A JW friend of mine (who thinks the WTS stance on 4-year degrees is stupid) just sent this to me a few minutes ago with the subject line: "The society is officially screwed"
respectful_observer
JoinedPosts by respectful_observer
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McDonald's Cashier Job Requires Bachelor's Degree
by VM44 inmcdonald's job listing.
crew (cashiers).
contract type : full time.
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If this is true then expect the GB to get even crazier!!!!
by DATA-DOG inhttps://www.anointedjw.org/memorial_experiences_2013.html .
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respectful_observer
I was skeptical before I even clicked on the link and continue to be skeptical of the more dramatic accounts. However, one particular account provided a location and certain details of that particular Memorial that would fit with one that I attended. Of course I can't say which one.
Although if I'm sure several hundred people partook in NV, I'll eventually here about through J-dub channels.
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12-year-old thread: JWS/WTS REACHES CRITICAL MASS - A NON-EVENT!
by steve2 ina few days ago, there was renewed interest in a 12-year-old thread which, among other points, argued the watchtower's days were numbered.
several current posters expressed the view that the wts has not been impacted by any "critical mass" and that it speaks to the immunity of the watchtower to any such "critical mass" event.
i thought the topic warranted a renewal for wider consideration - with the "benefit" of "12-years" hindsight - so have duplicated one of my responses: .
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respectful_observer
I know quite a few active JWs who openly argue that the door-to-door work is incredibly inefficient and ineffective. They're loathe to waste their Saturday mornings, but have ZERO desire to do street work or participate in the fancy new booth/cart/table approach. Whenever it comes up, the typical response is "There is NO WAY you could get me to stand next to one of those things all morning. But I bet the pioneers will make good use of it!"
More and more of the friends seem to hear certain things from the platform at CAs/DCs/SADs and say..."I can understand why they say have to say that, but in the real world..."
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local memorial attendance
by outsmartthesystem inso i have a friend that is still "in" because of his elderly parents.
he attended the memorial and reported back to me what i thought was encouraging.
we have two congregations in the city i live in.
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respectful_observer
Thanks Gayle. There don't seem to be two consecutive years of decline it attendance, but we'll have to wait nearly a full year to find out what happened this time around.
R_O
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12-year-old thread: JWS/WTS REACHES CRITICAL MASS - A NON-EVENT!
by steve2 ina few days ago, there was renewed interest in a 12-year-old thread which, among other points, argued the watchtower's days were numbered.
several current posters expressed the view that the wts has not been impacted by any "critical mass" and that it speaks to the immunity of the watchtower to any such "critical mass" event.
i thought the topic warranted a renewal for wider consideration - with the "benefit" of "12-years" hindsight - so have duplicated one of my responses: .
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respectful_observer
Breathless sensationalizing comes and goes on this forum almost as reliably as it does at Watchtower conventions.
I would definitely agree with that observation. Although it's not a barometer for the global organization, I seem to be encountering more and more situations where active JWs make statements and disclosures that make my jaw drop.
A few recent samples:
Long-time pioneer (in repsonse to a discussion of the GB/FDS change): "Well it's not like I believe everything I read in the Watchtower anyway. Does anyone?"
Long-time elder (in response to the recent CA that picked on people saving in a 401K): "Why does the Society want every Witness to be stupid and poor?"
Not a quote, but a CoBE I know well "partook" this year for the first time, as did a young MS in the same hall. It turns out they both participate in a weekly Skype "family" study with brothers from around the world. All three people in that hall (barely 70 pubs) who participate in that weekly call/study partook this year. The CoBE also disclosed that he'd been partaking privately at home for years.
A LONG-TIME elder who has been moved by the WTS many times over many decades in several countries and continents: "Well let's just say I wouldn't be surprised if the current 'understanding' of 1914 changed. Sr. LONG-TIME elder and I have felt that other explanantions make a lot more sense."
I've spoken to quite a few active JWs and many of them feel that "something" has felt very different in the last few years and that all these changes are just tremors to something that will negatively affect the organization in a broader long-term way.
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local memorial attendance
by outsmartthesystem inso i have a friend that is still "in" because of his elderly parents.
he attended the memorial and reported back to me what i thought was encouraging.
we have two congregations in the city i live in.
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respectful_observer
Holy crap. I had no idea that both worldwide and U.S. Memorial attendance had actually decreased from 2011 to 2012.
Does anyone know if either/both the world/U.S. figure has ever declined before this?
Glad to see the printing of all those invites is money well spent.
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local memorial attendance
by outsmartthesystem inso i have a friend that is still "in" because of his elderly parents.
he attended the memorial and reported back to me what i thought was encouraging.
we have two congregations in the city i live in.
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respectful_observer
interesting,,for 'U.S.' last year (2012) there was 2.4% less than the previous year (2011). If there is that decrease again for this year, there would have to be aprx. 4 or 5 less per avg. congregation attending. Could happen again at that rate shown by your friend's cong.
Sorry, does this mean that the global memorial attendance had a net decrease of 2.4% from 2011 to 2012, or the rate of increase from 2011 to 2012 was 2.4% lower than it was from 2010 to 2011?
Can someone post the actual figures from 2010, 2011, and 2012?
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Anyone taking bets on the number of partakers this year?
by wha happened? ineven with the change to "just domestics", i can't see the number going down.
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respectful_observer
I'm aware of at least one new partaker this year. They are under 30 y.o., with "privileges" (and have a recent graduate degree, no less).
I predict it will go up about the same % that it did between 2011 and 2012.
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Crazy stories of JW's sacrifices
by IronGland ini remember hearing of a failthful older brother who was attacked by vicious dogs while in service.
even though his clothes were shredded and he was bleeding he continued walking door to door to finish his assigned territory for that day.
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respectful_observer
When I was young, the talk during the CO's visit that focused on the "weak spots" in the congregation the CO brought up how important it was to show up for our TMS talks, even if we're tired and not feeling well. He then went on to cite the example of an elder who came down with the stomach bug, but because it was so important for him to deliver his assigned talk, he came to the meeting anyway and had his wife sit next to him on the stage with a bucket so he had a place to vomit.
The CO went on to say, "Now I'm not saying you should take it to THAT extreme, but you get the point."
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New Light(TM) is it to keep the JWs interested?
by punkofnice inthere always seems to be some new light(tm) trotted out at the long snorefest a$$embies.. do they do it to keep the r&f interested?.
feel a smug arrogance of being not only in a ''progressive organization(tm)'' but knowing something the ''world(tm)'' doesn't?.
do it for legal reasons to protect the 8 paedophile loving men in brooklyn?.
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respectful_observer
I think they see as a good way to drum up enthusiasm amongst the rank and file. With increased enthusiasm comes better meeting attendance, more hours in the ministry, etc. NuLite TM also helps J-dubs feel like the fulfillment of prophecy is that much closer. Whenever there's been NuLite TM recently, many of the Jdubs I know view it as a sign that "the end must be SOOO CLOSE!"
It's not like world events have been very coopertive lately that the goverments will turn on religion, or that "Peace and Security!" is about to be declared, so instead of sitting on their hands waiting for nothing to happen, NuLite TM helps keep everyone thinking the Great Trib is going to start any day now.