How Jehovah's Witnesses Control Your Mind - Controlling Your View of Truth

by flipper 29 Replies latest jw friends

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  Homerovah the Almighty

  In answer to the topic How, it has to be acknowledged that the JWS are a very high control group of people right from the minute you walk into the

  Kingdom Hall doors. In any established theocracy like the JWS there always has to be a degree of thought control present and it is very present with group.

  The best example of that is the WT studies and book studies when the society places a question that is to be used on their statements, but no other questions are allowed

  or tolerated during the study. The obviously sad part of it all is that it's all constructed on complacent fear and power of the higher ups, the editors or the GB members as they are known.

  They were not capable of controlling my view of truth for too long as I grew up and became an adult I left the Organization and I'm glad I did.

  There just seemed that there was too much man control and perhaps to much commercialism going on for the witnesses to be divinely guided by God.

  The truth is that the WTS. has and always will be a corrupt commercial venture that was deliberately orchestrated with the intension of utilizing and manipulating the belief in

  the Bible to market its published literature. There is nothing spiritual or righteous about that is there, they indeed use mind control techniques on the people that get

  interested in them and eventually get them to promote their sales. To me its just commercialism with a religious flare, thats all.
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  LouBelle

  kinjiro - welcome to the board - You mentioned about being bitter and lashing out - some of us take a long time to heal from the lies, the hurt - sooner or later you'll make your peace with it but work through whatever it is you're feeling and before you know it the old faith won't impact on you life so much.

  praying4justice - welcome & good for you for registering. Will be seeing you here. love your avatar.
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  Eyes Open

  I have Releasing the Bonds by Steven Hassan, but have yet to make real progress with reading it. I feel it's important I do so as a) I have family still in, and b) I wish to more clearly define in my own mind how I was misled since birth. Thanks for the points you brought out Mr. Flipper.
  
  I can obviously relate to a lot of what others have posted already. Eventually, my doubts ended up resurfacing to the extent that I needed to educate myself about the bible using non-WT literature (by scholars; not by "apostates" as that was something I didn't feel comfortable with). From talking with different elders in my congregation about my desire to sort things out for myself once and for all, I received conflicting messages, sometimes from the same elder. On the one hand, they like to be able to say that honesty is commendable and that a desire to satisfy one's questions about the bible shows that one is concerned about doing what is right; at times I was told not to feel guilty and to carry on with my research. On the other hand, they will also intimate that anything non-WT is of this (Satan's) world, and the next worst thing to apostate material; I was indirectly asked why I would want to cover research that would do anything other than build up my faith.
  
  Logic dictates that these two modes are in direct conflict with each other.
  
  As I had already determined I would do proper bible study, I did just that until the JW theology collapsed like a house of cards. Although this took me a substantial length of time, I feel it was the right way for me as it completely and utterly destroyed the basis on which the Watchtower Society ostensibly sits.
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  sass_my_frass

  Hey, I've seen that wall! Long after scaling it myself, I see it go up in the eyes of every JW who gets the impression that I might be apostate; it's why I prefer a very gentle approach with the people who call during door-to-door work. You can't talk their language.
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  flipper

  Thanks for all your replies . I was working all day yesterday and could not respond. So I will answer you individually . Great responses too - I must say I was impressed with the deep comments !
  
  ROBERT 7 - I agree with you. It was either the " truth " or it wasn't ! That's why having been out of the witnesses for 4 ears now - when speaking to someone about being a " former witness " I never say " when I was in the truth " , because that's a lie. I always say , " when I was a witness ". Much more accurate !
  
  WT WIZARD- The witnesses were very skillful at creating a problem , then blaming Satan for it, you're right. They still try to control what the rank and file members view as " truth " by not allowing them the freedom to read news articles talking about the child abuse situation - or if some of them read the articles - the WTS puts a different spin on the information to save face .
  
  LOUBELLE- You are right - it is amazing we got out ! I feel " critical thinking " ability helped us break free from the mind control.
  
  MIDWICH CUCKOO- Yes, the witnesses can say they are not a cult all they want - but of course the evidence shows otherwise. Yep- there's no one else preaching the good news today except pedophiles , their victims, and a few others mixed in with them too ! Great combination ! Not.
  
  MMAE- I agree with you that God stays with us - even when the Watchtower society kicks us out ! I felt that too after leaving . It just becomes so apparent that the witnesses aren't in harmony with God - and it takes time to see they have no power over us anymore.
  
  SAMUEL THORNSON- You've got that right ! I take no religion seriously either !
  
  BOWE 22- I think a lot of us ( I know I did ) started doubting when my situations were wrongly handled by the elders. I got fed up with personal opinions being given in the place of God's word. What you say is true though - but strange - you can question all you want before being baptized but if you question things as a baptized witness- they consider it mutiny !
  
