True Lies—and the Watchtower Society

by The wanderer 14 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  The wanderer

  True Lies— and the Watchtower Society

  During a recent telephone conversation a friend mention-
  ed a possible reason why the Society was motivated to
  write the reasoning book. Although, we both speculated
  on the reasons why, it should provide a thought provok-
  ing conversation.

  The Reasoning book

  He mentioned and I happen to agree, that the Society
  may have wrote that book not so much for the house-
  holders in the territory, but to use against former
  or ex-Witnesses should you encounter them.

  The Internet

  We also felt that the Society is terrified of the internet and
  they will do anything to demonize it, in order to keep the
  rank and file away from it.
  
  First we reasoned that they will attack it in the worst way
  listing pornography as the major culprit. Then they will
  move onto chat rooms and provide some examples of
  molesters on the internet and then when the masses
  agree, attack the entire internet as being from Satan.

  ---

  This is just speculation, but what do you think?

  Respectfully,

  The Wanderer
• 

  dedpoet

  I haven't looked at the reasoning book for several years now, but I remember it as a useful tool when I was a zealous jw. It probably would have been useful to use against former jws, though I don't recall ever using it for that purpose.

  As for the internet, the wts is obviously running scared of that, and will do or say almost anything to demonise it in the minds of jws. They are well aware of how much damaging information about them is on there.
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  megsmomma

  The reasoning book is sort of like the brain wash training manual, in my opinion. It would be hard to think of answers that are so off by yourself....so they do it for you. And....at least for me, it was a great tool for answering people cause, for the most part, I had no idea why I believed what I did.
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  compound complex

  Dear Wanderer,

  Before I answer the question, would you or someone else kindly explain why your beautiful presentation (is "format" the term?) changes before my very eyes into ordinary print and no color? While the content is by no means compromised, I am certain, my visual faculties are stimulated by your expert design graphics. Please understand, this is no complaint; I only wish to understand how this little magic box of mine operates. I will continue to read and enjoy your thought-provoking "meals" though served up on a tin plate.

  Computer-illiterately yours,

  Compound-Complex
• 

  crazyblondeb

  Is the reasoning book on the internet?? I'm too lazy right now to google it!! Can't tear myself from here catching up on the threads!!

  shelley
• 

  Gopher

  If I remember correctly, the REASONING book was first issued in the early 1980's. It was a replacement for the "Make Sure of All Things" book (with a bluish-green cover), which by then had fallen into disuse by most JW's.

  It was meant to provide ready-made answers to reasonable objections from people being preached to.

  My favorite was the answer to "I'm not interested":

  "Is that what you always say when Jehovah's Witnesses call? Why not listen just this once?" (Who on the Governing Body thought any JW's would use this, or even would think that this would 'overcome' an objection?)

  It seems that the Reasoning book also fell into disuse almost right away by most JW's. They had to be constantly scolded, um, encouraged -- to remember to carry and use that book in their field ministry.
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  Kaput

  shelley --

  You may want to check Amazon or Alibris for the book. I believe it's copyrighted so the text isn't available on the internet (legally, anyway).
• 

  Alpheta

  That book was one of the first trashed when I left the JWs. I always thought the reasoning - if you could call it that - was specious at best. I never used it in the door to door work. I discovered early on that a sincere, heart-felt approach where I looked the person in the eye worked really well, and it didn't make a lot of difference what I said when I was presenting the magazines or whatever the offer was for the month - I usually did well as long as I kept it succinct and it made sense. As my doubts developed I scaled-down this seeming ability to reach people. Thank goddess!
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  codeblue

  It was a great field service tool.

  I see no way it can be used as an xjw tool...no way.
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  jaguarbass

  The Watch Tower Society would not like the internet, the free flow of information.

  Their controlling power comes from keeping the flock in the dark.