Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda! vs Sept 07 OKM

by Black Sheep 19 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

Black Sheep

This is an adaptation of my commentary for my wife on one of the Propaganda articles still published on the official WT website.
I think they are a good set of articles to refer to when discussing the Sept 2007 OKM QFR and JWs cultish behaviour in general.
Cheers
Chris
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000622/article_03.htm
from Awake! June 22, 2000
Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda!
"A fool will believe anything." —PROVERBS
14:15, TODAY'S ENGLISH
VERSION.
THERE is a difference—a big difference—between education and
propaganda. Education shows you how to think. Propaganda tells
you what to think. Good educators present all sides of an issue and
encourage discussion. Propagandists relentlessly force you to hear
their view and discourage discussion. Often their real motives are
not apparent. They sift the facts, exploiting the useful ones and
concealing the others. They also distort and twist facts, specializing
in lies and half-truths. Your emotions, not your logical thinking
abilities, are their target.
See OKM 1 Sept 2007 QFR. How does the advice in this QFR
compare to the above?
The propagandist makes sure that his message appears to be the
right and moral one and that it gives you a sense of importance and
belonging if you follow it. You are one of the smart ones, you are
not alone, you are comfortable and secure—so they say.
How can you protect yourself from the types of people that the
Bible calls "profitless talkers" and "deceivers of the mind"? (Titus
1:10) Once you are familiar with some of their tricks, you are in a
better position to evaluate any message or information that comes
your way. Here are some ways to do this.
Be selective: A completely open mind could be likened to a pipe
that lets just anything flow through it—even sewage. No one wants
a mind contaminated with poison. Solomon, a king and educator in
ancient times, warned: "Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every
word, but the shrewd one considers his steps." (Proverbs 14:15) So
we need to be selective. We need to scrutinize whatever is
presented to us, deciding what to accept and what to reject.
What did Jesus have to say in Mark 7:15?
14 So, calling the crowd to him again, he proceeded to say to them:
“Listen to me, all of YOU, and get the meaning. 15 There is nothing
from outside a man that passes into him that can defile him; but the
things that issue forth out of a man are the things that defile a man.” 16
——
Is the above paragraph encouraging a narrowing of the mind of the
reader?
How does Jesus support the narrowing of the mind in Mark 7?
However, we do not want to be so narrow that we refuse to
consider facts that can improve our thinking. How can we find the
right balance? By adopting a standard with which to measure new
information. Here a Christian has a source of great wisdom. He has
the Bible as a sure guide for his thinking. On the one hand, his mind
is open, that is, receptive to new information. He properly weighs
such new information against the Bible standard and fits what is true
into his pattern of thinking. On the other hand, his mind sees the
danger of information that is entirely inconsistent with his
Bible-based values.
Did you notice the switch from 'the Bible' to 'his Bible-based values' at
the end of the paragraph?
Would other Christians find anything wrong with this article?
If a Catholic is going to use 'his Bible-based values' as a filter when
hearing what he considers "sewage" from the Jehovah's Witness at his
door, is he doing the right thing?
Use discernment: Discernment is "acuteness of judgment." It is
"the power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one thing
from another." A person with discernment perceives subtleties of
ideas or things and has good judgment.
Using discernment, we will be able to recognize those who are
merely using "smooth talk and complimentary speech" in order to
"seduce the hearts of guileless ones." (Romans 16:18) Discernment
enables you to discard irrelevant information or misleading facts and
distinguish the substance of a matter. But how can you discern when
something is misleading?
Put information to the test: "Beloved ones," said John, a
first-century Christian teacher, "do not believe every inspired
expression, but test the inspired expressions." (1 John 4:1) Some
people today are like sponges; they soak up whatever they come
across. It is all too easy to absorb whatever is around us.
Can any Christian ever find the truth if they use their various religion's
'Bible-based values' as a filter that prevents them from 'testing' what
other people say? 1 John 4:1
Test whatever you are reading or watching,
to see if it is truthful
But it is far better for each individual personally to choose what he
will feed his mind. It is said that we are what we eat, and this can
apply to food for both the body and the mind. No matter what you
