The Watchtower Society is in a funk. No doubt about it. It is stagnant and paralyzed by its own inertia.

It has survived for one and one quarter centuries for a few very simple reasons:

It has motivated people to excitement by the means of well-sounding but preposterous slogans.

It has promised a simple solution for the complex problems of the human condition, with the attainment of such solution still being possible by alleviating its believers of the responsibility, work and dedication required to deal with and solve current problems facing man. There is not a lot of genuine sweat and sacrifice required to memorize a little one-minute spiel and offer books and magazines from door-to-door, nor to conduct “studies” which are rote question-and-answer sessions, with all the questions and all of the answers provided beforehand. The Watchtower model requires your time and it requires your money, and hardly anything else.

It (the WTS) has predicted the implementation of this solution within a decade or so from its many different announcements of this soon-to-come solution. Many people who might otherwise be somewhat skeptical have been willing to risk ten years or less of their lives to realize such a grand promise offered by the Watchtower Society. Had they promised this grand reward to occur in say 30, 50 or a hundred years, their rate of success in achieving converts would have been greatly lessened.

It has removed the responsibilities of individuality, thinking and the responsibilities that go along with such from its followers and taken that responsibility upon itself. To be blunt, the Watchtower Society’s message appeals to intellectually, ethically and morally lazy people.

To me, the saddest part of this religion is that it has striven to go against the laws of nature and the human spirit; laws that they claim were given by God to man and for a good reason. This entire religion has repudiated the laws of God and the attributes God gave to all humans, which laws include a human’s ability to individually solve problems through critical thought, to naturally want to take care of our own needs first, and when possible to take care of the needs of others, and others of us when we need it and others can do it.

Like Hitler, Stalin, Mao and other mass-manipulators, the WTS has recognized that there are a certain number of people who are blind sheep, and for whatever reason, are too lazy to do their own thinking, to determine their own destinies and explain in their own way the meaning of their existence and the human condition.

They have therefore taken lazy people and through their various well-documented techniques, turned them into braindead robots. These poor souls take as FACT unanalyzed assumptions fed to them by their religious leaders. They are convinced that what charismatic leaders like Fred Franz has said MUST be profound, because they don’t understand what Franz said! It never dawned on them to consider the possibility that if Franz couldn’t state something that was understandable, it was no doubt due to the fact that he didn’t understand it either. Or, the possibility that Franz deliberately made it impossible to understand because had he done otherwise, some of the charades of Watchtower doctrine might be easily spotted as the frauds they are by its members.

The Watchtower religion has worked hard to cultivate (and even brags about it) a membership that is like one large “collective brain.” Each member who is considered “good” thinks and acts like each other member who is considered “good.” Since this is just another unanalyzed assumption by most R&F dubs, it doesn’t dawn on most dubs that the term or concept of a “collective brain” is an oxymoron. If they all think exactly the same way, they are not thinking for themselves at all. They are parroting what others think.

Jesus said that all laws and commandments were wrapped up in two simple commands, love God and love your neighbor. Virtually all religions, but especially the Jehovah’s Witnesses have turned those two commands into volumes and volumes of rules, regulations, suggestions, and regimentations. Jesus was making a clear point about how simple living a good life can be by tossing out all the old rules and regulations that had accumulated and caused so much misery over the centuries. Since then and for two thousand years, religionists and ESPECIALLY Jehovah’s Witnesses have worked hard to undo what Jesus tried to do. They have piled up all those thousands of volumes of rules and regulations Jesus tried to away with AGAIN! They all try to justify themselves by “explaining” what Jesus meant when he uttered those simple words. Did it ever dawn on them that those words of Jesus actually meant what they meant? Duh! Did it ever dawn on them that those simple words could be applied in many and DIFFERENT ways by the many and different people who inhabit this planet? For example, what if “loving” God for one person meant showing indifference to him, or even not believing in him? The rationale being, “I’ve got enough problems to deal with in my short life, and I’m sure God is big enough to understand that, since he put me in this lot to begin with. Besides that, he would probably be annoyed if I spent my whole life trying to please him, since nothing I could ever do would affect him in the least, anyway. And I’ve got a family to look after, too.”

