Posts by ScenicViewer

42

Predictions for the next decade?

by jehovaxx in

as it’s nearly the new year my prediction over the next decade or so will see the sense of urgency dwindle.

then some huge huge changes.

for example by 2034 in a decades time, they will have address the 1914 issue and will come out and say we can’t be dogmatic.

ScenicViewer

You failed to answer the question ...

Slimboyfat, do you believe that is the meaning of the "generation" of Matthew 24? (referring to 2 groups of people whose lives overlap making up one generation.)

I'd like to know if you believe that.

As to findings of the Religious Census, where do they get their numbers? Do they ask people directly what their religion is? If so, many people who are actually ex-JWs would say they are JWs, even if they are totally inactive, because that was the last religion they were associated with. I highly doubt their numbers (Religious Census) are accurate, although they are not intentionally lying about it. Watchtower is intentionally misleading even if it is using a new way of counting that doesn't mean anything, like simply checking a box that is meaningless. And don't forget that Witnesses themselvse will lie, including the elder that I mentioned in my personal experience.

"There are 700 more congregations worldwide compared with 10 years ago, that’s not much growth but it is growth"

Again you are relying on Watchtower numbers. How do they define what a congregation is these days. Someone reported on this site some time ago that small groups that were NOT counted as congregations years ago, are now. This doesn't surprise me. Watchtower will use every trick in the book to appear as though it is growing.

Did you see my remark about videos of meetings that show a very low attendance? Kingdom Halls use to be full or nearly full. There don't seem to be many like that left. I am not aware of 1, although there must be a few somewhere. Most of what I see has embarrassingly low attendance.

"25 years is the time comparison you chose on the previous page when claiming JWs are losing badly"

The 25 year reference was to how long, approximately, the internet has been in use. Naturally the Jehovah's Witness fade would not have started at that exact moment, but over time it would start, then increase as time went on, especially when the end of this world failed to come, and Watchtower needed to explain that away. In those days (25 years ago) Watchtower was downplaying the internet, as if it was run by Satan and couldn't be believed. When I learned that Watchtower had it's own website I was literally shocked, in fact I didn't believe it until I saw it for myself. That was an eyeopener for me. Yes 25 years ago is when I was starting to leave.

42

Predictions for the next decade?

by jehovaxx in

as it’s nearly the new year my prediction over the next decade or so will see the sense of urgency dwindle.

then some huge huge changes.

for example by 2034 in a decades time, they will have address the 1914 issue and will come out and say we can’t be dogmatic.

ScenicViewer

"The number of congregations has also increased significantly since 25 years ago. So while some congregations may not have increased and multiplied this is the overall trend worldwide"

25 years ago is a very long time. How about 10 years ago or so. How about since the Organization changed the "generation" of Matthew 24 from an actual generation to "2 groups of people whose lives overlap," which is a ridiculous definition? I can't remember what year that was but I think it was in the 10+ year range, give or take. That opened the eyes of lots of sincere JWs. I myself was already out by then, but if I had been in it would have been a real eye opener for me too. Even now I am stunned that they would say such a silly thing.

Slimboyfat, do you believe that is the meaning of the "generation" of Matthew 24?

And no, there is nothing reliable about Watchtower. I think the 9 million number is extremely high, even if you think it is reliable. Watchtower has lied WAY too much over the years to be believed. That number is simply another sales pitch that says if effect 'oh look at us, aren't we Gods people, and don't we have the Truth. Jehovah is making us grow.'

"The number of congregations has also increased significantly since 25 years ago."

Again you are comparing to 25 years ago, which is a very long time, and you are still using Watchtower's numbers, which are definitely unreliable.

42

Predictions for the next decade?

by jehovaxx in

as it’s nearly the new year my prediction over the next decade or so will see the sense of urgency dwindle.

then some huge huge changes.

for example by 2034 in a decades time, they will have address the 1914 issue and will come out and say we can’t be dogmatic.

ScenicViewer

Slimboyfat said,

"Number of JWs 25 years ago - 6 million

Number of JWs now - 9 million"

And where do you get those numbers? From Watchtower, right?

The Organization has lied again and again, and again, especially about the last days and when they will end ... 1914, 1925, 1941, 1975, by the end of the 20th Century ... and more.

Why in the world would you believe their numbers regarding growth? They manipulate everything they can to make their religion look great.

The congregation that I attended for over 30 years is gone now, dissolved, and no, a new congregation was not started as some Witnesses would have you believe. Attendance got so low at that congregation, and at a second English congregation using the same hall, that they had to be combined. This is happening all over the world.

I see pictures and videos of something at a meeting and I am constantly amazed that there might be 30 people in attendance, if that, in a Kingdom Hall that was made for 100 to 120 people. That certainly does not indicate growth!

When I was in you had to report at least 1 hour per month to be considered a "publisher." If you put in 1/2 hour in field service you couldn't report it, rather you had to save that time an turn it in later when you had at lease 1 hour.

