The WT and Paranoia

Do you see the pattern?

WT October 1, 2002 Jehovah Blesses and Protects Those Who are Obedient
p. 18..No doubt prior to and during that time, Gods people will experience major tests of their faith and obedience.

WT October 1, 2002 Cultivate Obedience as the End Draws Near
p. 9...In fact, the main target of Satans spiritual warfare consists of Jehovahs anointed ones..

WT October 15, 2002 Oppose the Devil
p. 1 In these "last days", however, Satan is concentrating his efforts on Gods dedicated servants, waging war with anointed Christians,...

WT October 15, 2002 Jehovah Cares for You
p. 18 Satan is doing all in his power to bring persecution, opposition, and pressure from all quarters upon Jehovahs people. He tries to disrupt our peace and destroy our fine standing with our God.

WT November 1, 2002 Maintain your Conduct Fine Among the Nations (Dec 9-15 2002 study)
p. 17 Unfortunately, some "unreasonable men" in authority persecute us or oppose us in other ways - such as by promoting smear campaigns against us. Still, in Jehovahs due time, their lies are always exposed, and their "ignorant talk" is effectively muzzled. (I wonder, exactly, how the WTS plans on muzzling its opposers? Are they leaving it up to Jehovah?)

Tyrants, when threatened, become paranoid. Their survival depends on total control. When that slips, they will do anything to ensure their continued survival. at the expense of those under their control. Some interesting thoughts from a book review of History and Hatred,

Feelings of rage and hostility in particular are subject to denial and projected on to others. Violently angry and afraid of their own aggression, paranoids defend against their rage by viewing themselves as the victims of persecutors. In effect, the paranoids impulse to persecute and tyrannize others is denied and projected on to phantom enemies who then become imaginary persecutors who must be hunted down and either subjugated or destroyed....The process of projection, however, has been implicitly recognized for centuries, as we may see from these lines in King Lear:

Thou rascal beadle,hold thy bloody hand!
Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thy own back;
Thou hotly lusts to use her in that kind
For which thou whipst her. (IV, vi 157-60)

If we respond narrowly to Shakespeares poetry, we will see a barbed insight directed against the sadism of petty tyrants. If our response is broader and more generous, however, we will see, reflected in the figure of the beadle, nothing other than ourselves. The whole point of Shakespeares lines is not that they illuminate a psychiatric illness. It is that they succinctly describe one of the fundamental processes of human psychology.*

Consider how David had to run for his life when King Saul recognized his authority was slipping. (1Sa 18:5-12). I fear for the intelligent, capable, funny witnesses in the society, who will experience greater pressure to conform in the coming months. If they stand out at all, innocent or no, they could become a casualty to the growing paranoia.  Be like David and run. Run for your lives.

* History and hatred
Political Paranoia: The Psychopolitics of Hatred by Robert S. Robins and Jerrold M. Post. 366pp. Yale University Press, 1998
book review
Times Literary Supplement, 10 April 1998

Excellent post jgnat!

chilling and very true

They sound more like bacteria everyday.

brummie

 I don't think it's all paranoia .I have been reading about what's going on around the world and they are being severely persecuted in some countries and any civil rights to free speech or assembly is being denied .

Inspired by jgnat's work, I have added a new page to Quotes:

http://quotes.jehovahswitnesses.com/paranoia.htm

 

OK, here I am getting into "controversial analysis" rather than just a Quotes, but this is too good to pass up.

heathen, where, exactly, were you reading it? Please elaborate.

If you were reading a UN list of groups that have their basic rights restricted, that is a pretty long list! Of course, it is always shameful when it happens, but it is not a unique situation.

Again, where, exactly, did you read this?

 jgnat,

I enjoyed your post and I do believe The WTBS does get paraniod as all christian groups are persecuted and they behave as if it is exclusively JW.(Reminds me of Mormons)

It's the "They're All Out To Get Us So We Better Stick To Our Own" gag...you know?

BUT...Unlike other Religious groups...JW's do not bare arms. So who will get violently hurt by them.

Isolated yes......if someone allows it...as I did for years. Feelings hurt....yes....I experianced that for years.

But Violently Hurt??? What JW would kill another human? I don't think one practicing JW would and I don't believe The GB would make that order or even hint at it.

When they say ,"Still, in Jehovahs due time, their lies are always exposed, and their "ignorant talk" is effectively muzzled."

They mean Jehovah will do it...not any human.

Personally, I think Jehovah Gonna muzzel them and everyone cause we're all probly going to be surprised!

I don't think a single human knows what's going to happen or what Har-Mageddon realy is going to be like.....not even me..hehehehehe

But still your post did show how paranoia is used as a controlling method.

Why do religions think they need punishments and fear to make people behave?

I think the real message of Christ is that with Love you don't need a threat to make you be a good neighbor,friend,family memebr,shepard of the flock,or even sheep like one.

