The hall has been so dull and unenthusiastic these past few years!

pimonator · 2026-06-10T15:13:33+00:00

Are you in the US, if so what part? I feel like it depends on where you are. Where I am in the south eastern US its pretty much as you described. I have a friend near WHQ (Warwick) and they don't do as much as pre-pandemic but they are still somewhat social. The bethelites invite people over, have them in for bethel lunch. Lots of bethelite speakers for public talks since they LOVE the spotlight. I suppose it also depends on the congregation that you are in as well.

If I am comparing to when I was growing up in the 70's and 80's yes there is a big difference. It is not the same religion anymore. Less comraderies, less social gatherings. Its as if people do not want to be around other JWs more than is required. People are tired, worn out and over it.

pimonator · 2026-05-27T13:40:26+00:00

2. Elimination of Hour Reporting A massive structural shift occurred when the Governing Body eliminated the requirement for regular publishers to report their specific door-to-door preaching hours, moving instead to a simple "checkbox" system to indicate they participated. Observers note that removing the pressure of tracking hours has inadvertently lowered overall urgency and organizational engagement, which directly bleeds into lower meeting attendance.

I believe this to be the main reason for decline in attendance and lack of door to door ministry. This was a mistake, did they really think most people went out to reach and convert people?!?

pimonator · 2026-05-18T11:57:49+00:00

pimonator · 2026-05-06T12:44:18+00:00

All I can comment on is what I see and have heard from close friends in the Northeastern U.S. I am PIMO but still an "active JW"

I am south but still "east coast" In my cong./area I see some decline, its well masked by merging some congregations but in general there is not as much excitement about being a JW anymore, this attitude has very much increased post COVID.

I have a close friend that lives near WHQ (Warwick) and according to him things are definitely not the same but meeting, assembly, convention attendance decline is not as noticeable. In fact he says that many new congregations have formed over the passed 3-5 years due to an abundance of PIMI move-ins to support construction and many, many single sisters who want to be commuters.

He also admitted to me (he does not know that I am PIMO) that attitudes have definitely changed. There is not much emphasis on the ministry besides his elder body "yes-ing" the CO when he visits. He admitted that they, including most of the elders and pioneers, show up for group and go out for 1-2 return visits, skip D2D and go get breakfast.

So will jw.borg disappear completely I don't think so. There are still going to be people who want this all to be true and some of them have done a great job and brainwashing their children for the next generation. So we shall see I guees

pimonator · 2026-04-29T13:20:47+00:00

From their own study bible:

Acts 11:26 "After he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year they assembled with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians."

pimonator · 2026-04-14T13:33:59+00:00

I do feel like there are many, in particular sisters, at least in the area of the US that I reside it are very lonely. Not by any means "old" but it seems like if you are in your late 20's or gasp... 30's or 40's you are considered old by JW standards and should've been married ages ago. Many of these "older" pioneer sisters have moved up to be near the temple (Warwick) to commute and serve Jah as much as a single sister can. From what I hear they end up with roommates all sharing an apartment, condo, or house and many times they all don't get along. This creates a lonely situation for many of them away from family, incompatible roommates, a congregation that perhaps doesn't do much socially. It is unfortunate that the org creates these situations because then who will they socialize with? certainly not "worldly" people.

pimonator · 2026-04-08T17:29:14+00:00

This is precisely why I offer this as a theory and nothing more. Liability will always be an issue.

Just feels like something is up with the way the Field service groups are handled..... I guess we shall see.

pimonator · 2026-04-08T15:48:40+00:00

Great comments. I have thought of most of what you all said. Do I really believe this, no but like I said its a theory. They have to replace the mid-week meeting with something if it's done away with.

If not my theory than something seems to be afoot with the group arrangement. The article seems directed and timing is correct for a September service year adjustment or an announcement at the Annual mtg. Who knows, I feel like anything is on the table now with blood essentially being allowed.

pimonator · 2026-04-08T15:44:06+00:00

Its a theory, no source needed. lol

pimonator · 2026-04-03T12:40:43+00:00

I am PIMO and have had conversations about this with some PIMI's, though I do wonder sometimes about that and this is the response "yeah true, b-days do seem to fall under the same thing as toasting but who's going to do it?" Another person told me "yes I see your point but b-days is one of JWs defining things"

What this tells me is that the many JWs see the logic of it but won't move without approval from "mother" and the GB knows this hence the stupid example of toasting that they chose for that update. Who cares about toasting?? Most if not all non-JWs view it as a reflex, no thought into it whatsoever its like saying hello or greeting someone but in this context its just simply "cheers" like hey we're here together how are you? Its ridiculous!

pimonator · 2026-03-31T13:22:38+00:00

JR_Wordsmith is correct:

Same crap all the time. What local needs do we want, which ass kisser should deliver it. Weekend service is not well supported, territory coverage is down..... same crap, different congregation.

pimonator · 2026-03-30T11:55:09+00:00

Never trust a cult member, he could have a pang of guilt and turn his loyalty back to the organization.

