Condescending Style of the book Keep Yourselves in God's Love (page 2)

Finally-Free

We recently had a writing workshop at work, and it was suggested that writing should be at a ninth grade level. The workshop was geared towards those who prepared press releases.

W

daniel-p

More than a tone of condescension I noticed the constant harping on what JWs should be doing... not much building up or encouragement, just counsel, counsel, counsel.

I was trying to think over the "dumbing down", and I believe that it got started with the "Truth" book. Another early example of a truly dumbed down book was the "Evolution" one - and this on a subject which truly deserved some decent scholarship. That one was a high mark of phoney journalism, falsly used quotations, misrepresentation of fact, etc. Especially cool was the picture of the wrecked car - "see now children, you cannot improve on a car by wrecking it...". Of course, at the time it was written, no one had yet seen the Pontiac Aztek.

I can imagine that they no longer have much talent in the writing department (by that I mean, people like Franz, etc.) who could make up all that complicated jargon like the "Babylon" book, the one on Ezekiel, etc.

Maybe somebody like Blondie could prove me wrong on this, but after about 1975 there just did not seem to be much of any of the "deep" style of writing any longer.

And, of course, the point is well made that for many high school or even college graduates, Paris Hilton would represent a pretty high level of literacy - so maybe they are trying to match the skill sets of their target audience.

Jeremy C

Many of us have noticed a dumbing-down trend in the books that are being published by the Watchtower. I first noticed this trend when the Knowledge book was published and was the official book being used to study with newly interested ones. I was a Regular Pioneer when this book was being used, and I was disturbed that we were expecting people to just renounce their faith and join our organization based upon such simplistic material.

Of course, the Watchtower believes there is Scriptural precedent for printing material that is simplistic. Their conventional wisdom says that only the "humble", and "meek" will demonstrate the sheeplike qualities in responding to the Kingdom message. Any people who would find Watchtower material to be childish, simplistic, or sophomoric are to be dismissed as "proud" and "self-satisfied" ones. This is how JWs can feel justified in discontinuing a "Bible" study with someone who does not "progress" to demonstrating a commitment to the organization after only a brief period of time.

This "take it or leave it" attitude is part of the spiritual elitism and self-serving arrogance that is fostered within the organization. The Watchtower organization is like a large corporation that has convinced its sales representatives that they have the best spiritual product on the market. If anyone rejects the product, it is because the prospective buyers are to "haughty" to accept the "truth". This is how the Watchtower gets away with publishing such nonsense.

In any multi-level marketing enterprise, it is always the dutifull sales reps who are the last ones to realize that they are selling a lemon.

wifekeepsmeinit

VM44

An example would be Chapter 4 on How to View Authority

I guess I put my foot in my mouth for that one. (Superior Attitude)

Yeah I noticed in the second paragraph of Chapter 4 where it says that we have to show respect for people that have authority over us, then gives a scripture, Proverbs 24:21 as proof, unfourtunately that scripture relates to the Davidic kings. But if you were just a regular guy that didnt know any better you would have to assume that the`"King" mentioned in that verse is now the WTBS. Then it goes on to say "to remain in Gods love" - theres the carrot. The rest of the chapter keeps on saying the same thing in 15 different ways.

"To remain in Jehovahs Love, you must accept dicipline, and be obedient to those taking the lead." - the elders.

I see what you are talking about, I dont particulary like that paragraph, but it dosent mean the book is a waste of paper. I suppose you have to look at it in a balanced way.

Dagney

They realize that virtually all of their future growth will come from 3rd world countries, or 3rd-world emigrants in developed countries.
They are dumbing down the literature to make it more understandable to those with little or no formal education.

In their desire for the whole brotherhood to be literally on the 'same page' each week, they will lose their best and brightest, the potential future leaders of the organization.

Brillant plan! Love it.

blondie

james_woods, that is pretty much when the deep prophecy books ended and the fluff 192 page books proliferated. The Revelation Climax book in 1988 was definitely dumbed down from the Babylon the Great and Finished Mystery books. And when the Daniel and Isaiah books came out in the early 1990's, the rank and file could not even grasp that; what a painful experience Tuesday night was.

Blondie

Robert7

I had a really hard time with the 'dumbed down' material. I had to FORCE myself to answer during the WT because it went everything I had intellectually to blindly just repeat an answer verbatim as stated in a paragraph written at a 5th grade level. Therefore I rarely ever answered...

james_woods

You know, on a somewhat related topic, I was astonished to see how low the quality of just the graphics and printing were in recent magazines.

I was from the early rotogravure process times (before they tried to print in 4-color, and with the offset presses and computer typesetting). Those old watchtowers, with the carefully made artwork, and very elegant (if a little old-fashioned) font work, were a classy thing of beauty compared to the kind of crap printwork they are putting out these days.

And, from what I hear - no longer are there quality bound books or bibles any longer, either.

tinker

Providing clear and simple material that everyone can read and understand is fine for a mass market paperback release. But when you consider that this type of publication is the only material approved by this organization it shows there is a 'mind control' intent behind it. These books have no appendix, reference pages or index.

The recent KM direction of 'do not use outside source material' is clearly a 'keep em dumb' intent. IMO

Condescending Style of the book Keep Yourselves in God's Love

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