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Just reading “Visions of Glory” about the JWs. A bit out of date – it came out c. 1978 – but still interesting. She claims that the JWs as an organization are sexist, racist, and land grabbers. By pure coincidence, the JWs came down our street today. Saw them out of the window. Two women, two old men. They were chattering about something. Drably dressed. Had an odd dream about them in which our missionaries and their missionaries converged…
I wouldn’t call it looking in a mirror though. The LDS and Watchtower society are similar in certain ways, but in others they are much more divergent… for example, she says around WWII, the JWs were against marriage, as it meant bringing children into the world. What becomes clear is that although both orgs have become bureaucracies and both have evolved a lot in the 20th century, although the evolution of the JWs has been much more radical.
By the way, Charles Taze Russell comes out of examination MUCH worse than Joseph Smith. And I find the LDS much more preferable, for all its faults, than the JW. She is extremely critical about JW charity work, which is almost non-existent.
She describes a lot of the contradictions and problems within the organization. She is surprisingly frank about sexual issues, conversations she overheard men having, and some early pubescent lesbian experiences she had (!), and her odd relationships with boys. Her personal testimony is fascinating, how friends shunned her, and members neglected those who didn’t fit the profile.
Her wiki page.
Quote:around WWII, the JWs were against marriage, as it meant bringing children into the world
Not a good growth strategy
:thumbdown: , but if you’re focused on trying to convert the elect 144,000 it’s not nearly as problematic.
Quote:Not a good growth strategy
:thumbdown: , but if you’re focused on trying to convert the elect 144,000 it’s not nearly as problematic.The fact that they would come out with a policy like that (no marriage, with its attendance membership growth problems) tells me their leaders are rooted in faith rather than simply perpetuating their own organization, as I sometimes feel our own organization is (not conclusively though; but plural marriage, the admonition to get married young, have babies immediately, and marry in the Church can be interpreted as catering to organizational growth needs rather than a commitment to ideals).
SD, that doesn’t mean they weren’t focused on perpetuating their organization. It just meant their vision of the organization was very, very different than most – and that they believed they could maintain that vision by focusing solely on converting adults. Obviously, that didn’t work – probably as much due to the members’ resistance (I’m guessing) as to the un-sustainability of the organization because of that approach.
Different visions produce different efforts – and, in this case, in this narrow regard, I don’t think there is any difference in the sincerity or faith of the leaders of the two organizations.
Don’t mind my cynical view of things from time to time. I see our own history, culture and doctrine two ways, and I vascillate betweeen them. On one hand, getting married early, having children almost immediately, marrying within the religion, having a ton of children, etcetera, makes sense from the perspective of the Plan of Salvation. It provides bodies for spirit children who are waiting to get here, provides eternal happiness when all are saved in the CK, keeps the testosterone-laden young adult men morally clean due to the physical blessings of marriage when they are young, etcetera. On the other hand, you could look at these “policies” as an effort on the part of the early founders of our Church as a means to fuel population growth, which has since been perpetuated in modern times. Our leaders, I believe are sincere, for the most part, although I constantly wonder if these cultural norms are more for the benefit of the Church than individuals. The scripture in Jacob (don’t quote me) indicating that the Lord may from time to time order multiple wives to fuel population growth is a case in point.
I’ve seen posts here where people have followed the population-growth model (which, I also acknowledge may also be spiritually-rooted) and have regretted it, so, it’s not always bunnies and roses for everyone….
So, my stance — I see it both ways. When I feel I’m in an unhappy or cynical place with the Church, I tend to see the cultural norms regarding marriage and children as serving the interests of the organization first. Some of my life’s experiences point me in this direction. When I’m in a good place with the Church, I tend to favor the plan of salvation interpretation of these norms.
One thing that does shore up my view of the sincerity and truth of our religion is the fact that Church puts so much money into temples. Perhaps I’m lacking vision, but I don’t see these huge buildings placed in residential areas as real-estate holdings to be sold off some day for other purposes. Community centers? Rezoned and used as conference centers? Not sure — doesn’t add up. So, our investment in temples is one reason I start believing the leaders at the head of our Church are deeply sincere about their belief in eternal families and temple work.
Visions of Glory is apparently online in its entireity but I have been unable to find the complete version.
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