Posts by jwleaks

23

Aust 2016 Census observations: JW's getting older, more kids leaving, and 30+ group aren't returning

by shepherdless in

1. median age.

experts will tell you that if you want to know if a population is in growth or decline, the best single number to look at is the median age of the population.

i have extracted aust census data and calculated the following approx median ages:.

jwleaks

shepherdless:

Great work.

Over a 10 year period in Australia -

Year 2006: Aust population: 37.0 - JW's: 38.7

Year 2016: Aust population: 38.1 - JW's: 43.9

The median Australian population age has increased by 3%

The median JW population age has increasedby 13.5%

This means in 10 years (2026) the median Australian population age will be 39.2

This means in 10 years (2026) the median JW population age will be 49.8

This means in another 10 years (2036) the median JW population age will be 56.5

JWs in 2046 = 64.1

JWs in 2056 = 72.3

The population of JWs is aging. If the Watchtower and governing body were aware of this then they would engage in a special effort to increase child baptisms and child retention by marketing their products to children.

6

ARTICLE - Cults and Terrorism: Can We Establish Parallels Between Noxious Belief Systems?

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

cults and terrorism: can we establish parallels between noxious belief systems?.

july 5, 2017. by sarah mills.

https://conatusnews.com/cults-terrorism-parallels/.

jwleaks

John Davis - Why are you calling this an academic article? She does not reference any studies or other academic resources other than dictionaries. She did not indicate her academic credentials nor a thesis, nor was it published in a peer-reviewed journal. Her assertions are correct but this is not an academic article it is an opinion piece.

John, I did not call this an academic article. I stated "this is how many academic articles are written."

Sarah Mills cites a number of references in her article, including: mental health councillor Steven Hassan (both his book and an article he wrote for the American Psychological Association), psychiatrist Robert J. Lifton, and Dr Arthur Dole a professor in psychology.

Mills also refers to both The Watchtower and Awake! magazine but we can dismiss them easily.

Mills lists her credentials if you click on the link to her name. She is a journalist.

6

ARTICLE - Cults and Terrorism: Can We Establish Parallels Between Noxious Belief Systems?

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

cults and terrorism: can we establish parallels between noxious belief systems?.

july 5, 2017. by sarah mills.

https://conatusnews.com/cults-terrorism-parallels/.

jwleaks

scratchme1010 - your comments are correct, however this is how many academic articles are written. The author explores and supports their idea, hypothesis, or even thesis with an argument thereby adding to the body of knowledge. In this article Sarah Mills used the JWs as one of her case studies.

6

ARTICLE - Cults and Terrorism: Can We Establish Parallels Between Noxious Belief Systems?

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

cults and terrorism: can we establish parallels between noxious belief systems?.

july 5, 2017. by sarah mills.

https://conatusnews.com/cults-terrorism-parallels/.

jwleaks

Cults and Terrorism: Can We Establish Parallels Between Noxious Belief Systems?

July 5, 2017

By Sarah Mills

https://conatusnews.com/cults-terrorism-parallels/

Whether they are known as high-demand/control groups, new religious movements, or cults, their frequent association with scandals in which both physical and psychological abuse, violence, and even fatalities feature notoriously, begs the question: At what point does a religion cease to be a relatively anodyne cultural system and cross over into territory the state should not, must not, protect through religious freedom?

Established religions often cite deviation from the norm as a defining characteristic of cults to undermine their legitimacy. This norm, however, is a product of time. Christianity itself was once considered ‘deviant.’ So how can we determine what a cult is and why should we care? Through a consideration of the definition of the word ‘cult’ and the psychological effects of indoctrination; an examination of a sect that might better be defined as a cult and thus useful for illustrative purposes, namely Jehovah’s Witnesses; and the relationship between cult mentality and terrorism, I will argue that the study of cults holds significant potential in unlocking the bases for violent acts of devotion that seem to merit more than socio-political explanations . . .

11

Fallacies in the article on war at Awake! No. 5 2017

by Master_Bob in

why did ancient israel go to war?.

what some people say.

the israelites worshipped a bloodthirsty “tribal war god.”.

jwleaks

So jehovah orders the killing in Canaan every single innocent baby and little child to punish the Canaanites for their deplorable and wicked practice of killing innocent babies and little children.

