Posted by Snowball [Snowball] on November 16, 1999 at 22:32:20 {pRztWiaeukCuspFhnTUgzJJpNQgSp.}:
In Reply to: The future of the WTS posted by Seeker on November 16, 1999 at 18:44:24:
Although the internet is a most wonderful tool for exposing the totalitarian Organization, I wonder how far reaching its effects will ultimately be. Many people are not, nor plan on joining the internet. It is available in only the more developed countries. Still, this may be one of the ultimate downfalls for the WTS.
I see the Org as pursuing a course as a mainstream religion, or at least trying to give that impression. They will continue to try to project an image of a "kinder, gentler" organization that will be merely an alternative to the popular churches.
They have already laid down some of the groundwork for this. For example: the preaching work is no longer the prophetic separating of the sheep and goats, but is simply a "bible educational work". Altenative witnessing is being stressed; I myself have been very actve with the Shopping mall table. Specific prophetic claims are being dropped or muddied so that there will be no fallout when said prochecies fail.
I think they realise that the hardliner approaches that worked in decades past, now have a more opposite effect. Its just that the changover will have to be subtle and gradual.
Snowball