Monthly printing of Watchtower and Awake magazines has fallen by 39% since 2005

If you are a Witness, probably you will have noticed your Watchtower and Awake! magazines undergo some unexpected changes over the past few years.

In 2005 it was announced that, commencing with the first 2006 issue, there would only be one Awake! printed each month.

I recall at the time being surprised that the “faithful and discreet slave” was now giving us less “spiritual food” so deep in this “time of the end” rather than more.

Then, commencing with the January 2013 issues, yet more pages were slashed from the magazines as the public editions of the Watchtower and Awake! were reduced to just 16 pages each. Many have already commented on how flimsy the new magazines look and feel as a result.

The fact that the public magazines are now thin and flimsy has not gone unnoticed

These two staggered changes resulted in the overall number of printed pages for both magazines combined being halved between 2005 and 2012. We might well ask, why do the Society’s magazines now contain only 50% of the “spiritual food” they contained in 2005?

Despite the hefty cutbacks in magazine pages, some have argued that there has really been no difference in the amount of printing, since the magazines are now available in more languages than ever before, and circulation has increased.

In response to this suggestion, I went about researching the actual volume of magazine printing required now (2013) compared with 2005, just before the cutbacks were first introduced. The results were eye-opening. Even though circulation of the Watchtower and Awake! has increased considerably, the cutbacks in pages have resulted in a remarkable drop in monthly magazine printing of 39%!

Here is how this figure was arrived at…

The Russian Watchtower translation reveals the circulation for the Study Edition

For the above calculations I have tried to give as much information as possible so that you can check the figures for yourself.

The circulation figures for the Study Edition were especially challenging to find until a friend stumbled upon the fact that they are mysteriously published on page 2 of the Russian language version. Why the figure is omitted from the English version is a mystery to me.

Does circulation = readership?

While the increased circulation of the public magazines is impressive, the circulation figures tell us little in terms of how many people actually read the magazines. This is because they are handed out freely and quite often pushed on people who don’t want them by publishers who feel under pressure to submit meaningful field service reports.

Circulation figures for magazines that people are often coerced into accepting do not tell us what the actual readership is

From my own experience, any Witness who tries doing streetwork with the Watchtower and Awake! will be disappointed to check the nearby trash cans later on to find them peppered with the magazines. And though I once had a sizeable “route” of return visits with whom magazines were placed, none of these individuals ever “progressed” or attended any meetings. For all I know, they could have been putting the magazines straight on the recycling pile as soon as the door was closed.

Though the circulation figures tell us little about the actual readership, they do tell us much about the amount of work and money the Society is prepared to invest in magazine production – especially once the reduced number of pages are considered.

When we run the numbers, as shown above, we see that the Society has dramatically downsized its magazine printing work. As has been previously stated on this website, I believe the motives for this are primarily financial. The Society is desperately trying to slash costs wherever possible in response to stagnating growth in wealthy lands where publishers are able to donate, thanks in part to the corrosive influence of the internet.

Too little food now, or too much then?

In explaining the latest magazine cutbacks, the 2nd April 2012 letter to all congregations (which announced the latest changes) said the following:

“Since each issue will contain less material, it may be possible for more translation teams to be able to translate every issue of Awake! and the public edition of The Watchtower, thus increasing the number of languages in which they are available.”

Did we have too much spiritual food in 2005, or do we have too little now?

It is certainly true that the number of languages has increased since 2005, from 150 to 195 for the Watchtower. However, I personally doubt that making the literature available in 45 more languages was the sole reason for the cutbacks. After all, spiritual food is spiritual food. Either it is needed, or it isn’t. If it is needed, then all effort must be put forth to translate and disseminate it as broadly as possible, rather than reducing the amount of it.

To reduce the amount of food available in favor of dispersing it more widely is effectively “rationing,” which is a measure only undertaken in times of shortage or desperation. But this is not how the Society describes the current state of affairs. Consider the following quote from a 2011 Watchtower

“Another blessing that Jehovah has bestowed upon us is the great body of Scriptural truth. As we feast on an abundance of rich spiritual food, we have reason to ‘cry out joyfully because of the good condition of the heart.’ (Isa. 65:13, 14)” w11 2/15 p19

And so we are left with a number of questions…

  • Do we now have less spiritual food than we should have, or did we previously have too much spiritual food?
  • If the Society needs to reduce the spiritual food in order for it to be translated, does this mean Jehovah is not sufficiently blessing his organization with capable brothers who can translate?
  • If the Society has been forced to reduce its magazine printing operations for financial reasons, can it truly be said that Jehovah is blessing the work?

