joepublisher1: I am one of the ones that is very suspicious of the method chosen to announce this new light! To me, it does indeed feel like the GB wanted to release this new light into the community [slowly and not in a printed Watchtower]
I completely agree and actually think that they've chosen this controlled release on purpose. Think about it!
They've been directing people to go to the jw.org website for a while now. Those that have gone found out about the "New Light" before those that haven't. That's powerful. As humans, we all want to be "in the know." I know I do!
Those that have been lazy about regularly checking the website will feel left out as the news gradually gets disseminated by word of mouth. This is more of that powerful stuff. Due to the way JWs handle change, especially concerning their own doctrines, they will tend to doubt it when they first hear someone mention it. But then when they go on-line to confirm it for themselves it will also reinforce in their Pavlovian trained minds the importance of going to jw.org regularly and often.
When the "New Light" is announced at the DC, the speaker will no doubt say something along the lines of, "But those of you that have been regularly going to our jw.org website as instructed by 'the Faithful Slave' already know this!" And of course that will swell the heads of those that are already in the know and embarrass those that weren't. No one wants to be left out.
All of this effectively reinforces obedience and group think while simultaneously squashing any critical thinking skills or an independent mind.
Interestingly, the actual beliefs are unimportant. What matters is blind, unquestioning obedience to the leadership. It's all about manipulation and control.
In a way, it's genius. Evil and twisted, but genius nevertheless.
00DAD
(Comments previously posted on What will be the "New Light" at the 2013 DC)