What will the WT become? (Sort of a Survey)

by Marcos 15 Replies latest jw experiences

• 

  Flip

  But in the light of Jamestown, the group who commited mass suicide in San Diego, and the Dravidians; where are the JWs headed?

  Mass suicide is always reserved for charismatic crackpots and misled followers who mistakenly begin to take seriously their own ridiculous marketing rhetoric that, ironically, was initially designed to both bolster the ranks of their peers and validate their psychotic existence.

  As with all good American commercialism, the New York Corporation, as an entity, is much too clever to be perceived sacrificing the goose that laid the Golden Age.

  They ll just reduce over-head by disfellowshiping any openly disillusioned clip-winged Anatidae while continuing to invest receding proceeds of publication revenue until being replaced by other, more lucrative poultry.

  I suspect strategically reduced numbers of Jehovahs Witnesses will continue to be used as a statistical tool to maintain the huge advantage of a religious tax-exempt status.

  But the Corporation has already become the future -- a conventional religious pseudo-educational, real-estate developing, financial administrative powerhouse.

  Most everyone just isnt paying attention. Apparently, exactly as the Corporation likes it.
• 

  JT

  They could take the account of Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son and twist it to mean that obedience to God through his faithful and discreet slave must be complete obedience. I could see many miserable JW's being willing to take the gas pipe for the borg.

  Also, remember that this is the same organization that has convinced many parents that they should withhold blood transfusions and allow their children to die, than to risk offending jobergod

  excellent point

  the wt has a long history of asking it's members to DIE FOR IT-

  in Malawia, folks died, in Germany folks died, in the USA folks went to prison- in Korea folks serve up to 12yrs with possible death while in prison-= and as mentioned the Phoney Health rules that wt comes up with that require you to DIE-

  SO the concept of mass- sucide is right on target

  whenever you deal with a leadership that believes GOD SPEAKS AND DIRECTS THEM anything is possible, just because jw oppose sucide on Monday has nothing to do with what new light will do on tuesday
• 

  JT

  But the Corporation has already become the future -- a conventional religious pseudo-educational, real-estate developing, financial administrative powerhouse.

  excellent definition- in fact according to a Printing Trade I saw in 1998- wt was the largest printing outfit only surpassed by the US Government Printing Office

  they were listed as #2 on the list
• 

  Marcos

  Very thoughtful posts by all.

  I would like to mention, however, that I only used the suicide examples as extreme examples. My original thought was whether of not the JWs would become a marginal group like the Amish, for example. We have them (Amish) here in Mexico also. Definitely not main-stream and looked upon as sort of strange here.

  Having said that, many of you have posted ideas along the suicide line of thought and I find your thoughts interesting but also chilling. To talk about the past and present thinking on suicide, my own mother is an example (although admittedly a streach). She was a witness for many years but sort of and independent one. She was eventually df'd for her smoking and defiant attitude. But, her thinking was tainted by them. When she was at the end one of my aunts came to stay with her (her sister). The doctors had implanted a tube into her heart to facilitate injection of morphine because her breathing actually became unbearable.

  My mother had already determined that she would opt out for an od if she just couldn't take it anymore. I asked my aunt to call me if that were to happen. I lived about 15 min. away. Well, it all happened so fast. My aunt couldn't call and when she did call it was done. I was not and am not angry at my aunt at all. She spared me that. Additionally she was a hospice nurse so I know she knew what she was doing. But this is off the point.

  My mom knew the teachings about suicide but had long ago determined what she would do even when she was a witness. So, it is possible that, given pressure from above so to speak, there are ones among the WT who are weak-minded enough to kill themselves or join in a jihad at the behest of the GB. I think of the things that I might have done (joyfully) at God's (may God forgive me for my stupidity) direction.

  I never thought I was weak-minded but, in the light of this discussion, I think I was. Incidentally, that is one of the FIRST things I changed when I left. I'm not so easily influenced now.

  People under extreme stress (and the witnesses are) will react in an extreme manner given the right circumstances. One thing I tell my son is that, as an individual you are moral and reasonable. But, when you are a part of a group, the group becomes a single animal with one mind. When you are a part of a group you will do things you NEVER thought you would be capable of doing. Choose your associates wisely.

  Marcos
• 

  RevMalk

  You're going to see them fade more into mainstream Christianity. Little by little they'll start leaning in that direction. They're downsizing because of money....and then you'll see them putting more into the local congregations (NOT MONEY), but with their minds more in line with your every day run of the mill Christian Church they'll be able to gain more popularity. They'll still be 'different', that's how they got to where they are today, but they won't seem as far out there as they do now. They're not liking the publicity anymore like they used to. They don't want this 'cult' label (obviously), and they want to 'fit' in. They realize that they're 'too' different at this point and it's not working anymore, it's a new generation, people aren't as naive.
• 

  A Paduan

  A postulation

  - they will continue to be progressively moulded by the world that surrounds them, at the expense of the df'd/da'd members who usually receive the "new light" first - and as the light gets progressively lighter (i.e. as they are shamed into making changes) they will become more and more like other midstream bible using religions (SDA etc), though not completely.

  As with other similar doctrinal groups, their hatred of the other, not real "christians", and/or the belief in their obvious "correct" and more perfect christianity, will ensure the long term survival of the separatist notions and delusions.

  They will be continually moulded by the world into keeping the insidious position in society as they do now - as they are continually shamed out of staying mentally ill, by everyone else - as they are continually exposed by the world, they will also appear reasonably normal, on the outside.

  Against this backdrop is the growing availability of the written evidence of their past, but pride can readily absorb such things and assign self-counterstories for maintaining itself, so that even black is white, because it's becoming white.

  Or is it just a white covering?

  paduan