Rodney Stark is the author of an excellent book dealing with the rise of christianity http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060677015/qid=1021992722/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/103-7287281-5990248.
This book presents a number of logical arguments explaining why Christianity succeeded so spectacularly in the centuries after Christ. So why is Stark interested in the JWs even to the point of appearing on their web page, making comments about the JWs and child abuse?
Like all sociologists with a theory, Stark likely wants a "laboratory" to study his ideas. Indeed, he has written a knowledgeable paper about JWs that attempts to explain their success as a religion and their fast rate of growth. http://lsb.scu.edu/econrel/Downloads/JWGrow-O.pdf
So it seems probable that Stark's interest in the JWs is essentially professional. If his comments on the WTS web wage accurately reflect his opinions, then he seems to be allowing his pre-occupation with his theory to cloud his view. Or else he hasn't done his homework. Either way, with the level of attention directed to molestation and the multiple law suits being brought, he is in a delicate situation as a defender of a religion that is currently probably one of the most hypocrital on this issue. The Catholics, after al, even appointed in the UK a non Catholic to monitor this problem.
But why should a sociologist like Stark look at the past? The JWs are no longer growing quickly and part of the reason is the internet and the very high level of tension in the organization. Stark's theory calls for a "medium" level of tension to ensure compliance with organizationl directives and a feeling of separation from non Jws, but not too much tension. The JWs have gone overboard which allows a test of his theory from a different angle.
Surely, any sociologist worth his or her salt would study not the past, but the effect of the internet, now, on an otherwise almost closed religion. I wonder if Prof. Stark, or his colleagues, would be interested in that as a PhD topic for their students. Worth a shot.
herbert