Yet today, jehovah also plans to kill in Armageddon every single innocent baby and little child of all the parents that refuses to accept his self-justification for killing every single innocent baby and little child in Canaan.

28

Dutch conventions organized like circuits

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

here in holland jw.org is organizing for the first time the yearly conventions like circuits.

the whole summer the new convention hall is used for small group conventions instead of 10.000 seat external halls.. it keeps the money in the organization.

not renting external buildings.. the 29.000 witnesses here are divided now into 2.000 seat audience.. g..

jwleaks

I remember reading in the bible that Jesus held large conventions to instruct his followers. He didn't charge them overheads, he didn't ask for donations, and he fed all in attendance.

15

Observation of Sam Heard at Regional Convention in Dayton, OH

by LevelThePlayingField in

heard gave 3 talks at the convention.

one thing i noticed rather quickly was how stuck he was to his notes.

he rarely looked up.

jwleaks

Give the man a break. He's probably discovering 'new light' in the manuscripts for the first time. His lips move as he reads but in his mind he's thinking: "WTF, is this what we now believe? I'm sure the faithful slave know what they're doing, even if I don't. Must concentrate. Must listen, obey, and be blessed. I hope my bed sheets have been folded back."

18

Australian State of Victoria! New Dept and laws to protect children

by zeb in

alexandra james posted: "the state of victoria, in australia, is moving forward with a new law that is meant to protect victims of child sex abuse, including when such incidents happen within a religious setting.

according to the "reportable conduct scheme" that has just been ena" respond to this post by replying above this line.

new post on jwvictims.org .

jwleaks

On 1 January 2017 new laws also came into force in the state of Victoria, Australia, that require organizations to adopt and comply with new Child Safe Standards. This applies to government organizations and government funded organizations. The mandatory reporting aspect comes into force on 1 July 2017 (today) to align with the above mentioned new laws.

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safety/being-a-child-safe-organisation/

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/documents-and-resources/policies,-guidelines-and-legislation/child-safe-standards-resources

There was alot of campaigning and government inquiries and reports to get these changes implimented. Every step of the way special attention was made to ensure religious organizations, including the JWs and Watchtower, did not escape legislative control. The failures of the JWs and the governing body were constantly presented to legislators, including their failure to comply with mandatory working with children laws for a full three years (July 2008 - June 2011) until they were all charged with a total of 35 criminal offences in five separate cases and then prosecuted in the Magistrates' Court of Victoria between July 2011 and February 2012. Many people worked tirelessly to make sure the JWs and Watchtower had no room to escape these new laws and compliance. During this entire period of time Watchtower continually restructured its organizational and business model in Australia but to no avail.

On 1 January 2018 the new laws commence application within religious and non-government organizations. There is no escape for any organization, especially the JWs and Watchtower.

29

"Child abuse is abhorrent to us."

by Hecce in

birds of a feather flock together.

australian cardinal george pell: "they are false.

the whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.".

jwleaks

This is a very famous and iconic image in Australia.

On the left is one of Australia's most notorious child rapists, Gerald Ridsdale, during one of many trials that found him guilty of raping over 50 children with some as young as four.

On the right is Ridsdale's only friend and supporter during the trials, Cardinal George Pell.

34

2017 Sunday RC Final Talk & Comments About 1975

by baldeagle in

many of us here have commented on the deceitful friday afternoon video shown at the 2017 rc that discussed 1975.. the video attempted to shift the blame onto congregation members for the fiasco saying, "some were looking to a certain date as signifying the end of this old system of things.".

this same video mentions how, “a few even went so far as selling their homes and quitting their jobs.”.

we all know that the wt leadership created this teaching and endorsed it right up to its abject failure.. now below is the concluding talk given on sunday at the rc.

jwleaks

doubtfull1799 - 88 prophecies

The number 8, repeated twice, evidently an overlapping number, clearly denotes that the author of The Finished Mystery was directed by holy spirit.

No doubt the Lackawanna railway line had something to do with it.