Aren't you a bit amazed that the WTS/JWS is still around ?

by Finkelstein 48 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  fulltimestudent

  Aren't you a bit amazed that the WTS/JWS is still around ?

  Nope! There are all kinds of ratbag religions that persist, sometimes for centuries. The Radio Church of God (aka, the Worldwide Church of God) my have continued as a minor example of Christian ratbaggery, but for the radical changes introduced by the 2nd generation leadership. If they had adopted a gradualist approach like our once dear brothers of the fourth generation leadership of witnesses, they may not have lost so many members.

  And can you find a better example of persistence aalong with gradual change than the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox branches of Christianity
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  pepperheart

  Its still around BUTS its had so many cuts these past few years

  Acording to the watchtowers own website

  In 2012 they closed 20 branch headquaters around the world

  In new york they have moved from central new york to warwick

  They have kicked out 1000s of people who used to work there

  They will be moving out from central london in a few years to a town 30 miles away

  they will then be reducing the workforce by 3 quaters

  They will then be closing the printing works and getting magazines from germany

  These past years they have made both the watchtower and awake bimonthlyand made them undated so they can still be used for many months more
  
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  jwfacts

  You could say that about any religion. Jesus indicated he would return 2000 years ago, and didn't, yet Christianity survives. Humans are emotionally unintelligent enough that religion, include Watchtower's peculiar version, will survive for the foreseeable future.
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  LevelThePlayingField

  What a great thread. I think any who become JW's now will think their beliefs are par on. What could ever be wrong with it?
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  Finkelstein

  And can you find a better example of persistence along with gradual change than the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox branches of Christianity.

  True fulltimestudent but these other main stream religious institutions dont have so much riding on preaching the End Times doctrine which is a core doctrine of the JWS. add in all the fictitious date setting ie 1914, 1925, 1975 and you'd think that would spark up some suspicious as to why these doctrines have occurred, as being a tainted commercialization of the Gospel.
  

  Also they are not as aggressive or pushy to your attendance and participation such as service and talks and all the rest.
  

  As others have pointed its easy to reflect after being out and away from the JWS, we do forget the intense involvement that goes on there, the hype, the are you doing the best to serve god guilt trip ? people sticking their noses into your personal life as what you are doing, what are your wearing and have you handed in your publishers report in this month.

  The persistent spy glass by Elders is well documented and realized when your a JWS.
  

  Its no wonder why so many JWS are taking meds to cope with the pressure, anxiety, depression and guilt
  
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  Finkelstein

  Jesus indicated he would return 2000 years ago, and didn't, yet Christianity survives.

  Good point Jwfacts
  
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  steve2

  True fulltimestudent but these other main stream religious institutions dont have so much riding on preaching the End Times doctrine which is a core doctrine of the JWS.
  

  What about first century Christians who lived and breathed the nearness of the end - and here we are 2,000-plus years later.

  JWs are babies compared to Biblical Christianity in terms of keeping people waiting. The JW-organization fiction is based on the first century fiction. Unfortunately for those waiting, two fictions don't make a fact.
  
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  scratchme1010

  Based on what I know about this types of organizations, I am in fact, amazed. I have to give them credit for managing to survive for so long.

  Experts in cults and researchers of these types of groups, all agree that there are two types of cults that tend to have short longevity. One are the type of cults that are based on recovery from addictions. They tend not to last because a lot of the recovery stuff doesn't resonate with second or third generations who have never experienced addictions or its effects, the way people who joined did. Hence, people just don't care much about recovery from an addiction that they don't have.

  The second type of groups is where the WT falls into. Those are the groups that predict the end of the world. I guess that unlike other groups that get disbanded after the "end" date comes and goes and they are still here, the WT never gives a specific date. All they do is keep saying that "it's right around the corner". Those groups that predict things and give dates for some major event end, sometimes abruptly, sometimes slowly. The WT has been masterful in keeping their people expecting for an end that never arrives.
  
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  compound complex

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plain_Truth

  The Plain Truth, a former free of charge monthly magazine, was first published in 1934 by Herbert W. Armstrong, founder of The Radio Church of God, which he later named The Worldwide Church of God (WCG). The magazine subtitled as The Plain Truth: a magazine of understanding gradually developed into an international, free of charge news magazine, sponsored by the WCG church membership. The magazine's messages often centered on the controversial doctrine of British Israelism, the belief that the early inhabitants of the British Isles, and hence their descendants, were actually descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.
  
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  sloppyjoe2

  The United church of God died because they changed their core doctrines. After Armstrong died they adopted the Trinity doctrine which they were adamantly opposed to as pagan. Something like that change would shake even JW land to the core. Hence they never would change.