Parallels between Jonestown and WT org?

by skeptic1914 46 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  sammielee24

  The difference between a cult and a religion

  Within a healthy religious environment, family bonds are upheld and even strengthened, questioning of the leader and basic tenets is accepted, and the leader lives in a similar manner to the followers. One is offered all the information necessary to make an educated decision about joining, and once involved, people can choose the amount of involvement that feels right to them.

  A cultic environment tears families apart, does not accept any questioning, and has a leader who claims to have an exalted positionand to be above reproach. The cult is designed to solely advance its own goals, to abuse the members’ trust, and to use fear and shame to manipulate the followers. It freely utilizes deceptive techniques while recruiting new members and fundraising, misuses scripture, and declares other belief systems as false. Because it is not under the umbrella of a recognized religion, there is no governing body and the leader is, therefore, free to do as he or she pleases....from the cult clinic
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  BFD

  How long will it be before the "new light" is to pass around the jug of kool-aide?

  BFD
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  Sunspot

  JW's have a non-violent theology

  Give it time.

  The WTS has gone from a fun-loving but peculiar form of religion, to a cold heartless and controlling cult that demands obeisance to THEM while carrying the banner of "it's food from God". I have SEEN these changes over a period of 38 years....I was an adult when I was contacted "at the door" and accepted the "free" home WTS indoctrination program.

  It was subtle at first....although maybe *I* was more gullible and didn't recognize the signs in front of me....the red flags that I ignored for too many years. But even back in the 1970's....as an example...when pantsuits for women were becoming popular in the workplace and accepted by many....we "sisters" heard from the PO's wife that she could wear them so we "followed suit" (pardon the pun). A couple of months went by---with no problem---I wasn't quite baptized yet---and we were then informed that somebody higher up on the scale of import at the WTS---had indeed, given them and us the thumbs down. It went downhill from there

  When a grown adult cannot wear a modest and "well-arranged garment" to sit and listen to a bible discourse....well....ya know? I shoulda known better!Arrgghhh! But it came down to no strollers for Moms of many (I had five small kids at the time), and coolers that MUST be a certain WTS-approved size.....when we had to travel a few hundred MILES to even BE there....

  and the kicker was we were told NOT to leave the arena for lunch....it was "suggested" we BRING it....(from where?) I had just packed up six people to travel and stay in a motel in whatever city THEY said we had to go...it got nuttier and nuttier the longer I was in that ratrace existence. It was this way with denim (the evil fabric) and a whole list of "no-no's" I quite frankly have forgotten...

  So as time went on....the list got larger and the demands got heftier. We used to be "allowed" to speak with Dfed and DAed family members....now that has changed...and I found myself doing things I NEVER would have expected I would BE doing....

  There have been some very good replies to this thread....but Nathan Natas' post particularly resonated with me the most, somehow...

  which brings me up to the question HERE....of how far would we go if the WTS SEZ to do something that we did not particularly LIKE doing?? Something that went completely against our nature? Something that we had to "get used to" or talk ourselves or be convinced that it was "okay" to do?

  Think about the next order or next "suggestion" put out by the men who run the WTS....

  And think about this thread.....and "the Kool-Aid".
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  DannyHaszard

  WATCHTOWER VICTIMS MEMORIAL

  

  

  The Watchtower Cult IS Jonestown without the Kool-Aid!

  Will you prove your loyality to "father"?

  

  

  

  

  

  

  DOOMSDAY CULTS-MUST SEE 50 MINS

  Doomsday Cults (Discovery Channel)

  modem (low bandwidth) version

  DSl/Cable (high bandwidth) version
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  DannyHaszard

  What forensic psychologist say about cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh.They are control freaks who will never abdicate control.They will choose death by suicide or a fiery fight to the very end.We can indeed see a comparison with the arrogant watchtower cult.
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  Paralipomenon

  The organization is too large to pull something like this off.
  
  Yes they are using mind control techniques, yes they use pressure, but the average witness does the least amount possible to get by. If they rolled out guns to up the ante in "spirtual warfare" they'd get turned in almost instantly. Same deal with "magical koolaid".
  
