I have no quarrel with anyone who wishes to hope for the
Society's 'reform', I just want to draw attention to the
real cause of change by distinguishing reform from mainstreaming.
When someone says 'reform', I think of brave reformers who
saved lives or fought slavery and injustice - motivated by
ethics. Making changes to salvage the cash flow and dominance of
an uncaring corporation is another matter.
Look at articles in the media praising JW's for benefiting
humanity because they fought in the courts. These are the
same folks who love artwork depicting the gruesome mass death
of their neighbors (remember the Paradise book for kids?).
Witnesses commonly applaud at conventions when talks describe
the same thing. We enjoy First Amendment rights because of
Watchtower arrogance and cult-like clannishness. Good results,
ugly motives - there's no need for thanks!
Understanding the background of change in the organization would
save countless well-meaning Witnesses from writing letters
disassociating themselves. THEY DON'T CARE AND WON'T BOTHER
READING MORE THAN A PARAGRAPH OR TWO. The same goes for involved
discertations on doctrine. Better you should figure out how to sue
them or get them arrested! THAT GETS ACTION!
As to mainstreaming (or reform), there has been continuous progress
over decades - slow but discernable. Long ago, some influencial
lunatics wanted the organization to use a different calendar
and different names for days of the week!(Thursday is THOR's
day, remember?) This was too much for even Rutherford who blasted
the advocates of such a scheme (may be referred to in Moyle's
letter, indirectly). There was also a feeling that wedding rings
were pagan. This idea failed in particular because Gilead sisters
found themselves nearly molested in public in South/Central
American countries( no ring? you're in fair game in machismo-land)
Needless to say, they grabbed rings and put 'em on.
When necessity arose, the organization blinked and quietly adjusted.
... and so it's been ever since. As to the present, .....
Long before they bury the last Witness publisher (in a Shaker
cemetary?), they're going to run out of volunteers. This problem
has been building for decades. You can discern it in the
requirements for Bethel service or regular pioneering, over
time. They just aren't as zealous as they used to be.
Even with volunteering at assemblies, remember the elaborate
provisions for food service in the fifties? Gone! Then they
had stands with sandwiches - Gone! I remember the 'press gangs'
of brothers who WOULD ROAM THE HALLS trying to FORCE
BROTHERS into volunteering!( inner city conventions in the 70's).
The 'voluntary contribution'
arrangement was a bust - as was the Society's insistence that
Witness families GO OUT IN SERVICE during the convention.
Remember that? Joe Whitebread and kids get a taste of inner city
territory!
The latest KM makes a plea for Bethel applicants. Who knows,
maybe they'll have to guarantee them job training some day soon,
just like the Army!
One of the most stunning developments in the last few years in
Watchtower-land is this: The WATCHTOWER CAN NEITHER EXPLAIN
NOR PUBLICALLY DEFEND ITS DOCTRINES! Think about this!
They can't openly attack the Catholic Church! (it would look
intolerant) Remember cartoons of effeminate priests consorting
with Hitler? GONE!
They can't openly attack the U.N.! They NEED them to fight for
religious freedom around the world.
They can't openly identify government officials as working for
Satan! The Legal Dept. says NO WAY!
They can't even explain the basis of their vaunted authority,
the 'faithful slave'. Why? How do you elaborate on a hundred
year old circular argument?
And a particular favorite of mine,
THEY CAN'T DEFEND THEIR TREATMENT OF WOMEN!!!!!!!
Think about that one - this point hasn't been exploited enough
by you reformers! Women can't hold any position of authority, period!
Sure, they can quote a few quick scriptures about women being
SUBORDINATE (and hope influential 'worldly' people don't notice!).
But they can't explain in detail or elaborate on it - remember when
the Awake suggested that women's brains are smaller, on average?
Shouldn't women be excluded from authority because emotion clouds
their powers of reason??? THEY CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT. THEY CAN'T
PUBLICALLY DEFEND IT WITH ANY DEPTH. Mainstreaming strikes again!
Do you think they worry about governments or human rights groups
getting upset about the inferior status of women in the Borg?
Add to this situation the enormous 'dumbing down' of the organization. I dare anyone to compare at random any Watchtower
volume from the sixties to the platitude laden, eight grade reading
level mess that they crank out now. You think computers make things
better. Not if all you do is 'cut and paste'!
The Knowledge book seems like
a watered down attempt at discarding the organization's more
troublesome doctrines - please examine the way it addresses blood,
the Gentile times and holidays for yourself - a sentence here,
a paragraph there, of little importance, quickly forgotten.
It shouldn't be of any surprize to the Brooklyn Junta, that they
are losing some Witnesses suddenly. How could it be otherwise
when the organization is so superficial? Ever hear "Boy, that
was a deep Watchtower study article!" - and cringe?
There is more to say but the hour grows late.
The most interesting aspect of this mainstreaming is what the
future holds.
metatron