konceptual99

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Posts by konceptual99

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  32

  Jehovah's organization growing like never before: but bible studies are way down. Huh?

  by kneehighmiah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so the governing body likes to keep claiming incredible growth.

  at the same time they claim bible studies are way down.

  are the finally admitting what we've known all along, that they can no longer recruit outsiders?

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  konceptual99

  Yes, most western countries have "enjoyed" the "blessings" of growth, but the rate has dropped to 1-3% PA in general. All the big gains were many years ago. This is despite the amount of preaching activity and publications that have been shifted each year. This is despite the number of children being born and raised as Witnesses. Look at the numbers baptised and think about how many must be leaving each year.

  In the US this year they have skewed the figures by taking in a number of other territories that they did not include previously. Figures for pioneers have been massaged by making it far easier to be an auxillary and ramping up leaflet drop ampaigns to at least 3 per annum. Getting in a couple of hours babysitting a trolley means hours will go up, as will essentially random, pointless, unqualified literature placements. All this means is that the hours and placement figures increase but the conversion ratio drops.

  Yes, technically growth has been there year on year but any corporation would be concerned about the trends. They do not represent healthy, sustainable, organic growth.

  I don't think that anyone on here is seriously contemplating the imminent implosion of the WTS but even a basic analysis of WTS figures gives some pretty clear indications of the problems the WTS faces over the next couple of decades.
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  20

  JW's donations going to sexual abuse cases?

  by Ginx in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i read somewhere on the internet (don't recall what site it was) that jw's donations are going towards sexual abuse cases.. is this true?.

  where can i find solid evidence regarding this matter?.

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  konceptual99

  Regardless, the insurance cover mentioned in the article is only paying for approaximately a third of the liability. The insurance also only appears to cover cases that take place after the insurance is in place. $6000 for $1m of cover is a heck of a premium to protect against $100m, $200m of liabilty. What would the cost of cover be to cover an organisation for an uknown historic liability?What about the cost of defending the case? Is that covered? If you are looking at reducing the cost of the insurance moving forward then the underwriters will want a clear and transparent child protection policy that ensures that ministers with access to children have gone through the required background checks. I would also expect some reluctance to payout unless WTS liability is 100% proven and the WTS is at pains to shift the blame onto rogue members.

  I accept the WTS can get insurance but it still does not mean that dontated funds are protected.
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  12

  Examining Genesis . Would your JW's ?

  by Phizzy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was talking to a jw a short time ago and it emerged in conversation that he believed in the literal truth of the bible's first book, genesis.. no great surprise there, but he said something pertinent, he said, "if you don't, then the whole of our belief falls apart".. i was wondering if this may be of use to those who are endeavouring to "wake up" jw family or friends.

  a proper examination of genesis could be encouraged in a gentle way, raising questions the j.w's must answer, ( you may have to insist they answer them, not shove them aside as they love to do ), and eventually they will have to get to the point, if they are at all honest, that genesis is simply not literal truth.. then, their whole body of belief is undermined.. simples !.

  well, the idea is, the execution may be impossible, but i just thought the idea may be helpful ?.

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  konceptual99

  I have used this tack several times and I think many Witnesses realise the dependancy on the varacity of Genesis. The problem is that the cog dis kicks in big time and they revert back to the "fundamentals" like " do I believe God exists, that he created everything and that he has a purpose?". It's where I was 2/3 years ago. They have to give themselves permission to ask the question "what if Genesis is not correct?".
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  42

  I Waited Until My Wedding Night To Lose My Virginity And I Wish I Hadn't...

  by Divergent in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  i found this article interesting & just wanted to share.

  after going through my teenage years trying to be the perfect jw, i realized that trying to live up to the standards imposed on me have been for worse & not for better.

  i was feeling miserable, repressed, unfulfilled, with a great lack of self confidence & self esteem.

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  konceptual99

  Maybe my wide and I were just lucky but we have had a great time in bed for over two decades despite not sleeping with each other before marriage.
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  32

  Jehovah's organization growing like never before: but bible studies are way down. Huh?

  by kneehighmiah in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so the governing body likes to keep claiming incredible growth.

  at the same time they claim bible studies are way down.

  are the finally admitting what we've known all along, that they can no longer recruit outsiders?