Food for thought!

 

 

51 thoughts on “Watchtower and Awake magazine printing down 39 percent since 2005

  • July 15, 2013 at 2:57 am
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    Thanks for all the figures Cedars. What has happened with the reduction in printed pages is indeed amazing.
    I always like to look at theses things from the JW point of view though.
    We all know how important the internet is these days, and now the Watchtower have jumped on the bandwagon, I would say it is totally understandable why thy have cut the number of pages produced.
    My local bank now allows customers to do online banking which includes printing your own statements and letters. This means they are producing much less of the printed page. Does this mean they are going downhill fast? No not at all in fact they will now be able to make bigger profits because of the massive decrease in the paperwork they send out.
    So while I agree with what is said about the decrease, we need to remember that the society are now encouraging the brothers to go to it’s website where there is a vast amount of information available to the sheep.
    So we need to remember that the printed page is only one way the society recruits, just like other companies in the 21st century

    • June 27, 2015 at 12:04 pm
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      In addition to Cedar’s comment, we must remember that the only growth JWs are experiencing is in economically depressed countries where not everyone has access to the internet or can go out and buy an ipad. So if we are to believe that JWs are ‘growing’ if only in poorer countries, then wouldn’t it stand to reason that they would be printing MORE literature in this places to spiritually ‘feed’ these people?

  • July 15, 2013 at 3:01 am
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    Thanks alanv – your input is always appreciated. However, I’m not sure I concur that your analysis strictly represents a JW perspective. As alluded to in the article, the Governing Body aspires to being the “faithful and discreet slave” handing out spiritual food at the proper time. While reducing the printing demands may be savvy from a financial viewpoint, this is supposed to be God’s organization feeding his people spiritually at the “proper time.” From that perspective, there can be no justification for reducing the output of spiritual food in concession to financial considerations. If God’s people need spiritual food, then Jehovah should be making sure they receive it no matter what.

  • July 15, 2013 at 4:22 am
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    Another great article Cedars. I have been wondering about some of the same things but have been too lazy and/or uncertain how, to ‘do the math.’ How much baloney (not spiritual food) can we be expected to swallow? And a side note; when we are told we have reason to “cry out joyfully”, is that a suggestion or an order? The verbiage (sp?) of the society is simply too much-who really talks like that? This is not ‘modern-day English’. I have a suggestion for a future article-Why do they talk funny? Is it a way of manipulating us into thinking we feel and do in a certain way? Again, thank you Cedars.

  • July 15, 2013 at 6:51 am
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    I think that the WT Society is trying to pull their money together, cutting down on printing is all about money, no other reason, with them selling just 3 property pulling in around $661 000 000.00. Even with the continued Lawsuits they are facing I don’t think the money is a problem for them, each build they make the congregations have to pay back, plus they are offering so many ways to give donations, What is the count of active JW’s now? I think it was somewhere around 6 million a few years ago maybe more now, but the way I look at it is if each person gave just $1 a month, which is very likely if you even out those that don’t contribute to those that give a larger amount every month, thats over $6 million dollars a month flying in, that’s big business, Someones getting very rich, If you could find that person/persons and expose the real ‘Truth’ about the so called Truth!

  • July 15, 2013 at 9:57 am
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    Great article Cedars. You asked, “Does circulation = readership?” The answer is: Clearly not! How many magazines end up laying on a bus bench, on an empty seat in a laundromat or in the trash can? I’d venture way more than are actually read!

  • July 15, 2013 at 11:25 am
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    Thank you Cedars for your article, I really appreciate your hard work and research. We all know that the WT & Awake are mainly read by the converts now, not like the old days. I gave up reading them years ago, especially when they kept changing their mind on the generation meaning and now this faithful and discreet slave thing. Absolute nonsense. They are not daft, they know they are not accomplishing much with the magazines. Maybe they believe the rocks will cry out soon.

