Posts by HereIam60

36

Few JW leader have children

by slimboyfat in

it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.

this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.

i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.

I've heard numerous comments over the years of witnesses commending the fact that "we do not seperate our children (into nurseries or Sunday Schools)...they learn right here with us!". In a recent public talk I heard this was implied to be a safety measue, along the lines of "... they are not isolated, we know where they are and can give them protective oversight..." This is probably a recent insertion into that talk's outline. It overlooks the fact that numerous public talks of the past contained subject matter not usually considered appropriate to discuss before children.

Something that has prompted many comments in online forums is that the next publication to be used for the midweek meeting 'Congregation Bible Study' is the children book "Lessons You Can Learn from the Bible" - a revision of the old 'My Book of Bible Stories'

As this will begin in just a few weeks it will be interesting to see how it is introduced and presented, possibly as "a loving provision to teach our young ones, and to renew the understanding and appreciation of the Bible accounts for all of us..."

As this is scheduled as the final part of a meeting often held in the evening, it's been pointed out that it will come at a time when some small children will be getting tired and sleepy. I hope there won't be enforced participation, though thankfully we seem to have moved away from the days when spankings were the norm for inatentiveness.

It will also be interesting to see how this goes over in a congregation like ours where there are virtually no kids in regular. attendance. The youngest "regulars" we have are in their early 20s, and the only children seen infrequently are grandchildren occasionally brought by their grandparents.

12

"Perfect Angels"? A Subtle Shift in Watchtower Doctrine — And Why It Matters

by raymond frantz in

"perfect angels"?

a subtle shift in watchtower doctrine — and why it matters.

quoted paragraph from the watchtower september 2025, study article 38, paragraph 12:.

HereIam60

You made some good points there. Frankly, I doubt that the writers of the article have given as much thought to it as you have.

One question I've always had is why the New World Translation at 1 Thessalonians 4:16 speaks of Jesus descending with "an archangel's voice" as if there were more than one, rather than saying "the" archangel's voice. This seems to vary in different bibles, but I'm no Greek scholar.

I have wondered if there are "theological shifts" in the works. The lack of much "deep" study material in recent times, and the slowness at which the weekly assigned Bible reading currently proceeds means it will be a long time until the New Testament books are directly discussed again. Possibly someone is working on revised interperations of some previous teachings, and Revelation...or perhaps not...!

56

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.

HereIam60

There seem to be a good number of people who identify as Jehovah's Witnesses although they have never been baptized or in regular association with a congregation. This includes

.......people who had a parent or rother relative who was a witness, so it is considered the 'family religion".....

........pdople who read Watchtower printed literature, when that was more widely distributed and agreed or accepted the teachings...

.......people who had a home bible study for a time, then discontinued, or were dropped, but still believed what they learned

It's hard to see what actually defines being a JW. I suppose "official recognition" requires baptism at a Witness assembly or covention by elders, but I dont think the so-called Organization has any legal hold on a person

36

Few JW leader have children

by slimboyfat in

it’s been discussed before that few jw leaders, past and present, have had children.

this is in contrast with other groups, such as the mormons, whose leaders have had a lot of children.

i wonder if this has impacted jw growth.

HereIam60

I well remember a talk given in the 1980's called "Responsible Childbearing in the Time Of The End". With the end " so close" upon us., we were reminded that Noah's sons and their wives evidently did not have children so as not to distract them from helping build the ark, and that the children of the wicked perished with them in the Flood, that Jesus said it would be harder for those with young children to flee to the mountains for safety, and that some of the besieged in Jerusalem ate their own children! I remember this caused quite a stir at the assembly I attended with people gathering together in the back of the auditorium and asking "Are they really saying NOT to have children?". The material later appeared as a Watchtower study article.

At present, having a family does not seem to be actually discouraged, but there still is a major pitch for young people to remain " free" for full time service, less the pioneer ministry anymore, and more on working in construction projects.

I'm sure Anthony Morris III's sons are still in. He said once, in a talk, and his printed life story that his sons "make us look good...". I've thought that one (of several) reasons for his deparure was his frank admission in an annual meeting talk, that interestingly was retained in the JW Broadcasting version, that when older ones in the 1970s told his sons they would not finish school in this system, and they asked him about this, he told then they needed to keep on the watch, as this system could go on many more years, mentioning 2020...

56

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.

HereIam60

...Continued "stepping away" from problematic teachings, by not mentioning them and pretending they never existed (overlapping generation)

...I still wonder whether there's some kind of major doctrinal overhaul planned... The Jesus drama and convention talks are giving more focus on Christ. The weekly Bible Reading Schedule for the Christian Life and Ministry slowed down considerably in recent years. Even if it resumes several chapters per week it will still be a long, long time before the Gospels, Christian letters, and Revelation are reached again (Currently still in Proverbs)

....Whether the Ramapo project ever proceeds remains to be seen. It has never made any sense to me as they already produce an ongoing flood of video. All we've heard as far as I know for the past two years is that some paving was done and trees cut down...

