Why is there a decline in Watchtower membership ?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Jehovah

Answer 1

maybe the word "membership" has something to do with it

Answer 2

Because more people are waking up and seeing this organization for what it is!

I was raised a Jw and left.  I am now treated like a criminal by JWs in my area who know me!  WHO wants to belong to a group that is so judgemental!  WHO wants to belong to a group that believes THEY are the only ones in Gods favor?  TO ME, it's arrogance.  A Godly hearts knows that God loves us ALL...not just a select group that have only been around for 100 years!

Answer 3

I've read that there is a decrease in America.  Studies show that 2/3's of the kids leave (and many of these are shunned by "the congregation").  Easier access to information via the internet is also a very possible contributor.

But the Watchtower off-sets this by drawing attention to their rapid growth in impoverished countries, that do not have the ability to research opposing views, nor access to information regarding the highly controversial history of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

I didn't store the data that I read, so feel free to look it up for yourself, in case I've presented it inaccurately.

Answer 4

I am a former JW, disfellowshipped and an apostate in their eyes.

It is true that the watchtower Society has never  reported a decline in membership.

The problem with this is that the only source of info we have is the Watchtower Society. There is no way to verify any of hteir numbers. You can however extrapolate certain information.

Without getting to detailed, using their own data, disfellowshipped, baptised, etc and factoring in things like birth and death rates, there be any where from 1.5 to 2 million ex Jehovah's Witnesses, to their reported 6.5 mil members. Approx 20 to 30% of the presant membership is offset by the existance of ex Witnesses, all disfellowshipped or gone inactive.

I noticed a trend that began in the late 80's. It seemed the majority of those baptized were kid's who were born to Witness families. I kept a tally for each circuit assy, when the baptisms usually take place and for every congregation I was in, during the period from 1988 thru 1999, over 90% of baptisms were kids born into Witness families. It was unusual to get many "converts" from the door to door work.

Of course, I don't know what happened in other congs.

The upshot is the numbers come from the Watchtower Society, the world champion number and date benders. Every things they say is suspect.

Answer 5

the decline is for the following reasons

1. they have been exposed to prophecing falsly

2. More and more members are figuring out the above.

3.Because broad and spacious is the road leading to death, but narrow is the road leading to life and few are on it.

People want Truth , those who are drawn by the father will be on the narrow road, they would not be drawn by an organized religion.

Answer 6

Actually, the link you provided shows solid evidence that there is, in fact, a huge INCLINE in membership over the years.

"A comparison of Jehovah's Witnesses' 2007 and 2006 statistics indicates an increase in the number of Bible studies, baptisms, Memorial attendance and time spent in the preaching work." -the article you provided.

The yearly increase percentage has decreased, but it is clearly still in the positive as is shown by the growth of membership.

2007:    6,957,854

2006:    6,741,444

2005:    6,613,829

2004:    6,513,132

2003:    6,429,351

2002:    6,304,645

2001:    6,117,666

2000:    6,035,564

Active membership is expected to surpass 7,000,000 this year. 2007 saw 1,171,270,425 hours spent speaking about God's Kingdom in 236 lands around the earth, fulfilling Jesus propechy at Matthew 24:14. So where's the "decrease" in membership you were talking about?

Answer 7

A decline in growth rate is not a decline in membership. There has never been a decline in membership.

Answer 8

Less public insanity.

Answer 9

People are not willing to submit to this organization after they see it is not only God's organization

Answer 10

as people become more informed and enlightened they see that they are being duped by the JW's and the watchtower cult.  

Answer 11

Maybe because those who left haven't made the truth there own.

You know, you know what I mean.  Only Jehovah is the reader of hearts and only He can  make it grow.  He calls each of us to him

All have choices to make.

In 1513 B.C.E., the nation of Israel experienced a miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. In the first of the Ten Commandments, Jehovah declared: “You must not have any other gods against my face.” (Ex. 20:1, 3) On that occasion, the nation of Israel chose to obey. (Ex. 20:5; Num. 25:11) Some 40 years later, Moses forcefully reminded another generation of Israelites of the choice before them. “I do take the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you today,” he declared, “that I have put life and death before you, the blessing and the malediction; and you must choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring.” (Deut. 30:19) Similarly today, we can choose. Yes, we can make a choice to serve Jehovah faithfully with everlasting life in view, or we can choose to disobey him and suffer the consequences.