  • July 15, 2013 at 12:24 pm
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    “weight of a talent”
    Yes! The Society is getting hit with the weight of a talent since the proliferation of Digital Media and the True Knowledge of who and what they are all about can no longer be hidden!
    Meanwhile the True God will have his own Will as he intends…

    • October 14, 2015 at 11:14 am
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      And now here is the smoking gun. This will close the casket on the watchtower.Go to Jason Zelda and there be prepared for the shock of your life. In the meantime go to musicalgardenssermonaudio.com this is where you will find out about all the millions of shares of stock that the watchtower has been buying since 2003- But go to JASON ZELDA and he can give you all you need to know. This needs to be in newspapers through out the world. The watchtower indeed is a big publishing company disguised as a religion. We all thought so all along, but this news will seal it 100 percent.

  • July 15, 2013 at 12:33 pm
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    I’d be encouraged to see the visitor statistics for websites like this one. Seeing growth in traffic, as I would suspect, would mean important messages about the WT Society are getting out. Cedars, would you release statistics like this on some basis?

    • July 15, 2013 at 12:41 pm
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      Hi WT Critic, that’s a great question. Currently JWsurvey is getting about 30,000 unique visits per month. That’s not bad considering we’re still fairly new, but I’m always grateful for help in getting the word out. The most page views ever in a day was 4,551 on March 28, 2013 – the day after we leaked the “new light” article. We’re a small, young website, but I like to think we punch above our weight! ;)

  • July 16, 2013 at 9:11 am
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    I first noticed the quality of our literature going downhill when we no longer printed hard cover copies of anything, then only one awake a month and one public and one study watchtower, then people stopped ordering magazines for themselves and a number was ordered for the whole congregation, this was done in order to minimize the magazines being left in “just anybody’s hands” but I knew something was up and now that I recently was at my parents house I saw the magazines,they are so much smaller than before, soon the brothers and sisters will be encouraged to print out their copies from the website from now on if they have internet access…LOL

  • July 16, 2013 at 4:51 pm
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    When these changes came about to reduce the amount of literature and stop making hardcovers I instantly thought it was to cut down on costs giving them more profit.

  • July 17, 2013 at 1:44 pm
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    Although I think they are far from serious financial problems I do suspect that there are financial stressors, and it wasn’t sustainable in the long term. Unfortunately I have no hard proof just conversations I have had with people and through observation. I list my reasons below.
    (1)I have a friend who is currently in Brooklyn Bethel. I asked her directly the above question (with out her realizing that I knew what I knew). Although she wasn’t able to confirm anything officially, it was telling in that she was aware of this issue and was able to confirm that rumors were circulating about it in Brooklyn.
    (2)If this was untrue (confirmation of baseless gossip in Brooklyn) then why dosnt the society make a statement to put a stop to the gossip mill.
    (3)I have another friend who is accounts/magazine servant and I remember him making a comment that he was “embarrassed by what he used to send to the society in donations” and “there was no way the money going out was covering what was coming in.” When I mentioned to him (of course not stating my sources of information) that I suspect not all is well in Brooklyn and gave my reasons for it he told me through his observation “that he wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case”.
    Small comments by R&F members but very telling I think.

  • July 18, 2013 at 7:24 am
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    Does Jehovah want parents to print out spiritual food when His organisation is $375,000,000 in credit?

    In each household this amounts to a lot of printing for our children with all the kids articles on JW.org

    • June 27, 2015 at 12:09 pm
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      I think, just as any other corporation, that what is reduced for JWs is their PROFITS. It’s not that they don’t have a ton a money, it’s just not at the same level as in their financial heyday – their pre-internet days when it was much easier to keep their dirty laundry to themselves, and keep members from leaving.

  • July 19, 2013 at 3:17 am
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    Good Cedars, slowly but surely!

  • July 19, 2013 at 6:56 am
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    I love knowing the financial aspects of the organization. I enjoy your site for that reason plus the other tidy gossip bits. I like that alot. Now will I stop being a JW? Nope, I like being a JW. I like the fact we celebrate nothing. I don’t have to spend money buying anyone gifts. I don’t have to be stressed about my birthday or anyone’s birthday. I personally think all this Xtmas stuff, Easter, Halloween and every money sucking holiday is a big waste of time.

