Reading another thread about how the Organization is NOT particularly successful in its effort to preach the gospel and news of kingdom, especially in developing and politically/culturally isolated nations and regions, it ocurred to me that the winessess are essentially using methods which are far outdated and very ineffective or non-productive.
So I was wondering if they could help further their own cause by going "high tech."
I wonder: How much does a satellite cost? Is the cost laughably prohibitive for them? Or, could they afford to buy one, or two, if they wanted to buy one? I wonder about this. Who has the right to put up a satellite into space? Can private organizations and companies do so? Or do only national governments have the right? Is there some international group or agency which oversees the launching of satellites into space? I know that satellites operate at different levels of orbit, and at different distances from Earth. Does approval to launch one depend on the level at which the satellite orbits the Earth?
I also know that even if a particular group does not have own satellite, they can sometimes use the services of an already-existing one. If the Witnesses wanted to, could they come to such an agreement with a government to use a satellite?
Do you think that the Witnesses have the technical savvy to "launch" such a project? Could they hire and pay people who do have the know-how?
When considering the problem of reaching people in developping or isolated nations, there is still the problem of reception or receiving the satellite's signals. Supposing the Witnesses could launch a satellite, that would solve only the transmission aspect. There is still the question of reception.
However, as we know, while the price of gas is sky-rocketing, the prices of computers and other electronics continue to lower and lower. I wonder: In the future, will it be theoretically possible to produce and sell a basic, "bare-bones" personal computer/satellitereceiver for 100$ For 50$? For less than 10$?
I have also read about so-called "micro-loans" extended to people [usually, but not always, women] so that they can start their own little business. These "micro-loans" are often less than a thousand U.S. dollars. And often, these loans furnish great "returns" on the invested money.
What if the Organization extended such ''micro-loans" to people? Think of the benefits that they could reap, not only financially, but in terms of good will. If these micro-loans are successful, [and there is every reason to believe so], think of the benefits the Society could reap. They would greatly enhance and enrich the lives of many people in many communities. These small "micro-businesses" could eventually grow into major companies. What are now world-wide, mega-conglomates in Japan and Korea [such as Honda and Samsung] started off literally as one-garage affarirs run by one or two people.
Of course, this cannot and will be the case for every little business launched by a "micro-loan" provided by the Society. Still the potential benefits/profits for the Witness society are enormous, staggering. If the Witness organization extended "micro-loans" to people living in developing countries, they could get an enormous investment on their return.
There is a very interesting book whose title is something like Branding. It describes the phenomenon whereby organizations such as churches, universities, and museums "market themselves." They make an analogy from toothpaste. In all truth, basically all toothpaste is the same. TAll doed essentially the same thing. The whole trick is in branding. A company must set its own toothpaste apart in the mindsofconsumers, because in the lab, toothpaste is toothpaste, is toothpaste [the same is true for virtually any other "product," which includes religion].
To a certain degree, Witnesses already do set themselves apart. The only problems is that they usually do in a negative way. For example, in regard to blood transfusions, the Witness leaders might ask themselves if adopting a viewpoint that may have been acceptable 150 years ago [or 2000 years ago] might be inappropriate in our day and age.
And that's just one example.
I think that there is one thing for sure. In order to thrive [or even survive], the Witnesses will have to "hall" [haul] themselves into the twenty-first century. I know that it sounds cynical and crass [becuase it is], but the truth is that there are a lot religions out there. There are more and more each day. Moreover, the "globalization" factor will have a great influence on matters. In the U.S., the various religions have always had to compete in the "marketplace." With the globalization effect, the situation can only become more and more competative.
Traditionally, universities and museums have not had to market themselves. This is no longer the case. The old men in Brooklyn [or their immediate successors] will have to soon start thinking "outside the box." They will soon have to start integrating new technology and new techniques. Simply building faster and faster printing presses will not suffice. Don't they realize how many people in the world lack the skills to decipher even their magazines?
Perhaps satellite technology and micro-loans are not the best way. Or, perhaps, it could be the case that these two methods are viable, but may have to be supplemented by other techniques. But I think that there is one thing for sure - the Witnesses will have to adapt to the times.