My analysis of the talk, "Do Not Follow Artfully Contrived Stories" 2005

by jgnat 7 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  jgnat

  Here's my notes from the Public Talk, "Do Not Follow Artfully Contrived Stories", taken in the summer of 2005 at our annual District Convention.
  

  [bracketed phrases are my additions and comments] repetitive phrases in red

  Logical Fallacy Employed

  
  
  [Opening illustration]
  

  [Nazi] Goebbels - watch your little children before Passover.

  [Evolutionist] Richard Dawkins -It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that).

  - you will not die.

  
  

  
  
  Plays the logical fallacy, "Hitler card". http://www.fallacyfiles.org/adnazium.html The implication is that propaganda is bad because Hitler employed the propagandist Goebbels.
  

  In context, Goebbels repeated age-old myths and about the Jewish people to spark fear and hatred:

  Anti-Semitic hate spewed out of the press and government information offices during this period. Julius Streicher's Der Stürmer, a German newspaper, carried a 14-page special issue which included the age-old charge that Jews used Christian blood to bake their Passover matzoh.

  http://www.remember.org/guide/Facts.root.solution.html

  In context, Richard Dawkin's quote in full.

  http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/p88.htm

  Technically, Dawkin's quote is not an example of propaganda, just an inflammatory comment to a fundamentalist. An outrageous claim must be supported to be taken seriously. Dawkins does provide this with his book, Blueprints: Solving the Mystery of Evolution.

  Propagandists are put in the same bed with Hitler, Evolutionists, and
  . Logical fallacy: "Guit by Association"

  http://www.fallacyfiles.org/guiltbya.html

  Set up for later strawman argument. Since propaganda is bad, any negative information about the Faithful and Discreet Slave is also bad. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/strawman.html

  
  
  

  
  
  Deception, propaganda, false stories. Develop our discernment.
  

  2 Peter 1:16 Eyewitness of His magnificence.

  Divinely inspired spiritual truth.

  
  

  
  
  Is the audience given specific instructions or guidance on how to discern false from true?

  Full quote, 2 Peter 1:16 NWT No, it was not by following

  artfully contrived false stories that we acquainted YOU with the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence.

  Interestingly, here Peter is seeking to convince his audience that he has not made outrageous claims about Christ, that they can be backed up by eyewitness accounts. Can the Watchtower society back up their claims as well, such as "Jesus was enthroned invisibly in 1914"?

  
  

  
  
  

  [Illustration}
  

  Stick Men vs Accomplished Artists

  Liars vs Con Artists

  This illustration suggests that the makers of false stories and propaganda are slick, skilled. Perhaps an implication that the average listener could not discern on their own if they were being lied to.

  
  and fellow Apostates are artists in developing false stories.

  
  and Apostates are lumped together. There is no further mention of Apostates in the talk. Perhaps the WTS is hinting that Apostates influence higher education, the media, and the internet?

  Propaganda is spreading like gangrene, undermine the bible, true Christian teaching. As bizarre and hate-laden as Goebbels.

  Reference to the Straw Man introduced at the beginning of the talk, the Hitler card. Straw Man fallacy. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/strawman.html
  

  Outrageous claim, no specific examples are given. The one who makes an outrageous, extraordinary claim is obliged to prove it.

  Logical fallacy, "Weak Analogy"

  http://www.fallacyfiles.org/wanalogy.html

  Higher Education.
  

  Education gateway to success.

  Success through learning.

  Drive of this system is to be elevated by education or financial status. People are convinced pursuing these things will provide satisfaction.

  Matthew 5:3 Life and happiness. World provides so much propaganda on what makes us happy or free.

  What does higher education have to do with artfully contrived stories? Logical fallacy, Red Herring.
  

  http://www.fallacyfiles.org/redherrf.html

  Full quote, Matthew 5:3 NWT Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.

