Some time ago, when the surprizing news emerged that the Watchtower was radically downsizing their printing in Brooklyn, rumors emerged
that they were seriously looking at contracting out all such operations to outside firms. Some on this website offered their learned opinion
that it could be possible that the Bethel volunteer system wasn't as financially efficient as it used to be. Should they keep on selling off
real estate to fund the printing of the Awake?
Now, add to that the possible threat of lawsuits derived from "volunteers" getting into accidents while in field service ( which now may be
emerging as court precedents) and the Grand Self Exalted Theocrats may be in a dilemma. Could they force publishers to ride bikes like
Mormons? ( potential injuries are so much easier to pay for, as cars tend to squash people)
Suppose they adopted pay as you go "preaching"? A separate corporate entity prints the stuff, publishers BUY it, and the government
receives the sales tax. The Watchtower becomes an internal publication and most of the "preaching work" is done by cheap tracts.
I wonder if those lunatics that print those horrid Chick tracts for born agains need some extra business?
Anyway, such a move would have many consequences - most of which would bring delight to readers of this wonderful website.
Such as:
1) They might become dependent on the internet! ah, yes - after demonizing this media, they might be forced to provide
downloads of whatever bilge they publish, to fend off criticism that some can't afford the "life's water" of the "truth". Now remember
Brothers, after you've printed out your Watchtower study material, don't go drifting off into "boobs.com" or "persiankitty".
That might get you announced as "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses". If they ever do allow "dot XXX" as a suffix, I'm going to
laugh my posterior off if somebody does a www.watchtower.xxx
2) They probably couldn't avoid being viewed as at least a bit mercenary about it. Suppose elders have to announce that "our
literature bill is still unpaid this month". Or have publishers request credit. Or have a brave old-timer tell them "this isn't the way we
used to do it"
3) Contributions might fall further "I'm already paying for the literature, what's their problem? Does the C.O. have a New Cadillac
fund, too?"
4) ... and the malaise deepens " how did we end up just like any other religion?" I can see it all now.
Of course, most Witnesses will quietly go along with whatever they want. They'll just swallow another Prozac, drag themselves to
more meetings and offer no protest. Imagine a scene from "Dawn of the Dead" in which the zombies moan "where else can
we go" instead of "brains, brains" - and you've pretty much got it.
The next few years are going to be interesting, in Watchtower-land ( a former subsidary of Enron Spirituality, Inc.)
metatron