I hate to disappoint anybody, but I've been out since 1988 and I can see almost zero change based on what I read here and in an WT from time to time. They've tweaked the generation thing, but I don't think most JW's even noticed. My prediction as to what will change in the next twenty years: nothing.
What do you think will be WT doctrine in 10 or 20 years time?
by roguepixel 24 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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St George of England
Doctrine will be whatever is needed to keep the money rolling in.
George
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journey-on
They are a business. It will depend on their management, investments, and choice of business model going forward.I foresee a great schism taking place between Jehovah's Witnesses and The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. Here is why:
I would love to wake my sister up with this conversation:
ME: Sis, who are God's people?
SIS: You know the answer. It's Jehovah's Witnesses.
ME: Okay. When does one become a Jehovah's Witness?
SIS: When one gets baptized and openly declares their baptism is in recognition that they are Jehovah's Witnesses.
ME: Then, tell me. When God says "Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins", why would he be talking to dedicated baptized JWs? They are already OUT! What or Who is he telling his people (baptized Jehovah's Witnesses) to get out of if they are already out of other religions?
SIS: Uhhhh....run that by me again!
ME: I'm going to be blunt with you, Sis. The WTB&TS had a ten year affair with the unclean thing...The United Nations. Look it up. Research it. It's true. They "stood in the unclean place" for nigh on to a decade!! When Jehovah tells his people to "get out of her, my people", he must be talking to dedicated baptised Jehovah's Witnesses if you claim they and they alone are his people.
So. again, what or who are they supposed to get out of? I would say, The Watch Tower Society.
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roguepixel
I think Soldier77 makes some good points. Personally, I see the new upcoming generation of kids, teenagers and 20somethings as probably the most challenging set of people to encounter in the ministry yet for J-Dubs. I think nowadays people are far more distracted by entertainment and lifestyle, to be chasing after a nutty religion. For one, interested ones can do all their research on the Watchtower right here on the internet. There's a lot of damaging stuff, and mud sticks. I know if I'd been a 16-year old right now, ABSOLUTELY NO WAY would I be interested, much less set foot in a kingdom hall. This generation has got it really cushy. The internet would've saved my life had it been around 20 years ago, that's a fact.
I think the 'generation' crap will have a good 20 years left in it before dissent sets in. I think they will have to change their views on Disassociated and DF'd people, and be much stricter, perhaps even suggesting that DF'd family members should be invited to leave home. I think the fractions blood treatment doctrine will be tweaked even more. I even think that they'll re-think the celebration of Birthdays, making it a 'conscience' decision (just so long as you don't put candles on the cake). Xmas will probably remain taboo as it concerns christian notions.
It would be nice in 2020 if Bill Gates offered the GB a big wodge of cash for WTBTS, then broke it up and sold off all their assets. Maybe then he might go to heaven
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Ding
The real trick will be keeping the Armageddon-is-just-around-the-corner fervor going.
In the past they've done this by setting and resetting dates.
They lose a lot of members when the predictions fail, but they use the remaining Kool-Aid drinkers to go out and bring in new people who are totally ignorant of WTS past.
Whether they can continue to do this successfully now that there's an internet with groups like this being vocal will be the big question.
I would like to think the WTS would fade away in 20 years, but I suspect they will keep going and growing just as the Mormon church is doing despite its past.
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sd-7
I think it's possible that everyone will partake at the Memorial someday, but only if that enables them to make sure only the Governing Body is looked up to as special. Also, if they can "suggest" a specific date for the end, they will find a way to do so. But they're smart enough by now to avoid that, of course. I think.
Otherwise, apart from streamlining and cost-cutting tactics, people are going to be watched more closely from the top down. With so much information out there, they're going to need to find better ways to control it, if they can. But that may or may not happen. By and large, the wheels will keep turning as they always have. Some will wake up, most will not.
--sd-7
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donuthole
Well I think there will be a handful of upgrades in terminology used by Witnesses. That is the most common form of change.
I anticipate that the Governing Body will exclusively assume the role of the Faithful & Discreet Slave class, the other anointed will be relugated to the role of the domestics, and other sheep will be considered to be the belongings. The framework for this already being put in place. There may be other auxillary prophetic reinterpration that will serve to elevate the Governing Body over the rest of the rank and file and anointed.
I think the blood doctrine will be further refined to be completely a conscience matter. Such a change will be happen over time. It will be subtle. It may happen sooner depending on outside legal or governmental pressure.
In my opinion the organization will decline unless they can sell a tangible date for the end that will foster growth. I do feel that as 1975 falls into the dustbin of history that a new date will be easier to promote. 2034 might be shopped as that year draws closer. Again the seed of this idea has already been put out there. The problem is that when the date passes they will go into a sharper decline. Another option, though out of character, would be to rebrand the religion to become, less apocalyptic and antagonistic, and more social and promote character and family values. This is a possiblity but not likely.
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undercover
The real trick will be keeping the Armageddon-is-just-around-the-corner fervor going.
They've been keeping it going for over a hundred years, why can't they re-market it yet once again?
The WTS will continue to exist - in some form or another. One reason is that for the most part the WTS recycles it's members. Sure, there will always be a core group that will stick with them until death, but the rest of em are constantly go through the turnstiles, in and out. At times it varies as to how many are leaving as others are coming in. But they'll continue to exist, and attract members.
Those leaving are leaving for various reasons. Kids who didn't take it to heart. Those who figured out it was a lie and some just burned out and tired of it.
Those going in are mostly ignorant to the old ways, the old "truths", the old prophecies. They'll sit at the hall and absorb the new propaganda just like a lot of us absorbed the old propaganda.
And those that are coming in will be fed new end time prophecies which they will lap up and swallow without ever giving thought to 'what if they're wrong'...just like generations of past JWs did.
The WTS may cease to exist as it did during it's prime, but it won't die. It will evolve, just as it has in the past, in order to keep going. The WTS of the 30s and 40s was completely different than the religion that CT Russell founded. The WTS of the 50s and 60s was completely different than the days of Rutherford. The WTS of the 80s and 90s was different than the days of Knorr. Some of the core teachings carry over, but many of the prophecies and dates either change or get dropped.
The one thing they don't drop is the imminence of the end. Just because we finally saw through it and woke up and realized it was a scam doesn't mean others ever will.
The fact that many JWs still active were alive in 1975, yet deny that the 75 hype existed...or those still practicing in the 80s/90s have, at the behest of the WTS, dropped their belief in the generation of 1914 seeing Armageddon shows just how easy it is to fool people into believing absolute bullshit.
People have been fooled for eons...they aren't going to stop this year, next decade or next millennia.
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Soldier77
The real trick will be keeping the Armageddon-is-just-around-the-corner fervor going.
Well, they've kept the charade going on for 130 years or so. I do think that people are starting to no give a shit about it anymore and are just droning along with whatever bullshit the GB spoons out. The last generation change pretty much bought them a lot of time, but I also see them messing with it some more.
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