Has there been any other decade with as many JW changes as this one?

by truthseeker 11 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  truthseeker

  With the housing bubble bursting in the US and other countries, the credit crunch and massive levels of debt, some economists are saying that our time is similar to 1929 and the Great Depression of the 30s.

  In WT land, never have there been so many changes in this decade, the 21st century, since the 1910s when Russell died and Rutherford changed everything within the current religion.

  Where things seem to carry for years with no change, suddenly there's something new almost every month

  This year for example has seen the move to one Awake magazine a month, next year there will be a public WT and a private study WT edition. The 1935 cutoff date has been removed and the generation teaching updated again. The public talks are being cut to 30 minutes.

  Why all the changes in so few years?

  Is it just about money or covering their ass?
• 

  neverendingjourney

  I suppose it's a mix of several different things. They painted themselves into a corner numerous times with their prophetic interpretations and now they must find a way out of it while stepping on as little wet paint as possible. Also, there are a lot of new GB members, most of whom have been on that body now for a few years. I presume that a lot of them are barely getting to the point where they feel comfortable pushing their own views on the entire GB. Don't forget boredom. Remember how monotonous the life of a JW was? Well, all of these changes create excitement within the rank and file. Change helps give the r&f a feeling that the end must definitely be near.
• 

  erynw

  Time marches on and if prophecies (how do you spell that) don't, then things start smelling like...well....you know. As far as the WT geniuses are concerned anyway.
• 

  journey-on

  I think all the changes are part of their crisis management. They are losing people and when you lose people, you lose $$$.

  They have probably analyzed the problems and determined how to psychologically boost the morale of the "soldiers" by updating and

  changing enough stuff to get the old heart pumping again and put the fear back in their ranks...

  and at the same time cut back on unnecessary revenue-draining procedures.

  They do this ever so often to keep everybody hanging on in anticipation of the next big burst of "new light". Can't let go now! Look

  at all the new changes! These changes have to mean SOMETHING! You let go now, you're going to miss out!
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  The old guys are very old. The younger GB members are being coddled. The old are
  listening to them and giving them a 2/3rds majority to make some doctrinal changes
  rather than just letting the doctrine stand until they die. The functional and financial
  changes are dictated by money. The GB probably can't really stop those changes.

  The doctrinal stuff, the old guys want to be legendary. They don't want to be known for
  destroying the membership with unbudged teachings. Nothing is working and they are
  finally ready to try changes. It's either that or the young guys will allow the budget lawyers
  to run amok over the GB members, too.

  Plus, keep in mind that the GB is small right now. They need to place new people there.
  Regardless of their reasons (yes, even my speculations above can be wrong), they want to
  get all their changes in before they fill those vacancies. You can't put new people in place
  and allow them to vote on changes until they have been properly conditioned to be in such
  a lofty place.
• 

  WTWizard

  That is what happens when they make dated prophesies. They put all their hopes on 1914. And now it is all going out of date. Plus, their money is not coming in (thanks Danny Haszard for your Zero Dollar Bills and Void Checks) due to people not getting value out of the organization. They need to clamp down on people leaving, save their money for the pedophile lawsuits, and at least pretend to bring new ones in--and they are doing a poor job at all the above.
• 

  James Free

  There have been a few operational changes announced. But they are not that amazing really. Changes to the Mags and shortening of the Public Talks. There have been changes like this many times before. As for doctrinal changes, removing 1935 as the cutoff point for 144000 and a tweaking of the 'generation' interpretations are not that dramatic either. In years gone by, every convention had new thoughts and people looked forward to the new releases. That ended a long time ago - now nobody even bothers to read the one rehashed publication they put out each year. So I have to say, as someone who associated with, and now watch from afar, JW's since the 1960's that the past decade is not that special.
• 

  drew sagan

  Hell, you should have been around in the 20's and 30's! Now there is some changes.
• 

  *summer*

  More JW changes in this decade than in any other decade??? Hhmm...that is because the end is now SO near
• 

  Gopher

  Jehovah has sped it up in his own due time.

  Now it's up to the followers to keep up with the "celestial chariot". (Actually I think we see the "chariot" better than many of the JW"s do.)