Could The Watchtower and Awake Collapse?

by metatron 42 Replies latest jw friends

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  metatron

  This is not a prophesy, folks, but rather a train of thought to pursue about the organization, especially in light of its recent legal problems.

  Could the magazines collapse? The Watchtower is published in 188 languages? And the Awake a rather huge number as well?

  All of these must be properly translated (remember how President Carter was embarrassed by remarks that he had lust in his heart for Polish people because of bad translation?). Many of these languages are obscure and utterly depend upon trusted volunteers, not merely to avoid translation mistakes but also to avoid creating subtle changes in doctrine or triggering legal troubles (such as the recent 'mentally diseased' stupidity).

  If Mr. Unthank (you gotta love that name!) has his successful experience repeated in countries around the globe by others, how could the organization survive? Wouldn't they be forced to retain lawyers amidst every different nation, ethnic group and language? How else to fend off trouble? Wouldn't these lawyers really need to be familiar with JW doctrine as well, so as to avoid compromise (which I wonder may have happened in the Bulgarian blood controversy)

  Let's add a new complication: Let's shut down and sell off Branch Offices all over the world !

  At what point does this 'shoe-lace' and 'duct tape' operation become untenable? Especially if 'apostates' attack in a thousand different places? How many successful legal battles can they fight simultaneously? And expect to win? Without paying bribes in the 3rd world?

  This is looking more and more to me like the game of Risk, in which the Watchtower player has forces neatly scattered across North America and Eurasia but with no depth of defense anywhere. Break thru the front lines and they collapse.....

  metatron
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  MrFreeze

  As long as there are plenty of members willing to donate to the pedophile defense fund and work for free, the WT will not collapse.
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  designs

  If the GB can pack out Assembly Halls for 'Special Days' when nothing new is presented then you have to think not much with shake up the Sheep.
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  breakfast of champions

  The Awake! Magazine will NEVER collapse! I mean, imagine the world without informative, college-level articles such as "Swiss- the Tasty Cheese With Holes In It" or "Tree Frogs- Friend or Foe?"

  Give it 5 years. There will no longer be a physical distribution of the mags in countries where the Internet is available. Publishers will hand out single page tracts with the website to download the mags. This "new arrangement" will be put into effect to "simplify" the preaching work as it "speeds up"
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  Think About It

  Any kind of changes to the magazine distribution format will have to be a money maker for the WTS. I would bet the current distribution format is still making money because of the publishers donating more money for the mags than the cost of printing them in mass. Will probably be more streamlining to come. The Awake was every 2 weeks when I left. I would guess now, maybe once a month?

  Think About It
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  Could the magazines collapse?

  I wouldn't spend too much time dwelling on it unless it just makes you feel better to do so.

  The WTS is presently doing some shrewd reorganizing.

  1) Drastically cutting costs by dramatic cut in "free employees" (they aren't FREE, every expense for them is out-of-pocket for WT, including medical in the USA which is where most drastic reductions are taking place).There they are inviting commuters or temporary volunteers, who will cover much of their own expenses -- esp their own medical.

  2) Cashing in on huge profits on appreciated real estate, which further reduces costs as those old building were expensive to operate. They were RICH with real estate, now it will be CA$H which can be invested to generate income instead of just sitting there generating utility bills and repair costs! They may have missed the boat by a couple years when they could have sold for higher profits, but many economists suggest real estate values are going to stagnate for many years now. Better to cash in NOW and cut costs, than wait 5/10 years and cash in for same market value, and then at inflated/devalued dollars.

  3) Closing numerous branch offices -- (see #1 & #2 again).

  4) Increasing "non-voluntary" contributions, since voluntary contributions are likely suffering. "Fees" for each circuit's use of Assembly Halls are increased. Contributions for each congregations' "voluntary donation" for CO/DO cars and insurance fund are increased. The publishers, many of whom are feeling the pinch of the world economy may be cutting back on what they voluntarily tuck into the WWW Contribution Boxes at the KH, but circuits and congregations MUST pay these donations/fees which are assessed without any local input or feedback. Circuit Assemblies could easily be held at lesser expense at civic centers or college or school auditoriums. They must hammer on the flock until enough funds are generated to cover this. Thus, those who can afford more (and often those who really cannot) will dig a little deeper and hand over the funds, even if it means swiping their Mastercard through a machine at the Assembly Hall.

  5) See emphasis shift to placing less costly literature. Less emphasis on books. More on mags or brochures or even tracts. But COs will warn elders if contributions to WWW suffer, even if less costly literature is being used.

  DOC
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  ldrnomo

  In my book they have collapsed. They are nothing. There so called increase is actually a decrease per capita of the world population they are not the fastest growing religion nor are they even a religion recognized by the majority of the worlds population. Their narrow road is getting narrower and not many want to even walk on it
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  Honesty

  I wish it were different but the JW cult is here to stay until all of us die because a fool is born every minute.
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  LV101

  Sure makes me feel better reading Metatron's prognostications. In the southwest (Vegas) they already use a MORMAN college auditorium for their assemblies and their publishers travel 2 hrs. e/way. Must be one lucrative deal for the cult. Hard to believe.
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  wannabefree

  I look forward to the day that they collapse out of my mind. I hope that day comes.