Combatting Cult Mind Control- Has Anybody Read This Book ? Your Opinions (page 3)

flipper

Your further opinions on the book " Combatting Cult MindControl " . Just bumping the thread to see if anyone else has read this book. Your opinion is appreciated ! Thanks, Peace out, Mr. Flipper

Great book - you'll be shaking your head all the way through with all the information that confirms we were in a cult (haven't read it cover to cover but most of it - Besty made me admit this....)

Not sure if an active dub not having doubts would really see the whole picture and apply it to themselves - the last person to agree their in a cult is a cult member!

But, thought provoking for those who have doubts and confirmation to those who are in no doubt.

Just started reading the second book - Releasing the Bonds - and he has just mentioned Jehovah's Witnesses......

flipper

SWEET PEA- That is what I'ved heard ! Thanks! I'm really looking forward to recieving my copy I ordered ! It's true cult members won't see it as clearly, but in time I have to try something with my daughters, getting them out of the witnesses! Peace out, Mr. Flipper

sweet pea

Flipper - I wish you all the best with your daughters - and if any one can help you I really feel that Hassan's advice is some of the best you can put into practice (not that I've had any success myself but I know other posters that use his approach and have made some headway - they're prepared for the long haul though).

Keep us updated as to what you think as you're reading it and what you think might help specifically where your daughters are concerned.

flipper

SWEET PEA- Thanks for the concern. I will keep you guys updated on what I see in reading the book and how I will use it to help reason with my witness daughters. I do really miss them ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper

kifoy

Hi Flipper!

I have not finished the book yet. In fact I'm not even finished with chapter four. But I just need to post a comment anyway

In chapter four, Hassan explains more thoroughly what he puts in to the different types of mind control. I was reading, and found it impossible to put away the book before I finished those sections. He talks about four types: behaviour control, thought control, emotional control and information control.

I want to give you some quotes that made me say "wow".

1. Behaviour control
Most of Hassans examples here were too extreme to fit, but the second paragraph hit it right on:

This need for behaviour control is the reason most cults prescribe a very rigid schedule for their members. […] In destructive cults there is always something to do.

2. Thought control
This was very a very interesting read:

In totalistic cults the ideology is internalized as "the truth" , the only "map" of reality. The doctrine not only serves to filter incoming information but also regulates how the information can be thought about. Usually, the doctrine is absolutist, dividing everything into "black and white", "us versus them". All that is good is embodied in the leader and the group. All that is bad is on the outside. The more totalistic groups claim that their doctrine is scientifically proven. The doctrine claims to answer all questions to all problems and situations. A member need not think for himself because the doctrine does the thinking for him.

I don't know about you, but when reading that "the doctrine claims to answer all questions to all problems and situations", I remembered how I often first turned to WT literature even to answer the most innocent non-religious question. It was through Awake! I learned about the nature in distant countries, rare animals, beautiful plants, and so on. And even about social behaviour (unfortunately). Of course, there was no Internet when I grew up. Maybe it would have been different if i grew up now, but the feeling just came back to me.

3. Emotional control
Guilt and fear control you life. And I especially noticed the things Hassans says about "happiness". How happiness is defined. You're not happy unless you do certain things.

It was a few months after I wrote my DA letter, I got a letter from my mother. There she asked among other things: "Are you happier now?" According to her, that would not be possible, because you can't be happy unless you go to meetings, do field service, are a JW... But when I answered her, I said that, "yes, I've in fact never been happier in my entire life!". I guess she blamed Satan for fooling me to think I was happy

4. Information control
Hassan first tells about cult members that are not even allowed to read the newspaper. Well, the JWs are allowed to read and watch the news. But they often carry out self censoring when they come across (ex-)JW news, and put their fingers in their ears. But Hassan also mentions other things. For example:

Information control also extends across all relationships. People are not allowed to talk to each other about anything critical of the leader, doctrine, or organisation. Members must spy on each other and report improper activities or comments to leaders. […] People are told to avoid ex-members or critics.

And the most astonishing paragraph according to myself:

Information is usually compartmentalized to keep members from knowing the big picture. In larger groups, people are told only as much as they "need to know" in order to perform their jobs. A member in one city will therefore not necessarily know about an important legal decision, media exposé, or internal dispute that is creating turmoil in the group somewhere else. Cult members naturally feel they know more about what's going on in their group than outsiders do, but in counselling ex-members I find that they often know the least.

(my emphasis) And JWD is a perfect example. I never knew so much about JW around the world as I do now.

Oh, I just need to quote one more paragraph, that might be of current interest:

Destructive organisations also control information by having many levels of "truth". Cult ideologies have "outsider" doctrines and "insider" doctrines. The outsider material is relatively bland stuff for the general public or fresh converts. The inner doctrines are unveiled only gradually as a person gets in deeper.

I just had to share these thoughts before I continue reading

kifoy

flipper

KIFOY- Very interesting. Thanks for sharing ! I have just started reading the Cult Mind Control book. I agree with you that I too did not learn about the unjust things Jehovah's Witnesses were doing until I had stopped going to meetings . I didn't even know about the 2002 Dateline child abuse presentation with Bill Bowen and Barbara Anderson till October of 2006 ! And I had been out of the organization since late 2003 ! Shows you how they keep information from people ! Look forward to educating myself more on cult mind control ! Thanks, Peace out, Mr. Flipper

drew sagan

It's a very good book. I read it about a year ago. He has many good suggestions and helps.

flipper

DREW SAGAN- Thanks for telling me ! I look forward to reaping the benefits of reading it, and putting some of it to use on my witness family

Combatting Cult Mind Control- Has Anybody Read This Book ? Your Opinions

Share this