are reading or watching or listening to, test to see whether it has
propagandistic overtones or is truthful.
Moreover, if we want to be fair-minded, we must be willing to
subject our own opinions to continual testing as we take in new
information. We must realize that they are, after all, opinions. Their
trustworthiness depends on the validity of our facts, on the quality of
our reasoning, and on the standards or values that we choose to
apply.
Popular opinion is not always reliable
Ask questions: As we have seen, there are many today who
would like to 'delude us with persuasive arguments.' (Colossians
2:4) Therefore, when we are presented with persuasive arguments,
we should ask questions.
First, examine whether there is bias. What is the motive for the
message? If the message is rife with name-calling and loaded words,
why is that? Loaded language aside, what are the merits of the
message itself? Also, if possible, try to check the track record of
those speaking. Are they known to speak the truth? If "authorities"
are used, who or what are they? Why should you regard this
person—or organization or publication—as having expert
knowledge or trustworthy information on the subject in question? If
you sense some appeal to emotions, ask yourself, 'When viewed
dispassionately, what are the merits of the message?'
With the above paragraph in mind, please explain how we should view
the statement: "Some scholars suggest..." , in 'Should You Believe in
the Trinity', page 29?
Do not just follow the crowd: If you realize that what everybody
thinks is not necessarily correct, you can find the strength to think
differently. While it may seem that all others think the same way,
does this mean that you should? Popular opinion is not a reliable
barometer of truth. Over the centuries all kinds of ideas have been
popularly accepted, only to be proved wrong later. Yet, the
inclination to go along with the crowd persists. The command given
at Exodus 23:2 serves as a good principle: "You must not follow
after the crowd for evil ends."
True Knowledge Versus Propaganda
Previously, it was mentioned that the Bible is a sure guide for clear
thinking. Jehovah's Witnesses unequivocally subscribe to Jesus'
statement to God: "Your word is truth." (John 17:17) This is so
because God, the Author of the Bible, is "the God of truth."—Psalm
31:5.
Yes, in this age of sophisticated propaganda, we can confidently
look to Jehovah's Word as the source of truth. Ultimately this will
protect us from those who want to 'exploit us with counterfeit
words.'—2 Peter 2:3.
There is a lot of very good advice in this article. The catch is that it
encourages the ingrained human trait of applying the advice
selectively, when it should be applied at all times, to all media,
including that of your own religious leaders, what ever religion you are.
It is all very fine advising people to hurry up and 'get in' soon because
'Deliverance is at Hand!' if that is what you believe, but if you leave out
relevant information (e.g. WT prophesies failed in 1914, 1915, 1918,
1925, 1941, 1975, Generation of 1914, and before the end of the
century) because you fear they might not make the right decisions if
they knew that, are you using propaganda techniques yourself?
Does the end justify the means? This is something I have been
wondering about. Do you believe that it is ok for you to use
propaganda techniques because you believe you have the Truth? Do
you condone the use of propaganda by the WT because you believe
they have the Truth?
Please don't encourage your family to make decisions without them
being fully informed. They may then make uninformed decisions
for their children and if WT prophecy performs as well as it has in the
past, you may find yourself in a very uncomfortable position when the
effects of those uninformed decisions have kicked in.
Matthew 7:15
15 “Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to YOU in
sheep's covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits
YOU will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or
figs from thistles, do they? 17 Likewise every good tree produces fine
fruit, but every rotten tree produces worthless fruit; 18 a good tree
cannot bear worthless fruit, neither can a rotten tree produce fine fruit.
19 Every tree not producing fine fruit gets cut down and thrown into the
fire. 20 Really, then, by their fruits YOU will recognize those [men].
"Receiving the gift (the book, "Children'), the marching children
clasped it to them, not a toy or plaything for idle pleasure, but the
Lords provided instrument for most effective work in the remaining
months before Armageddon." (WT October 15 1941, pg 288 )
My father was baptised in 1939. 27 years after this prophecy, when I
was 15 years old, he let me have a front tooth pulled instead of
straightened because, once again, Armageddon was being counted in
months. I would not have done that if he had not polished the WT's
cup by hiding that information from me.
I feel that I am a victim of Watchtower Propaganda
.
JCanon

