I just got my hands on a copy of My Book of Bible Stories ... (1978).
At first I was excited when a friend pulled it out of his bag, said he'd gotten it as a kid. Then I started flipping through, looking at the pictures, feeling the memories spin in my brain. I mean, these tales should've been good memories for me, because they take me back to a time when I believed stuff ... when I was bright-eyed and innocent.
I honestly loved this book as a kid. But now as I began to read these stories again, I understand how I was completely indoctrinated before I could even spell the word. The Genesis 34: 1-31 story of Dinah 'forced to lie down' with She'chem, which led to her brothers murdering She'chem 'and all the other men' in Ca'naan (who happened to worship false Gods). And the moral of the story ... this all happened because Dinah "made friends with people who did not obey God's laws. We will not make such friends, will we?"
So from the very start, at a very young age, they teach you to Obey or die. And stay away from people who are not JW's ... effective putting a serious crimp in the social life of youth when they need it the most.
What a horrible tool this book is! Indoctrinating children with colorful story after colorful story ... all with one overall theme .... Obey God or perish in the most horrible way. Yeah, Floods, Fire & Brimstone, pummeled with large rocks, pissed off brothers with swords, or maybe just Satan goading God (they used to chat a lot way back when) into torturing one of his faithful.
I want my childhood back!