Could it possibly be that one definition of “loving our fellow humans” would be to create great music, or art, and nothing else? People who’ve chosen this path have contributed in immeasurable ways to millions over millennia. Such artists have inspired people to achieve great things, to do great deeds, to have great loves in their lives. Who can argue that such inspiration is not one of the greatest contributions one human can give to others, and an act of love in itself?

I’m not making a case one way or the other. That’s not my purpose here. My purpose is to state that I demand to keep and will never again cede my right to think for myself and to make decisions for myself.

I won’t join any group, even if it embraces every single one of my ideas, because I don’t want to get thrown out of it when we get down to specifics! (Thanks to Ayn Rand for that one!) Besides that, I reserve the right to change my mind about anything. At any time. And for no reason, either. That’s why I will never be part of any formal group.

Yes, the WTS is in a funk. Do you know why I think that funk is going to get worse? Simply because there are people who used to be just like me and others like me, but sold out their individuality and thoughts to someone else. And there are others who WANT to be able to think like me and others like me, because the way they are isn’t working. Both of these groups are naturally fed-up with giving up their own individuality and their right of individual thought and expression to others who want to control them. They are like caged animals, but worse than caged animals. Their brains and individuality are encaged and for a human, that is the worst condition possible.

It isn’t working in WatchtowerLand because the way they have let themselves become is contrary to the laws of nature and the naturally individualistic traits of the human condition.

Will it be too late before the Watchtower Corporation finally realizes this? Probably. They are firmly intoxicated by their power and intoxicated people make irrational decisions.

Farkel

Bravo Farkel!!!

Very well said. As you so eloquently stated, there will always be people who don't want to think for themselves, who would like to believe that someone has all the answers, and for those people, there will always be religions or groups to ensnare them.

But I too believe the WTS's reign is coming to an end, because their claims are so preposterous that you have to keep people ignorant to keep them believing. And no matter how much they rant and rave against the dangers of the internet, they will not stop the progression towards knowledge, which the internet is enabling. You are right, if they came right out and told people, you may have to wait 70 years or whatever to see this new world, people would say, screw that, 70 years might be all I have! Therefore, they are losing more and more of the middle aged and younger ones, because we have seen how our parents WASTED their lives, and we are not so stupid that it requires a slap in the face to make us not want that outcome for ourselves.

Thanks for the thread, Farkel. As usual, you stimulate to thought.

think41self

Yes Farkel: Very well stated. I enjoyed your point, "Like Hitler, Stalin, Mao and other mass-manipulators, the WTS has recognized that there are a certain number of people who are blind sheep, and for whatever reason, are too lazy to do their own thinking, to determine their own destinies and explain in their own way the meaning of their existence and the human condition."

And, when we finally do start to 'think for ourselves' we cannot help but quickly leave them, and discover how much better life is when we live it oursleves, and not for them. If I am to be held accoutable before God one day, then by George, I want to run my own cottin-picken life, make my own decisions, and do my own thinking.

Thanks again. Amazing

Rather than feeling contempt for loyal JWs, I am inclined to feel pity.

People like my grandparents, who slaved for years for a WT (not God's) promise of a new world which would arrive (according to the WT) before their natural lives on earth were over, now see that that promise will not be realised. Can you really picture them giving up on the WT church when they spent their whole lives within it? To leave at their old age would amount to calling it all a waste. Not a pretty thought to have, and I don't blame them for shying away from that admission.

As far as the average JW getting bolder and more rude...I chalk that up to the slow subconscious realization that over the years, God has shown them to be liars...maybe in His name...but still liars, and when you've preached a lie as THE TRUTH, as I did, you may end up feeling bitter and resentful. The WT dismisses people and says that they were serving for dates, well, I ask, if the WT wanted people to avoid doing that...why were the dates held out there as an issue in the first place. If someone was serving with a date in mind, ask the WT how that date GOT in that mind. I agree that a person should do good not because of an immediate reward, but to place the blame on individuals when they did what was expected of them is dishonest, and perhaps...immoral??