    So, I’m happy that I have a religious reason not to celebrate and more specifically not having to waste money on nonsense. I like the assemblies because I come out feeling so good. Being around so many nice people who think like I do feels good. Call me brainwashed I don’t care. I’m staying put. At least in the kingdom hall and in assemblies I don’t have to worry about the garbage you meet in a club. Now given all that I’ll still visit your site because I like to know things we are not told.

    Keep up the good work. I’ll keep reading but I ain’t goin’ anywhere. JW today, JW tomorrow, JW forever. But I do like your site.

    • July 19, 2013 at 11:01 am
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      Thanks Anonymous, that’s fair enough. You won’t catch me telling you what you should or shouldn’t believe. I just pass on the information and it’s up to you what you do with it. :)

    • October 14, 2015 at 11:33 am
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      Mr Cedars–This is for you. Go to Jason Zelda and the smoking gun is there. I traced Zelda information and the watchtower form 990 is on public display for all to see. They have millions of shares into all kinds of stocks- Even beer manufactures, Boeing -that makes war equiptment, cinemax-hbo, cinemax makes soft core porn- I counted 82 companies that the watchtower has stock in.Go to Jason Zelda and check for your self.What you are bringing out is fine-but go here and you will find out all you need to know. Perhaps all Mighty God is bringing out all these things now so as people has no other choice but to follow a corrupt cult or go to Hebrews 1st chapter. There you will find out who is really the channel of God. And I thank all mighty God that he has seen fit now to reveal who that channel really is. In fact it has always been there-We had come so hung up by a few old men in Brooklyn that we just did not see it. So go there and let me know about all this stock buying crooks and crying poor all the time. This is what they have been doing with all that money. I knew something was wrong with this cult but I just could not put my fingers on it. Arguing scriptures with them is hopless- but this is no argument. I just got off the site that has all this info. And staring me right in the face is a 990 government form with all the public information on them. They would have tried to block it if they could. But they cant block this- The cat is out of the bag.

  • July 21, 2013 at 3:44 am
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    Anonymous, you say: “I like the fact we celebrate nothing. I don’t have to spend money buying anyone gifts.”

    Ever heard of someone called Scrooge?

  • July 22, 2013 at 4:23 am
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    “I like the fact we celebrate nothing. I don’t have to spend money buying anyone gifts. I don’t have to be stressed about my birthday or anyone’s birthday. I personally think all this Xtmas stuff, Easter, Halloween and every money sucking holiday is a big waste of time.”

    I still don’t do any of those things as they are still wrong from a scriptural and moral standpoint. I still hold to many things that I learned from Jehovah’s Witnesses and don’t have to continue to associate with a corrupt and possibly condemned organization, be accountable for it’s crimes and conduct along with it simply to adhere to these things that I can do on my own…

    Of course you make your decisions and I make mine and we live or die with them…the difference between you and I is that I have the choice and you don’t! You have to answer to three nasty men who tell you what you may or may not do!

  • July 22, 2013 at 2:44 pm
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    I stated I feel good there. Call me brainwashed. I don’t care. State I am following three dirty old men,LOL. I don’t care. Whatever sour grapes statements you come up with is just water running down my shed. I stated in my post that I like being a JW. Do you understand Konrad? I love the feeling I get when I go to assemblies. I come out feeling squeaky clean and happy with a big ole smile on my face. Now I know all the arguments why this is so. I have read academic literature stating why psychologically and sociologically why this is so. I know the answer why humans like to be a part of something and why we love groups.

    I have read how rotten Rutherford was and about Beth Sarim. I read about Russell’s cooky pyramid ideas. I know about all the failed predictions regarding the end. I know all this and you know what I will still keep being a JW. And lastly concerning your comments about a corrupt and criminal organization as you state. The vast majority of JW’s are nice down to earth people who wouldn’t hurt a fly and that includes the governing body. If there has been a failure concerning pedophiles within the organization it had to do with the governing body wanting to follow the rules too strictly and not that they are pedophiles in secret or that they want to create a cover-up lest their nefarious deeds get out.

    In that they the governing body screwed up. Hopefully these court cases will force them to change the rules and throw the pedophiles to the wolves. Hopefully they’ll report all the pedophiles immediately to the cops. We’ll see what happens though. We’ll see what comes out and read it here first.

