It needs to be said: the Watchtower Society is teaching its most involved adherents a powerful lesson in disloyalty.
It should be no surprize that the Watchtower endlessly prates on about loyalty. What has changed however, is the sudden sacrifice of Bethelites and others to come in the pursuit of its greedy survival. This mass dismissal of long term brothers and sisters deserves far more attention than ordinary Witnesses give it. It is the zenith, the very epitome of worldliness, of cold hearted CORPORATE behavior and, yes, disloyalty to any sense of brotherhood.
What lesson are they teaching to their flock? Hedge your bets? Don't quit your (side) job? Don't trust us? This sort of ugliness engenders hypocrisy beyond anything they have thus far done. They will create ever more elders whose primary product is empty lip service and ever less concern for the flock. Why should anyone be surprized at confidential information flowing out of Bethel or of sudden legal threats against them by people who formerly were fanatics?
Do they fire lower level workers first --- and then fire the overseers who let the lower level go? Where did they learn this clever trick? From 'Capos' and collaborators in WW II camps? From their persecutors?
The time is long overdue for them to honestly face the open challenge of Pastor Russell's words: in summary, if we don't get the money, Jehovah God isn't supporting us. Somebody tell me why they can't sell even one Brooklyn building and invest the proceeds to support those foolish people who gave them decades of their lives ? Why do 'worldly' governments offer pensions or Social Security? If "the Lord will provide" covers it all, why do Circuit Overseers get paid health care? And then preach to congregations against college ?
Little by little, they are teaching a powerful lesson in disloyalty. They will pay a heavy price in human capital - and I don't mean ineffective publishers ....
metatron