by Inquisitor 28 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Has anyone else noticed that in recent years the new releases have less 'chunky' content? A book of maps, a children's book about Jesus (?), and this year's book which summarises main witness teachings (from what i gathered anyway, I haven't seen it yet).
The language is simpler, the message trimmed up nicely.
I wonder why.
Did they ever have pizazz? They always bored the crap out of me!
Pzazz or no pzazz.. doesn't really bother me. Just curious why the publications have seemingly turned in to baby food
simply because they don't want educated people in their rows. controlling the dumb is much easier.
The only thing new about their "new releases" are the titles on the covers. The contents are the same old, recycled bullshit they have been churning out for years.
One possible theory - I don't know how plausible.
Deep material [by Watchtower standards anyway] means research. Research was always restricted to ones' 'theocratic' library. Now with the internet at nearly everyone's fingertips it could include the internet.
Internet research results in finding out the truth about the 'truth' too often.
Producing books that require no 'research' or deep thinking so to speak keeps the 'sheep' in the fold.
There is a possible 'backfire' effect here. Those who wish to have a stimulated mind from time to time, with such dull fare, may wander into the internet anyway to get something to chew on - inevitable that they will google JW. And viola - backfire.
Just my Opinion
Jeff
Good thought, Jeff. If something is too "out there" or weird sounding, I think you get more Bible Studies who might research outside sources. Its interesting how they smooth over and don't really discuss the truly difficult aspects of this religion in the beginning. They know that if they tell the absolute, unvarnished truth right off the bat, more potential converts will balk.
I think if I'd been exposed to some of that more complex/hard to understand literature and doctrines in the very beginning, I might have backed away from this group of nutcakes. I certainly wish the internet as it exists today had been available to me 20 years ago.
I agree, googlemagoogle. From the way the organization marginalizes college-educated witnesses, I see ample reason to conclude that the Society is biased in favour of less educated members. I'm still waiting for someone to disprove this!
However, if we assume that that is the sole reason the literature is getting simpler, then why were there more 'well-researched' materials in the past? Surely an oranization that has always wanted simpletons would not have bothered to make so much effort back then. Why wait till now to sit back and churn out baby food?
Look, I know some of us are frustrated and have issues with the WTS, but calling names and using nasty words don't exactly contribute to the thinking process either. Not referring to your post of course, googlemagoogle! lol
INQ
Maybe this is the answer:
"I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it." - 1 Corinthians 3:2 (NIV)
"We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elemenray truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." - Hebrews 5:11-14 (NIV)
Dumbing down JWs today are too busy for the research. And independent research as bred "apostates." So they make it simple and do your thinking for you. Cut and paste
Has anyone every photocopied a document, then photocopied the photocopy, then photocopied the photocopy of the photocopy, ad infinitum...eventually the form is so distorted and fuzzy it is unusable.
Regurgitation
The WTS eats and digests what it considers food and regurgitates it for the rank and file. Doesn't sound too appetizing to me.
Control of information
With the control of outlines at all levels; brothers checking that the speaker follows the outline at the conventions (and some overzealous congregations), the WTS takes the pizzazz out of occasions that old-time JWs looked forward to jazzing up an otherwise boring occasion.
I can still think of some oldtimers that went off the chart with their personal speculations in days gone by...some still slip in a zinger. But 2 of them were removed as elders recently....I wonder why?
Blondie