  • July 22, 2013 at 8:33 pm
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    “In that they the governing body screwed up. Hopefully these court cases will force them to change the rules and throw the pedophiles to the wolves. Hopefully they’ll report all the pedophiles immediately to the cops. We’ll see what happens though. We’ll see what comes out and read it here first.”

    I understand, maybe you’re right…and since you lay it out that way…we as alleged “apostates” probably need to rethink our position on things and come around back to the apparent real and lasting benefit of the “Good Fruit” from the tree of Jehovah’s Witness view of things?
    Or even more likely yet? maybe the Governing Body will watch ‘Barney and Friends’ and finally see the real message of:
    “I love you…you love me…we’re a happy family!” and come to their senses!
    Or even, space aliens will intercede and correct things altogether and we won’t have to be concerned about any of this aaaaany more!
    It all seems just about as likely, plausible and fathomable to me…

    Personally? I wouldn’t trade the very real autonomy, peace, stability, well being and contentment that I have for the first time in my adult life for any phony, temporary, conditionally and contingently based “warm, fuzzy feeling” for any amount of money, self delusion or the benefit of anyone else!

  • July 23, 2013 at 7:57 am
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    If you’re happy, I’m happy. To each his own. If you are happy and fulfilled on the outside of the JW org then so be it. I am happy on the inside. I guess where we both meet on common ground is on sites like these. I particularly like this site because it is the only one I know of that gives in depth information on the financial aspects of the organization. I would also like to know clearly the various corporations the governing body uses and their financial functions. Maybe Cedars-SITE OWNER-in a future article can shed light on this.

    I don’t demand anyone to return if they don’t want to. I vocally express this to the brothers. I also don’t like the recent trend concerning baptisms occurring at ever younger ages. Pretty soon there will be Catholic Witness baptisms. Baptisms occurring at pre-teen ages. Something I find ridiculous and I also vocally express this too. Everything else within the JW org I like. I do think expulsions are an excellent thing and I know most of you disagree. I like the strict discipline and order with which things are run generally in the congregations and expelling members maintains that strictness.

    I was born into this and I don’t regret it. I have read all the issues with the JW org and I am still here. I don’t expect perfection from the org. I do notice those that leave feel a sense of resentment and cynicism. I understand if you suffered personally. It’s not easy specifically as it concerns pedophiles and JW elders but that is a small fraction of the total brotherhood (less than 1/2 of 1%). But like you said you are happy so be it. You got to live life the way you see fit. The JW org wasn’t for you. That’s OK. I hope everyone finds their path in life and feels fulfilled, happy and content.

  • July 25, 2013 at 11:42 am
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    You complain when “New Light” is printed and complain when it isn’t printed. Btw if printing is down 39% and material 50%, circulation is higher. And saying these magazines are all banned is speculation, a seed may be planted for the awakening of a soul from the whore of Babylon which is Christendom.

  • July 27, 2013 at 6:36 am
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    about 2 weeks ago i had an encounter with a witness at a transit center. i commented that they looked smaller. (this was before reading this!) he said that yes they are a little smaller, but they are published in more languages and MORE content is online at JW.org.

  • August 2, 2013 at 7:06 pm
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    Well, here is a cartoon video of a Watchtower Study that someone posted on Youtube and I found it not only amusing but quite accurate in many ways so is it any wonder that meeting attendance is what it is?
    The little Baby getting slapped after reading all the violence was particularly truthful…
    Does any of this bring back memories?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeidZmxHLiY

  • January 16, 2014 at 2:45 am
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    I agree 100% with you

  • January 16, 2014 at 4:59 am
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    It’s obvious that the WT is suffering from decades of false prophecy. The net is a powerful tool awakening to many gullible victims of the WT, I was one of them. The decrease in magazines, books printing is due to many factors: cost, lack of “good news”, etc. The generation of 1914 turned to be an “overlap” generation. How long the rank and file are going to keep preaching such a lie?…time well erode the WT to just another Christendom sect !

