In relation to the Watchtower's decline, in money and doctrine, the third world factor
rarely is brought up. Originally, Witnesses were mostly American and European but
growth in the Third World changed that.
Clearly, they are having problems with rot in the Western nations but still can exploit
growth in countries that are poor, afflicted, - and lacking widespread internet access.
So, besides the inability to defend their own doctrine - as a accumulated patchwork
of speculative ideas - they are forced to dumb down everything to fit the reading level
of the barely literate. Heck, I recall that the Awake even compared one of their
booklets to a comic book ( 'Enjoy Life'?)
In addition, most of the cash flow is likely to come from rich nations - suffering
from sagging meeting attendance. Little Nkomo, who sells his chickens to contribute
to the Watchtower cause isn't likely to fund any new printing presses. Poor nations
,sadly, are usually bottomless pits of needs - and wracked with oppression - rather
than sources of strength. Contrary to Watchtower myth, persecution DOES strongly
inhibit growth and , if sudden, can decimate a branch and congregations.
The future? Dumber, simpler, poorer - with a leadership that will always repeat
'please be assured of our Christian love' - while quietly compromising when money
troubles get in the way ( Malawi/Mexico).
and if this cloning/biotech stuff accelerates in Western nations, who knows?
JWs may go the way of the buggy whip, slide rules, and the Edsel.
so be it
metatron