What would happen if Bethal closed tomorrow?

sleepy

What would happen if Bethal closed tomorrow?
What do you think.How would witnesses react?
Do you think they would just carry on as normal or take it as a sign that they were wrong?
Maybe they would split up into little groups and eventualy form seperate religons.
I would predict lots of suicides and dpression for people.
How safe would the GB be from harm, from former members?

Englishman

Bethel would become a Holiday Inn?

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be....

RR

That was of course the whole reason for their reorganization. In the event anyone of the Society's offices closed down, the Witneses will still have some structure to guide them and continue the work. The Society is downplaying the whole "Watchtower" name and emphasizing the "JW" name.

____________________________
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

Preston

I think one thing that a lot of people fail to comprehend is that Jehovah's Witnesses are very devout, and when the going gets tough, it only increases a person's faith in the organization. Personally I would never want to see anything bad happen to Jehovah's Witnesses on such a large scale only because I know what it's like to deal with all the tensions and frustrations of being one.

I think it's a real shame that when there is this anticipation that things will just get worse for JW's we tend to feel good (not pointing fingers here). If any positive change results from the organization it will be internal, not from death on such a large scale. I really do want to see things go well for the majority of JW'S, despite all the faults with their organization, and all the people that have been misguided, manipulated, and misled. If you really care like I do then say a little prayer tonight for all the JW's dealing with all the pressure from all sides in world today. We need just as much help as they do.

RunningMan

Well, for one thing, if Bethel closed down, there would be no more
magazines. That means that individual congregations would need to
continue using "old light", and start reading the Bible and thinking.

This would lead to small, fractured groups that are all moving in different
directions. Most JW's would not be able to stand the void. Without
constant reinforcement, their doctrines would start to fall. Anarchy would
ensue.

In other words, without a strong top-down authority structure, the whole thing
would fall apart. Either that or turn into something much nicer and more
sensible - but that will never happen.

RR

Well, for one thing, if Bethel closed down, there would be no more magazines. That means that individual congregations would need to
continue using "old light", and start reading the Bible and thinking.

I don't think so .... bethel is not the only source of printing. The Society has printing facilities all over the world, and within the US, there are several printin facilities, e.g. Patterson, Wallkill.

____________________________
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

Yerusalyim

There'd be dancin, dancin in the street, and invitation across the nation, a chance for [disfellowshipped] folks to meet.

YERUSALYIM
"Vanity! It's my favorite sin!"
[Al Pacino as Satan, in "DEVIL'S ADVOCATE"]

anglise

I know there are printing facilites in many countries but what about the 'original'writing?
Where is that done if not at the bethel?

SEAKEN2001

I'm not sure what you mean by "Bethal"(sic).

Some here obviuosly view Brooklyn headquarters as "Bethel". But many JW's, especially outside of US see their own local Branch location as Bethel. Many see Bethel as the entire structure of the headquarters system including all branches and printeries or farms worldwide. The Society sems to favor the latter whe it publishes information on the "Bethel Family", meaning those living anywhere in the worldwide network of headquarters facilities.

If you mean "the GB" or "oversight" of the organization in general as symbolized by the term "Society" than I would answer that most JW's would see it as the beginning of something big, maybe an attack by Satan or his "world" or some disciplinary or organizational move by "Jehovah". What actually would shake out in the organizational scheme of things is anyones guess. I'm sure most JW's would try to stick to organizational procedure and treat the situation as going "underground" until the reorganization can be "directed" to it's completion by God's spirit.

Have any of us forgotten how much we adored the Organization and treated it like God itself? Don't expect the JW's to just go into anarchy because headquarters shuts down. And there are not enough JW's yet who understand that something is really wrong with the theology.

Sean

RR

Even if Bethel closed down, those who write the articles are still able to write from wherever they are.

I'll give you an example. I know of a few people who publish a magazine called "Beauties of the Truth," This magazine is distributed worldwide, however there is no central publishing house or headquarters. The editorial commitee all live in different states. Yet they managed to get the magazine published and distributed. It can be done. C.T. Russell did not have his own printing facility wher he could publish all thoseo books, he contracted them outside.

Believe me, thing will not fall apart if the Society closed down or was closed down. The Witneses have ben prepared to function on auto-pilot.

____________________________
"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional."

What would happen if Bethal closed tomorrow?

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