  • February 15, 2014 at 4:38 am
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    JW forever. I respect your feelings however since you expressed your views and you know much about the organization that the majority of JW’s do not know and you admit that they are wrong and have been wrong but yet it makes you feel good.How do you go and prech to people and exhort them to “come to the Organization” and follw the Org since you admit and know how many tons of serious mistales and false prophecies they have made? How can you do that? I am not trying a debate here I am asking you how you deal with that personally? How can you go out in field service and knowingly try to persuade someone to have bible study or become a JW if you know these things are so wrong? In my case after being an elder for 12 years and a serious JW for over 20 years and when I kept seeing that these teachings and ridiculous rules and the continual changing doctrine just was not true and the Many, many unhappy JW’s and the messed up lives it caused I could no longer go out and preach to people? I could no longer preach the JW message
    and advocate their way of life bc with my own eyes and ears I realized it did bot bring people happiness
    and I knew all about the org and the things they were doing. This was before the internet exposed things widely as it does today.How could I teach people about 1914 and the last days and then after 50 years of teaching the world of the immediate nearness of that generation paing away..all of a sudden they do the flip flop and change it and all the R&F Jw’s are all supposed to just say yes, that is new light I can see the light now? It just does not make sense anymore. The same with Blood transfusion, the same with Disfellowshipping. there are to many issues that continue to change almost on a daily basis. What about the F&D slave now also? So all the other “anointed” who were taught they were part of the F&D slave now all of a sudden with one WT magazine are no longer part of that? We cannot use the thought that the light is getting brighter and brighter. How do you justify that in your own mind and deal with it? I could no longer do that. I could not
    continue to advocate this religion or the WT as channels of truth bc the evidence was never really there. Just bc you feel good after an assembly or a meeting that isn’t a reason to believe in the teachings that are out of whack with reality. My wife is still a JW and we cannot have a logical religious discussion. She panics and screams, and starts to argue any time a difference of opinion is brought up
    bc she has to be right or her entire life was spent doing something that is not true? So I don’t discuss it with her ever. Why do you have to be part of a group to have a belief system or think that Only JW’s are clean and moral? As mentioned I am not here to debate or argue with you, I just try to understand how you can advocate the teachings of JW’s past and present when you admit that they are wrong?

  • February 15, 2014 at 5:44 am
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    Holy Conolli, the WT doesn’t give you many options or you’re in or you out. In my case I went “cold” stop going to the meetings and faded away. Tell them the truth when the elders approach you.

    • February 15, 2014 at 11:36 am
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      I did the same Eddie. I just faded away. Never got df’d or anything. I had family and they hang that AX over your head for having a different opinion or a different view point.The Jw’s still talk with me if I see them bc I was well known back in the day and I have a few friends from then that we still talk but I cannot deal with their weirdness and cultism anymore nor want to. The Org has no humility and never admits to a mistake. So I found my own way to deal with it and the best for me was to just fade away and stop associating. It has been over 17 years now and best decision I ever made.I have talked to many current and former JW’s who feel the same but are scared to lose friends and family and I advise them to just fade away if you cannot deal with their harshness and shunning. Foe me it worked.

      • February 15, 2014 at 12:01 pm
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        Holy, your tragedy is happening to thousands of exJW’s, including myself. In my case I moved and re married, kind of a gypsy. For the last 10 years I’ve been very stable because I’m retired living in a fix income. My immediate family lives in WPB, my brother and wife JW’s. They care less about myself and my wife. I travel twice to the States the past 2 years and stayed w/ my none JW daughter. They consider me an apostate, they cannot accept the TRUTH about the truth.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nA6N6g6NAE&feature=youtu.be

        • February 15, 2014 at 2:15 pm
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          Even when I was first a JW I always thought that not being able to speak with your OWN MOTHER, FATHER, Children was the ultimate in abnormalities and an extremely harsh way to deal with an issue that had different opinions? I mean your own family you cannot speak with? That is worse than a cult. BC you may disagree with the way things are run or have a different opinion of a scripture or teaching? That is EXTREMISM!
          They like to pretend they are “freedom” believing religionists but they don’t really believe in Freedom of religion bc it is not allowed to have even a slightly different opinion of doctrine or scripture. That is just a feel good sounding board so they look good in the public eye. Why do they strongly encourage others to leave their religion and become a JW but not allow or respect it when a JW decides to leave the WT? Oh they can leave but they MUST be Punished and shunned? It borders on insanity.

          • February 15, 2014 at 2:38 pm
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            Holy,”is not allowed to have even a slightly different opinion of doctrine or scripture”. A few years ago I asked my JW elder bro, what if I disagree w/ the 144000 understanding, if I could still be an active JW. He immediately told me a big NO.

