I read very little WTS propaganda these days, even on-line stuff . . . unless it's for a specific purpose. Most of you will identify with that.
I perused this article while checking out something else and was disturbed by the manipulative reasoning directed at JW youths. Of course, I wouldn't see it in the same light when I was JW . . . but this article seems to really mess with young minds, setting them up for difficulties.
Some of the reasoning is very specious and downright misleading. You can check out the PDF here if you haven't already. Here's a few examples that stood out for me . . .
Fill in the word that completes the following statement:
It is ____ good to be popular.
A. always
B. sometimes
C. never
The correct answer is “B.” Why? Because to be popular simply means to be liked by a lot of people—and that’s not always wrong! The Bible foretold that Christians would be “a light of the nations” and that people would be drawn to them. (Isaiah 42:6; Acts 13:47) In that sense, it can be said that Christians are popular.
Even with the Biblical calisthenics . . . "Christians" (JW's in this context) ARE POPULAR! People are drawn to JW's like moths to a flame. WTF?
The thing that really got me was the article's use of peer pressure through quotes from various JW youths, as a way of negating peer pressure from worldly youths . . . rather than a simple cost-benefit treatment of the subject. Realising the danger of youth peer pressure . . . they use the very same tactic themselves to load their own message emotionally . . .
Melissa
— Sure, you can try to be just like every other kid walking down the school hallway. But that’s so boring! Being a Christian makes you stand out in a good way. It doesn’t make you weird. It makes you likable.
Ashley
— I used to feel unpopular at school, but then I’d go to a Christian meeting and be with friends who loved me for who I was. At that point, any interest I had in winning the approval of my school mates would fade away.
Does anybody see the obvious contradiction in these two quotes . . . not to mention the opening paragraph?
Why introduce the thought of being seen as weird? . . . because it DOES make you weird that's why. And I don't recall the hallways at school being choked with popular and likeable JW's acting weird and different. The second quote is not about being popular . . . it's about feeling popular . . . and how do you achieve that? . . . yeah, run along to the KH where you are liked by the other JW youths. (Ahem)
I dunno . . . it just got under my skin this article. Young JW's are so pressured. A reasonable level of peer acceptance is vital to the development of a balanced youth. Although no longer a personal problem . . . being a father of three youths just made me feel awful for the young JW's. They're being used in a them v us game at great cost to themselves.
And of course I don't believe the quotes are genuine . . . that's totally unnecessary.