This is so ridiculous. But this and the new Watchtower that will come out just "For Witnesses Only" shows a heightened paranoia of what is available on the net, including personal experiences of individuals. They are fighting back tooth and nail to raise their members to yet another level of intellecutal isolation and co-dependency on the organization. Only what they tell you is to be heard, other things tuned out! It's just more mind control being implemented.
But it's rather brilliant at the same time as well. That is, once they put out a "Witness Only" Watchtower, there really doesn't have to be anything that secretive in it, but it does set up the psychological mindframe of witnesses that they are not to share certain things with outsiders. It puts up another wall and hurdle to get past in being challenged by outsiders. It means certain things now they won't even share with the public or discuss even in a Bible study situation. It used to be that if you asked Bible questions in the field they would feel obligated to answer it, but now, I'm afraid even if the wrong question is asked now, a witness will not pursue it further.
But I can't blame them, because it can be disruptive. I'm part of the problem! Case in point. I lived in an area where I didn't attend the meetings or anything and nobody knew I was a former witness. But the brothers would come to the door sometimes and I'd listen and accept a magazine or something then they would go. But, of course, it doesn't stop there. There are they auxillary pioneers that will latch onto you if you show the slightest interest. It was a dangerous game because I wouldn't like to them if they asked if I was a witness so I tried not to lead to my historical past. But I did bate them quite effectively by pretending to ask a question I knew they couldn't get out of and that I knew would make them question the WTS doctrine. It was a fun game! I pretended to be interested except I had a question about how it was that Jesus could be impaled at the "ninth hour" and his trial take place at noon, and yet it get dark at noon? Or something like that. Of course, not thinking they would immediately say, this must have been the day before. Which is correct! But then I'd point out that that is not what people teach if they say Christ died the same day he ate passover. So they'd have to take that back and do some "resarch" on it and return. I just laughed because I knew there was no explanation whatsoever, since the teaching is wrong. What ultimately happens is there is an admission that this is something in the Bible not fully understood and then I'd get that speech about how the "Faithful and Discrete Slave" is the element in the earth per the Bible that provides this knowledge and even if they don't have all the answers, that was the important thing, to follow that leadership. No worry, I know the damage had been done since I know they consulted several elders in the congregation to try and answer it and couldn't. The main goal was to get someone to THINK about something that wasn't outlined by the WTS! To take them out of that loop for just a moment.
But of course, if you hang in there and show you're a bit too knowledgeable they will begin to guess you're an "apostate" and that's the end of it. Only now, they will likely be trained not to answer any of the probing issues that seem to be contradictions or only discuss it with brothers and not outsiders. They are being told NOT TO LISTEN which means to close their eyes and minds to any kind of contradiction of what the WTS says, and if you don't, you are not being loyal. Satan is soo incredibly clever! I guess the WTS thought there was too much free thinking going on, and it is isolating those free thinkers in the congregation who are now being labeled as rebels and disobedient if they don't follow the new policy. The grip on those who love the darkness anyway tightens! What's encouraging is that there is a clear deserpation in all these moves, so they definitely feel under siege, largely due to the internet, I'm sure. They are doomed hypocrites. So glad I'm free.
JCanon
stillajwexelder