  Carrot, suggesting that people who take care of their spirtual needs are truly happy. It is suggesting that other's pursuit of wealth or goods are under the influence of propaganda and are not really happy or free.

  Pornography. World attitude is "It’s safe". 260 million pornographic images.
  

  Sex is most commonly used word in all search engines.

  More commonplace, acceptable.

  1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

  God disapproves of covetous sexual appetite.

  View of world towards marriage. "The Right to Try Again" book quote.

  What does pornography have to do with propaganda? Logical fallacy, Red Herring.
  

  http://www.fallacyfiles.org/redherrf.html

  The the internet is targetted, ambiguously, as a source of propaganda.

  Full quote, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NWT NWT 3 For this is what God wills, the sanctifying of YOU, that YOU abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of YOU should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in covetous sexual appetite such as also those nations have which do not know God;

  I was not successful in finding the book or quote mentioned.

  Media wrong information and spread far and wide. Relentless efforts of
  to spread lies.

  Incessant barrage

  of propaganda.
  

  Collosians 2:8 Look out

  Congregations were warned back then what they will face.

  Full quote, Collosians 2:8 NWT NWT, Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ;

  But what are the criteria are we to use to discern if the person is trustworthy? Is the Watchtower speaker giving the audience tools for discernment, or are various groups simply lumped together? Who is using "empty deception"?

  Matthew 19:6[???]
  

  World’s philosophies and false stories. Whose interests are served by the World’s philosophies?

  Propaganda.

  The verse in context doesn't make sense. I may have copied it wrong.
  

  Good question. Whose interests are served when the media breaks a story?

  Whose interests are served to demonize the media, higher education, and the internet?

  All designed to weaken our faith in the organization and the teachings of the Faithful and Discreet Slave today.

  No specific examples cited. Slippery Slope fallacy. There is a design? Who is the designer?
  

  http://www.fallacyfiles.org/slipslop.html

  [Illustration]
  

  Merry go round.
  Spinning so fast to make you fall.
  Place of protection is to move to the centre and hold on tight.
  Stories swirling around us.
  Stick to the Faithful and Discreet Slave.
  Carefully following the direction they give to us.
  Focus on something stable, prevents the nausea.
  These stories that are designed to dizzy us and confuse us.

  Direct emotional appeal.
  

  http://www.fallacyfiles.org/emotiona.html
  

  I can see the scenario as plain as day.
  

  I provide a reasoned argument to a Jehovah's Witness.
  

  They begin a Cognitive Dissonant episode, suddenly feeling faint.
  

  "Wait! Faint? Dizzy? I was warned these feelings are from Satan. Away from me you worker of inquity! Where's my Watchtower so I can cling to it? When's the next meeting?"
  
  
  
• 

  jgnat

  Yuk. Moderators, I could use some help editing this monster. Sorry.
• 

  VM44

  Here's my notes from the Public Talk, "Do Not Follow Artfully Contrived Stories", taken in the summer of 2005 at our annual District Convention.

  Logical Fallacy Employed [bracketed phrases are my additions and comments] repetitive phrases in red

