The Watchtower preparing to become Mainstream?

by lovelylil 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  lovelylil

  I have heard a few active Witnesses comment recently about the WT quoting more frequently from sources from other church denominations. I know they have done this in the past, but it seems from the rank & file that it is happening even more.

  Has anyone heard about this trend? Also, do you think the Tower is preparing those in the rank & file to accept new light regarding Christendom (such as that they do teach some truth), and how do you think this will affect people?

  It seems to me that unless the Tower stops demonizing everyone out there in all other religions, they will never be viewed as mainstream and will continue to level off in growth in most countries? But if they make any change in this area, wouldn't they have to admit they do not possess ALL truth?
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  blondie

  Unless they drop the policies on blood transfusion completely, disfellowshipping, voting, military service, etc., I don't see it. It has been legal posturing to appease the governments but internally it is business as usual. For example, the WTS told governments and media that they no longer DF people for accepting transfusions when in reality they now consider a JW to have disassociated him or herself. Our background with the WTS means we know that they are shunned the same way, it is just semantics.

  Blondie
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  mrsjones5

  No, I doubt they will ever give up their claim of being the exclusive way to God, God's only channel on earth. They think they are the "in crowd" and would never give that up to be just another denomination in the body of Christ.
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  looking_glass

  LL & Blondie - don't you think the WTBTS has in the past agreed with other religions, as long as it suits their purpose? I don't really think that stands out as something new. As for the WTBTS to say "to each their own" that could never happen because then they could not say they would be the only people to survive the big A. I think they would lose too many members because a lot of times people stay in because of fear (fear of the big A; fear of losing family, fear of change, etc.).

  Also, if the JWs go mainstream, what would they have to complain about or claim persecution over. They would be like everyone else, and this religion is all about being different and being persecuted over it. I am sure all of us wish the religion would go mainstream because of our family members who are still in, but the I think the reality of it happening is non-existent.
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  blondie

  It all depends on how you define "mainstream."

  In the past the WTS used to do extreme things like:

  Hand out tracts to people as they left church

  Send sound cars into neighborhoods playing sermons by Rutherford

  Send large numbers of JWs from other towns, cities and states to towns with laws preventing "preaching" (actually selling WT publications door to door) to fill the jails and then the remaining JWs would quickly canvas the town.

  "Arm" the attendants with canes at assemblies.

  Have every magazine carry an article and pictures condemning religion, politics, and big business..

  Knorr toned it down after Rutherford died.

  Will they ever quit saying they are the only true religion, no; will they tone down what they say about other religions, yes, and they have already. A quick read of any of Rutherford's books will illustrate how it has been in the past.

  Blondie
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  Double M

  there was a time they couldn't dare call themselves "Christians" cause it was a term for Christendom but after the revision of the Declaration of facts they started calling themselves "Jehovahz Christian Witnesses" they also use Christian terminologies to confuse people. the coded Language only themselves know what they are saying.
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  RubaDub

  Let me put it this way;

  I don't expect to see Ted Jaracz and Jerry Fallwell together on Meet the Press discussing religous trends in America anytime soon.

  Rub a Dub
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  Rev. Moon

  line by line
  jot and tittle
  harvard broom
  and witchs spittle
  tower man
  and witness little
  come again
  unto the middle
  keep the truth
  mere jot and tittle
  
  so mote it be
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  just2sheep

  rubadub,

  this is true, but it wouldn't suprise me to see them in a back booth at the local Hooters discussing profits and investments...
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  willyloman

  For example, the WTS told governments and media that they no longer DF people for accepting transfusions when in reality they now consider a JW to have disassociated him or herself.

  Another example: Last year, the WT told its followers there would no longer be an announcement to the congregation that a person has been disfellowshipped (or disassociated himself). Now the official announcement is, "... is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses."

  However, in private correspondence as well as in the new oganization book, dubs get the in-house explanation: Persons subject to such an announcement are to be treated as DF'd.

  So the announcement appears more benign, more politically correct if you will, but the end result is the same.

  And that's how they play the game, appearing to become "mainstream" but continuing to harbor that "us against them" mentality.