Now there is no minimum at all, you simply check a box that indicates you said something to someone and you are counted.

And consider how easy it is to check a box, even if you didn't say a word to someone about the JW religion. I believe there are many Witnesses who would do that. Yes, that would be lying, but there are many Witness who would not hesitate to lie on a monthly report. This happened in the old days when 1 hour per month was required to be a publisher. Personal experience below.

The first time that I did not report time, after more than 20 years of doing so regularly, an elder came to me and said "I see you forgot to report your time last month. The Circuit Overseer is coming and we need to get everything caught up."

I said, "No, I didn't have time to report." He insisted that I must have had time and that I just forgot it. We went back and forth for a few minutes, then finally he made a mark on my time slip, a 1. He gave me an hour that I didn't have. If a respected elder will lie for a publisher, how many others will also lie?

And this opened my eyes as to how much influence a C.O. has on elders. Apparently the congregation was in decline even in those days, and another regular publisher who was now irregular would look very bad to the C.O.

Now there is no minimum number of hours required, you simply check a box and you are a publisher. I have not seen one of these new time slips yet, but that is what I get from reading this and other sites.

Slimboyfat, do you honestly believe there are actually 9 million Jehovah's Witnesses in the world? I would be surprised if there were half that many real JWs.

42

Predictions for the next decade?

by jehovaxx in

as it’s nearly the new year my prediction over the next decade or so will see the sense of urgency dwindle.

then some huge huge changes.

for example by 2034 in a decades time, they will have address the 1914 issue and will come out and say we can’t be dogmatic.

ScenicViewer

For the last 25 years or so the Watchtower Organization has been fighting an enemy it never saw coming ... the internet ... and it is losing badly.

The Organization has declined in the past but recovered. However, the internet puts information, even very old information, at peoples' fingertips. I think that in the next 10 years the situation will be much worse than it is today, the only Witnesses being left in will be the absolute non-thinkers. It's almost that way now.

6

New JW Video: Jehovah’s Witnesses Told Me Armageddon Was Coming in 1975… But It Destroyed My Family, Not The World!

by AbaddonProvesIt in

jehovah’s witnesses told me armageddon was coming in 1975… but it destroyed my family .

not the world!

(kingdom wisdom).

ScenicViewer

That is an excellent video!

34

Remember Hour Quotas?

by blondie in

jw
friends

hour quotas timeline.

back in the old days long before 1952.

“after staying in our ‘home’ for two days we decided that if we were going to meet our quota of 140 hours for the month.

ScenicViewer

Thanks Blondie!

34

Remember Hour Quotas?

by blondie in

jw
friends

hour quotas timeline.

back in the old days long before 1952.

“after staying in our ‘home’ for two days we decided that if we were going to meet our quota of 140 hours for the month.

ScenicViewer

Hi Blondie.

Some of your opening remarks appear to be quotes from JW literature. Do you have specific references, from the Watchtower, Awake, etc, that you can provide.

All the best!

15

Unveiling the True Meaning of 666

by EisMe in

unveiling the true meaning of 666. for centuries, the number 666 and the mark of the beast have sparked widespread speculation, fear, and countless interpretations.

some believe it signifies an actual physical marking, while others see it as symbolic of spiritual allegiance.

but amidst all these theories, one question remains:.

ScenicViewer

Vienne: "So, we have a new wanna be prophet. How swell."

Thumbs up to you, Vienne!

15

Unveiling the True Meaning of 666

by EisMe in

unveiling the true meaning of 666. for centuries, the number 666 and the mark of the beast have sparked widespread speculation, fear, and countless interpretations.

some believe it signifies an actual physical marking, while others see it as symbolic of spiritual allegiance.

but amidst all these theories, one question remains:.

ScenicViewer

Your post is WAY too long!

15

JWs Tortured in Russia

by blondie in

jw
friends

https://www.upi.com/top_news/world-news/2024/06/16/russia-tortures-jehovahs-witness/3971718239875/ .

russia is amping up to severe torture for jws.

i don't think this is appropriate behaviour for anyone..

ScenicViewer

Sadly, this kind of treatment is wrong, but it proves that a couple of things about the JW beliefs are misleading.

1) Romans 8:31 says "... if God is for us, who can be against us?" (NWT)

Watchtower has quoted this verse in the past when it suited them, for example when they won a lawsuit, implying that since they are 'Jehovah's' witnesses no one can be against them and they can't lose.

Yet they are banned in many countries and are being severely persecuted at times. Additionally they are not doing so well at winning law suits these days. Obviously God is not with them.

2) It also disproves their idea about 'the end of the Gentile Times' (meaning the end of 'the times of the nations') which they say happened in 1914 when God's Kingdom started ruling. Their persecution by Hitler and the Nazis in WWII, along with other persecutions including Russia, proves that the nations are still having their way - the Gentile Times have not ended at all and God's Kingdom is not ruling.