Steve Hassan mentions that the 2 main tactics mind control cults use to control people is " fear " and " guilt " .
Definition of fear in the Readers Digest Oxford Dictionary : " An unpleasant emotion caused by exposure to danger , expectation of pain, etc. A state of alarm. Anxiety for the safety of, danger, feel anxiety or apprehension about. " So basically the thought is being afraid of something that will hurt us. Hassan mentioned in his " Releasing the Bonds " book that , " programmed phobias can be so strong that cult members cannot imagine themselves happy, safe, and fulfilled outside of the group. They can generate only negative images of life outside of the cult. When they think of leaving the group, they imagine themselves being destroyed, along with all other nonbelievers , by the fiery judgment of Armageddon . "
Definition of guilt in the Readers Digest Oxford Dictionary : " The fact of having committed a specified or implied offense. Guilt Complex - In Psychology a mental obsession with the idea of having done wrong. " So many times people who have faded from Jehovah's Witnesses or been Disfellowshipped feel " guilty " needlessly because they did not live up to the witness cults standards. But whose definition of guilt is it? The WT societies.
So after leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses are you making strides in feeling good about yourself and your life ? Are you leaving behind the false incorrect sense of " fear " and " guilt " that the Jehovah's Witnesses put into your mind ? It takes time - but you will be happier when you discover the witness cult has no hold on you anymore. As always I look forward to your takes and responses. Thanks ! Peace out to all, Mr. Flipper