Hey guys! I was just thinking, with all the new promising stem cell research and trials, many scientists predict that in a decade or two, advanced biotech will make possible to extend human lifespan considerably and soon after indefinitely. Also, access to vast amounts of information is becoming ubiquotous throughout the world and it seems that it's increasingly harder to keep people ignorant and in the dark. As the world is becoming more connected and informed it's also harder to maintain the us vs. them mentality active.
Will this mean the end of WT in the western world? Let's face it. One of the biggest selling points of religion in general, and JW's in particular, is having a way to circumvent death (generally by embracing a fantasy of a paradise, heaven, etc) . I have a scientist friend who works for one of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the world. He can't disclose specific details about his work, but he claims his company will be able, by the mid 2020's, to add another year of life expectancy for every year that passes with the help of targeted stem cell treatments, as well as to regrow limbs, organs and cure countless diseases. His claims are supported by numerous scientific reports.
If aging will no longer be an issue in first world countries, I think the WT will lose a lot of followers. Plus, from what I can see, most children that grow in JW families do not become JW's themselves, or if they do, they leave in their youth. So in the western world things are becoming increasingly hard for them. As old generations die, and very few embrace the "truth", their ranks will fall. Just in my cong, from the late 90' until now the number dropped from 70 members to around 25. Most of them were old and died, and a considerable number have been abused by the elders and left.
The only places were the borg can see growth are developing countries which are generally very dogmatic and inclined toward Christianity. Places like Brazil and other poor countries in South America, maybe some countries of Africa, SE Asia (Philippines). But even so, it don't see a bright future for the borg as information comes to all people, more and more and becoming educated and less religious. What do you guys think?
PS: Please forgive any grammar or spelling mistakes. English is my second language.