  So yes, I can see that the WTS is a cult, but they aren't a doomsday cult in their current form.
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  LongHairGal

  DannyHazard:

  While you are right in saying they are control freaks who will never abdicate control, I have my doubts that they would choose death by suicide or fiery fight like those other cults - at least the guys at the top.

  Because of all the hypocrisy in the religion (do as I say, not as I do) I do not think those at the top would "drink the poison punch". I think they would expect the average pathetic publisher to drink it - meanwhile, they would be seen running away with their suitcases!

  LHG
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  Sunspot

  Yes they are using mind control techniques, yes they use pressure, but the average witness does the least amount possible to get by. If they rolled out guns to up the ante in "spirtual warfare" they'd get turned in almost instantly. Same deal with "magical koolaid".
  
  So yes, I can see that the WTS is a cult, but they aren't a doomsday cult in their current form.

  I respectfully wish to disagree with you.

  When you have a "religion" that claims to behave and act as "Christian" and yet successfully teaches, convinces and persuades its followers to act in ways they would not usually or normally act (or ever THINK of acting AS Christians)---there is a very short route to taking that next step of doing something that is truly unthinkable. The destructive mindset has already been programmed.

  If the WTS ordered its followers to do something on the same line of thought as "drinking the Kool-Aid"....this would not surprise me in the least.
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  skeptic1914

  Thanks Sunspot for your posts.

  You reminded me of the time about 13 yrs ago when I was on the body of elders. Among other things, my wife at the time was severely depressed, suicidal at times. We had gone through a difficult time with our oldest child that almost resulted in her being Df'd. The body of elders (there were only 4 of us at the time) met with me to discuss some concerns they had about my family. Their concerns? Among other things:

  • the fact my wife sometimes wore a denim skirt when interpreted the mtg into sign language.
  • the syle of my son's haircut.

  Frankly I find this LOL funny now but really how pathetic.

  On a more serious note, my employer and his son did drink the Kool-Aid. In 1994, at 16, he was diagnosed with leukemia. Doctors pleaded with him and his parents to accept treatment derived from WBC (white blood cells). They refused in obedience to the leadership, because at the time such treatment was forbidden. He died 11 days after diagnosis.

  The change in policy in June 2000 allowing JW to make a personal decision on this issue caused them to re-evaluate their beliefs.They left the org., have come to Christ and he is now pastor of a community church.

  Skeptic1914
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  sammielee24

  there is a very short route to taking that next step of doing something that is truly unthinkable. The destructive mindset has already been programmed.

  If the WTS ordered its followers to do something on the same line of thought as "drinking the Kool-Aid"....this would not surprise me in the least.

  Think about it. When people will send their loved ones to their death ie the blood policy, because they are directed to do so by the WTS, when people will send their loved ones to their death through suicide because of a direction to avoid the world including therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists, when people will lock the door on their own children and parents because of a direction to avoid that association, when men and women are directed on what sex acts or intimacy is allowed between adults because those acts are approved by the WTS and then follow those guidelines; when parents turn on their children, children turn on their parents and siblings turn on one another as a direct result of the WTS telling them they must always turn anyone in who does one thing not approved by them - well - it shouldn't be a real stretch of the imagination by anyone to realize that if the witnesses were told that the GB knew for sure that the world was ending and they had to 'sleep' together to remain loyal - they'd do it in a heartbeat!

  This is a group that were told not to have children - so they didn't. This is a group who didn't get married because it wasn't good for the society. This is a group who is told what movies to watch; what clothes to wear; how much makeup and jewellry is appropriate. This is a group that buys a 4 door car for their work in the society instead of that 2 door that they really want. This is a group that believes in new light when the old one was a lie - so if new light meant a scripture promoting death - most would follow it. After all - as the WTS is getting more aggressive in their 'only we understand what Jehovah wants us to do' agenda - and the sheep blindly follow - who's to say what they could tell anyone and convince them its the right thing to do?sammieswife.