The most dangerous part of an iceberg is the part you cannot
see. However great the visible part may be, remember that it
only exists visibly because a MUCH LARGER body of ice is hidden
beneath the waves.
Think about the Watchtower organization: You still have big
assemblies with enthusiastic clapping and lots of congregations
with zealous publishers. However, reports are exposing child
sexual abuse, growing malaise, corruption among elders, and
teenagers living "double lives" as a matter of course.
These problems, while visible, are likely to be nothing more
than the visible tip of the iceberg - the reality is probably
far more profound. It will be interesting to see if the Dateline
program creates a response of exposed horrors for the Society
to try to surpress. Just anecdotally, my experience as an elder,
in casual conversations privately, suggests that incidents of
hidden child molestation may be quite common in congregations,
simply because of the intensely secretive nature of the organization.
Like the part of the iceberg, you don't see.
I also wonder how much hypocrisy and "double lives" the
organization can endure without cracking up. Young Witnesses
are leaving, almost en masse - often after hiding years of
private sexual activity or smoking dope. The adults are preaching
Armageddon soon! - while worrying about their private pension plans
for retirement.
Hypocrisy can go on for centuries. It doesn't have to destroy
any organization - unless it gets exposed that everyone does it
and everyone knows that everyone is doing it.
When (and if ) that mass perception emerges,
the game may be over - like Communism.
This organization and its fate will probably be the most
fascinating study in sociology you will ever encounter in your
lifetime. Stay tuned...
metatron