devote so much of their time into tearing down people associated with a religion and God himself. "

  Well - You are insinuating that most of us here are here to just criticize- and that's just not true. Many of us care very deeply for our JW relatives and are here to assist many of the folks that you mention who have exited the Jehovah's Witnesses due to either being molested, shunned by their families, condemned for taking life saving blood transfusions, or condemned for getting a college education. Many people exiting the JW religion have committed suicide especially due to being treated unfairly by shunning or being abused by child molestation in which appointed elders or ministerial servants or higher up WT officials were either involved- or did nothing to report these crimes. So I ask you- Is it WRONG for us to speak up about these abuses continuing to happen so that justice prevails ? Or would Jehovah want us to silence the voices of abused children so we remain " obedient " to the " shepherds " of the flock who don't want these things exposed ? Do you think Jehovah approves the leaders of an organization that hides child abusers from law enforcement ? Think about it.

  If you ask me I think Jehovah APPROVES of each and every one of us who tries to bring justice to abused ones in the JW religion because isn't God Jehovah a just God ?

  So in your words about why you posted this thread, " I set up my booth outside and let those interested walk up. " That's what I did exactly on your thread I " set up my booth" of information for you. That's my motive in assisting you my friend. To help you use your reasoning ability that Jehovah gave you to uphold the just and right way for Jehovah in helping ex-JW's and JW's see the true light. Take care
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  50

  An Atheist Visits A Kingdom Hall

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://nerdinthebrain.com/2015/01/25/why-i-spent-my-morning-in-a-kingdom-hall-partying-with-jehovahs-witnesses/.

  he seems to have quite a positive view of jw's.. bangalore.

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  flipper

  Welcome, NerdInTheBrain.

  I've never been a JW, and never have had any interest in religion at all. But after marrying an ex-JW with family still in the church 9 years ago, I joined this board, also have read, researched and followed any news concerning the religion.

  I've made good friends on this board from around the US and different countries.

  I've learned that the JW religion is like Scientology in sheep's clothing. Very harmful and downright criminal at the top levels. It is most common for members to put on the "happy happy" act to convince themselves as well as others.

  If anyone I knew wanted to join this church I would do all I could to prevent it.

  This is why people can react with alarm when the Jw religion is depicted as harmless. I want to do all I can to prevent the pain and loss of freedom it causes.

  Mrs. Flipper
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  38

  Kenneth Flodin: ‘This Generation Will ... Not Pass Away’ (Matt. 24:34)

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmbpbb5k_mc

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  flipper

  " The generation was masterfully explained........ he did such a beautiful job I'm not going to attempt to repeat it. "

  Translation : " I don't even understand WTF the overlapping generation means myself so I'm not going to attempt to repeat it. " Peace out, Mr. Flipper