For those of you, newbies or perhaps others who haven't read Steve Hassan's book - " Combatting Cult Mind Control" here are some very important things to remember of HOW Jehovah's Witnesses and other " mind control" cults operate . It may help you to understand some things to see how we were all faked out at one time in our lives.
Hassan's book states , " In totalistic cults , the ideology is internalized as " the truth ", the only "map" of reality . The doctrine not only serves to filter incoming information but also regulates how information can be thought about. Usually the doctrine is absolutist, dividing everything into " black versus white ," " us versus them". All that is good is embodied in the leader and the group. All that is bad is on the outside. The doctrine claims to answer all questions to all problems and situations. A member need not think for himself because the doctrine does all the thinking for him . "
Hassan continues, " Another key aspect of thought control involves training members to block out any information which is critical of the group. If any information transmitted to a cult member is perceived as an attack on the leader , the doctrine, or the group, a hostile wall goes up. Members are trained to disbelieve any criticism . Critical words have been explained away in advance as , " the lies about us that Satan puts in people's minds " or " the lies that the World Conspiracy prints in the news media to discredit us , because they know we're onto them. "
By using these thought stopping techniques - Jehovah's Witnesses and other cults are able to make members feel they are growing when in reality they are just making themselves into addicts. It makes members feel only positive thoughts about the group , and any problems that come up are thought to be the fault of the member . So any true critical thinking ability is not allowed to find out the " real truth "! So have you folks experienced this coming out of the witnesses ? If you are newly exited from the witnesses are you educating yourself to learn how your mind was controlled ? I welcome your experiences you have had with " mind control" and your experiences of breaking free from it. As always- I look forward to your thoughts. Peace out, Mr. Flipper