by drew sagan 24 Replies latest jw friends
It leaves an impact on persons when they see well respected elders, families, pioneers, etc. simply vanish. I know people wonder "why did minimus leave??" What does he know that we don't?
I'm not a big fan of flashy demonstrations. I think most JWs turn off from that. For me, being subtle is better and more effective.
Don't wait for any reform, it will never happen.
In order to reform it will take humility on the part of the GB and 140 years of history it shows that they do not have an ounce of it.
From 1870, they well know it has been nothing but a load of crap fed to their people, their failed prophecy, hundreds of thousands of innocent people persecuted and lost their lives because of their lies and we have not even once heard them acknowledging they were wrong.
They hide behind the F#$@^&g new light doctrine and continue to mess with people lives.
HUMILITY is not there at all, those at bethel are animals, they will never change
The Watchtower will not be reformed. They will not follow in the footsteps of The WorldWide Church Of God ala Herbert and Garner Ted Armstong. Which caused a schism in the church.
They are stuck because of legal issues that they can't back out of. The money will sart to dwindle, they will use the worldwide fund to sell out and settle as much as they can and try to avoid having to go to jail. Wrongful Death..Blood Doctrine. Child Abuse. The Tort of Misrepresentation. etc. They will do what any big and rich corperation does... wait it out and stick their heads in the sand like an ostrich.
Eventually, how long, is anyones guess, they will lose out and fade into a small cult with the diehards hanging on to the very end.
Blueblades
I hope it crumbles like the walls of Jericho! Reform? Hell no! To the ground, I say! That's where it belongs.
Drew,
Thanks for your response. Yes, I think reform from inside would be very difficult, perhaps impossible. I personally kept holding out hope that they would relax their silly rules (e.g., facial hair, neckties, dresses, reporting time) and update some of their 'scientific' and historical teachings (e.g., global Noachian flood, blood transfusions, 607). Alas, they never budged.
A major attempt at reform was in fact made. A Governing Body by the name of Raymond Franz did all he could to reform the Watchtower Society from the inside. And what did they do? They threw him out! If he couldn't reform the Watchtower Society, I believe it cannot be reformed and must be ruined.
Reforming the Watchtower would be like gilding a turd. It would look better on the outside, but it would still be a turd.
Anyway - this reform talk reminded me of a link I stumbled upon in my Favorites: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/8/prweb546361.htm It says "a reform group", but it seems like a totally separate group to me.
As for the letter we're talking about, it may perhaps make a few people think about things, and sow a few doubts, which may in the end lead them to get out. True reform would have to come from the top.
I'm a little worried that when witnesses start receiving the letter, they may do a simple Google search for a portion of the text, and find that it originates from 'apostate' sites like this one, and that'll be enough to convince them to bin it; probably burn it, knowing them.
But again - it may help a few of them, so I think it's worth it.
A major attempt at reform was in fact made. A Governing Body by the name of Raymond Franz did all he could to reform the Watchtower Society from the inside. And what did they do? They threw him out! If he couldn't reform the Watchtower Society, I believe it cannot be reformed and must be ruined.
Ray Franz tried to reform policy and teachings, but never tried to bring reform that would bring democratic processes into the organization.
The reform movement would have to basically win with numbers. Eventually after getting at least tens of thousands of supporters the could create a situation by which the leaders in the movement would have to concede. It's about strength in numbers, something Ray never had nor tried.
I regret that those hoping to reform the 'tower would up against a stone wall of defiance from those in authority . They are convinced that they have Holy Spirit directing them and any democratic move would be an act of defiance, like Korah before Moses. See what they say:-
yb75 p. 247 Part 3—United States of America **
At the beginning of the foretold 2,300 days the two-part article "Organization" appeared in TheWatchtower (June 1 and June 15, 1938). In the first part it was said: "Jehovah’s organization is in no wise democratic. Jehovah is supreme, and his government or organization is strictly theocratic." Part two presented a resolution that congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses adopted, calling for appointment theocratically of all officiating servants in all congregations, from the top down..................As foretold, the "holy place" then was "restored to its rightful state."—Dan. 8:14, RevisedStandardVersion; see TheWatchtower, December 1, 1971, pages 711-728.
BluesBrother
Excellent quote. The Watchtower organization had a partial democratic order (Russell's Days) but soon drooped. The entire modern organization and most of its teachings rest upon the fact that it's leaders are in full control. Part of their theology actually depends upon the belief that such a oligarchy exists (theocracy dogma).
In reference to your point about the reformers themselves turning bad anything is possible. I can only say that if they made it that far I don't think what would be left could handle it.