Farkel makes a great point about how love towards others comes in many forms. To me, it is a great love towards humanity (and self-rewarding) to use whatever gifts we have for a positive influence on those around us, and ultimately, the world at large. Some people are born with aptitude in art and music (art for the ears), and I think it would be an affront to God to dismiss those talents, especially in favor of a life of uninspirational servitude.

Farkel,

Adeptly explained and proved. I relate to the not being part of a group, ultimately the groups good intentions regress to the survival of the group as the be all and end all.

Englishman.

You GO, Farkel. Very well said.

I well recall the WT study articles in the early 1970's on "The Dangers of Independent Thinking." And standing on people's doorsteps refusing to take so much as a tract from their church, while doing my damndest to make them take the WT and AWAK.

It took me a long time after walking away before I was ready to join another church, and did so only after VERY careful consideration. Fortunately, Episcopalians don't much care about "getting down to specifics." It would throw a damper on the wine and cheese party after Sunday Eucharist. (Imagine that after the Sunday WT Study!)

I'm not sure its fair to say all JW converts are "lazy"--people join for a variety of reasons, most of them good. But if they aren't intellectually lazy when they start, the Society does everything it can to make them that way.

Thanks for sharing that. I enjoyed it. Very true.

Bill

"If we all loved one another as much as we say we love God, I reckon there wouldn't be as much meanness in the world as there is."--from the movie Resurrection (1979)

NOJW86,

What this elded did to you is called assault. I had a person spit on me. He was smiling in court until the judge told him he better get a lawyer because he was facing up to one year in jail and one thousand dollars in fines.

He went to look for me and told me he had lost his job that day, etc. I told him he had to at least reinburse me US $290.00 for two days work (this happened over 10 years ago) that I lost going to court, and to apologize to me in front of the people that saw him spit on me.

He promised to do so. He paid me the money, but never apologized in public.

I tell you this so that you know that to spit on someone is no funny matter in the eyes of the law.

Had you called the cops on him, he would not be an elder no more, and the public would be more informed as to the true nature of JWs

JRP

There is a saying, that a stopped clock is right twice a day. Also: the blind pig will eventually get the root if he ruts long enough. Both sayings illustrate how in your case, someone utterly devoid of any spiritual comprehension can get lucky. LOL Indeed, the Scriptures do liken Jehovah's organization to a flower that has lost its blossom and to certain ones among Jehovah's own people who have become overpowered as if with wine. That why Jehovah's judicial decisions come against his own house first so that only a faithful remnant will be restored and ultimately receive salvation. That of course leaves the apostates with the disturbing question: 'If the righteous man is saved with difficulty, where will the ungodly man make a showing?' / You Know

Thanks to all for you for your nice comments. You too, You Know! (Whatever in-the-hell you meant by your Fred Franzian comments.)

Duncan:

: I'll tell you what, though - what'll make your postings easier to grasp:

: Did you ever think of maybe numbering the paragraphs and then, like, writing these little questions underneath, so that we can all get the point?

ROFLMAO!!! Hell, if I had to do that, then I'm not communicating very well (are you listening, Writing Department) and more importantly, I would think so much of my ideas that I would want to make sure people MEMORIZED them! Individualism about about being and letting be, speaking and letting others speak. Frankly, if people like something I say, fine. If they hate it, then trash it! It's no skin off my neck. I'm not interested in having my own pet cult! I'd just screw it up, anyway!

Farkel

Farkel,

You are quite right on all points. And this is precisely why the Society will continue to operate, derspite some losses, even in the United States and other 'developed' countries. As a long-time close friend and elder explained to me (as we were discussing my criticisms of the Organization), "I know, but when I think too deeply about it [the Society's teachings and practices], it's hard to stay motivated." So his solution is ... simply don't think about it "too deeply". And that's what the vast majority of JWs will continue to do: just let the Organization tell them what to think and what to do. The blind leading the blind. As you put it, they are intellectually and spiritually too lazy to assume responsibility for themselves.

Thanks for the excellent post.

Rational (of the "Longs for the 'golden days' of H2O posts" class)