  KINJIRO- Welcome to the board friend ! Good to have you ! I certainly know how you feel ! I felt a lot of anger the first couple years after leaving the witnesses. I still feel resentment towards the organization , but what has helped me is reading books and educating myself on why I felt angry over being deceived. " Combatting Cult Mind Control " by Steve Hassan is great. Read it if you can. I recommend it totally ! It will help you to see how we were all deceived- that it could have happened to anybody. There is no need to berate ourselves for the witnesses fooling us ! Also - I help myself by now helping other people newly exiting the witnesses, trying to encourage them and take the negativity I experienced to help them in a positive way to move on with their lives ! Try it. It might help you too by " paying it forward " to someone to help them gain their freedom from mind control !
  
  CALIBER- We always welcome you here friend. We will keep you undercover and confidential. If you ever need to talk or vent let us know !
  
  PRAYING 4 JUSTICE- Welcome to the board my friend ! Yes, laughter is better than crying- but we will gladly share your tears too ! You are not alone here. We have all shed some tears getting out of the witnesses. Stay strong ! Hang in there !
  
  HOMEROVAH- It is a good point you make about the witnesses being so controlling in only asking preferred questions in their Watchtower and book studies. They try to dictate what " truth " is. I agree they take advantage of the rank and file witnesses for commercial purposes .
  
  EYES OPEN- I know what you are saying. It's kind of an oxymoron that the WTS encourages us to " prove the truth " to ourselves by research ; then they condemn us for being honest for finding out the information outside the organization ! But you are right - the Watchtower society will fall like a house of cards in time !
  
  SASS MY FRASS- I too try to gently reason with the witnesses when they come to my door . If you condemn them - immediately the wall goes up and their defenses. Better to try and reach them with kindness keeping in mind they are blinded ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  Praying4Justice

  Thanks for the welcomes.

  Mr. Flipper, I don't want to deceive you or anyone else here. . .I was never a Jehovah's Witness, but definitely a witness to the mind control and sneaky, lying, phony facade these people put up for the sake of the WT. I have been involved in all this for a few years now and have almost gone over the edge when my teenage daughter got baptized last year. I cannot and will not let this go until I get her out!

  Two sayings come to mind. "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover" and "What You Don't Know Can't Hurt You". Well, it can, and it did when my blinders were ripped off and I witnessed what people tried to warn me about. When I heard the word cult, I thought the extreme, like Waco, etc. I now know differently. They may be subtle in their tactics, but they are just as destructive. I'm even more paranoid now after reading the posts about the kool-aid.

  My daughter's best friend started recruiting her in school. If there are any kids right now reading this and someone in school (or anywhere else) is trying to talk to you about the Jehovah's Witness religion, PLEASE don't listen. Just tell that person in a nice way that you are not interested no matter how GREAT they make it sound. PLEASE! If you are curious about the religion, I beg you to go do your own research either on the internet, the library, or ask family and friends what they know about this religion. While doing your research, you will be better equipped with facts and a whole lot of knowledge and might even be able to help that person who is trying to mislead you.

  I want to write so much more right now, but it's late, and it's bad enough I have a hard time sleeping when I think of these people. . .so

  Bye for now~
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  flipper

  PRAYING FOR JUSTICE- I know how you feel ! The Jehovah's Witnesses are very subtle but just as destructive ! If there are any young people reading this here , PLEASE, DO NOT join the witness religion ! I agree Praying. I am trying to get my 2 daughters out of the witness cult too by using techniques in Steve Hassan's book, " Combatting Cult Mind Control" . I'm taking it slow , trying to be respectful as I go , but I think I'll at least get 1 daughter out of it ! Good luck to you, Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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  AwSnap

  I entered "Combatting Cult mind Control" in the Search box & saw this. I've been out of the jw's for a very long time, but still found the book extremely helpful. While we may be out *physically*, many still refer to it as the 'truth' even though they no longer go to meetings. That is part of the destructive nature, holding on to subtle words such as "truth" even though you no longer believe.
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  Spook

  I've become a skeptic, a moderate, and try not to get too bent out of shape about anything. I like primary sources and can sniff out bias on both sides of an issue in a flash.

  I recommend Cialdini's book INFLUENCE. It's phenomenal. Also, read some books about logic.
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  flipper

  AWSNAP- Good point you make how psychologically destructive it can be to us to use witness " catch phrases " still after being out of it for awhile. If we call it " the truth " when in actuality it NEVER WAS the truth- then our subconscious mind plays tricks on us still. I'm glad you enjoyed reading " Combatting Cult Mind Control" by Hassan. It helped me a great deal also.

  SPOOK- I'll have to check out that book you mention : " Influence " by Cialdini . Sounds interesting. I enjoy psychlogy books so any books on logic interest me