  [Opening illustration] [Nazi] Goebbels - watch your little children before Passover. [Evolutionist] Richard Dawkins -It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid or insane (or wicked, but I'd rather not consider that). - you will not die.	Plays the logical fallacy, "Hitler card". http://www.fallacyfiles.org/adnazium.html The implication is that propaganda is bad because Hitler employed the propagandist Goebbels. In context, Goebbels repeated age-old myths and about the Jewish people to spark fear and hatred: Anti-Semitic hate spewed out of the press and government information offices during this period. Julius Streicher's Der Stürmer, a German newspaper, carried a 14-page special issue which included the age-old charge that Jews used Christian blood to bake their Passover matzoh. http://www.remember.org/guide/Facts.root.solution.html In context, Richard Dawkin's quote in full. http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/p88.htm Technically, Dawkin's quote is not an example of propaganda, just an inflammatory comment to a fundamentalist. An outrageous claim must be supported to be taken seriously. Dawkins does provide this with his book, Blueprints: Solving the Mystery of Evolution. Propagandists are put in the same bed with Hitler, Evolutionists, and . Logical fallacy: "Guit by Association" http://www.fallacyfiles.org/guiltbya.html Set up for later strawman argument. Since propaganda is bad, any negative information about the Faithful and Discreet Slave is also bad.http://www.fallacyfiles.org/strawman.html
  Deception, propaganda, false stories. Develop our discernment. 2 Peter 1:16 Eyewitness of His magnificence. Divinely inspired spiritual truth.	Is the audience given specific instructions or guidance on how to discern false from true? Full quote, 2 Peter 1:16 NWT No, it was not by following artfully contrived false stories that we acquainted YOU with the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but it was by having become eyewitnesses of his magnificence. Interestingly, here Peter is seeking to convince his audience that he has not made outrageous claims about Christ, that they can be backed up by eyewitness accounts. Can the Watchtower society back up their claims as well, such as "Jesus was enthroned invisibly in 1914"?
  [Illustration} Stick Men vs Accomplished Artists Liars vs Con Artists	This illustration suggests that the makers of false stories and propaganda are slick, skilled. Perhaps an implication that the average listener could not discern on their own if they were being lied to.
  and fellow Apostates are artists in developing false stories.	and Apostates are lumped together. There is no further mention of Apostates in the talk. Perhaps the WTS is hinting that Apostates influence higher education, the media, and the internet?
  Propaganda is spreading like gangrene, undermine the bible, true Christian teaching. As bizarre and hate-laden as Goebbels.	Reference to the Straw Man introduced at the beginning of the talk, the Hitler card. Straw Man fallacy. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/strawman.html Outrageous claim, no specific examples are given. The one who makes an outrageous, extraordinary claim is obliged to prove it. Logical fallacy, "Weak Analogy" http://www.fallacyfiles.org/wanalogy.html
  Higher Education. Education gateway to success. Success through learning. Drive of this system is to be elevated by education or financial status. People are convinced pursuing these things will provide satisfaction. Matthew 5:3 Life and happiness. World provides so much propaganda on what makes us happy or free.	What does higher education have to do with artfully contrived stories? Logical fallacy, Red Herring.http://www.fallacyfiles.org/redherrf.html Full quote, Matthew 5:3 NWT Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. Carrot, suggesting that people who take care of their spirtual needs are truly happy. It is suggesting that other's pursuit of wealth or goods are under the influence of propaganda and are not really happy or free.
  Pornography. World attitude is "It’s safe". 260 million pornographic images. Sex is most commonly used word in all search engines. More commonplace, acceptable. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 God disapproves of covetous sexual appetite. View of world towards marriage. "The Right to Try Again" book quote.	What does pornography have to do with propaganda? Logical fallacy, Red Herring. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/redherrf.html The the internet is targetted, ambiguously, as a source of propaganda. Full quote, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NWT NWT 3 For this is what God wills, the sanctifying of YOU, that YOU abstain from fornication; 4 that each one of YOU should know how to get possession of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in covetous sexual appetite such as also those nations have which do not know God; I was not successful in finding the book or quote mentioned.
  Media wrong information and spread far and wide. Relentless efforts of to spread lies. Incessant barrage of propaganda. Collosians 2:8 Look out Congregations were warned back then what they will face.	Full quote, Collosians 2:8 NWT NWT, Look out: perhaps there may be someone who will carry YOU off as his prey through the philosophy and empty deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary things of the world and not according to Christ; But what are the criteria are we to use to discern if the person is trustworthy? Is the Watchtower speaker giving the audience tools for discernment, or are various groups simply lumped together? Who is using "empty deception"?
  Matthew 19:6[???] World’s philosophies and false stories. Whose interests are served by the World’s philosophies? Propaganda.	The verse in context doesn't make sense. I may have copied it wrong. Good question. Whose interests are served when the media breaks a story? Whose interests are served to demonize the media, higher education, and the internet?
  All designed to weaken our faith in the organization and the teachings of the Faithful and Discreet Slave today.	No specific examples cited. Slippery Slope fallacy. There is a design? Who is the designer? http://www.fallacyfiles.org/slipslop.html
  [Illustration] Merry go round. Spinning so fast to make you fall. Place of protection is to move to the centre and hold on tight. Stories swirling around us. Stick to the Faithful and Discreet Slave. Carefully following the direction they give to us. Focus on something stable, prevents the nausea. These stories that are designed to dizzy us and confuse us.	Direct emotional appeal. http://www.fallacyfiles.org/emotiona.html I can see the scenario as plain as day. I provide a reasoned argument to a Jehovah's Witness. They begin a Cognitive Dissonant episode, suddenly feeling faint. "Wait! Faint? Dizzy? I was warned these feelings are from Satan. Away from me you worker of inquity! Where's my Watchtower so I can cling to it? When's the next meeting?"
• 

