Never underestimate the durability of foolish belief systems. People's need to believe in something and "find" meaning has them desperately swallowing absolute rubbish. If I once thought that JWs' beliefs were based on "reasoning on the Scriptures" that thought was smashed to pieces in the crzy aftermath of the 1975 fiasco.
Could a single decision/mistake bring down watchtower
by badboy 36 Replies latest jw friends
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still_in74
What like cancelling the Book Study you mean? It would serve them right for taking away the best meeting!
as much as I know the WTS is not the truth and that ifGod even exists that it is a part of the false prophet - I actually kinda-sorta miss the Book Study! Wow am I messed up or what????
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metatron
The correct answer is Yes! I would assert that they already have made some bad decisions of which the most profound has been the "voluntary donation arrangement". Going to this system has cost them dearly.
What would it take to trigger a catastrophic collapse of the organization, given that Witnesses are blind fanatics? There are two scenarios: first, you would need an open crisis of authority at the top. This is the only way I've seen a congregation crumble precipitously - elders openly fighting and disputing.
Secondly, don't discount the possibility that the leadership could one day simply abandon congregations or even its doctrine completely. Sometimes, an empire can collapse suddenly because belief has eroded away and that erosion becomes manifest. This is what happened to Soviet Communism.
metatron
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Scarred for life
Yes, my thoughts on bringing down the watchtower were more based on an erosion of the belief system that gets out of control. The financial part would be secondary in my mind. Although, I have no doubt that the WBTS is hurting during this great recession. It a combination of financial pressures and erosion of belief that I see bringing them down.
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Homerovah the Almighty
If there were to be anything that would eventually dismantle the organization it would most likely be The End that simply never came
and the total sum of all their misguided prophecies that can be seen and confirmed.
But since they carry such strong mental indoctrination with its followers my guess is they would do their very best to
juggling bible scripture to meet their agenda, and we know how many times they've done that.
Fear is the working catalyst that has created their power and maintained it for these many years.
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jwfacts
The Worldwide Church of God (as discussed at http://www.jwfacts.com/religion/churchofgod.htm) is a good example of a Church very similar to the WTS that did make a single large mistake that caused most members to leave. The second leader basically reverted the religion back to mainstream Chrisitianity.
Interestingly, many that left went off to set up religious groups similar to the original religion. People don't like to give up their beliefs, no matter how crazy.
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jwfacts
If there were to be anything that would eventually dismantle the organization it would most likely be The End that simply never came
Good Point. The religion is likely to dwindle in time simply because that is what generally happens to doomsday cults. Eventually 1914 will look ridiculous. A religion that goes to heaven at death can survive with the Last Days dragging on endlessly. But it is a different story for people who expect to never die. If that is what attracts you, then it is detrimental to faith to see several generations of family members that never expected to die, die.
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parakeet
Rescinding their expulsion and shunning policy.
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steve2
Interestingly, many that left went off to set up religious groups similar to the original religion. People don't like
to give up their beliefs, no matter how crazy.
Ain't that the truth!! I marvel at the varieties of religious delusion manifested in group after group springing up with the newest version of the "Divine" light.
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SnakesInTheTower
I was at lunch with a non JW friend today. She was never a dub, she has tried different religions. We talk about the JWs sometimes. She said something that coming from a non-dub was interesting:
"{Snakes}, no matter how screwed up they are as a church, until individuals do what you did and find out on your own, they will never leave. It has to be their decision."
So, a non dub gets it right. All we as former (and fading) dubs can do is put the information out here on the net in a palatable way (ie, not crazy looking or sounding) and hope that someone (like myself) finds it and starts the process of thinking.
So...unless it is a financial meltdown, I don't think any single decision, or collective series of decisions, will bring down the Watchtower. There will always be a subset of JWs (like my mom) who believe that the Watchtower Society is "God's Organization™" and stick it out.
Snakes ()