A number of posts on the board have got me thinking back to the time when I first became aquainted with Jehovhah's Witnesses. Many things that I was told (an probably no doubt many of you) where the ramblings of people are so dedicated to their religious system that it clouds all basic judgement. Here are some of the things I was told by certain members (mostly elders) that have panned out to be actual lies. These men where sincere is saying such things, but that dosn't stop them from being lies.
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[statement by elder]: I invite anybody to show me something that is better than this. If somebody can show me from the Bible a better way, I will follow him.
This of course we all know to be a false statment, but it has been said countless times by many of the membership. They are taught to REJECT all information that TEACHES DIFFERANTLY than their own religion and to view it as APOSTATE! I remember the Elder in particular who told me this, as it still remains in my mind today. He would never leave the JW's, no matter how much information or proof could be shown that things where not scriptural. It was a lie, intended to spark my emotions in their confidence for organization.
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[statement by elder]: Brother Russell used to have open debates with the leaders of other religions and they when put to shame by the knowledge of the truth.
I Elder who told me this no doubt felt it would help build conviction that the Jehvoah's Witnesses alone hold the answers and can trounce any other religious reasonings. Of course, no debates between religous leaders and Jehovah's Witnesses do not exisist today, or even in the recent past. Many of the Witnesses arguments would never hold ground in ANY kind of debate today. Yet again, more false conviction given as "proof" of something.
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The amazing thing about all of this is how our minds tend to eaisly believe information when it comes from people we trust, or have come to like. We tend to cover up the logical and follow along with the "truth", not by fact but by emotion. As much as the Witnesses say thier faith isn't based on emotions the simple facts show that it is. I found it so easy to get worked up in all of the teachings that I was taught by the Jehovah's Witnesses but much harder later down the road to actually sit down and read information by previous members of the group. My heart was pounding when I picked up my copy of Raymond Franzs books at my local bookstore. I was almost physically sick (not to mention paranoid) by reading it's contents, affraid that I would be "caught".
Big claims made that simply arn't true
by drew sagan 9 Replies latest watchtower bible
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drew sagan
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wombat
Drew....
In the short time I've been here the best phrase that I have learned is "cognitive dissadance".( I hope that I spelt that correctly.)
It has helped me understand (and forgive) many in the WTS. I am talking family.
What you say is obviously correct but how do you get the inmates to see it?
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Finally-Free
[statement by elder]: I invite anybody to show me something that is better than this. If somebody can show me from the Bible a better way, I will follow him.
I heard similar statements when I first got involved with them. Now I shy away from any product, service, religion - or anything - that makes excessive use of testemonials.
Anything that's worth buying shouldn't need a hard sell, and that includes religions.
W
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Elsewhere
Now I shy away from any product, service, religion - or anything - that makes excessive use of testimonials.
Very good. Anecdotal evidence carries absolutely NO weight in critical analysis.
If Anecdotal evidence did carry weight, I could use it to prove that distilled water cured cancer. All I would have to do is send a small vile of distilled water to several thousand cancer patents and ask them to drink it. Inevitably a few of those people will experience a remission of their cancer. I could then take the testimonials of those people and quote them in an advertisement for my "Miracle Cancer Cure".
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greendawn
They told me that it was R&F members that created the hysteria of 1975 because they never noticed that we don't know when Eve was created so as to add 6000 years to that.
Also that all the anointed are in constant touch with the GB in Brooklyn and they constantly exchange information through letters.
Those things were said in the late 1970's. -
mjarka911
How about the "fact" that doctors are on the side of Jw's in their no blood stance. My wife tells me all the time that blood transfusions are dangerous and "most" doctors fell the non-blood alternatives are good science.
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BluesBrother
Heard this from a Circuit Assembly platform in recent weeks .
"We can see that Jehovah is indeed 'Speeding things up in his own time' (Is.60.22) Do you realise that around 5000 people a week are now being baptized"
A fact that is not untrue, just totally misleading and a distortion of figures
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MadTiger
In the short time I've been here the best phrase that I have learned is "cognitive dissadance".( I hope that I spelt that correctly.)
Close enough:
dissonance.
It is so applicable to what most of us have experienced directly and/or indirectly:
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willyloman
As much as the Witnesses say thier faith isn't based on emotions the simple facts show that it is.
I was taken in by all that bravado, too. In fact, I used to tell "worldly" friends and relatives that "this is the religion for people who think."
Oh, boy, was I wrong!
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inquirer
drew sagan,
I was almost physically sick (not to mention paranoid) by reading it's contents, affraid that I would be "caught".
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I hate that perception that people had. I didn't think twice when I walked into a bookstore and picked up a pagan book -- doesn't mean I believe/like it. Just curious!
Just because you pick up Ray's book/s, doesn't mean that agree with him. You just want to know what's "out there." :)
Fire away and so those sort of things if people accuse you of ____ like that!