How will the Watchtower change as OLDER MEMBERS DIE OFF?

by nicolaou 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  nicolaou

  The 'old-timers' generally carry a congregation.
  
  I grew up in a cong' with six members of the 'anointed' - only one remains, a lovely lady with genuine warmth and interest in people who is now in a nursing home.
  
  What happens when the depth that these individuals bring is lost? Of course, they were barking up the wrong tree as much as the rest of the dubs but their influence at least tended to 'round out' some of the more hard-line JW's.
  
  Perhaps the watchtower really will become more and more mainstream, it's the only way to maintain membership and achieve their holy grail of continued expansion. Losing the elderly will only help in this as these are the ones that cling most tenaciously to older WT doctrine.
  
  Most of the young dubs don't know old WT history [or care for that matter] so as new generations continue to replace the old we can look forward to a continuing shift in WT theology which will dump even more of those teachings our Mum's and Dad's thought were so special.
  
  Maybe.
• 

  Mickey mouse

  I still see a lot of die-hards in their 60's and upwards, anything under 60 and they're a different breed.

  I think if they do try to mainstream too quickly there will be a schism.
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  glenster

  The JWs leaders will probably always feign that they're the only leaders of a
  literal 144,000, their long-established preferred way of playing prophet badly.
  That number can continue to grow slowly over a long period of time. The rest of
  the literal 144,000 were always window dressing who had no say in how the rules
  were established, anyway, and were referred to generally--the JWs leaders made
  no specific claims about which individuals of those were included.

  The flock will probably be left to figure the new leaders add to the list and
  left to wonder otherwise as before. This might involve wondering if fewer of
  the old flock added to it than thought so, which would be easier to do regarding
  those who are gone and forgotten. Newer claimants would get preferential regard
  for following the updated rules.

  The JWs leaders could become more "mainstream" in regard to what aspect? It
  would be counted as anonymous, which would be counted as less of a draw for
  money. It would be like Popoff getting rid of the transmitter without as much
  pressure to do so. Using relatively harsh shunning rules for those who persist
  in disagreeing with the JWs leaders' distinctive doctrines has served them so
  far to minimize the financial loss of such exposes and would probably be counted
  on for that in the future.
• 

  cantleave

  To main stream they would have drop so much of the BS, including things like:-

  - No more disfellowshipping

  - No more blood transfusion ban

  - Reinstating Birthdays' and Xmas

  - Allowing free thought and research amongst it's membership

  Can't see any of those happening too be honest, they would lose control of the membership.
• 

  OnTheWayOut

  As the older members die off, WT will shorten the talks and provide more information so that the elders just have to highlight the printed material from WT. They will be told to just stick to the outline or stick to the printed questions.
  
  OH, THEY ALREADY DID THAT.
  
  They will accept elders and MS's that they would not have accepted decades ago- lower hours or less "spiritual."

  OH, THEY ALREADY DID THAT.
  
  They will allow less and less field service and still count the member as "active."

  OH, THEY ALREADY DID THAT.
  
  They will have to combine congregations and sell some properties.

  OH, THEY ALREADY DID THAT.

  They will close up Brooklyn.
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  Heaven

  I think in the industrialized nations, they will have a drop off in amount of service hours, membership numbers, amount of money coming in, and possibly more churn. I'm not sure the younger generation is up to the challenge ( ) of the WTS. The older ones who are still in good health have more time and so far, money, on their hands while younger people do not, as they still have to work and raise families. Hyperinflation will more than likely follow this Great Recession we've had (are still having?) which means everything will cost more, so less money available to be donated as well as the cost of doing business increasing. Perhaps outsourcing is not far off in the WTS future? Can you imagine them running their headquarters in Bangalore?

  Regarding my father, he has already stopped 'going out on service' as he is no longer capable so they've lost his hours. Once he passes away, they'll lose his money. ( Drives me nuts that he gives the WTS thousands of dollars and not one penny to his grandchildren. )
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  greenie

  Please tell me this will happen in the next 5 years.
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  bobld

  They have a way out.I believe it's in the wt2000 or 2001 the elders will be the ( forgot exact word) to lead the sheep on the Earth.Not sure how they explain that some of the anointed will be on the Earth when the end comes.

  Bob
• 

  yknot

  I don't think it is a matter of older ones dying off so much as reaching the point where the older ones don't have estates to leave the Org.

  There are a few in their 80s but the people in their 60's are those who pursued spiritual interests over material ones on WTS orders.

  I think we are in a transition period and in the next decade will see some ditching of interpretations similar to Rutherford's post 1926.
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  wha happened?

  It's sick but I believe they will hang on for dear life