Discussion involving my Dad & other long timers - Mood is definately different

by Doubting Bro 98 Replies latest jw friends

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  JeffT

  Some where back in the past (I'm too lazy to look it up) I used the analogy of a dripping faucet. It starts with a little drip once in a while, then it starts to drip faster and as the water works its way through the seals it widens the channel until you have a steady trickle.

  I think that is happening to the WTBS. The number leaving is speeding up, I wonder about a lot of old friends who were around when I was baptized in 1973. I'm going to be sixty in April. I got out twenty years ago and I've made a pretty good life, but a lot of those old friends HAVE to lie awake at night wondering about what they did with their lives.

  It must be really hard.
• 

  Vidiot

  JeffT - "It must be really hard."

  I'm torn between a measure of sympathy and grim satisfaction.
• 

  LongHairGal

  STUCKINAMOVEMENT:

  Yes, they DO see that something is wrong and how could they not?? The question is: will they leave? I think the answer is no. The religion has the magic name of "Jehovah" and many of these diehard JWs imagine that he "must" be backing the religion. Right? Otherwise, wouldn't he have reached down from heaven to swat them?

  Because this hasn't happened and because Jesus hasn't come riding a wrecking ball smashing through the assembly halls, they figure they will stick it out - till death do us part. Many of the older JWs cannot start their lives over and could not stand the trauma - so they will not abandon the religion no matter how bad things are.
• 

  I quit!

  Thanks for the info DB. I guess older Witnesses can be thankful that satan's organization isn't as short sighted as Jehovah's. At least they'll be able to collect social security if nothing else. It just amazes that more haven't woke up yet. Or maybe a lot of them have but fear leaving because they have been in it so long they don't know what to do. I do feel bad for those who have wasted their lives peddling the Watchtower's false hope instead of doing something useful.
• 

  donuthole

  @Vidiot - posted to the thread you pointed out.

  @I Quit! - The Society has hyprocritically planned for the future, made long term building plans, bought and improved real estate, made business and stock market investments, all while chastising the rank and file for doing the same.
• 

  Vidiot

  LongHairGal - "...will they leave? I think the answer is no."

  The more that leave, the more will feel free to leave.
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  Doubting Bro

  donuthole:

  The attrition has already started. The Watchtower is losing the hearts and minds of her followers. The Governing Body is responding by becoming more hardline, which I believe will cause spot-fires of rebellion. This has already started in the minds of the rank and file but will blossom as we move ahead.

  That's what I think as well. It was just flat out strange for me to be a part of this discussion. I wanted so badly just to lay everything out but I know I played it correctly. The only WT response to mumering is to go more hardline. Even though they have made concessions such as shortening the PT, dropping book study night, etc, they ramp up the control pieces like essentially banning college. It's only going to get worse for them.

  Gayle - I thought about that as well. Seems like these sorts of conversations are being held all over. Again, it's one thing to read about it, but another to see it take place.

  vidiot -

  Something just ocurred to me; if the worm is indeed turning, I wonder what the ratio of completely silent dissidents are to ones that feel brave enough to speak out, even if only in private.

  Good question. I guess we'll find out as the WTS keeps getting more hardline.

  SIAM - I agree that change is in the wind. I have no idea where it's going to end up but the WTS will continue to evolve in order to survive.
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  cantleave

  I am sure the attrition rate is increasing. There are many who are disillusioned, and just go through the motions, but as has already been asked, will they leave? I think many in their 60's and 70's will not. But they will encourage younger one to disregard counsel about higher education and the other high control measures being introduced by stealth by GB2.0.

  This organistion will still be here for many decades but I think we will see a very different beast to one we see today.

  ANGUS
• 

  Vidiot

  Doubting Bro - "...the WTS will continue to evolve in order to survive."

  Maybe, but maybe not.

  Natural history is rife with organisms that would not or could not adapt when their environment changed too rapidly.

  Weeding out the fence-sitters, cracking down on restrictions, and generally consolidating the whole operation might seem like an effective plan to GB2.0 at the moment, but history shows that it's a losing strategy.

  Not to mention the fact that it's hard for any organization to evolve when they don't believe in evolution in the first place.
• 

  BluesBrother

  "Jehovah has to work with what he has"

  How many times have i heard that, when older dubs are bemoaning the shortcomings of the local elders, or even these days of the newer members of the Governing Body whom, they say are not a patch on the old ones who 'really knew scriptures'

  A great many Witnesses have their thoughts on things, especially newer changed doctrines, like the Generation thing. I heard the WT Overseer saying recently how he corrects Bro's who believe that God will spare the 'unbelieving good ones' at Armageddon. He is a hardliner and stresses that there is no middle way to salvation...but the flock do not necessarily follow the shepherd in their thinking