slimboyfat, here's something else I've been thinking about... concerning the difference between churchdom and JWdom. Churchdom has been stale and shallow for decades, so its supporters have nothing to which to make a comparison. However, the JW religion billed itself as "the truth" - the one and only true religion. It bragged about its earth-covering, locust-like, bold witness. Now, it's not even close to living up to that billing and the preaching is lame and some JWs are, I believe, confused. When the JW religion is exposed and countered, it stings JWs, whereas church people are not really exposed and are so shallow, they don't even know what their own churches teach and have never thought they have the one and only truth; to them, it's just going through the motions for an hour at church a couple of Sundays a month, and the rest of the time, religion doesn't even enter their minds. So, the exposure and opposition JWdom is receiving is wearing on it, but churchdom is not really receiving such exposure and opposition. The only opposition it receives is that which is against religion in general.
Also, churchdom does not have a time limit - an expiration date. The many churchies I've dealt with over decades never even think about Armageddon, the great tribulation, etc. JWdom's expiration date is past. It's 2024. "This system" was supposed to be gone decades ago. JWs look more and more wrong with each passing day/month/year.
So, it's like churchies are on a train passing through a landscape with no distinct features and they have no clocks, watches, etc. They can't tell where they are, whether they're late, etc., and they don't really care; they're just satisfied with the ride. However, the JW train landscape has distinct features and JWs have clocks. Some of them have to be thinking "hey, we're really late, and look out the window. Something's wrong; we're not supposed to be here. Something's wrong with this route. Also the train rules have changed so much." Also, all along their route, people on the outside are pointing out how late they are, how wrong their route is, how dysfunctional their train is, how incompetent the train personnel are, how corrupt the train company is, etc. JWs with any sense of discernment have to be noticing.
The JW religion is in trouble because it claims to be the one and only true religion and its theology has an expiration date. Some JWs have to be thinking something's wrong.
I've read a lot on the exJW reddit about JWs' being spoiled by the pandemic and not wanting to return to in-person meetings. Many half-heartedly tune in on Zoom. The zeal for the ministry is nothing like it used to be. It seems that many JWs are becoming complacent. That spirit of complacency is contagious. I've seen it in athletics. A team can win or lose based on its mindset. A crowd can cheer on a team and move it to play better and win; but, on the other hand, a lack of spirit or motivation can cause a team to lose. Those who attend meetings with half-full halls are probably not as motivated as they otherwise would be. I believe the spirit of complacency will spread. Younger JWs are seeing old-timers who gave their lives and now have nothing - no retirement, no savings, etc.; these younger ones are thinking they don't want to be like that.
I believe that several different "systems" within the sick JW "body" are ailing. As in a literal body, these systems communicate with each other and are connected in feedback loops. When the body gets far enough away from its homeostasis, its normal operating condition, it crashes. I believe that the org leaders are aware of the sickness and are desperately trying to fix the org's ailing parts, desperately working behind the scenes to cure the sickness.
At this point, I think that all it can do is morph into a more mainstream churchlike religion, but if it does, it will no longer be the JW religion that we knew in the past. It will have crashed at that point. And, to some extent, it has already crashed in that it has become more mainstream with its website, broadcasts, pop-like music, talk show, etc.
Some years ago, the org said that JWs had made progress since the old phonograph witnessing days in that individual JWs learned to advertise and boldly defend the truth without depending on recordings. Now, JWdom is in a way reverting to that old way. JWs use videos, etc. to preach. They now point people to their website for answers. It seems that the leaders no longer want JWs engaging in open Bible discussions... for obvious reasons. If moving away from phonograph witnessing was progress, what is what they are doing now?
Again, I say JWdom is sick, weak, floundering, Maybe the numbers are looking OK now, but I think the morale, or lack thereof, is going to spread more and more and the numbers are going to go down.
