Normalizing the WTS

Elsewhere

For JWs, persecution is a self-fulfilling prophecy because of their behavior.

If they were to make three basic changes they could easily become mainstream.

1. Get rid of their shunning practices.
2. Allow open discussion that questions WT teachings and policies.
3. Allow members to openly believe things contrary to the WT teachings without fear of retribution from the organization, or the individual members.

They are so hung up on “protecting the flock” and the phrase “A house divided cannot stand”. They have failed to realize to power of the individual and the fact that people with different beliefs and thoughts can work together for a common goal.

As I see it, these things cannot happen because of the nature of most of its members. The WTS is appealing to and full of people that are searching for absolute biblical truth - black and white thinking. Either something is right, or wrong. Either their god approves, or disapproves. Someone will get eternal life or eternal destruction.

"As every one knows, there are mistakes in the Bible" - The Watchtower, April 15, 1928, p. 126
Believe in yourself, not mythology.
<x ><

Fire Dragon

I'm not sure they would become mainstream unless they did away with the door to door practices. I think people would be inclined to attend services if they went on their own. It would certainly make people think.

"...if there is a hell, I'll see you there." (NIN - Downward Spiral)
I'll be the one providing the fire.

LDH

Can anything good come out of Naz'reth?

Lisa

Scully

The problem with the WTS "becoming mainstream" would be that JWs would no longer be able to say that they are "no part of the world".

They also would keep more members, when they believe that only a small number will survive Armageddon. "Narrow and cramped is the road leading to salvation and few are those finding it..."

The WTS has effectively painted themselves into a corner with those two scriptures. They have no choice but to maintain the status quo so that members will not think that God's spirit has left the organization. After all, they've said that Babylon the Great - all the mainstream religions - is on the broad road leading to destruction.

I personally think that most JWs would applaud the idea of not having to shun people anymore. What they'll probably end up doing is making similar statements as the 12/15 QFR article about JW wives of unbelievers being able to participate in holiday activities that have no religious significance, but that "true Christians" will refrain from stumbling others by their actions. [8>] In other words, "we aren't telling you what to do, but if you're a 'faithful Christian', you'll know what we want you to do."

Love, Scully

RunningMan

Let's face it, the Watchtower has written itself into a corner.

After 120 years of growth, it is reaching maturity in Western lands. Yet it is still acting like a young sect. If it is to move forward, it must advance to the next level of religionhood. The steps that you have outlined are essential.

However, those steps are also wrenching. After the death of Armstrong, The Worldwide Church of God managed to muster up enough balls to do just these things. They revamped their doctrines and reorganized. They are now poised to move forward. However, they are moving forward with only about 20% of their members.

The Society has created a group that cannot withstand outside influence. It is highly dependant on what is now obviously outdated chronology. And, it has presented itself as the virtually infallible word of God. All of this makes reorganizing extremely painful.

Add to this the drying up of conversions, aging membership, inbred leadership, and huge PR difficulties, and you have an organization that is on the verge of a crisis.

And I don't give a crap.

TexSham

Elsewhere,

I think you hit the mark exactly. This is what they need to do to survive. Problem is, I don't think they will. They still have too many odd beliefs, i.e. the blood ban. These odd beliefs can't withstand the dialogue, and the gb then would be made to look like fools at best. They are going to have a difficult time transitioning into this century.

MegaDude

I would like to see a "normalization" of the Watchtower take place, if only for the people I care about that are still trapped in it. That aside, what gets the attention of a big corporate religious organization seems to be donations drying up, members leaving, negative media attention, before it decides, oh, golly, we need to change something here!

The shuffling of pedophile priests to different parishes by the Vatican has been going on for so long. Now that multiple lawsuits are costing them serious money, massive negative media attention is being focused on them, there is suddenly quite a need to reverse old policy.

New light comes in the most obvious ways.

Elsewhere

It is sad that it takes such things to make one of [ahem] "god's" organizations change what is painfully obvious.

This tells us that they (WTS, Catholics, and any other organized religions) are more concerned about their organization than the people. Once an organization becomes greater than the people within it, the organization starts to take priority.

I have noticed that both the Catholics and the WTS have never actually “apologized” for the abuse. They have said that certain things were “tragic” or that the victims have their “deepest sympathies”, but NEVER “We apologize to all the victims harmed by our actions.”

Again, it is clear that their priority is the welfare of the organization (aka, Legal Corporation), not the people.

"As every one knows, there are mistakes in the Bible" - The Watchtower, April 15, 1928, p. 126
Believe in yourself, not mythology.
<x ><

MegaDude

I've always thought the biggest impediment for helping the Watchtower to change was ITS MEMBERS. If the majority of them would say wait one just a *&^%$ minute here, we aren't going to five meetings a week anymore, we wanna celebrate birthdays, et cetera, and we're going to withold buying literature and sending donations until you change things, the leadership would change. They would have to. For them it's all about the power and having someone to rule over. It certainly never was or is the love of "truth."

Normalizing the WTS

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