Great post metatron,
I like the comparisons. They are fitting.
I thought about this for a short while and my thoughts are that, while the WTS will become more repressive in the future over the ?Us vs. Them? fear mongering talk, the WTS will LIGHTEN the restrictions on the ?warm-fuzzy? stuff.
One can see from the current spew of literature, public talks, and DC & CA parts that the WTS is trying to crank up the fear of ever leaving the ?loving? flock.
Apostates are reported to have wild-all night orgies, constantly be drunk, infected with syphilis, and worse of all, make enough money to live a good, satisfying life!
?So brothers, why would anyone want to leave the protective wing of Jehover?s earthly organization for that? Because they have become: ?headstrong, puffed-up with pride, lovers of money, and have been led astray so as to partake in all forms of depravity!??
The fear will continue to run higher than ever IMHO.
But?.
On the other end of the spectrum, one can see how the WTS is ?lightning the load? to keep the numbers high. Which keeps the money flowing. More people around, the more money the WTS gets.
So now you can Reg Pio with 70 hrs/mth instead of getting in your 1000 for the year. 15 minutes is good enough to get you off the irregular list. Piñatas are OK if your conscience allows it. BTW, so is voting, alternative military service, serving on a jury, most parts of blood, screwing the poor sap MS?s wife as long as you do the one year time to get reinstated, and don?t even worry about reading your WatchTower before going in FS, we have written out what you have to say in the OKM.
Warm and fuzzy.
And when ?outside forces? talk about things like the UN, false dates, and molestation cases, the majority of the warm bodies in the seats will say:
?Not my jehover! He?s a kind god who will forgive me for playing the Lotto and looking at porn as long as I tell the simpleton elders about my titillating escapades.?
?But if I ever question the brothers, well, I am no better than Korah and deserve to die tomorrow at Arm-a-gettin.?
As more and more of the R&F grouse about how tough it is, the more the asinine restrictions will be lightened.
Who knows what is next to be a ?conscience matter?; ?R? rated movies, some holidays or birthdays, ?10? hrs/mth, god knows what else. I do believe that the ?little things? will continue to be softened as long as it doesn?t interfere with the WTS? strangle hold on money or authority.
But if one dares to undermine the WTS? money or authority, and watch out; this kitten has claws!
Eventually here in the USA, the WTS will just fade into a softcore cult, a few shades shy of mainstream religion that will ever affect a few million lives. I don?t think that there will ever be a distinctive milestone like the end of the Cold War or even a discernable implosion to hear the last gasping breathes of the bloated, doomsday behemoth known as the WatchTower.
It?ll just fade away into a footnote, as it should.
IMHO,
Paul
