TE: OK, at our recent assembly, I noticed that there were quite a lot of brothers wearing beards
Interesting! Where was this? (Be as specific or vague as you feel comfortable sharing)
It sounds like it's more likely people are just beginning to disregard the ridiculous and endless nitpicking rules of the control freaks knows as the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses (GB). This IS good news!
TE: Perhaps the GB with so many other issues on their minds right now are
less inclined to make an issue of trivial matters such as a man's
personal choice to grow a beard!
NFW. See this thread for recent proof of that. It discusses the current outline for the CO's meeting the bodies of elders. In it, the elders are instructed to crack down on publishers dress and grooming, and also their behaviors, body language, mannerisms, characteristics and traits.
Any rumors of a "kinder, gentler" GB are completely mistaken.
Let's review: It's a cult!