Just thought I'd share something a friend recently posted at his site.
Here it is: http://ryansutter.net/wp/2007/07/25/539/#comment-699.
It's about cognitive dissonance and the role it plays in the lives' of Witnesses and ex-Witnesses.
Great Post on Cognitive Dissonance
by Shepherd Book 10 Replies latest jw friends
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nvrgnbk
Thanks for sharing that Shepherd Book.
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cyberdyne systems 101
I really enjoyed reading that - could relate to the authors experiences
CS 101
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Shepherd Book
nvrgnbk- Hey, no problem!
I haven't read the book he discusses, but I have got to get a copy and read it.
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changeling
Thanks!
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bebu
Cognitive dissonance is the most fascinating mechanisms in psychology to me. Ryan wrote about it very well in regards to JWs. Thanks for sharing the link!
bebu
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jeanV
great link, thank you. I am also fascinated by the subject.
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Shepherd Book
My pleasure, everyone! (p.s. If you go back now, there's an interesting thread of posts made my various commenters.)
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parakeet
Hi Shepherd. Good to hear from you again. The cognitive dissonance info was interesting. Unfortunately, those of my family still in the "truth" are far beyond any rational discussion about their beliefs.
BTW, life is much better here "out in the black" than in the fed core planets, wouldn't you agree? It's downright shiny!
(Before other posters think I've gone totally crackers, this refers to a long defunct TV series. Its cancellation remains the single worst TV executive decision in the entire 'verse.) -
uninformed
Thanks for the reference to the thread on Cognitive Dissonance. I made the following post on that thread:
I have really enjoyed reading this thread. All of you are very intelligent and respectful to each other.
I tend to disagree strongly with the assumption that JW's are a good religion for a number of reasons.
First, they encourage others to examine their own religion, but they will not do the same.
Next, the strong stand that the Org takes when people decide it is time to leave is very hurtful. I was a JW for 45 years and my wife even longer as she was born into it. All of our friends were JW's. When we were upset about the UN-NGO affair, and examined it carefully, and wrote to the WTS a number of times with no answer of any of our questions, we decided to leave. Bear in mind that I was in prison for 2 years in the 60's over the neutrality issue, later an elder for 30 years and raised 4 pioneer children, two of which went to bethel.
So upon leaving, the elders actually hunted me and my wife down to disfellowship us, for what? Because we disagreed with the Governing Body, a name not found in the Scriptures, nor an idea promoted by early Bible writers.
We then lost all of our "friends" and one of our children, as the rest, thankfully, left with us.
That is immoral to treat people like that. It is self-righteous and hurtful. We are old people, in our 60's, and we were really 'supporters' of the WT way for years, even though at times we found it difficult to do so.
The Dissonance that the JW's are subjected to is mind-boggling. Take for instance the latest KM. The Society tells the friends that there is no need for them to have "private study discussions" or to learn Greek or Hebrew. They say that they have done that study already and there is no need for them to do it themselves. What about the Boereans? Isn't Acts 17:11 heralded by the Society? Have they not said that the Boereans were 'more noble-minded'? But now, being noble minded has changed. It is not examining what we are taught, like the Boereans, who were examing carefully WHAT THE APOSTLES THEMSELVES WERE TEACHING. But now, it is wrong to question a Publishing Society that changes its mind about serious beliefs all the time.
Think of the changes:
The generation of 1914 would see the end. Millions now living will never die. Christ came in 1874, then 1914. Armageddon was to come in 1914. Then 1925, then 1943, then 1975, then the work was to be completed by the end of the century.
The blood issue as been changed. Where is the adherence to "ABSTAIN FROM BLOOD"?
The neutrality issue was changed in the 90's.
The 1935 teaching about the heavenly hope was changed just last May.
The problem for me is not that they change their beliefs, but they viciously attack honest hearted people that question their authority as God's Spokesman.
Are we to assume that God himself can't get it straight, or is it them?
Why for instance do we not still study the book, "The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life? It was the TRUTH wasn't it? Did the truth change?
Then the Live Forever that replaced TRUTH book was replaced by the "Knowledge" book, which is a farce.
BUT---They will disfellowship you, and do all they can to ruin YOUR LIFE if you disagree with them.
Where is Christ in all this? Is that the way he and the disciples viewed things. What happened to Thomas when he had the audacity to question CHRIST himself. Did Jesus disfellowship him? Or did he lovingly and clearly explain himself?
What about the verse in 1 JN 4:1 that says we should actually test all inspired utterances to see if they are from God or not? If you test theirs, you will find them to be dificient, but, dissonantly, they will disfellowship you for it.
They go have sex with the Scarlet Colored Wild Beast, and I get disfellowshipped for it.
Thats the dissonance that I am now free from. Never will go back, or into any organized religion. They are all bad. All part of Babylon the Great. Get out of her "my people". Ezekiel 34 comforts us to say that Jehovah will 'regather his sheep, and care for us' at the appropriate time.
Glad I found this thread, it was referenced on JWD.
All of you seem to be very nice guys. May God bless us all.
Brant Jones [email protected]