everyone knows who jw`s areonly in their minds!
when we snapped the hell out of
the cognitive disconnect that
kept us in the b0rg, we changed
our will, which had named the WTBTS
as a final beneficiary were all our heirs
to die..... the lawyer kept saying "track
society? what is a track society?"...
he finally understood it was a religious group...
but seemed totally oblivious regarding them
(sure wish i could say the same thing!)their future? ironic that they will have one....
The Future of Jehovah's Witnesses
by The Berean 25 Replies latest jw friends
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chickpea
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leavingwt
As long as they practice shunning, they're not mainstream.
If the shunning is dropped, they cease to exist. Shunning is the most powerful tool in their bag. It's the loaded gun pointed at the head of anyone tempted to leave.
If ones were free to leave, they would not tolerate the abuse they now suffer at the hands of the loving shepherds.
Just my two cents.
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besty
need to stop shunning before they can even be considered to be on the edge of mainstream
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steve2
Regarding shunning, this too could be toned down over time. Even mainstream churches ex-communicate members and 'defrock" priests. Seventh-Day Adventists de-frock ministers and do not allow them to "practice" in the church - but it is very mild compared to what happens in the JWs. Mormons ex-communicate.
Also, to keep things in historical perspective - and I don't intend this as letting the watchtower off the hook - less than four hundred years ago, the catholic church burnt heretics (aka apostates) at the stake.
Fact is: Even the harshest of Christian religions, lose their bite, thus toning down their severity as the centuries roll by. It's called getting older and more tired.
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mraimondi
if they ceased shunning, they would grow, for sure.
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leavingwt
If they stopped shunning, people would leave for churches with better food, better youth programs, better music and sexier clothes.
People love freedom. They won't voluntarily return to the shackles of mental slavery.
I need to respond to the original question.
I'm a young man. There is no doubt in my mind that JWs will be going strong when I'm long dead and gone.
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Athanasius
I also see the Witnesses going mainstream. However, it will be caused a several factors, internal and external. Of course monetary considerations will be the most important. Their shunning policy, which denies basic civil rights to the rank and file Witnesses, could cause the Watchtower to lose their tax exempt status. Some day it might even be considered a "hate crime." The Watchtower is quick to compromise on issues when money is involved. The length of the District conventions have been shortened because the 8, 5, 4 day conventions don't bring in the money like they used to.
The Watchtower may never adopt the Trinity doctrine and will continue to teach "soul sleep;" but these are not doctines unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. However, I would never go back to the Watchtower no matter how many changes they make.
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OnTheWayOut
As much as they would love to be more mainstream like the Mormons, they are so deep in their own sh*t that I don't see it happening.
I see them shrinking and shrinking until they close shop. It could be within 20 years or less, but I wouldn't be surprised if they manage much longer.As mentioned, they need to do away with shunning and they cannot do away with shunning.
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verystupid77
Hopefully C
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LouBelle
B