This Sunday morning I choose to read the weekend newspaper instead of going to the local KH. And this is the result:
I read a nice quote in a Dutch news paper about Luther's reformation in 1517.
"On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther unmasked the Roman Catholic Church. The purpose of that Church, honoring God, proclaiming His Gospel and the longing for paradise, having gone into bickering and decorum. The dom held believers were frightened for the afterlife and securing their place in Heaven by buying indulgences. Luther sidelined the Church by stating that a direct relationship between man and God is possible. The Inquisition and the Counter-Reformation were trying to save what could yet, but the Church was by means an end in itself. Which usually means the end of the credibility of the Institute. Not because the content falls short, God remains God, but because the shape has become a death ritual."
Interesting, the similarities with our JW religion/ organization.
It has become a death ritual also. Especially if you realize that for the relationship between man and God no Watchtower society is needed. The organization realizes this too, thats why each Watchtower study focuses on the relationship between witness and the governing body. Because the organization can continue to exist only if the relationship between witness and governing body remains intact and strong.
I am sometimes very scared because of the effect that this purely organizational interest has on the rank-and-file witnesses. 99 percent can not think about this, because they can't think out-of-the-box. And so are families affected, people limited, it is truly a horrible system. It should stop. As soon as possible.