I would say a lot has changed since 2000!
Blood fractions are now allowed, but JWs are expected to know how to explain, Scripturally, to their Drs why.
The date of the resurrection of the 'anointed' to heaven isn't set in stone as 1918 anymore. The WTS stated that this date is "an interesting possibility", while admitting it can't be confirmed in Scripture.
The WTS were exposed as being affiliated with the UN for 9 years. This resulted in a lot of unhappy JWs, a clamping down on freeness of speech by the WTS on those who talked about it or asked about it (elders were sent a 'secret' letter containing the official WTS spin), and a flurry of lies and cover-up by way of explaining this association. A local elder exclaimed to a stumbled JW who was deeply troubled by God's official channel of communication having relations with the disgusting beast of Revelation, "but it's just the beast!".
Thousands of Bethelites were 'reassigned' as Special Pioneers, thus losing their homes and jobs and any hope of health care.
The number of partakers are the annual denial of Christ - aka Memorial - has consistently risen each year.
The WTS admitted that Rutherford had 'shut up the kingdom of God before men' by teaching that the 144,000 were sealed in 1935. They've admitted there's no Scriptural basis for this teaching. (Bit of a pattern emerging.)
The "generation" teaching has reverted back to the early 1930s understanding that the generation refers to the anointed as a group on earth...at any time. Coupling this 'new light' with that of the 1935 sealing means that JWs have absolutely no marker in the sand anymore for where they are in relation to "Jehovah's purposes". A 5 year old kid could be of the "remnant" and there's absolutely nothing the WTS can do about it. Therefore his generation won't pass away etc etc. In other words, Armageddon is as far away for the JWs as it's ever been. (I'm pretty sure this has no basis in Scripture, either.)
The WTS no longer publishes 2 WTs per month for distribution to the public. Instead, they print one edition for the public and a 'kool aid' edition which is exclusively for JWs and those actively attending meetings. These magazines are studied each Sunday, as before, but now the WTS is able to take the kid gloves off and beat the flock without worrying if the neighbours are watching.
The Public Talk has been reduced to 30 minutes. This allows JWs to do an extra 15 minutes of door knocking on a Sunday.
Both parents are allowed to report up to 4 hours per month each for the family study.
The September 2007 KM had a question box which explained that the "faithful and discreet slave" class don't endorse groups who meet privately for Bible study and research. It was explained that they don't approve of JWs publishing books and booklets that contain Bible research and that if any JW does wish to do some extra study, it should be limited to the Insight Volumes and the WT Index.
The Governing Body wrote to all congregations in April to explain that, as of January 2009, there will be no more meetings in private homes. The explanation was that the increase of gas prices makes it quite expensive for the 'friends' to travel a few short miles to a local home for the Book Study Group. The Book Study Group has now been amalgamated into the TMS and Service Meeting and renamed Congregation Bible Study. Interestingly, they still study a WTS book. But now they only spend 25 minutes per week doing it.
The WTS have published a new book helping JWs to keep in God's love. Details include such areas as arranged marriages, masturbation, not speaking to DFd relatives and blood fractions. Oh, and clinking glasses and celebrating your child's birthday. It appears that Jehovah is up there in heaven with an itchy, twitchy trigger finger, just waiting to wipe out any JW who steps out of line. Apparently Jehovah has forgotten that Jesus died for all mankind and that he can put the rifle down now, it's ok, mankind's sins have been covered.
So, yeah, that's what's been going on with the JWs, how have you been?