            “JW not allow or respect it when a JW decides to leave the WT?…they are like the mafia, once you’re in, you never can come out “alive”, the person is “spiritual dead”, basically an apostate.

          • February 15, 2014 at 3:18 pm
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            Very True. I actually had one Elder tell me that one time that we are like the Mafia. Once in you cannot leave without SERIOUS repercussions! He was 1/2 way joking and laughed but there is a lot of truth to that. I ask many JW’s how they feel about the 1914 changes and the F&D slave changes and the generation and Blood changes etc? Most of them pretend it doesn’t bother them and they just say things like well, we are serving Jehovah forever so it doesn’t really matter? I actually had one of the GB memebers spend the night at my house a few years ago. I had not been to a KH in 10 years but my wife thins they are next to Jesus Christ and made the arrangement during a visit to California.I was suprprised they “allowed” him to stay at my house. She wanted me tot alk with him about the things I have brought up and doctrinal changes etc. I saod, no way do I want to do that or waste his time or mine. I already know what answers he will give before he speaks them. He will not admit they are wrong or say anything different then the WT says and I have read everything on it backwards and forward. Bottom line they have NEVER ONCE been right on a any prophecy they wrote about, they have never once apologized for their errors, they are not open to any agreement. It is their way ot the highway!

  • February 18, 2014 at 10:26 pm
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    Eddie…You mentioned WPB area? Is that a symbol for West Palm Beach Florida? I am in the SF Bay area so sorry if I do not know those abbreviations. Are you living out of USA now? I travel a lot so just wondering. I do some international baseball games so just wondering what country you are in? Actually there are some JW’s that are involved n this as well but of course they want to keep it secret bc the GB considers it WORLDLY to have any fun and they could be “disciplined” if they advocate being an athlete.

    • February 19, 2014 at 6:32 am
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      Holy, since the young age of 19 lived for 4 years in NY, 1968. Most of my life I stayed in California. Of course I know the Bay area, I lived for 5 years in Evergreen, San Jose, worked in Cupertino in the 80’s. I lived most in Ventura County. Yes my brother lives in West Palm Beach. I was baptized in the WT Brooklyn HQ’s 1971, I lived then in Queens, NY. Now my Californian wife and I are retired in Salto, Uruguay. Cost of living and medical got to be too expensive in the old USA. The GB is full of it, the William’s sisters are Jw’s, M. Jackson, Prince, George Benson and many others. I realized religion in general makes people live a double life. After years of research I understand why the Mormons claim that the Bible has errors but their book is garbage anyhow.

  • February 20, 2014 at 1:25 pm
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    Hi Eddie

    I know where Evergreen is. I played baseball at Evergreen High school a few years ago. I am up North near SF. Hope things are doing well for you in SA. I have been to several places in SA but not Uruguay. I got baptized around the same time as you. I think I am a few years younger than you. Not many just a few! The JW doctrine and hard core Cultural is close to Scientology in the sense that it controls peoples minds and movements. They also Shun folks and control them in every aspect. Funny thing the JW’s consider the Scientologists a cult but not themselves? They have the same approach and same control. Obey us bc we KNOW what is best for you!If you don’t you will be DF’d and no one will talk with you again!
    so you were at Bethel for several years it sounds like. I am sure you have some great stories? “Insider trading”.

    • February 20, 2014 at 2:35 pm
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      Hi Holy, no I was not a Bethelite, I lived in Queens, my 4 years stay in NY. I went to meetings at Queen Spanish Cong. at that time I met Fred Franz and Renee Vazquez. By 1972-73 I moved out of NY down south to Miami. Amazing I sound like Jimmy Buffet “He went to Paris” telling my life history. The only thing I really miss from the States is my 27′ “Ricochet” sailboat docked in Channel Island Marina. That’s what happens when re marry and love a wife, she couldn’t live docked in a pier. LOL
      I’m send you a picture where I used to live in Evergreen, up to 1989, the home was just sold again. Keep in touch!
      http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Jose/3591-Melnikoff-Dr-95121/home/1312474

  • February 20, 2014 at 2:57 pm
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    I had a beer with Fred Franz around 1985 or so at Bethel.
    He was getting old and he was kind of funny actually. I remember after he finished the beer he put it down and burped and said…Ahhh “Another dead Soldier”!

