Does anything think wts could become dangerous when it falls? (page 2)

drew sagan

Well there are a few things to consider. I believe that the WTS has to much money and influence to just simply 'fall' one day. They are smarter than that. There is a major trend in their literature right now to create fearful and less educated members. They have also made a strong effort to sanitize negative information about their past. This has worked to a large degree. For years they would simply lie about the problems of the past. But lying is to risky. Now they simply state half truths about the past. Harder to expose, harder to make and effect with them.

This new change has a positive and negative effect for the society. When people become less information driven and more driven on emotions it can be much eaiser to control. The problem is that in order to bring the newer JWs into a more emotional relationship with their mother org, they sacrifice the die hard believers they used to create with a powder puff copy. The newer members are much more ignorant, moronic, and just simply unaware of what they really believe. When they come up against challenges, they fall eaiser. All they know is that they have to listen to the faithful slave, as the years go by they have less and less reasons why they should be listening.

With that in mind I think the evolution of the organization will progress as follows.

1. Sometime in the next 5-20 years they more than likely will start loosing members. Right now they loose more than they can keep active, in time this will catch up with them. They know this is coming, and are preparing for it as we speak.

2. During this time of decrease they will begin to scale back operations. They allready have reduced the amount of literature they produce, other changes will come.

3. Eventually we will move 20-50 years from now. I believe that by this time they will have begun to establish themselves like the mormons. Doctrines will be changed. College may be allowed (even supported). They will start to move in the path of a more 'standardized' religion. Eventually more moderate people will get in control and the WTS will begin to weaken its position on many differant things.

4. 50-100 years from now it will be a totally differant organization. It has to be or it will not survive. That is why you can look back through the organizations history and see that about every 50 years or so it is basically a new religion. It will be much differant than what we see today. 1914 will be over 150 years in the past and will have no influence. The org will be like everybody else.

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This of course is just one possiblity. The other is that they begin to fire up the core believers will all kinds of 'flashes of light' and just get crazy. 2012 is new 'gentile times', 2055 might be the next 1975. They may just go into crazy mode just to spark something.

I tend to think they will just evolve into a watered down turd myself.

jgnat

You mean, like, from falling bricks? I guess those of us on the "outside" can holler, "get out of her!" and those who listen will be spared.

The USSR did OK, sortof, when it fell. I don't know if people DIED, but daily life decidedly became more unpleasant. Imagine a WTS where the funds dry up, publication distribution is disrupted, and little old ladies hand write out the articles by candle light.

I don't think we would see a Waco style demise. The WTBTS would need a suicidal/dynamic leader who'd figured he didn't have much time left. What the WTS has is drooling old guys. Drooling old guys ramble, are depressing, and hang on interminably. Their sycophant replacements can't dazzle. So I think we would see a whimpering decline. Think deflated balloon rather than crumbling rampart.

Honesty

It can't fall.

It's da TROOF.

See.

It can't fall.

It's da TROOF.

Atpeaceatlast

No, but it will gradually fade until 100 years from now it will be closer to mainstream. I agree, they have to change or it will die, although I think those that are loyal to the WT will stay with it until they die. I know of those that I care deeply are still behind the WT's walls and I'm still waiting for one in particular to climb over it and run, but I don't count on it. In fact, I'll probably die waiting for that day.

becca1

drew: interesting perspective. You might just be right.

hamsterbait

I think it will either fade to mainstream, like the 7th day adventists, or become a tiny closed community like the Plymouth Brethren, who rarely make converts, and their numbers are not even replenished through babymaking.

Their "Gospel Halls" are attended mainly by the old diehards, few young people. Witlesses are going in the same direction.

HB

Arthur

I think that drew sagan made some excellent observations; in terms of this issue, probably the best observatons that I have ever personally seen on this forum.

I completely agree with drew. I am not of the opinion that the WTS would just collapse like an Enron or World Com. We are talking about millions of people who are married to an ideology. These millions of people have way too much of an emotional investment in the concept of this Organization being right. They have an enormous emotional investment in Armageddon, and the New System. To even entertain the mere thought that this Organization is not what it claims, is a terrifying prospect. This was certainly the case with me when I was a devout JW.

I believe that suicides may increase due to the fact that society is becoming more complex each passing year. Having only a high school education just does not cut it anymore. Life is becoming more stressful for most people. Humans must learn to adapt to these changes, or suffer the consequences. If this "system of things" continues to drag on while the WTS continues to push and coerce it's members the way it always has, many Witnesses just will not be able to handle it.

I do not believe that there will be a significant decrease in the JW ranks however. I believe that there will continue to be increases. Here's why: the Society is experiencing significant growth in poor, third world countries where the populations are far less educated and have no access to public libraries or the internet. These populations are very easy to manipulate. Also, it appears that China is moving in the direction of less restrictions upon it's people. If China (with it's 1 billion people) should ever "open up" the way the Soviet Union did, you will see explosive growth in that country (perhaps a million or so new Witnesses)

The writings of C.T. Russell and J.F. Rutheford are increasingly difficult to find. Most Witnesses have never once seen any of them. This will make it almost impossible for people without internet access to do any meaningful research into the organization. This is why I believe there will continue to be growth in the non-industrialized world.

The WTS is a reactionary organization. They will continue to drive many out of the organization with their manipulative, authoritarian coercion tactics. They are going to make more and more enemies. But, this will be offset by growth in other lands. As drew said, I think they will continue to evolve. They must. Or else, find themselves in a place of total irrelevancy.

Asheron

I am of the opinion that it is dangerous now. Its teachings destroy lives, minds, families and hearts. Its rules and methods makes walking talking zombies. I dont believe it will ever "fall" in the "waco, Jim Jones" sense of the word. The COLLECTIVE has proven time and time again that it will adapt via "new light" and other methods to maintain members at the edge of the end. This method can be continued forever or until the slow down forces the change over to more mainstream teachings.

My .02

Asheron

OUTLAW

WBT$ will go out with a wimper..It is a corporation..80% of all major corporations go out of business..WBT$ is no exception..The WBT$ product,fell out of favour years ago..They will be out of business soon enough..Maybe not in our lifetme..Maybe sooner than we think!...OUTLAW

Soledad

the WT is already dangerous! just look at what they believe: no blood transfusions, even if it means letting an innocent baby die, the prevalence of pedophiles, depression and suicides.....the best thing that could happen is to see it fall, and let the world witness that.

Does anything think wts could become dangerous when it falls?

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