Very interesting. I need to read that book.
My experience is that by thinking this is "the truth" it is very strong to overcome any doubts anyone can have. Add on top of this the "don't get bogged down on the little things" mentality that is taught, and you have great mind control. This means you sweep all doubts under the rug, and just keep reminding yourself that this is "the truth". I was controlled exactly with this, even with doubts over the years.
They even convince everyone that the JW doctrine like earthly paradise, 144k, worldwide preaching work, etc, is so much the Truth (and all other doctrines are so wrong), that you are convinced that there is no other organization that believes this and therefore this is the truth. This is circular reasoning!
So they convince you:
- This is 'the truth'.
- All doctrines are 'the truth', and even doubters have a hard time finding anything better (Where else do you go?)
- Everything else that is not 'the truth', is from Satan, and you fear that.
- Add other things like stopping techniques, friend/family ties, shunning, etc.
- When you're 'in', all of the above makes 100% sense, as crazy as it seems. (you are brainwashed)
Put it all together, and you really are stuck. This can be very hard to break out of.
My way of breaking free from it was internal. I am an independant thinker, and a logical thinker. I have seen enough 'red flags' of mind control that eventually I snaped and had to do outside research, where I learned the real truth. This takes a lot and I think that people who break away will be a slow trickle and not a flood.
This is why the WTS fears education and independant thinking...
My experience is that by thinking this is "the truth" it is very strong to overcome any doubts anyone can have. Add on top of this the "don't get bogged down on the little things" mentality that is taught, and you have great mind control. This means you sweep all doubts under the rug, and just keep reminding yourself that this is "the truth". I was controlled exactly with this, even with doubts over the years.
They even convince everyone that the JW doctrine like earthly paradise, 144k, worldwide preaching work, etc, is so much the Truth (and all other doctrines are so wrong), that you are convinced that there is no other organization that believes this and therefore this is the truth. This is circular reasoning!
So they convince you:
- This is 'the truth'.
- All doctrines are 'the truth', and even doubters have a hard time finding anything better (Where else do you go?)
- Everything else that is not 'the truth', is from Satan, and you fear that.
- Add other things like stopping techniques, friend/family ties, shunning, etc.
- When you're 'in', all of the above makes 100% sense, as crazy as it seems. (you are brainwashed)
Put it all together, and you really are stuck. This can be very hard to break out of.
My way of breaking free from it was internal. I am an independant thinker, and a logical thinker. I have seen enough 'red flags' of mind control that eventually I snaped and had to do outside research, where I learned the real truth. This takes a lot and I think that people who break away will be a slow trickle and not a flood.
This is why the WTS fears education and independant thinking...