    I wonder how he really was and if he really believed some of those crazy interpretations he would write about? Or if he just would go off in his own world and start coming up with wild interpretations and prophecies?

    Another time he told me, “People ask me why I never got married? I tell them I could never find the perfect wife?

    Then he said, Actually I found her once. So Isaid to him why did you not marry her? he said”bc she was looking for the perfect husband”! He had a pretty good sense of Humor.

    Remember back in the late 80’s when Castro let a bunch of Cubans out of Cuba and sent them to USA including JW’s?
    I sponsored a family of Cubans at my house. I did not have much $$ back then so it was tough but I wanted to do it. They came out of Miami from Cuba.

    Long story short the Grandfather ( there were 5 of them ) did something VERY bad to my family and I had to make them leave. Broke my heart back then, fortunately I interrupted it before it caused any permanent damage.

    Someday I would like to talk to you on the phone or in person.I don’t want to leave phone numbers or emails here? Any suggestions where to leave numbers?

  • February 20, 2014 at 4:32 pm
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    Your the type of witness I like. People like u seem to have the right attitude instead of condemning your fellow beings. To each their own.

  • June 6, 2014 at 12:42 pm
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    Hi John; just 1 question: are you not overlooking the thought that the Wt’s generous offerings of its publications thru the internet may be the reason they have reduced printed output?? — dudley :-)

    • June 6, 2014 at 12:53 pm
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      Good question! But that’s not the reason at all. The house-to-house ministry remains Watchtower’s principal means of indoctrinating members of the public, and it is printed literature that ordinary Witnesses are offering to people (including in their public witnessing work) – not just a web address. Having the books, magazines and brochures available digitally is more of an added convenience for those who are already Witnesses. The reduction in pages has no conceivable advantage for Watchtower apart from reduced printing costs.

  • July 10, 2014 at 4:19 pm
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    You may want to have some of your friends on the inside get you a copy of a recent letter to the congregations. (I have seen the letter, but could not get hold of a copy.) It was dated June 20, 2014 and deals with the ordering of the annual publications. There are two points worth noting in this letter. The first is the request that people with access to the electronic versions not request print copies (especially of the Watchtower and Awake! bound volumes). The second is the conversion of all printing to soft cover books.

  • April 25, 2015 at 7:22 am
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    you forgot to mention lots of what has been taken out of the magazine is now online articles.

  • May 6, 2015 at 9:36 am
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    The printing machine people are running out of ink. They are transitioning from worshipping a printing machine to worshiping jw.org a Web page. What’s next? The special assembly where the special cool aid will be served to the printing machine people. I feel sorry for them all. They are so misinformed on what the headquarters of the printing machine has in store for them. Peace

  • August 12, 2016 at 11:23 pm
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    @cedarsjwsurvey Since no religion like scientism can confine 2 themselves the infinitude of Deity eternity & origins, none R yet complete.

    Since the ‘making of ALL things new’ signifies new disclosures of origins, eternal purposiveness, and divinity functions and accessibility, that neither eye has seen or ears heard, why is additional revelation not more gladly welcomed and viewed as an essential to progress and an unavoidable part of eternal progression ?
    —————–
    Human progression requires stepping on rungs as on a ladder; or stepping stones as in a stream. Arriving at Truth is never static. As Christ acknowledged when stating in such words as ‘those who continue progressing in my words, will know of truth and be made thereby free’. [paraphrased].

    • August 13, 2016 at 3:08 am
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      @Alfy, learning Algebra is hard at first and yes you need to take it one step at a time to “get” it and that goes for any new thing that a person learns. But the “teacher” understands Algebra and then can teach it to somebody who wants to learn it.

      We have a group of men (the governing body) who are in effect still “learners” and not teachers. They are the ones who are still learning and then the rank and file have to go along with what they “learn” or be kicked out and shunned.

      Why in the world should the rank and file have to be dying and losing their lives to people who still haven’t even learned the Bible yet? They aren’t qualified to be the teachers when they still haven’t even caught on to what they are supposed to be teaching us.

    • August 13, 2016 at 4:00 am
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      @Alfy, there is an excellent scripture in the Bible that describes people who are always getting “new light” and that is 2 Timothy 3:7 “always learning and yet never able to come to an accurate knowledge of truth”.

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