The 1914 doctrine, i.e., Christ's enthronement in kingdom power and the appointment of the fds thereabouts.
WTS leaders recognize that the imminent centennial of this doctrine forming the very foundation of their claim to authority over all "kingdom interests" on earth requires some address in the not-distant future if they are to avoid further calamitous erosion in credibility among the ranks.
Realizing they cannot abandon it wholesale, they know they must figure a way to manipulate scripture to fashion an argument the flock might swallow as to why it is not unreasonable to suppose Christ has been kicking it in heaven for the past hun, his feet propped up on his "foot stool," watching "the sign of the last days" ravage the earth and its inhabitants while he gives not a single order to his angelic army to strike.
This, imo, is no small feat, given their most delusionalimaginativecreative gifted "scholars" are dirt napping have gone the way of their upward calling.
The demise of the no-blood doctrine, imo, will constitute a major blow for many, many JWs, regardless of the Society's attempt to re-frame it as always having been a conscience issue. There are just too many JWs who know and experienced firsthand in some past medical crisis that the decision regarding blood was not left to anyone's conscience. Much like the many JW men who, despite the Society's present claim, know all too well they had no choice but to do time in the joint rather than alternative military service if they did not want to be disfellowshiped. No amount of WT study articles causes them to buy any "adjustment" and the same will be the case for many JWs who learn that they allowed a loved one to die, not because of their own consciences, but because of an organizational policy being held to their throats---that is now being "adjusted."
(And people, please, please, stop automatically accepting that what JWs say---and post--- to be heard and read by other JWs is what's really in [all of] their hearts. Recall your own past struggle trying to reconcile what you were supposed to believe and accept with how you really felt and how you continued regurgitating according to script the whole time. Especially do I believe this likely to be the case for those who respond to tough questions with "...because the GB tells us so and I stand behind them..." and other such robotic replies.)
I expect the "repeal" of the no-blood doctrine will cost the Society substantial money, but that the 2014 centennial will cost them hearts in a way that will surpass the damage done by the change in the "generation" teaching.
AMNESIAN
Edited by - AMNESIAN on 14 August 2002 16:25:4