Wingcommander, cults do change. It is a well known phenomena in sociological circles the moderating impact of the passage of time on a religious group's strict policies. The cults of yesteryear become the mainstream groups of today. Baptists and Methodists sprung from oppositional views on the then mainstream religious thinking. Even Mormons and Seventh-Day Adventists have become increasingly main stream in their desire to be seen as non threatening and normal.
The face of JWs has increasingly attempted to be seen as wholesome, loving and caring. Even the soothing language used when justifying shunning is a change. I'm not saying there will be big changes soon - but the organization has been put on notice for shameful policies and procedures in responding to child sex abuse. The theme of re-traumatization has echoed throuhout the inquiry into JW judicial committee procedures. I'd say even the more brain-cell starved devotees of the organization would have been disturbed by some of the still-used procedures - especially in the light, not of Scripture, but evidence-based best practice policies of responding to allegations of sexual sbuse. It is hard for religious groups to Biblically defend the indefensible. So they are forced by sheer decency to review their policies and procedures. And that all has a perceptibly moderating impact, little by little over time. And, at the same time no suggestion is made that it is enough or will lead to other changes.. Probably not. But the organization had been chastened.
From JW organization's perspective, they'd much rather be persecuted for their witnessing work NOT for backward polices on the treatment of their children. Hence Jackson's full cooperation with the Inquiry.