  jgnat

  yeah, yeah, VM44. I thought I did that.
• 

  jgnat

  Woohoo! Now I'll kiss your feet. Or mail you cookies. Seriously. If you PM me your address, they will be winging their way to you.
• 

  VM44

  Thank you jgnat,

  But, the interior cell borders show up in firefox, but still do not show up in IE! Strange.

  --VM44
• 

  jgnat

  I think this site edits itself, VM44. I notice the html changes after posting.
• 

  jgnat

  Here's my article that this analysis supports. It's designed for newbies, so please don't get offended if it covers old ground.

  Logical Fallacies

  Opening Story:

  In the summer of 2005 I attended the annual district assembly of Jehovah's Witnesses here in Edmonton, Alberta. Darcy Harris gave a talk entitled, "Do Not Follow Artfully Contrived Stories". I made notes of this talk, which provides many examples of logical fallacies and manipulative language. I analysed this talk to practice spotting the ways I was being manipulated in to a particular way of action or thinking. I hate being manipulated. I do this type of analysis once in a while to sharpen my skills in discernment, and I habitually apply these principles when reading a Watchtower article.

  Here's a link to my analysis http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/102610/1.ashx

  An unfortunate spinoff to my newly sharpened critical skills is I can't help analysing every appeal or call to action, including my poor pastor's sermons. Appeals to emotion don't work very well on me any more.

  General comments from the talk,

  It is ironic that a talk designed to warn the hearers away from propaganda is an excellent case study on how to manipulate an audience using strawman arguments, targetting and associating unlike groups as being dangerous, vague threats, and appeal to emotion. Certain words and phrases are repeated, "artfully contrived stories" and "propaganda". There are no specific guidelines given in the entire talk, however, on how to spot the propaganda. Instead, Higher Education, the Media, the Internet and Pornography are all lumped together as being under Satan's influence. Though not specifically mentioned, I believe this talk is priming the listeners to ignore critical information about the society. They are specifically warned away from from the Universities (possibly because of Critical Thinking courses), and the Internet (open and free exchange of information), without providing any evidence that these places are hotbeds for propaganda.

  Context:

  How do Jehovah's Witnesses make their arguments sound so convincing? Are they using logical fallacies and manipulative techniques to draw the audience and the reader to a desired course of action? None of us want to think that we are robots or puppets. Can you learn these techniques of manipulation?

  Lots of other organizations and groups use manipulative techniques to influence their audience. We see an average of twelve commercials per television show. Not all of these sales attempts are sinister. I like milk, and I buy a new car every four years or so. Nevertheless, it is helpful to understand how these groups manage to influence you in a particular direction, so that you are not unduly influenced, and you maintain your autonomy.

