I’m just throwing this one into the ring to see what you think. I know the WTBTS are always beating the drum about “not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together as some have the custom”, but do they really want JW’s actually talking with one another when they aren’t around to monitor the conversation?
If you think about it, JW’s would appear to have had their opportunities for social intercourse severely curtailed. Look at how assemblies have changed over the years. Lots of smallish ones now, days reduced considerably, not too much time between sessions to converse. Assemblies like little islands of people who now never visit another island, their inhabitants limited to conversing with just a few of their own.
Take a look at how the feeding arrangements have changed. I have movie film of my parents stood in a long queue at Twickenham, waiting to enter the cafeteria, chatting to anyone who was stood near to them. My father said that the meal queues were essential for JW’s to be able to exchange information with one another. This, he said, were what assemblies were all about, what a blessing those cafeteria queues could be, what a source of spiritual riches, how upbuilding!
Now, I understand, all that has changed so that opportunities to chat with others have been greatly limited. I wonder why that is do you suppose?
I am also informed that it is no longer permissible to walk in the concourse during sessions without being instructed to sit down, yet another opportunity for conversation with other strollers has been curtailed. What is it that mustn’t be said?
It’s not just assemblies either. I understand that it is no longer considered “mature” to go to a different congregations meeting just to visit, this is now limited to visiting speakers and elders. What’s wrong with visiting another congregation? Isn’t the table of Jehovah the same amongst all his congregations? Or is there something else?
You see, I am starting to realise that the WTBTS has a mammoth problem on its hands. I think that they know that there is much unrest simmering below the surface. They are scared that the R & F will chat openly about 1975. They know that many JW’s aren’t happy about disfellowshipping. Blood is a problem too. Recently, the UN fiasco and now the paedophile issue is fast becoming a really difficult problem for them to shrug off.
I think that the last thing the WTBTS want is an exchange of information amongst its adherents. That is why, IMO, they are dividing up their numbers into compact units that are extremely limited in their contact with each other, so as to suppress this spread of damaging information.
Truly a case of Divide and Rule!
Englishman.