Lurkers, food for thought...

by Gregor 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  Gregor

  I observe two ways the Watchtower Society keeps their followers "sheeplike". Both are based in fear. Love is not the glue that holds it together, although familial love is exploited by them in #2 below.

  1. God is going to destroy everyone who is not a Jehovah's Witness in the immenent Armageddon blitzkreig. Behave and you may survive.

  2. If you don't behave, you will be officially shunned by all the JWs in your life, including family & friends. Think about it.

  Would you agree that your JW life is built around keeping your status as a faithful brother or sister in the eyes of organization peers. Do you think and do as you please in private areas of your life? This reveals you are aware that God is not setting on your shoulder 24/7 as taught in a mind control tactic.
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  Gregor

  This thread has been viewed over 90 times. No responses. Perfect. That is fine with me. I hope it starts someone thinking and observing from a slightly different perspective than the one they get from the kool aid diet they are fed.

  
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  aligot ripounsous

  Gregor,

  I agree on #2 tactic to keep the flock stick tight, I'm no too sure about #1. As far as I could observe until I left (only a few weeks ago), the prospect of Armageddon plays a very small part, if any, in directing JWs' individual lifes. I've not heard any JW for a long time mention in conversation that they should keep awake, in case it occurs in their lifetime, other than as an old conventional JW expression. I believe more in the power of the fear to lose social and family links, which, IMO, is in the end the last glue that keeps JWs together. No religion in that, just social pressure.
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  undercover

  That's an interesting observation AR...

  As Armageddon has been postponed numerous times, is it possible that the Society is quietly dropping the Armageddon fear as number one reason to stay active and replacing it with the heightened fear of being outcast and being shunned?
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  I discovered

  lol
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  JWoods

  As Armageddon has been postponed numerous times, is it possible that the Society is quietly dropping the Armageddon fear as number one reason to stay active and replacing it with the heightened fear of being outcast and being shunned?

  It was my experience that no witness I knew ever thought themselves to be vulnerable to armageddon - no matter how slack/inactive/even immoral they happened to be. They were still witnesses in good standing after all -

  UNLESS THEY GOT DISFELLOWSHIPPED.

  So, the DF thread was the double edged sword - first, you would REALLY get killed in the big A, and ALSO, your family and friends would kick you to the curb and under the bus.
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  I discovered

  Gregor,

  Your logo made me laugh and I could not finish my post till now.

  btt