A rhetorical analysis of the Sept. KM Question Box (page 2)

Awakened07

Wow Leolaia - that's great, and exhaustive!

You're one of the people on here that makes this site worth it's weight in gold.

Well - I guess a website actually doesn't weigh anything... :erm: ...but you get my point.

OUTLAW

leolaia..Very cool!..I like your thread........How many other Christian organizations tell you not to study the bible independently?..Further "Proof",the WBT$ is running a Cult!...OUTLAW

It is staggering how much manipulation and deception on the part of the FDS is revealed in a few short paragraphs in the QB. As you describe, those with a thirst for knowledge that is not satisfied by WTS publications can just go pound sand, as far as the WTS is concerned.

Those who exercised their free will to become members of JWs had to use some measure of discernment to decide that JWs provided satisfying answers to their search for a religious belief. They exercised a freedom of choice that is summarily withdrawn the moment they get dunked. You raise the spectre of the younger generations, including those who never had a chance to exercise their own freedom of choice, or ask their own questions and research their own answers to their own satisfaction.

You've demonstrated just how rich this piece of propaganda is in illuminating the methods of mind-control used by the FDS.

truthseeker

Leolaia,

Mama's getting jealous as is shown with "they", "our" and "we"

Good commentary and analysis.

truthseeker

The trick with all WTS publications, is not to read what they say, but to find out what they do not say. Try this: Get a WT study, any study article and you will find the relevant "counsel" usually under the last subheading or the final few paragraphs. The introduction to a WT study sets the tone and pace of the article to be followed by a) an ancient Israelite example/story b) a Christian example/story c) Our day, followed by d) the counsel itself. Always READ BETWEEN THE LINES. You will find the counsel most pointed when you are mentally out of the Watchtower Loop.

truthseeker

Sometimes, being parsimonious with their wordy question box can make the points clearer:

*** km 9/07 p. 3 Question Box ***

Does "the faithful and discreet slave" endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate? -- Matt. 24:45, 47.

A few associates of our organization have formed groups to do independent research on Bible-related subjects.

Some have pursued an independent group study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation.

Others explore scientific subjects related to the Bible.

They have created Web sites and chat rooms for the purpose of exchanging and debating their views.

They have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our Christian meetings and through our literature.

-------------------

YOU ARE receiving ample spiritual instruction and encouragement at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, as well as through the publications of Jehovah's organization.

YOU HAVE what is needed so that all of God's people may be "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" and remain "stabilized in the faith." (1 Cor. 1:10; Col. 2:6, 7)

YOU ARE grateful for Jehovah's spiritual provisions in these last days.

YOU SHOULD strive to "shun foolish questionings and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile." -- Titus 3:9.

Leolaia

Thanks for all your comments!

Ténébreux and truthseeker make the very good point that the Society here does NOT use the second person "you", the use of which would have a very different performative effect in the text. The use of the third person is a distancing technique, allowing the QB to portray these independent researchers as outside the "we"-group. Since it wants to define the "we"-group as behaving in unison with the F&DS, those who act out of harmony with the F&DS are outside the group...these individuals are the "they". If the QB had directly addressed these individuals by using "you", it would imply that these individuals are within the readership of the KM, i.e. necessarily within the "we"-group. A less direct approach thus protects the ideology that Jehovah's Witnesses are "united in the same mind and in the same line of thought". It is probably due to the same reason that independent researchers are called "a few associates of our organization". This similarly distances the researchers from the organization itself; only those outside of the organization can be associated with it...these are not members but mere associates.

jgnat....There are a few other interesting adjectives and/or qualities that I did not mention that are worth noting. The most interesting one is the statement that a person who devotes himself to the official publications would gain the knowledge and comprehension to "walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him". This is a significant statement. A JW should want to "fully please" Jehovah...survival at Armageddon would depend on it. But what would fully please him is "meditation" on the "abundant material for Bible study" that is provided by the F&DS, not by independent study groups.

The FDS surely doesn't like independant study groups or anything that smacks of JWs thinking things out for themselves, that's why back in the early 1980's they kicked out many dubs not just from the Brooklyn HQs but altogether out of the org. They formed independant study groups to analyse the Bible without using the WTS publications.

greendawn....That certainly is lurking in the background here. "They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago" (Watchtower, 8/15/81, pp. 28-29). "The Scriptures warn against isolating ourselves, thinking that we can figure out everything with independent research. Both personal study and regular meeting attendance are needed if we are to be balanced Christians" (United in Worship, 1983, p. 23; Worship the Only True God, 2002, p. 26).

You raise the spectre of the younger generations, including those who never had a chance to exercise their own freedom of choice, or ask their own questions and research their own answers to their own satisfaction.

Exactly, BizzyBee. Youths that are raised in the JWs lacked the opportunity at first engagement to make their own determination of whether they believe the teachings of the WTS. They are instead indoctrinated in the notion that these beliefs are unquestionable truth. Those who study and become baptized as adults have the initial freedom to decide for themselves whether they want to believe that the Society teaches.

White Dove...Not quite, but I do study ideology and how language is used for pragmatic effect.

yesidid

Thank you Leolaia,

That was a really great analysis.

Do you think they use that style knowingly, or is it an innate gift that goes along with deceptive personalities?

Thank again

yesidid

cultswatter

Leo I printed that off for futher study. I like your post it looks like a christmas tree. Where is the pic of you in shorts I like your shorts.

Thanks for the analysis

blueviceroy

Has anyone read 1984 by george orwell? lol really not jw material I think but his description of double speak and truthspeak and that whole language is power thing seems fully implimented in that pirated transcript.

A rhetorical analysis of the Sept. KM Question Box

Share this