Here's my notes from that talk, "Do not follow "Artfully Contrived False Stories". The title caught my eye, so I tried to capture as many quotes, verbatim, as I could. The purple words are my own thoughts. I have bolded manipulative language.
The speaker, Darcy Harris, started out with a quote from that Nazi, Goebbels, "Watch your little children before Passover.", quickly followed by Richard Dawkins, then Satan. These quotes were used as examples of an artfully contrived false story to instil fear or doubt in the populace.
Note to self: I think this is what is called a false analogy
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/wanalogy.html
Are they suggesting that anyone that says anything untrue (from a JW’s worldview) is as evil as Goebbels and Satan? It seems to me the WTS is as guilty, if not more, of fear-mongering. How afraid is the average householder of the suited gentleman at the door? On the other hand, how fearful is the average JW of a life-saving blood transfusion?
“Satan and his fellow Apostates are artists in developing false stories”... Propaganda spreading like gangrene...as bizarre and hate-laden as Goebbels...relentless efforts of Satan to spread lies...incessant barrage of propaganda....”
Note to self: Two books and several brochures a year and three magazines a month, reinforced by study three times a week? Can we spell I N C E S S A N T B A R R A G E? There are a lot of adjectives in this talk, which lead the audience to the
proper way of thinking. This is loaded language.
http://www.fallacyfiles.org/loadword.html
The speaker goes on to blame higher education and pornography. “The drive of this system is to be elevated by education or financial status....People are convinced pursuing these things will provide satisfaction....world provides so much
propaganda on what makes us happy or free....look out that their
negative and
subversive suggestions don’t undermine your faith....plethora of false stories all designed to weaken our faith in the organization and the teachings of the Faithful and Discreet Slave today..”
Note to self: Yes, that’s right. Parents encourage their children only so that their material status can be raised. How about encouraging the child to reach his or her full potential? If Jehovah created a child to be a surgeon, concert pianist or a street artist, who are we to say field service instead? How many times a day does a JW convince him/herself that field service is a satisfying activity? How much more satisfying to pursue an interest that is beating in their lifeblood? Daniel had a satisfying career as a civil servant. The Israelite artisans from Egypt created a beautifully decorated tabernacle. Stephen, the first martyr, served widow’s tables. Can a JW today build for himself/herself a similarly satisfying career without being considered “spiritually weak”?The speaker then used an illustration of a merry-go-round. Apparently makers of false stories make you spin so fast you get all dizzy and can’t think straight. “...stories swirling around us...these stories that are designed to dizzy us and confuse us...” With this analogy, the only safe thing to do is to go closer to the center (FDS) and cling for all you are worth. “...carefully following the direction they give to us...”
The three interviews had nothing to do with the Internet or Apostates:
- Sarah Christian, honour student in business, chose field service over higher education. She is still a teenager, so I think the jury is still out on the wisdom of her choice.
Brother Thody from Fort McMurray refused a higher paying job at a production plant in a remote area. He was asked “What helped you resist the pressure”.
Kim Elena, perennially single sister, described how she resisted the temptation to use an internet dating service. She also mentioned the sister who did use the internet is no longer with the organization.
Conclusion, “How loving Jehovah and the Organization is to see areas where we need and help us to understand artfully contrived stories and direct us through these confusing times.”
