I have a little theory buzzing around in the back of my mind. It was triggered by Trevors comments re the low self esteem that is endured by many JW youngsters.
I`m wondering if the singing of Kingdom Songs can actually make you feel depressed and worthless. I know it might seem a strange idea at first, but see if my reasoning doesn`t make at least some sense.
I frequently see the TV ad for Linguaphone, the language learning course, that uses your repetition of foreign language phrases spoken along with a cassette recording. The ad says: "You hear. You speak. You understand."
In other words, it is you speaking the words that imprints them in your memory.
Then of course, there are "Positive reinforcement courses" that depend on your repetition of certain phrases to make you feel, well, dynamic: "Every day, in every way, I`m getting better and better". Again, it is by you speaking the words that has the effect of altering your state of mind.
So, how about when we sing the Kingdom Songs? I have not seen inside a song book for many a year, but I well remember singing "We are Jehovahs witnesses" to a stirring tune, that made us all stick our chests out in a sort of defiance to the world in general. OK, I know it wasn`t a match for "Land of Hope and Glory" or, say, Sousa`s stuff, but nonetheless, it could alter one`s frame of mind.
But, how about some of the more subtle stuff? I remember thinking once what a lovely song "The Power of Kindness" was:
When faced with problems that perplex,
We will very often find
That their solution simply lies,
In being mild and kind.
All well and good, yes, but lets look at the preceeding few lines:
How thankful we, to God should be,
Who loving kindness shows
To undeserving fallen man,
As every Christian knows.
Notice the "should", a word very common in Kingdom songs and indeed, in all the societies literature. Psychologists agree that replacing the word "should" with "could", is a first step when someone wants to improve their sense of self esteem. "Should" is a major league word in the world of negative mind imprinting.
"Loving kindness" may at first seem OK, but how often are those words prefaced by the WTBTS inserting the word "undeserved" in front of them? "Undeserved loving-kindness" are 3 words that just roll of a JW`s tongue like syrupy poison, as the sub conscious mind has its sense of low esteem reinforced by the sense of being not worthy of anything that is good. Remember, Jehovahs witnesses believe that "man is only worthy of death".
Indeed, linking these 3 words together in a song proved too difficult for even the WT poetry dept, so they made sure that the phrase was brought to mind in the next line. Undeserving? Fallen? You try telling someone that they dont deserve something, and see what an irate reaction you get! "You have a lovely home. You don`t deserve it. Why are you kicking me?"
Now imagine, not just saying those words to yourself, but actually singing them out loud!
I think that I have made my point, if I was in posession of a Kingdom song book, I bet I could find lots of similar examples!
Englishman.