  Problem:

  You may be witnessing someone being sucked in to the Jehovah's Witness arguments. Are they being "brainwashed", and if so, how is it being accomplished? You may be worried that you too may be drawn in to the JW thinking, against your will. When you understand how language is used to guide people in to a certain course of action, you will be able to defend, or inoculate yourself, against it's effects.

  Forces:

  • Jehovah's Witnesses talks and literature use a predictable pattern of logical fallacies and manipulative language.
  • A person deep in Cognitive Dissonance is desperate for any reason to maintain their pattern of behavior. You may see some creative reasoning an excuses to defend their choices.
  • Elders, too, are experienced in drawing congregation members to a certain course of action. http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/102074/1.ashx
  • The study leader will have warned their study partner that Satan and "worldly people' will be opposed to their newly discovered spirituality. You may not be able to defend yourself against what is said about you in your absence.

  Essence of the Solution:

  Take time to learn cricial thinking skills, including learning to spot logical fallacies <link here> http://www.fallacyfiles.org/. By learning how arguments are designed to manipulate the audience in to believing something that is illogical, you inoculate yourself against the argument. You are then free to choose to follow or to walk away from their chosen path for you.

  More about the Solution:

  You can practice locating logical fallacies by taking a section of Watchtower writing. You don't have to do the whole article at once. Take a small section of the article and analyse that.

  1. First of all, read the article for key words or phrases.

  • Can you spot the manipulative language? (underline words or phrases like "should", "a reasonable person would" or "how do you feel"..with answer provided )
  • Watch for words like "likely", "evidently". It means that the WTS is speculating and adding to the bible account.
  • Is the "carrot" mentioned (everlasting life on earth)?
  • Are code words and phrases used that have unique meaning for the JW- such as "True Christian" (only JW's), and "Conscience Matter" (an issue the JW must be careful to follow the direction of the Watchtower Society).

  2. Are there any http://www.fallacyfiles.org ? Learn to spot illogical arguments. Here are some illogical arguments often seen in Watchtower articles:

  Strawman - an extreme example is given first and defeated. Then the article goes on to dismiss milder examples. For instance, an extreme example of bad reporting by the media is given, quickly followed by a statement that "media feed us lies".

  Bait and Switch - the article starts out with a generally accepted religious principle, "Obey Christ" and ends with "Obey Jehovah's Organization."

  3. Does the topic hint at the issues worrying the Watchtower Society (for instance, constant encouragement to settle offences may mean that this is a big issue for the organization)?

  4. Look up all quotes. If they do not reference the author, try doing a google search for the source. Are authors and bible verses quoted in context? Were they represented accurately?

  • Do other translations give another slant to the meaning? Online searchable bibles:

  www.blueletterbible.org

  http://www.biblegateway.com/

  • What was left out between the three dots?

  5. Is there a setup for Cognitive Dissonance, for instance, mention of ambiguous hazard or ambiguous reward, so the reader will "fill in the blanks"?

  Resulting Context: (pros and cons)

  Logical arguments can only take you so far. People have many reasons for doing what they do, many of them emotional. That's OK, recognize the forces that you and your loved ones are drawn by, and adapt to them.

  Many people join the Jehovah's Witnesses for emotional reasons. Trying to point out the logical fallacies may push your listener in to increasingly illogical reasons for remaining. I explain these forces in my article on Cognitive Dissonance. You may need to address the emotional reasons that a JW is drawn to the Witnesses before you tackle the logical fallacies.

  The JW's in turn accuse opposers of using "Artfully Contrived Stories" to draw converts away from the "truth". In the end, you will have to make up yuour own mind on who is trying to deceive and why.

  In the head of the moment an experienced debater may sound more convincing than your best argument. You may have to be content to concede for the time being. Take a few days to mull over your opponent's arguments to find the holes.

  Known Uses:

  A side benefit to this new skill is that you will become a logical thinker not easily taken in by con artists, phone solicitors, activists, Multi-Level Marketing schemes, or politicians.