In the past, we used to hear talks on:
Avoiding sexual immorality and porn, as well as masturbation and other sexual practices
Why evolution cannot possibly be true
How Watchtower's teachings are pure and why one should reject "Babylon the Great"
How close we are to the end of this system
How not participating in the preaching work at least once a week will incur blood guilt, and why it was non negotiable
And remember when Watchtower used to criticise other religions for "tickling the ears" of their members by focusing on love and Christian works and not on the most important work of all for Watchtower, its evangelical recruitment work?
Nowadays, although elements of these negative subjects are still apparent at meetings, such subjects are now overshadowed by a new way of presenting their cult.
More often, we now hear these messages:
Love your brothers, forgive them regardless of whatever happened to you
Remaining united is more important than making sure you are doing everything right
Develop Christian qualities constantly and remember that you can never perfectly show them to others (in other words, you will fail, but chill out because this is what we expect from you)
Obey every direction from the Governing Body, even if it appears strange from a human standpoint (do as you're told or we'll "remove" you for apostasy)
Loyally support Christ's brothers by volunteering any time you have and we thank you so much for your voluntary donations (wink, wink, nudge)
Show love people who aren't Witnesses and advertise our website freely, with the intention of recruitment of course, perhaps you may be able to trick them into taking an Interactive Bible Course in our own very covert way!
Beards are now okay, any size is fine as long as it doesn't "stumble" any, unless you're a Bethelite of course who appear to grow beards which look so vile they look like they are stuck on the face (shaved so close) rather than growing out like a naturally normal beard.
No ties for men, which was a long time coming. Although I see no point in whether a man chose to wear a tie or not, you should dress as you please. No one should judge you for dressing up if you want.
Slacks for women at meetings and even assemblies and conventions are now okay. The staple of a sister's youth in the past was to buy an attractive new dress every day of the convention for the year, the lowering of standards is disgraceful and takes away the excitement for women who love to shop, now they can just throw on a jumper and slacks, that will do!
Disfellowshipping ("removal") is now made to seem "softer" with the approach of reinstating a removed individual a few months after the announcement. Pathetic. What is the point of making an announcement and avoiding someone socially for 3 or 4 months? I can choose to avoid contacting my daughter for that long and her reaction would be like "what the hell was the point of that dad?"
And just ticking a box for congregation publishers? Watchtower has made the ministry (mainly letter writing or bible studies with children) dead easy. Anyone can do it. No real effort is required. Just come out at least once a month for nearly an hour, even half an hour, and you've done the Lord's work. If you are an elder, ministerial servant, or other publisher who may be a PIMO, what is the point? Just exit now while you have the chance.
What next? I cannot see Watchtower making any more significant changes for some time. However I do have a very strange feeling that next month, on the 1 year anniversary of the "beard announcement" Governing Body update we will probably receive some "news". I don't know if my instincts are correct, it will be interesting to observe what transpires in this Organization.