notmyself
Hello and welcome
do you think that JW are brainwashed?
by notmyself 49 Replies latest jw experiences
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Legolas
Welcome to the board!
And yes they are brainwashed!
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IronClaw
Welcome, and yes they are, as you start to research and question you'll see just how much they are.
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greendawn
They have been subtly mind conditioned with many false ideas and there are many things that they are not capable of doing eg they can never be a normal part of the world.
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riverofdeceit
Some are completely, most are to some extent. If they aren't at all, then they aren't really Jehovah's Witnesses, they just say they are. They are nourished on what seems to be a neverending supply of recycled propaganda, and are taught that to learn anything else on their own else could/will kill them, "spiritually" and/or literally (at least, eventually). Brainwashed by fear. The idea of being sheep is comforting. That, however, always scared me the most. To me, being a sheep is the equivalent of being a lemming. I grew two horns and a beard. Do you think that is why they look down upon facial hair?
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riverofdeceit
Here's an example that shocked me - I used to feel physically sick watching any kind of violence - so much so that I couldn't watch boxing on TV - after years of playing utterly violent PC games I found myself watching a boxing match without any feelings of sickness - in fact I was actually getting quite involved in the fight - I changed, I think because I exposed myself to lots of brainwashing stuff.
That is more along the lines of being de-sensitized. Changing your views is not necessarily being brainwashed. For instance, someone who is appalled by the idea of changing a dirty diaper has a kid and learns to get over it. They usually do get over it too. (not in all cases of course) That doesn't mean they've been brainwashed. They just deal with things differently than they used to.
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jgnat
I'm not very fond of the term brainwashed, as I don't think it is descriptive of what happens. It's not like someone gets inside your brain, wipes what is there, and rewrites it. Our brains store EVERYTHING they are exposed to. Manipulative people and manipulative organizations are skilled at motivating us to IGNORE some information over others, using FEAR and REWARD and REINFORCE.
So your mom is conditioned to IGNORE her natural affection and shun you, in FEAR for her eternal reward.
2 Timothy 1:7KJV For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
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serendipity
Welcome notmyself!
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Ticker
Welcome to the board Not Myself.
They most certainly follow a pre-programmed format and followers are forced into line by programmed guilt aided by the Society's internal police system. I would suggest they are brainwashed due to not being able to make life threatening decisions independant of the Watchtower Society.
Ticker
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stillajwexelder
A sister once answered up in the congregation and said she was glad she was brain-washed. She said her brain was so full of trash before she became a witness tha ther brain needed washing