13

Baptismal Failure Rates Among JW Bible Teachers

by Sea Breeze in

jw
friends

the 2024 data from the jw website indicates that jw teachers have an over 96% failure rate with their students : .

2024 average bible studies each month: 7,480,146.

2024 baptisms:296,267. number of bible studies it takes to produce one baptism : 25.25. this means that jehovah's witnesses have an over 96% failure rate with people who want to study the bible with them.

HereIam60

I'm never quite clear as to what constitutes a "study" Long ago I thought one had to be regularly visiting and going through a study publication for an hour at least, then much later they spoke of "door step" studies, where a "progressive" conversation/ repeated visits on scriptural topics for as little as 5 minutes could be counted as a study. Also studying with the same person 4 times in a month would be counted as 4 studies. The numbers are always likely inconsistent and inaccurate

12

A Revelation By: YHWH (יהוה) – "The Holocaust" (Sensitive and Meaningful Information. Please Show Respect)

by EisMe in

at the direction of our heavenly father, yhwh (יהוה), i am providing you with information which this world has never comprehended or have found the meaning to.

the account of shadrach, meshach, and abednego cast into the fire flame.

this is divine proof that he, along with jesus, are with me now in preparation of taking over his world through his son jesus christ, amen!!

HereIam60

Acts 26:24

5

NOT on JW.org. "11 Celebrities Who Were Raised As Jehovah's Witnesses"

by Balaamsass2 in

5/24/25 some fluff for your perusal.

"11 celebrities who were raised as jehovah's witnesses".

celebrityby toofab staff|5/24/2025 8:44 am pt.

HereIam60

I used to find it funny how some would excitedly announce that some celebrity was supposedly a witness, as if that gave their own beliefs more confirmation and credibility

When people used to go on and on about Prince being a Witness, I'd want to say "Well you'd never know it!", or " Really?, Did you read his life story in the Watchtower?"....and when he , sadly, died, people actually said "This could bring a lot of people into the Truth!

Of course, Michael Jackson actually was mentioned in the Watchtower, about his " regrets" over supernatural images in his 'Thriller' video...and given the rest of his sad life, it's understandable that the 'organizatiion' has shied away from mentioning major celebrities in recent times

The one celebrity they once highliighted who really seemed to "walk the walk" was Theresa Graves, maybe not well remembered today, but a major (American) tv star in the 1970s. Among other things she was the first Black actress to star in a police detective series, 'Get Christie Love'.

Somewhere on youtube I heard a recording of the "testimony" she gave at a Witness Convention. It was a far cry from the scripted, ultra rehearsed presentations done today. She was very spontaneous and genuine. (and today they would Never let anyone go on at that length unscripted)

She told how she began studying while still pursuing her career. She recalled witnessing to actor David Niven on the set of a vampire movie, and related how when she began her tv series, the original producer agreed to respect her new beliefs. At her wish the stories could not be overly violent, nor have her character in immoral situatiions, or involve spiritism.

A later producer was not so accomodating, and after the show was over she left acting and, I believe, "pioneered" for the rest of her life. She tragically died in a fire.

9

Why Bother?

by LostintheFog1999 in

we who actually look at wt history know that they just changed 1874 to 1914 without a fanfare.

setting up the potential for changing any dates to new dates because "holy spirit" told them to do so.. which makes me ask, why do we bother to watch what they do?

i mean, we don't care having escaped their greedy little claws.

HereIam60

Why bother...? It is difficult to disconnect totally from a significant, perhaps ongoing, part of your life. I appreciate having a forum to form and express thoughts and questions that have long been in the back of my mind, but not yet put into words. I appreciate the variety of responses and exchanges as well.

14

How many Ends are there?

by blondie in

jw
friends

when will the current preaching work end?

(remember, i am reporting not supporting wts teaching).

questions from readers august 2025 p. 31 (how many wts teaching have been clarified?

HereIam60

Blondie;

Thank you for your research and the cited quotes on the "hailstone" message...Each time seems to overlook that Revelation 16:21 states that the hailstones fall from Heaven, indicating an action on the part of God himself...and that men blasphemed against Him as a result...

Joey Jojo:

A publication used in the late 1950s ' 'From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained' did present the view that the Present Day and Age Was the Great Tribulation, in that Revealation 7:9 says that the "great crowd" standing before the throne "come out" of the great tribulation. Since they were being 'gathered' in the present time through the preaching work..that time period was viewed as being the G.T..

The interperetation must have changed again quite soon, when it was evidently realized that the Great Trib. Jesus spoke of was said to be like nothing that ever happened before, nor would occur again, and no flesh could be saved unless its days were cut short... (Matthew 24:21, 22)