Much is being written these days as to where is the org going. There is no doubt that the steering wheel is moving. Many of us are like that child, sleeping in the back seat on our way to disney. After hours of driving, we feel the car changing direction, still sleepy, we mumble... are we there yet? Then we begin to look around for clues that would tell where we are exactly.
Many of us who dare to look outside the box (pund intended) can easily tell we are going somewhere. My curiosity has always been, though, what about those inside the box? While the answer seems to be the obvious "they are brainwashed and could never tell", the truth is that no change comes without pain. That is a fact of life, no matter what you believe in. You can not make the change too suddenly.
With that in mind, most of the changes coming are usually hinted at in publications. Most times they are too subtle to notice while you are half asleep during the WT study. For the most part, only once you notice the bigger picture and go back in your magazines, then you realize you were being told about this, but just did not notice. Although I would say that such awareness of change goes more like this...
You notice something new...
You question the elder...
Elder points to magazine, either inmediately or at a later time...
Elder makes you feel less of a Christian because you were not paying attention...
You walked away in shame...
You are now way more suceptible than before to follow suit, even if you disagree...
Here is one example (although I don't dare to bring this one up and correct me if I am wrong) but I recall many years ago, we use to have a special section of a meeting, every year, dedicated to analyzing the issue of blood transfusion in detail. We would also take the chance to make this special meeting into a "sign-your-no-blood-card rally". Everyone who was ready to do it would then feel specially encouraged to proceed. Its taken me quite a while to notice that, at least in our cong, we have not done any of the above for at least 3 to 4 years.
With this long intro, I am attempting to analyze change from the inside. What subtle CYA (cover your a$$) hints at change are coming that most JWs won't notice? I can't tell them all because I've only started doing this recently, but here is what I can recall
- The blood issue mentioned above.
- While not as strange, financial statements in my cong have not been read publicly for years now. Only posted on the board
- We use to make sure to add the "our work is funded by voluntary donations" at the end of every presentation and the KM was specially used to remind us of it. Have not heard this mentioned in years.
I am sure there is more.
One thing that specially caught my attention was the July WT. I know JWsurvey has an extensive article on this. I noticed something else, in addition to what Cedars has published, that may hint at a change. I am trying to get as much input as possible because I want to make sure I am not reading too much into it.
Look at the article titled "Jehovah know those who belong to him". Take a chance and read the whole thing and tell me if it doesn't tell you that apostates may be seen differently in the future? To me, the verbage used seems to imply that faithful servants of the org, should not question why Jehovah does not deal with those who are clearly apostasizying. Let me put out some bullet points on this..
- Pargraph 4 explains how Paul wrote to Timothy about the harm of apostasy but clarified "Despite that, the solid foundation of God remains standing..". It then proceeds to have a detailed explanation about how these were good choice of words. It explains the significance of the "foundation" in the first century and the seal that some foundations use to have. In a nutshell, no matter who lives in the house, the seal of Jehovah is there for those that are "known to him".
- There is hardly any mention on how the cong and the BOE deals with apostates and why. Most of the focus is on how God is not going to remain inactive and HE, not YOU, would take care of it.
- Paragraph 15 goes as far as discouraging judgment against those that may look like they are falling for apostasy. Goes to the extend to tell that it would be hurtful to your own spirituallity, if you begin to question the faithfullnes of your brother or sister.
- Paragraph 16 reminds us that we should mind our own business.
- But the most shocking (at least to me), is the picture on page 9. Here you can see Timothy arguing with an "apostate" over scripture... in front of the congregation. That would never happen today. Not only they will change subjects rather than engaging in debate, but they would never do this in front of the cong. Was this a mistake from the writing department?
Now, what is there to gain from such change? Would this not truly endanger their grip on people? Not if planned properly. Not if you demonize apostates enough before you let them roam free in the cong. Besides, what better way of reinforcement, at the dawn of the 100 year of the kingdom, than to have the "let the weed and the wheat grow together" prophecy be fullfilled in front of their very own eyes? I would feel safe to say that none of the current members have ever witnessed a prophecy being fulfilled. They've heard stories of Russell announcing the "end of the gentile times" but no one has lived thru such events. Everything they've got is second hand accounts.
In the long term, becoming a more mainstream religion could end up having a more disastrous effect on people than the current policies have. At the times when information spreads like wildfire and they realize the outreach and the effects that the inernet has on people, letting the grip go for a while may not be as bad as one may think. At the time when most JWs (who were confronted with TTATT) are "waiting on Jehovah" to clarify the doutbts they won't admit to, having new light that would ridicule an apostate, would just prime them for more unquestioned obidience. If you think is hard to wake someone up now, wait for that day when they could tell you "I remember the last time you brought this up and Jehovah made a fool of you".
I welcome anyone to please comment and correct me. Feedback and criticism is exactly what I am looking for. I will proudly stand corrected. But if indeed my statement is somewhat correct, I believe that nothing short of an all out revolution will ever stop this org from further inflicting damage on the lives of its followers.