Think back to the early 1980's. One of the most important events in Watchtower history
was the release of Crisis of Conscience by former Governing Body member Raymond Franz.
Slow distribution of this
"apostate" book lead to minor affect on members. Main stream acceptance of the World Wide
Web began in 1996 and mass distribution of the same information via the Internet assisted in the rapid and significant drop of growth of Jehovah's Witness from 7% in
the 1980's, to around 2% per annum.
To further lend support that the internet is affecting Watchtower
growth, there is a correlationship
between countries with the lowest rates of Watchtower growth having the highest
penetration of Internet access.
The affect is particularly
pronounced when looking at the percentage of Bible studies that
progress to baptism.
The Internet is growing at an astonishing rate, with the number of users growing by 291% between 2000 and March
2008, from 360 million users to 1.4 billion users. This represents 21% of the world population.
(internetworldstats.com/
stats.htm July 26 2008)
Since 2002, the Internet has developed from a place to share documents to a means of interaction through social
networking websites. Web 2.0 is used to represent the ability to
display rich media and interactive information sharing, such as
through wikis, RSS feeds, mash ups and blogs. This allows for rapid dissemination of
information and discussion of alternate points of view.
Recent technologies give a glimpse into what will be possible in the future:
Internet connection speed
increases from dial-up to
broadband to fibre optic cable and 4G for almost instantaneous response times
YouTube providing the ability to post personal and educational
videos
Google Maps Street View
allowing 3D video imaging of any
location Smartphones making constant internet access mainstream
Twitter for instant updates on events and people
Social Media such as Facebook for tracking friends around the
world
Combine these technologies and soon the Internet will morph
from static verbal information pages to virtual reality. What will
be the result?

The Watchtower presents what most people recognise as an illogical and inaccurate message.
People fall for the message through slow, insidious indoctrination techniques. First
are several months of pleasant study of a book containing high level doctrine. Next is meeting
attendance and "love bombing". By the time an interested person
becomes aware of deeper and more offensive practices and doctrines that are primed and
somewhat immune to the
rhetorical fallacy.
A reason the internet affect Watchtower growth is that prior
to effective indoctrination a Bible Study can learn other sides of the
story. Imagine how it will be over the next decade. After receiving
the first Watchtower and before their first study the householder will use the Internet to access
information on the history of the Watchtower Society and doctrinal flaws.This will allow for rapid evaluation of historic Watchtower doctrinal contradictions, errors and changes. Each Watchtower article released will see simultaneous dissection and distribution of
information over the internet highlighting misquotes, scientific
error, doctrinal changes and logical fallacies.
A significant reason for
membership with religious organizations is the social aspect.
This is magnified with cults that offer a "family". Social networking sites will erode into this benefit as it allows people to connect easily to like minded people locally and globally. As
youths in particular find how easy the internet makes the development of friendships, there will be less fear and in
trepidation from leaving a cult into what is no longer the great
unknown.
Out of touch Governing Body members seem to avoid confronting the affect future Internet developments will have
on Watchtower growth and to be ill prepared to counteract.
Their position has been one of defence, rather than taking the offensive. Even with the upgrade
of jw.org in 2013, the
Watchtower is using the internet solely for information delivery,
and avoiding its potential for growth through social media and interaction such as allowing comments on their website. This appears to be due to a fear of
alternative points of view. They are caught between their need for information control, and an ever increasing free market for
information.
The result is likely one of two conclusions. If the Watchtower does not change, those leaving
will start to outnumber baptisms. Alternatively, there may be a push
to become mainstream. The transparency the internet provides regarding this organization may force it to discard bigoted, cult-like teachings and practices. This would include doing away with
disfellowshipping and shunning and the teaching that only
Jehovah's Witnesses will survive Armageddon.

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