If you have real love you just want to be good to everyone and you do the best you can.It isn't threats that make good people...it is love.

You Will Know Them By Thier Love   

and I think all here agree with that....that is why this place is so great

 

Quotes!  I am so flattered!  I inspired an inspired website designer!

Utopian Raindrops, I could not let one of your comments go by without comment, it is just too funny....

Is this a new dress code I did not know about?  Kind of like JW's do not bare knees?  ROFTL.  Thank you all for your comments.  I will provide more learned responses to your comments when I have a moment.

The whole of JW religion is based firmly on fear..How loving...OUTLAW

 I got the information on the Watchtower information services .org web site . The witness in the country of Georgia are fighting legal battles and being beaten up and having their property destroyed this is all being perpetrated by the orthodox church.I would have to say that is tyrany at it's finest .When people can no longer tolerate individuals because of a different belief then burn your property and beat you and your family.

Frankly, the fact that you got the information from the Watchtower's PR site would inspire a lot of suspicion in me. Of course they are going to highlight stories about how they are being "persecuted". They love persecution; it makes it look as if they really are God's people, otherwise why would Satan be hounding them so? And every time they are "persecuted" by a government, they try to blame it on the local clergy. If you'll remember, they said the clergy was behind the imprisonment of Rutherford, et al in 1918, and behind the mob violence during WW2. Frankly, I wouldn't accept any such accounts from them at face value without a lot of corroboration from other sources. Even if the persecution is real, they'll try to put their own spin on it to make themselves look good.

LOL....Ty jgnat for making fun of me on a public forum that sooooooo many people world wide READ!!!!

LOL Just kiddin....I can take it bebe

I look forward to reading more of your posts.......

I LOVE HOW EVERYONE MAKES ME THINK HERE!!!!

agape,

Utopian_Raindrops

For you dear jgnat.......

Brumm, I agree with you that the growth of the WTS, which is lacking the usual cultic dynamic leader, seems more organic than planned.

Heathen, my concern is that the WTS is claiming UNPRECEDENTED persecution, and that they are the MAIN TARGETS. As Quotes so succinctly pointed out, lots of groups are being oppressed.

Quotes, I am so flattered...

Outlaw, I couldnt agree more...

Utopian Raindrops, thanks for keeping your sense of humour. I just couldn't resist...bare arms...

I was not suggesting violence, though the wrenching apart of families is traumatic. I am suggesting, though, that anyone that sticks out, that is in any way different, will be viewed with ever more suspicion. There is a lot of hate in the society. There is a lot of resentment toward a world that is way too darn happy for its own good and just refuses to die. People that carry that much hate can't keep the love going all the time too.

I do not have as much confidence as you on this point, Utopian_Raindrops. The society is very energetically trying to muzzle opposing voices, starting with its own members. The simple procedure is to Disfellowship them. The dissenting voice is effectively cut off. I am sure there are members of the GB and legal department that would dearly love to muzzle some members of the media. If they could do it legally.

I do not blame any one religion. I think evil men use religion as a tool for their own end. As Shakespeare illustrated, cruelty exists as a possibility in everyman. There are also people in all the religions that are doing amazing good in our society.

NeonMadman, great to see you posting again. Between studies right now? Great response. I agree about the society loving a little persecution. It dawned on me today that the society may be gearing up in case the DRAFT comes back. That could put a lot of American JWs in a crisis of conscience, and a position to martyr themselves.

Another one, Quotes:

WT November 1, 2002 Christian Neutrals in the Last Days (Dec 16-22 2002 study)

p.  19  ..First, we remember that we must expect opposition. We should not be shocked or even surprised if we meet up with it.  Paul warned Timothy:  "All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesis will also be persecuted." (2 Timothy 3:13; 1Peter 4:12).  In a world where Satan's influence reigns, why would we not meet opposition?  (Revelation 12:17)  As long as we are faithful, there will always be some who are 'puzzled and go on speaking abusively of us.' - 1 Peter 4:4...It may be that Jehovah, for his own good purpose, allows pressure from opposers to continue for a while.

 

...an another one, Quotes.

WT December 15, 2002, "He Will Draw Close to You.", p. 19

Why do we need divine protection?  In addition to feeling the effects of living in these"critical times hard to deal with," true Christians are a special target of Jehovah's chief Adversary, Satan the Devil. (2 Timothy 3:1)  That crafty enemy is out "to devour" us. (1 Peter 5:8)  Satan persecutes, pressures, and tempts us.  He also looks for attitudes of mind and heart that he can exploit.  He has an objective in mind:  to weaken our faith and consume us spiritually (Revelation 12:12, 17)  Since we have such a powerful foe to contend with, is it not reassuring to know that "Jehovah is guarding all those loving him"?