A rhetorical analysis of the Sept. KM Question Box (page 3)

GoingGoingGone

Wow... great reading! Thanks Leolaia!

GGG

You’re too funny! Yep, when I was a dub, I was drowning in the “deep” manure of WT “thinking” as I “explored” the more advanced “provisions” of the “slave!” Yes, I did get “filled” with something, but it wasn’t “accurate knowledge!” Only mental diarrhea and vomiting resulted from ingesting their “spiritual provisions!” Yes, they do have some kind of “spirit” influence, but it appears not to be very “holy!”

Thanks for the chuckle!

Cyberguy

Leolaia

It should be kept in mind that we are talking about ideology here. The author of the KM piece is not consciously trying to persuade the readers to believe an untruth; more likely the persuasion is on the behalf of a belief the author already shares. A successful ideology works to make a given premise or belief seem self-evident, simple common sense. It is not questioned any more than one would question whether the sun would rise in the morning. Throughout the entire QB there is an unquestioned assumption that (1) A F&DS exists, and (2) that F&DS is to be identified with the "organization" in some way. Everything else follows from that premise. Without it, the entire argument makes no sense. A person who buys into that ideology sincerely could then argue with a straight face the kind of things that are argued in the QB. And such a person would use all the skills of persuasion at his or her disposal to convince others to behave in ways that support the ideology that they regard as a self-evident truth.

garybuss

Very interesting! The Watchtower study lesson just mentioned there are "false brothers", now this study profiles those "false brothers".

It looks to me like a rifle shot at Greg Stafford. Either that, or this is the coincidence of the century.

VM44

Does anyone have a scan of this September 2007 KM "Question Box"?

NewChapter

After reading this KM question box, something occured to me. The mind control is so obvious it is almost silly to even have to define it. Yet, a JW would not see it that way. As soon as all the catch phrases: "faithful and discreet slave", "the organization" "gudance of holy spirit" their minds will automatically open the gates and take in the information uncensored. NOW, I was thinking that if this article was rewritten a bit, to say the exact same thing, but just replacing those words with another religion's terminology, some JW's may quickly identify mind control. "yeah, that's how those Mormons (or whoever) work.) But then, if they were to see the original article, with the WBTS lingo replaced, how would they react? It's not a "gotcha" moment, but a moment where maybe they would be able to see a bit more clearly. I almost want to rewrite this now, and print it off as though it was from an article in some other literature, but I would have no one to show it to.

I would LOVE to hear thoughts on this. I used my last post for a while. But when I was all dub-like, my feathers used to ruffle when I saw cult mentality in OTHER groups, but I couldn't see it in my own. For instance, I thought that the Amish mandate (in our area) to only read the bible in German was a way of controlling THEIR flock. I would have reacted negatively to this article if I thought it was directed at mormons, and I would have had an extremely difficult time making it fit when it was revealed to be WTBTS.

DanaBug

New Chapter,

I love that idea! If you write it up, I would love to see it.

darth frosty

New chapter I agree. Nuther good point if you replace certain words with pronouns (you me us our) that read would be very telling.

therevealer

*** km 9/07 p. 3 Question Box ***
Question Box
? Does "the faithful and discreet slave" endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?-Matt. 24:45, 47.
No, it does not. And yet, in various parts of the world, a few associates of our organization have formed groups to do independent research on Bible-related subjects. Some have pursued an independent group study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation. Others explore scientific subjects related to the Bible. They have created Web sites and chat rooms for the purpose of exchanging and debating their views. They have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our Christian meetings and through our literature.
Throughout the earth, Jehovah's people are receiving ample spiritual instruction and encouragement at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, as well as through the publications of Jehovah's organization. Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah provides what is needed so that all of God's people may be "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" and remain "stabilized in the faith." (1 Cor. 1:10; Col. 2:6, 7) Surely we are grateful for Jehovah's spiritual provisions in these last days. Thus, "the faithful and discreet slave" does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight.-Matt. 24:45-47.
It is commendable for individuals to want to use their thinking ability in support of the good news. However, no personal pursuit should detract from what Jesus Christ is accomplishing through his congregation on earth today. In the first century, the apostle Paul warned about getting involved in exhausting, time-consuming subjects, such as "genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith." (1 Tim. 1:3-7) All Christians should strive to "shun foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile."-Titus 3:9.
For those who wish to do extra Bible study and research, we recommend that they explore Insight on the Scriptures, "All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial," and our other publications, such as those that discuss the prophecies found in the Bible books of Daniel, Isaiah, and Revelation. These provide abundant material for Bible study and meditation, whereby we can be "filled with the accurate knowledge of [God's] will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him as [we] go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God."-Col. 1:9, 10.

stapler99

This passages demonstrates very well how full JW literature is of reinforcement of their beliefs and the authority of the Governing Body. I feel like I am under constant assault when reading it and find something objectionable in every other word or so.

A rhetorical analysis of the Sept. KM Question Box