And it's exactly that situation that keeps things from ever changing.
By the time a Bethelite has been there long enough to potentially make a difference, they've been there 20 or 30 years.
If they rock the boat too much, they'd get tossed out on their tushes. The example of Ray Franz a generation ago, and the 2 or 3 thousand "reassigned" Behtelites form 3-4 years ago, serves to reinforce that notion.
Suppose you're a "prominent Bethlite", and in a position to "make a stand" and have someone pay attention.
Then you think "what if I 'lose'? Then I'm out on the street, at age 50-55-60, with no Social Security, no pension, no savings, no job skills, no hope of employment....if I leave Bethel with a 'dishonorable discharge' no one in a local congregation will help me out...maybe I could handle it but what about my poor wife?...."
So no one dares to say or do anything that might cause themselves or their families any personal 'danger'.
And you end up with the mess you see now.
Exactly!! This is everything Christianity was not supposed to be!! You know, I've come across the arguments that Paul hijacked Christianity, and I've heard some good points on both sides of the argument. However, one thing you have to give credit to Paul on was that he didn't beg anybody for anything. He didn't guilt trip anybody into giving him anything. Neither did any of the other 1st Century Christians. They were expected to work and support their own just like anybody else. They did look out for one another as they should have on the basis of love. The Pharisees during Jesus' time, were mad at Jesus because he threatened their tyrannical way of life. They didn't want to see the status quo come to an end. He threatened their establishment.
Here were are 2000 plus years later and the so called Governing Body and other WT Heavies are in the same predicament. They're horrified at the thought that people don't need them, don't want them, and don't want to support them. (2 Thess 3:10) Hence the negative articles towards education which produces critical thinking skills and financial independence which in turn leads to social independence. Hence, the articles that are negative towards having an "independent spirit", because again that indicates a person has a mature Christian conscience. He/She doesn't need anyone telling him/her whats appropriate and not appropriate when it comes to grey areas regarding things not written in the scriptures. (Rom 14)
This organization main purpose is to exist as an organization. They've lost their way, and it pains me because there's so much potential for it, but the leadership is too concerned about maintaining their way of life at everyone elses expense.