great post JCanon
Frequent_Fader_Miles

But of course, if you hang in there and show you're a bit too knowledgeable they will begin to guess you're an "apostate" and that's the end of it.
True, it makes me wonder sometimes if the WBTS really understands the true meaning of apostate. Maybe they'll get "new light" that the Beroeans were apostate!
OnTheWayOut

Great Awake article. I remember reading it about a year ago, but very much appreciate it
resurfacing as a reminder of what they said about Propaganda and what they tried to
push in Sept. KM.
Thanks.
bluebell

great post, pity they don't apply the propaganda info to everything in life
Black Sheep

Great comments JCanon.
I have already laid the groundwork to ensure that my wife will not be able to refuse me the Kool Aid Watchtowers without going against at least one of her two conflicting personal consciences.
Cheers
Chris
Black Sheep

The following is another of the commentaries I did on the Propaganda series of articles.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/20000622/diagram_01.htm
Is the Work of Jehovah's
Witnesses Propagandistic?
Some opponents of Jehovah's Witnesses have accused them of
spreading Zionist propaganda. Others have charged that the ministry
of the Witnesses promotes Communism. Still others have claimed
that the work of Jehovah's Witnesses promotes the ideals and
interests of "American imperialism." And there are those who assert
that the Witnesses are anarchists, fomenting disorder with the aim of
changing the social, economic, political, or legal order. Obviously,
these conflicting accusations cannot all be true.
These accusations are all easily discredited.
Are there other criticisms that are not so easily answered?
The simple fact is that Jehovah's Witnesses are none of the above.
The work of the Witnesses is carried out in faithful obedience to
Jesus Christ's mandate to his disciples: "You will be witnesses of
me . . . to the most distant part of the earth." (Acts 1:8) Their work
focuses solely and exclusively on the good news of the heavenly
Kingdom—God's instrument for bringing peace to the whole
earth.—Matthew 6:10; 24:14.
Observers of Jehovah's Witnesses have found no evidence that this
Christian community has ever been a force disruptive of the good
order of any land.
Publications of Jehovah's Witnesses promote family
values and high moral standards
Many journalists, judges, and others have commented on the
positive contributions that Jehovah's Witnesses have made to the
communities in which they live. Consider some examples. After
attending a convention of Jehovah's Witnesses, a reporter from
southern Europe commented: "These are people with strong family
ties, they are taught to love and to live by their conscience so as not
to harm others."
I am quite sure that a quick Google could turn up a number of
quotations from respected individuals who have said something nice
about Hitler that can be, and probably have been, used in Nazi
propagada. "By clever and persevering use of propaganda even heaven
can be represented as hell to the people, and conversely the most
wretched life as paradise." —ADOLF HITLER, MEIN KAMPF.
Another journalist, formerly negative about the Witnesses, stated:
"They live an exemplary life. They do not violate the standards of
what is moral and right." A political scientist similarly remarked
about the Witnesses: "They behave toward other people with
profound kindness, love and gentleness."
Do they behave in this manner with their own who have fallen foul of
WT rules or no longer believe all of the doctrines of the WT?
Jehovah's Witnesses teach the rightness of submission to authority.
As law-abiding citizens, they follow Bible standards of honesty,
truthfulness, and cleanliness. They build good morals into their own
families, and they help others to learn how they can do the same.
They live peaceably with all men, not getting involved in disruptive
demonstrations or political revolutions. Jehovah's Witnesses seek to
be exemplary in obeying the laws of the human superior authorities,
while they wait patiently on the Supreme Authority, the Sovereign
Lord Jehovah, to restore perfect peace and righteous government to
this earth.
Do they live peaceably with their own who have fallen foul of WT rules
or no longer believe all of the doctrines of the WT?
At the same time, the work of the Witnesses is educational. Using
the Bible as a basis, they teach people worldwide to reason on
Bible principles and thereby develop right standards of conduct and
moral integrity. They promote values that improve family lifeand help young people cope with their peculiar challenges. They also
help people to find the strength to overcome bad habits and to
develop the ability to get along with others. Such a work would
hardly be termed "propaganda." As The World Book
Encyclopedia says, in a climate where ideas circulate freely,
"propaganda differs from education."
......"They promote values that improve family life....."
This only holds true as long as every member of the family becomes,
and remains, a JW in good standing. This includes subsequent
generations. This article does not mention that many families have
been torn apart when family members have fallen foul of WT rules or no
longer believe all of the doctrines of the WT.
"....and help young people cope with their peculiar challenges."
What about a teenager who has been baptised then disfellowshipped
or disassociated for questioning WT doctrine and rules?
No JW except family living under the same roof are to provide them
with friendship or moral support. (For the current advice see: Kingdom
Ministry August 2002, There is a copy in the office). Is what they are
subjected to more in line with Encylopedia Brittanica's description
(linked to from Propaganda) of Psychological Warfare? "Use of
propaganda against an enemy, supported by whatever military,
economic, or political measures are required, and usually intended to
demoralize an enemy or to win it over to a different point of view."
When I was a kid you would have been disfellowshipped and shunned
for doing Alternative Service. I didn't see a problem with doing
Alternative Service but the psychological pressure to conform, even
though I wasn't baptised, was immense. Was it a 'Bible based rule'?
Do they have that rule any more? Were my parents really helping me?
At least one kid died refusing a transplant. I found an article about her
in the NY Times archives . Was that a 'Bible based rule'? Was she
really helped with her peculiar challenge? How do her parents feel now
that organ transplants are acceptable?
Would Catholics have died or lived in poor health from refusing to eat
meat on a Friday?
...."As The World Book Encyclopedia says, in a climate where
ideas circulate freely, "propaganda differs from education."....
Could I, if I was a dedicated JW in good standing, discuss how to
calculate the date of the fall of Jerusalem using the Bible and the
reigns and lengths of reigns of the kings of Babylon as published in
WT literature and CDs freely with anyone in the congregation, or the
public, without fear of losing my standing and without being coerced to
hold to, or teach, the official WT view if, after studying the Bible and the
reigns of the kings, I had come to a different view?
AWAKE&WATCHING

i CAN'T SAY IT ENOUGH...
I LOVE< LOVE<LOVE YOU GUYS !
greendawn

“Be on the watch for the false prophets that come to YOU in sheep's covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves."

That describes the WTS and its FDS perfectly. It is the crux of the matter and all JWs should know that they will be recognised by their fruitage. The FDS has not produced any good fruits they are greedy for power, highly manipulative and dictatorial. Also they understand nothing about charity.

Do Not Be a Victim of Propaganda! vs Sept 07 OKM

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