Interesting to see is how much the organization and its teachings have changed in the past five years:
Book study has been dropped
Auxiliary Pioneer hours dropped to 30 hours
Both parents can now count four hours each month for family study (was only one of the two)
The magazines have been reduced from 32 to 16 pages
A first JW store has been opened and many have book stands where they can just sit and wait
Brooklyn has been sold off (for over $1B)
Branch offices have been merged and many closed down and sold off (42 closed so far)
The WTBTS is dealing with a number of lawsuits for sexual abuse of children and currently in appeal for one that may set them back for more than $20M
New Elders book, with new DF offences (Brazen Conduct) and a harder stance towards DFed ones (no rides to the meeting)
Generation teaching has been changed (now overlapping)
1919 has been dropped
Importance of Russell has been minimized
Faithful and discrete slave is now the Governing Body, instead of the remnant of the 144k
Two Governing Body members died and one new one has been appointed
The remnant has increased so significantly (2013: 13204), that partakers are now referred to as ‘mentally imbalanced’ and is no longer used as a sign on how near the end must be
No apologies have been given and ‘apostates’ are now referred to as ‘mentally diseased’, helpers of Satan, sitting at the table with demons – treated less than human
Pressure not to follow higher education continues
Pressure not to associate with DFed persons, including family members and minor children continues and appears to increase. The destruction of families continues
Refusal of Blood still continues to cost many persons, including Children, their lives
Propaganda videos (Caleb and Sparlock) are now produced for young Children
Articles on displaying Christ-like behavior and cultivating the fruitage of the spirit remain absent
The literature still continues to focus on the letter of the law that on the spirit of it and therefore continues to be a Pharisee organization – an iron fist in a velvet glove