Len
Nurse Betty encounters 1975
by FatFreek 2005 16 Replies latest social humour
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Magnum
Imagine what it would be like for a JW who really did go into a coma in about 1974 and woke up today - especially if he was a "strong" JW who really paid attention to the vibe of the org at the time. What would he think? What would his feelings be as he observed the current state of JWdom?
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cofty
He might assume everybody had turned apostate.
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steve2
Magnum, that is such an interesting scenario...waking up years later and looking at the organization today compared to a few decades ago. It's a scenario that could be made at key junctures in the organization's development over its more than 130 years.
For example, the organization under Rutherford, especially leading into and through the 1930s was radically different in so many ways from the organization Russell left behind in 1916. A Bible Student from Russell's day would simply not recognize Rutherford's defiant theocracy.
Moreover, under Knorr, the rougher, more confrontational, paranoid edges of Rutherford were smoothed over and congregations actually "enjoyed" - for a time! - greater autonomy than they had under Rutherford. You could almost catch Knorr exclaiming: "We might well be mean-hearted SOBs but we're no where near as mean as Rutherford so get with the program!
The simplifying, downsizing changes in the organization in the past 10 years reflect an organization that intends to be here for the longterm whilst spouting it's well-worn "any day now..." mantra. It will be interesting to see how the tension between this longterm development and the "urgent" message will play out. I think we see shades of it now with a general slowing down of the zeal for the door-to-door work and the declining attendances at the mid-week meetings.
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DesirousOfChange
Imagine what it would be like for a JW who really did go into a coma in about 1974. . . .
Is that really so hard to imagine?
Explain please the difference between that scenario and those that were around in 1974 and are still "IN"?
Those are still just as much asleep as if they were in the coma.
Doc
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zeb
cofty: and add to that the... dancing ! in kh!
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steve2
DoC, very astute comment. You're absolutely correct.
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Simon
Wow, it will soon be 40 years since that debacle.
And of course, if you didn't follow along with the belief that the end was coming in 1975 then you were considered an apostate. Now you are an apostate if you remind anyone they ever said it.
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jgnat
Where are the electric hovercars?
But I bet cell phones and hip replacements would blow them away. I think a resurrected citizen from 1975 would think they are in paradise.
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Deputy Dog
Simon
And of course, if you didn't follow along with the belief that the end was coming in 1975 then you were considered an apostate. Now you are an apostate if you remind anyone they ever said it.
Well said.
I think of it sort of like a stone.
Jos 24:27 "See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."