I just started reading Eric Hoffer's seminal work, "The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements". In it he made this very interesting comment:
"A man is likely to mind his own business when it is worth minding. When it is not, he takes his mind off his own meaningless affairs by minding other people's business. This minding of other people's business expresses itself in gossip, snooping and meddling and also in feverish interest in communal ... affairs. In running away from ourselves we either fall on our neighbor's shoulder or fly at his throat." - page 14, Emphasis added.
This struck me as possibly a partial explanation for the GB's intrusive, over-bearing and rule-oriented approach to religion. Obviously, the Promised End has not come. The things that ostensibly should give their lives meaning are empty, meaningless. They are essentially pencil-pushing bureaucrats, so the only way they can find something remotely resembling the meaning they so much desire is to attempt to control every aspect of the lives of those that they are supposed to be caring for lovingly.
As always, your thoughts are welcome and invited!
Daniel