Is the Watchtower beginning to lose its grip on its members?

by Gill 48 Replies latest jw experiences

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  Gill

  Gary - It seems to me that the more the WTBTS tells its members to shun their relatives the more refuse to do that. There have been several articles on this very issue in the last few months and the slaves continue to disobey! I suppose its like squeezing jelly in your hand. The tighter you squeeze, the more you lose.

  There will always be those like Crumpets relatives, but who is to say whether they too might change in time as the nonsensical words of the WTBTS become more obvious. People in general are learning to think and to be more critical.. Even JWs are not immune to that every time they watch the television, they are taught to think and criticise people who tell them what to do. Why not think about and criticise the nonsense the WTBTS spout?
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  OnTheWayOut

  The legal department of the Watchtower is not allowing any hard and fast statements to issue from the GB anymore.

  If the WTBTS gives itself 'wriggle room' in its orders, then the R and F will also be able to take advantage of the 'wriggle room'.

  That's certainly a religion that offers TRUTH. The "mouthpiece of God" makes statements that avoid lawsuits, and the
  faithful look for the loopholes. I am glad I awoke from the Chicken Little Cult.
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  zarco

  The grip on members has decreased through the years. Within the last few years a few parents with children in Bethel encouraged their children to pursue an education that would allow them to take care of their needs and support a lifetime in serving Jehovah. As a result, a few key people left Bethel to follow their parent’s advice and this action resulted in the Society’s “crack down” on education.

  Regarding the topic of this thread, of course the Society is losing control of the rank and file. But pockets of true thinking exist and in those pockets kids go to college or pursue training, individuals understand the lunacy of some of the comments in the Watchtower (see the Feb 1 WT on subjection even in abusive circumstances), they support one another and the congregation becomes a haven for all who desire to live moral lives and worship a creator.

  I encourage all to search for a place to worship Jehovah and not the organization. Yes the organization is losing control, but this is a good thing. It allows those who truly worship the Creator to differentiate themselves from the lunacy.

  There are many fine people who act with the mind of Christ, they give to the poor, the search for truth, they live good lives, please do not discard the many millions of people who live this way as Jehovah’s Witnesses. There is a small vocal leadership group that do not live up to God’s principles and no true Christian believes everything they say, rather they respectfully examine their comments for truth.
  
  zarco
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  OnTheWayOut

  Within the last few years a few parents with children in Bethel encouraged their children to pursue
  an education that would allow them to take care of their needs and support a lifetime in serving Jehovah.
  As a result, a few key people left Bethel to follow their parent’s advice and this action resulted in the
  Society’s “crack down” on education.

  What is the source of your information? It has the ring of truth to it. I have seen the switch, but
  would be interested to know how well-known or documented that is.
• 

  zarco

  I sent you a private message
• 

  Doubting Bro

  Zarco,

  Good to see you here!

  But pockets of true thinking exist and in those pockets kids go to college or pursue training, individuals understand the lunacy of some of the comments in the Watchtower (see the Feb 1 WT on subjection even in abusive circumstances), they support one another and the congregation becomes a haven for all who desire to live moral lives and worship a creator.

  I encourage all to search for a place to worship Jehovah and not the organization. Yes the organization is losing control, but this is a good thing. It allows those who truly worship the Creator to differentiate themselves from the lunacy.

  I think those pockets are few and far between. I suggested to some friends (both current elders) that the Letters to the BOE should be taken with a grain of salt as they are not inspired and was accused of being an apostate. This was after I disagreed with a very minor point in one which we were discussing. It was as if I had pledged allegiance to Satan himself. Now, one of them won't even speak to me (we live in different states but he won't return my calls or e-mails). And, these are 15 year friends.

  I've learned that there are very few that you can really trust to discuss even obvious shortcomings in the society with. Individual shortcomings, oh yes, but not organization ones. If your congregation is the way you describe, then you are in the overwhelming minority.

  I really wish my congregation was a place to worship Jehovah and not the organization, however, it is not. So, I'm left to suffer in silence or abandon the congregation.

  Regarding your comments about education, the story sounds plausible to me. But, I've also read reports (I haven't researched so I don't know how true they are) that the society has sent some Bethelites to law school. Not sure how they can justify their stance.
• 

  zarco

  Doubting Bro,

  You are probably right that our Congregation might be a little different, but I am not so sure. We travel the world and we find many kindred spirits and maybe the indivuduals we meet do not represent the majority, but it seems to me that many prominent brothers (sisters also) do not beleive all that the Society has to say. I assume that the same is true for many publishers. When a comment was made quoting Bro Loesch regarding the Society's beleif that we are deep in the time f the end, you would not beleive the sneers even from pioneers and other long time servants.

  Regarding the comment on education, a Gb member made this comment during a dinner. He mentioned several folks who left Bethel to pursue education at the behest of there parents which resulted in the crack down on education.

  zarco
• 

  Quandry

  But either way, the WTBTS has a sell by date that other religions don't. It chose a date, 1914........its shelf life is now running out.....and it can't wriggle out of that one no matter what it does.

  I remember that in 1995, when the "generation" change was given, it was as clear as mud to me. I did not like the wording or the change. It was unsettling, but as my husband was an elder, I shut it out of my mind, and decided to "wait on Jehovah" to help (doubting, mentally difficient) me understand. At the same time I had looked up the WT web site and wow, was I surprised to find so many "apostate sights" along with the "Official WTS Site." I wondered how so many could be so vehemently against the WTS.

  Little chinks began also for me in the "spiritual armor" that was around my belief system. The change in the message in the front of the Awake magazine also gave me pause. It was as if I had dreamed up the previous message-the one where they wanted to build my confidence in the knowledge that the generation that saw the events of 1914 would still be alive before the big A came.

  I agree that this is what is putting doubts in the minds of many. Another poster, grey matters, said that the WTS has an "all or nothing" belief policy, which is true.

  I think this is what is happening to others, also. Now they are told the resurrection in 1918 is not a sure thing as they previously drove into our heads but is now "an interesting possibility." They realize that they cannot reconcile all the new gobbledy-gook coming their way. It is becoming too much to swallow.

  I am sure many of the rank and file have tired of doing mental gymnastics to make sense of it all but are afraid not to go along with Chicken Little. I am afraid that the expiration date is up and the beliefs are gathering mold in the fridge.
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  zack

  I shared some thoughts with a coworker whom I beleive is seeking mental permission to connect all the dots and arrive at the truth about the WTS.

  This person's intial reaction was to defend the WTS. This is understandable. No one wants their beleif system attacked. However, this person is

  almost typical in that they DO NOT AGREE with everything. They SEE THE DOTS!!! And sooner or later, this person, like so many others, will connect them.

  The message of the WTS is not the message of Christ. Once a true beleiver allows hinself to ADMIT this, it's all over for them.

  Zack--------