It seems clear that the GB are hurting. Recent media attacks over pedophilia, combined with revelations of hypocrisy over the UN and even personal accusations against members of the GB themselves has meant that those at the top of the ivory tower are feeling more vulnerable than ever before. The law is increasingly being used to bring these monsters to book.
The religion is losing members, and are garnering fewer replacements. It's a sort of writing on the wall for the scared old men in Brooklyn.
Figures show a slight increase in publishers worldwide but we all know that is due to massaging through reduced hour requirements and the desperate act of publishers too tired to go out at all but still reporting hours to keep the elders off their backs.
The internet has allowed all but the most hard-nosed JW to see the hypocrisy at the heart of their religion. The Emperor really has no clothes.
I believe that even though many profess to still believe the JW religion is still the truth, they are slowing down; meeting attendance and field service has, for many, become token service.
But most importantly, I believe that the brothers have slowed down their contributions ($$$$) to the World Wide Kingdom Work (read old prophets retirement fund).
Expect calls for more donations in the literature.
Why do I feel that the GB are hurting? Well, I have noticed an increase in the whining about opposers and their attacks on the Society. The current literature is full of such comments as:
But we know that today, opposers similarly sharpen their tongue, using speech as a weapon of war. They shoot at blameless Christians, using spoken or written words as arrows of misrepresentation.
(Watchtower March 1 st 2003, page 16)
HOWEVER. The Society has also noticed our one weakness: lack of unity as evidenced in flame wars.
Page 16 goes on to say:
David goes on to say: God will shoot at them with an arrow suddenly. Wounds have resulted to them, and they cause one to stumble. But their tongue is against their own selves The righteous one will rejoice in Jehovah and will indeed take refuge in him. (Psalm 64:7-10) Yes, though enemies sharpen their tongue against us, in the end their tongue comes to be against their own selves. Jehovah eventually turns matters to a positive outcome, so that those who have trusted in him can rejoice in him.
So, next time the flame wars start. Ask yourself, is the Society watching and getting a kick out of it? In fact, has the Society planted trolls to deliberately start the nasty stuff? Is this considered part of their theocratic warfare?
I wonder.
Edited by - dmouse on 27 January 2003 16:54:30