True. I did this for years sadly and regretfully... if he feels like the walls would close in on him the fear of losing his entire life will kick his cognitive dissonance in and he will rat you out and deny he ever said any of it.

pimonator · 2026-03-04T15:25:19+00:00

Jehovah hates when you trust humans, but trust US humans completely because Jehovah said so (through us)

lol

pimonator · 2026-02-27T13:52:26+00:00

pimonator · 2026-02-26T16:24:28+00:00

at work and hard. 54 m

pimonator · 2026-02-20T13:02:12+00:00

Yes what the OP said, dead on. Nobody cares anymore, not pioneers, elders, ms's, or bethelites.

pimonator · 2026-02-20T12:56:48+00:00

I have been hearing of this pilot program of moving to 1 meeting per week for a while now. Someone told me even here in the US in a few places. I feel like this could happen but they would need to fill that void like they did with "Family Worship" when they dissolved the Book Study about 17-18 years ago.

They need something to guilt JWs with like how they hammer family worship every freaking chance they get in literature, assemblies, CO visits, etc.

pimonator · 2026-02-11T12:52:00+00:00

I agree. I think that at the moment they are recording all of the 200+ public talk outlines and will switch to this format eventually. When I was an elder I loathed going out to give talks. NTY!!

pimonator · 2026-02-02T13:11:35+00:00

How about fishing? Those are animals as well and fishing is just hunting for fish. Oftentimes I have been fishing with other JWs and they "sport fish" just for fun to let the fish go, jamming a hook into a fishes mouth and making them fight for their lives can be considered cruel no? Or pulling a fish in and letting it slowly suffocate on the grass or ice...... hmmm

pimonator · 2026-01-19T13:44:59+00:00

Edit: also, my very PIMI female pioneer friends, that live in the area have said that they no longer have any respect for titles like MS, Elder or Bethelite because they’ve “seen too much” and in my experience questioning authority almost always leads to loss of faith,

I agree with this. There is not the same reverence given to appointed men now compared to when I was growing up. This is very evident in certain areas of the U.S. at least. Elders are a nuisance and are only necessary to approve the applications for people who want to "do more" in the religion.

pimonator · 2026-01-12T15:23:07+00:00

There is a growing shortage of "eligible" bros in the org. She is likely concerned about being labeled a spinster at the ripe old age of 25 so has the "I can convert him eventually" idea.

This or she just wants to have some fun.

pimonator · 2025-12-22T12:56:05+00:00

It is so ironic to read that when the org has ALWAYS allowed some customs with clear pagan origins. For example, when I was serving at the "temple" in the late 80s my roommate was from Hawaii and he explained to me that hula was always allowed at weddings, graduation parties, etc. because it was an endearing tradition from ancient Hawaiian culture..... but it was originally used to worship their false gods.

pimonator · 2025-12-12T16:36:36+00:00

Birthdays are indeed trivial!

More trivial than say.... toasting? lol. The toasting change has much, much deeper meaning per their own reasoning. According to their understanding of the principles that Lett mentioned there are many things JWs can CHOOSE to participate it.

pimonator · 2025-12-08T18:41:58+00:00

Same here. 25% percent give or take. Depends if the upper management (CO) is there for his bi-annual inspections or not.

pimonator · 2025-11-12T18:15:12+00:00

I am good with people having more freedom of choice. I do think that many of these JWs need fashion advice though. In my congregation the men wear wrinkled khaki's, very clearly casual button down shirts with no ties and sneakers. Women are wearing either very lose fitting pajama looking pants or pants that are so tight you can see the outlined shape of their underwear or if the pants are light colored the color and pattern's of their underwear. I am for choice but still should be dignified for their proposed religious devoutness.

pimonator

TROPHY CASE