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  konceptual99

  TOMo's statement was about trends. I've not done the maths but the ratio of studies to publishers may have dropped, especially since the US branch territory has increased it's area of influence. It may also have simply been a lie, intentional or otherwise.
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  10

  If there were no faithful and discreet slave until 1919,then what would the witnesses say if you were to show them these scriptures?

  by label licker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  revelation 1:1 a revelation by jesus christ which god gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place.

  and he sent forth his angel and presented it in signs through him to his slave john,.

  jude 1 jude, a slave of jeus christ .

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  konceptual99

  Don't be too hard on DD as it is a serious point. Of course asking deeper and deeper questions is what leads many to TTATT. Don't forget that the first step for many is to stop asking questions, or perhaps more to the point, not looking too far for answers they know are not there. They are too scared to go outside the publications.

  The step to researching from so called apostate sites is a big one. What the tipping point is will vary from person to person. It might even be stupid comments about tight pants is the straw that breaks the camel's back and frees an individual's conscience so that they do start looking at more serious matters.

  LL - you are right that there has been a lot of discussion re Morris' words. Perhaps lots of what has been said is frivilous but the interesting thing is that this is also generating ALOT of comment in JW world. Check out facebook and instagram. There has been a fairly heated debate on jwtalk about it. Morris' approach has generated comment between JWs like no other contentious subject. No one mentions 607, 1914, generations, blood, flip flops etc. yet they feel free to discuss this subject. You never know what this exposure will trigger in those that are already almost there.
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  52

  Changed: Head coverings for sisters, w15 2/15 QFR

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  does a female kingdom publisher need to wear a head covering if she conducts a bible study in the presence of a male publisher?.

  in a questions from readers item published in the watchtower of july 15, 2002, it was stated that a sister should cover her head if she conducts a bible study in the presence of a male publisher, whether he is baptized or not.

  further consideration of the matter suggests that a modification to this direction is appropriate.. if the male publisher who accompanies the sister while she conducts an established bible study is baptized, the sister would certainly want to wear a head covering.

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  konceptual99

  The issuse re older women having to defer to young children was pointed out when the previous ruling wad made. I am sure this is why they have changed it now.
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  49

  Lowering the standards: The sign of a cult struggling for survival

  by Hidden-Window in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of the recent changes in the jehovah's witness organization are a clear sign of a cult that is struggling for survival.

  the internet has change the scenario in a very dramatic way.

  many of us who for years struggled alone with doubts and cognitive dissonance thinking that we were the only ones, that we, as individuals were the issue, now know that there is a large community of individuals who see the organization as what it is, a mind controlling cult that is not only false, but also dangerous.. the governing body clearly understands the consequences of this awakening.

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  konceptual99

  15 mins is for those with special circumstances such as old age, severe illness etc. For most people it's as you describe it.
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  49

  Lowering the standards: The sign of a cult struggling for survival

  by Hidden-Window in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of the recent changes in the jehovah's witness organization are a clear sign of a cult that is struggling for survival.

  the internet has change the scenario in a very dramatic way.

  many of us who for years struggled alone with doubts and cognitive dissonance thinking that we were the only ones, that we, as individuals were the issue, now know that there is a large community of individuals who see the organization as what it is, a mind controlling cult that is not only false, but also dangerous.. the governing body clearly understands the consequences of this awakening.

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  konceptual99

  I had this very conversation with my wife recently. She did not buy it at all. Her view was that we are getting what we need now. The GB have recognised it's hard for people and making it as easy as possible to hang on in there until the end.

  I think the information age does make it easier to find the material for critical research - I know it helped me. I still think though that the simple fact the material is there is enough to make a significant difference. The cognative dissonance runs deep as does the anti-apostate scaremongering. It's there when people want to search but I don't think we are at a point where people are being poked from a state of acceptance of WT doctrine to research TTATT.
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  55

  A young girl shouts down a Street preacher

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  got to admit that when some of these screechers get wound up, ive felt the same as the young lady.. http://www.9news.com.au/world/2014/11/06/08/34/girl-tells-street-preacher-to-shut-up.

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  konceptual99

  Got to agree with the posts that deplore the behaviour. Perhaps this little girl is related to BOTR...?