I was reflecting on some of the traditional cults mentioned in Hassan's book that recruit members and have them move into some kind of compound, give up their worldly lives, possessions, leave their families, etc. and work solely for the furthering of the cult... isn't that exactly what "going to Bethel" is?
When you become a Bethelite, you take a vow of poverty and devote your life to the Org. Your environment is controled, your time/schedule managed, meals are at set times and run in a militant style (I've vistited Bethel several times had the "privelege" of joining a couple of dining room meals).
The JW organization runs just like any other typical cult... but has the advantage of having most of its recruits "out in the field", self-supporting, willingly volunteering all their time and resources and autonimity to the cult remotely in congregations throughout the world. Belthelite or not, everything about this high-control group quacks like a duck.
Imagine if everybody who was a dedicated JW had to move into a Bethel-like setting. They have the best of both worlds with the current set up: those who work in the world to support the Org financially and those who give up their entire lives to run it.
Phae
