"A Closer Look At Jehovah’s Witnesses Living In The U.S."

[Miles]

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Some interesting stats from a Pew Research Center Publication, 2014


..........

AND

"Jehovah’s Witnesses . . . make up just less than 1% of U.S. adults." That much huh. Hmmm. Who would have thought.

"Most Jehovah’s Witnesses – roughly two-thirds (65%) – are women, while only 35% are men." Ah, just as I thought, one of those female religions.

"Compared with other U.S. religious groups, Jehovah’s Witnesses tend to be less educated. A solid majority of adult Jehovah’s Witnesses (63%) have no more than a high school diploma, compared with, for example, 43% of evangelical Protestants and 37% of mainline Protestants." Make sense to you as well?

"Jehovah’s Witnesses have a low retention rate relative to other U.S. religious groups. Among all U.S. adults who were raised as Jehovah’s Witnesses, two-thirds (66%) no longer identify with the group." Ouch!

"while half of Jehovah’s Witnesses say they believe in heaven, very few (7%) say they believe in hell." Only half believe in Heaven??? Good grief, what does the other half think happens to them when they die?

"three-quarters (75%) say abortion should be illegal in all or most cases," Gotta wonder about the apostate 25%. Didn't they get the letter?

"similar shares oppose same-sex marriage and say homosexuality should be discouraged by society (76% each)." Of course, because. . . because. . . well just because.

"Roughly three-quarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses (74%) also reject evolution, saying humans have always existed in their present form since the beginning of time." The other 26% being those who went to college and became educated.
source

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[historia]

I have seen this pole before and there are few parts that are over the place.

There's also just going to be noise in any survey of this type. Consider, for example, that in this same report, 7% of people who identify as atheists say they believe in God, with 2% saying they are "absolutely certain" God exists.

How anyone who is absolutely certain that God exists can identify as an atheist is anyone's guess, but people are complicated.

[onewithhim]

[Replying to Miles in post #20]

I didn't say that other people don't know what they believe. That's ridiculous. YOU have brought up the idea that JWs don't know what they believe, and I addressed that accusation.

[JehovahsWitness]

I have seen this pole before and there are few parts that are over the place.

There's also just going to be noise in any survey of this type. Consider, for example, that in this same report, 7% of people who identify as atheists say they believe in God, with 2% saying they are "absolutely certain" God exists.

How anyone who is absolutely certain that God exists can identify as an atheist is anyone's guess, but people are complicated.

Indeed this point has come up earlier*, PEW has people who "self identify" as Jehovahs Witnesses (or atheists or Catholics ...) not necessarily people who ARE Jehovahs Witnesses or atheists or Catholics. We JWs have very strict standards for those that are recognised as actually being part of our organisation , which are very different from a world were if one identifies as a woman, a person of colour or an atheist and that makes you one.


* Tim post #7 ; myself JW post #13

There is no point in getting upset about such a Poll , better to take the overall picture with a pinch of salt. There is certainly no reason to take it as an indication there are conflicting theology amongst Jehovahs Witnesses or disharmony in our numbers on the major biblical teachings.

[Miles]

[Replying to Miles in post #20]

I didn't say that other people don't know what they believe. That's ridiculous. YOU have brought up the idea that JWs don't know what they believe, and I addressed that accusation.

No, I asserted that "it's quite difficult to believe you or anyone else in the ranks knows anything about what any of you [other JWs] believe." Not the idea that it's a fact "JWs don't know what they [themselves] believe."

.

[Purple Knight]

Indeed this point has come up earlier*, PEW has people who "self identify" as Jehovahs Witnesses (or atheists or Catholics ...) not necessarily people who ARE Jehovahs Witnesses or atheists or Catholics. We JWs have very strict standards for those that are recognised as actually being part of our organisation , which are very different from a world were if one identifies as a woman, a person of colour or an atheist and that makes you one.

It's a tough issue with religion. Only you know what you believe. Somebody can't exactly tell you, "No you don't believe that..." ...boot. I don't exactly get an opinion here, but as for someone who got the boot because they struggle with temptation and fail hard, but still believes the beliefs, I wouldn't dispute it, if they continued to self-identify as being that religion... they just wouldn't be official members of the organisation.

An organisation with clear rules has every right to tell someone flouting those rules, that they do not qualify. That doesn't disqualify them from believing beliefs, however. You can and should gatekeep your organisation, for the benefit of those within, but I'm not sure you can gatekeep the religion.

You can be a Star Trek fan or a foodie because you want to. You can't be a professional basketball player because you want to.

[otseng]

And unfortunately those believing false crap will lose.

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[JehovahsWitness]

Indeed this point has come up earlier*, PEW has people who "self identify" as Jehovahs Witnesses (or atheists or Catholics ...) not necessarily people who ARE Jehovahs Witnesses or atheists or Catholics. We JWs have very strict standards for those that are recognised as actually being part of our organisation , which are very different from a world were if one identifies as a woman, a person of colour or an atheist and that makes you one.

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An organisation with clear rules has every right to tell someone flouting those rules, that they do not qualify. That doesn't disqualify them from believing beliefs, however. .

Nobody is suggesting people don't have the right to "self-identify" as they wish (or believe as they choose) but in the context of this thread, which is discussing a POLL it would be misleading to confuse people that share some of our beliefs and/or self-identyfy as a Witness with those that actually are.

[kjw47]

And unfortunately those believing false crap will lose.

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i dont see any profanity. Please explain

[kjw47]

[Replying to Miles in post #20]

I didn't say that other people don't know what they believe. That's ridiculous. YOU have brought up the idea that JWs don't know what they believe, and I addressed that accusation.

No, I asserted that "it's quite difficult to believe you or anyone else in the ranks knows anything about what any of you [other JWs] believe." Not the idea that it's a fact "JWs don't know what they [themselves] believe."

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We know exactly what we believe. JW,s believe the same-1Cor 1:10-Unity of thought( ALL of Gods 1 truth) no division)--This is accomplished by using things like the watchtower magazine along with the bible. Every week, week after week, year after year, worldwide a JW gets the same spiritual food each week. On the midweek meeting, worldwide every JW has the same bible chapters to study and discuss. How else can 1Cor 1:10 get accomplished worldwide?

[Tcg]

And unfortunately those believing false crap will lose.

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i dont see any profanity. Please explain

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