Half a century ago, doesn't seem so long ago to me. The late 1960's, if you were not pioneering, you were considered to be not a very spiritual person (by WT standards).
We were told we had to attend all 5 meetings per week. Just as we needed all 5 fingers of our hand, we needed these soul sucking, mind controlled meetings (leave your brains at the door). Do not question. Do not go to college. Really even trade school was not encouraged. You basically had to be a regular pioneer at 100 hours per month or 1200 per year or the lesser vacation pioneering at "only" 75 hours per month or you were looked down on. It was really bad if you got married and started popping out kids.
Selling WT's little blue book for 25 cents, called The Truth book, garnered many home Bible studies with lonely, naive, humble people. The Vietnam War was on. People had moved around, were in new neighborhoods and didn't know anyone. Go to the Kingdom Hall and get love bombed. Many took the bait. Many were baptized. They were told they would never die??? And millions of people believe that??? OK. Where do I sign up???
Because we were told the end was nigh, many JDubs did reckless things, like sell their home to "go pioneering". Some took out their retirement savings from work and went on some great vacations. Many people figured out how much money they would need until the end of '75. Their lives in the years that followed were not nice. A lot of poverty. Because many ended up poor, and maybe did not hand out any green handshakes, they no longer were invited on stage at their circuit assemblys because as the years, decades rolled by, their endurance was mixed with disenchantment and discouragement and even dispair. Those who had not given their "all" to god before 1975, now had time and money to build a new house, buy a new car, go on yearly vacations. The Truth book and holding Bible studies for no more than 6 months became old light. The all important 5 meetings a week became no more. Going door to door with Bible in hand to give a good "witness" it too became passe.
We were brow beaten. Little children that should have been home asleep ready for school the next day, were dressed like little adults giving talks. We all had to do cold calling on our neighbors and class mates. There was no easy time, No lazying about drinking coffee manning a cart. We had 3 scripture sermons we gave at the door. When the 25 cent Truth book came out we were encourages to show a pretty picture read a scripture from the book, oh give it to the house holder to hold first and then make a quick sale. For WT it was al about sales. Not content.
No one told us that Fred Franz was an egotistical maniac that was also a narcissist. That he was pulling his ideas straight out of his butt. Nathan Knorr loved his high position managing the WT. Being president of a publishing and real estate and investment firm and living in style. Flying first class. Waiters at every meal. Being chauffeured about. Having people adore him. No children. No mortage that he had to worry about. If you are in charge of a religion you don't pay taxes so April 15th was no sweat for him. Nathan's daddy was only the manager of 2 theatres and the family rented for many years. Nathan never went to college and look how far he went swindling people out of their lives and savings all in the name of that great money maker called... religion.
And now in 2017 after WT aka JW..org ruined millions of lives, now they are rewriting WT history.
I am speechless. The Governing Body have to be atheists. The Bible says that God does not like liars. The GB can't have it both ways. Say they are The Truth and lie, lie, lie. They sound more like psychopaths. Psychopaths lie all the time and it does not affect them in the least. They have no conscience.
