In all my research of the JW phenomenon as a result of my wife's new found epiphany and rapid uptake of the JW rote responses, I've asked myself when the JWs really become so religionlike. I thought I'd see what y'all thought.
My understanding is this: Mr. Russell was a guy who had the courage to go against the mainstream ideas. While it sounds like he had a couple vices (ugly young girls, magic elixir sales and idiocy), he actually made some interesting observations. But then, he got a following and started to proclaim himself as the path to knowledge (or at least his ideas).
Then, the poor guy dies unfulfilled and along comes Mr. Rutherford. He learned nothing from Russell's chronology foibles, but took a stand against all mainstream religion denouncing it as a racket. All this time, the JWs tried to move themselves outside of religion. I believe it was during this time that they tried to make distinctions - no birthdays, no Christmas, no smoking, etc. I believe they were mostly taken just to be different. We're not a religion, we're the truth. Sure.
Anyway, as the time passed, the passion for cutting edge advancements disappeared and the JWs became much more static and bureaucratic. Makes sense, look at large international companies. They lose there nimbleness when they try to centralize rather than decentralize and give their divisions power.
So, in their quest to become mainstream (it is a frightening thought that 0.0001% of the world would survive Armageddon, but 0.1% sounds a little better) they started to become less dynamic and thus become more set in their ways. Sure, they change things, but over long periods of time. New revelations are harder to come by, unless you count their prophecy interpretations (just idiotic, I think - a good friend of mine who saw part of the Daniel book of history laughed in his classical professor way and then snickered some more after reading how the JWs figured as some of the most important events of all time).
Now, what is the difference between them and religion? None. Absolutely none. They stick to their core beliefs and even their non-core beliefs so that the sheep don't get distracted. They have organization, and corporations and tax dodges. They use every country's legal system without ever acknowledging the amazing fact that they can because of the national groups.
But because of this, they are becoming weak and pitiful compared to the good old days. They no longer take firm stands, but leave everything up to the conscience. In the 12/15 Watchtower there is an article about a wife with an unbelieving husband. But, what the hell does it say? Nothing. It doesn't say do or don't do. It just says wishy washy things like obey your husband and obey your religion.
Why? I think that they are afraid to take stands for legal and organizational purposes. To be mainstream, they need to become more religion-like. It's going to be pretty funny if there really is a god and he laughs at all these fundamentalists while he plays golf with some pals after watching all three parts of Omen.
When do you think they'll start accepting gays and porn stars? Or at least, when will it become fuzzy? People who like to be told what to do will have it harder and harder . . .