MIND-CONTROL is a METAPHOR.
Minds aren't controlled.
How sure are you?
Ever read a book?
Solve a math problem?
Plan your budget?
Engage in an exercise regime?
Masturbate?
SELF-TESTING for the influences of MIND-CONTROL
by Terry 47 Replies latest jw friends
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thetrueone
Its an interesting evolution in how the WTS. changed its operating tactics over the years, starting
from under Russell's helm to Rutherford's and beyond. Russell's era was more on publishing and selling
his literature, he had his handful of devoted followers that helped him in the printing and distribution
of the literature, arranging public talks and so on. The operation was quite small,
keeping in mind that the literature was only published in English, the publishing operation was quite minuscule
to what it is today. When Rutherford took over the operation, thats when things began to change rapidly,
the strong arm tactics that he implemented to seize control of the WTS. and put the publishing company into
his own direction . This religious publishing company became real corporate and much more business like,
especially when it went international.
More and more people were needed to man the presses and do other jobs like language translation,
which made it even more important to hold on to these workers since they were vitally important to the operations
of the company. As the company expanded more money was needed putting further pressure on circulation
of their literature to bring in the dough as they say. This is when I really believe the mind control tactics has its roots.
The soon to be impending Armageddon proliferation during the late 60's up to 1975 was in full gear as an example
of their marketing strategy, dates and times were loosely calculated mostly on weak speculations.
This big business needed mind controlled cheap labor to keep all the operations maintained and fluent,
just exactly the way the organization operates today.
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Terry
Russell: deliverance....Armageddon...life in heaven...
Rutherford: Enemies, martyrs, Armageddon
Knorr: Education through preaching, Armageddon
Franz: Loyalty, Armageddon
Present Day: doctrine spackle, loyalty, Armageddon
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The Finger
Terry,
The last ten years of my brothers life he said "I lived it as I wanted too" he died at 40. He didn't die a happy man. Turning away from Christianity meant he was still enslaved to the control of his sinful desires which killed him. His freedom cost him.
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Terry
The last ten years of my brothers life he said "I lived it as I wanted too" he died at 40. He didn't die a happy man. Turning away from Christianity meant he was still enslaved to the control of his sinful desires which killed him.
I'm truly sorry to hear about that.
My condolences to you.
I lost a friend in 1983 and didn't know about it until recently. I had been trying to find him. We parted when I moved from California to Texas.
I discovered a website in Memorium to him. He died of liver failure. He was an alcoholic and I didn't realize it (although I certainly saw him drink.....a lot.)
He was a Scientologist, but, desperately unhappy with his life.
The success rate of AA is about 11% I understand. About the same as a person who quites "cold turkey".
Anyway...If I had it all to do over again.....I don't think I could have helped him at all. He was committed to his lifestyle and beliefs.
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The Finger
My brother, not only gave up JW's he lived a life of wine and women he ran businesses he gambled. He would wait and see if there was anything later. That's not Christianity. That's freedom to die. Too much freedom can be a bad thing. He lived to enjoy his life. He did. He told his heart specialist he did. It just wasn't long. I don't think Christianity would have hurt him as much as living for himself, do you?
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VoidEater
Belief is the enemy of truth.
While we are all at the mercy of our inculcated worldview (read a history of mathematics sometime), once we take something as true we do not think about it anymore.
So...the question becomes, How do we get out of our head, out of our habituated thoughts, wash our brain clean, and see things anew?
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THE GLADIATOR
You have posted many thoughtful and well thought out posts that do not always get the attention they deserve but they are appreciated.
How do we get out of our head, out of our habituated thoughts, wash our brain clean, and see things anew?
My take on this is that, we are only ready to start anew when we have lost everything that we have placed value on. We realise that to go on living, we have to find a new way of seeing the world, people, ourselves, our relationships, beliefs, desires, hopes, ambition.
We seek a new identity and are prepared to pay the price, however high, because our cheaper attempts have failed. Then and only then.
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Nathan Natas
Terry said, "Actually, the name [Jehovah's Witnesses] was adopted July 26, 1931 by resolution in Columbus, Ohio."
While that may be true, the name wasn't invented at the convention.
It's not as though someone got up on the podium and said, "OK, folks: what do we call ourselves?" There was no debate between people who favored the name "Imaginary Israelites" over "Jehovah's Witnesses." Rutherford knew what the name was going to be when he woke up that morning. JW resolutions back then, as now, are simply a rubber-stamp of whatever the "faithful slave" wants.
Here's the resolution as it appeared in The WATCHTOWER of September 15, 1931:
NEW NAME
Sunday afternoon, July 26, at 4 p.m., there was presented and read before the convention the following resolution :
A NEW NAME
WHEREAS about 1874, in fulfillment of divine prophecy, the Lord Jesus Christ began the work of 'preparing the way before Jehovah' and to restore to his faithful followers on earth a clearer understanding of the fundamental truths taught by Jesus and his apostles and which for centuries had been made obscure by others teaching false doctrines; and
WHEREAS from and after that date and for a period of more than forty years Charles T. Russell, a faithful follower of Christ Jesus and a servant of Jehovah God, led a company of his brethren in Christ in the preaching and teaching of the divine Word, and particularly with reference to the second coming of Christ, the setting up of his kingdom, and the restoration of man to perfection on the earth; and to carry on said work orderly said company of Christians organized the corporations known as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, the International Bible Students Association, and the Peoples' Pulpit Association; and they used and now use these corporations for the publication of books, magazines and other Bible literature; and in the course of time said company of Christians became known by such names as, to wit, "Russellites," "Millennial Dawn People," "International Bible Students Association," and other like names; and
WHEREAS shortly following the death of Charles T. Russell a division arose between those associated with him in such work, resulting in a number of such withdrawing from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and who have since refused to cooperate with said Society and its work and who decline to concur in the truth as published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in The Watch Tower and the other recent publications of the said above-named corporations, and have opposed and do now oppose the work of said Society in declaring the present message of God's kingdom and the day of the vengeance of our God against all parts of Satan's organization; and said opposing ones have formed themselves into divers and numerous companies and have taken and now bear such names as, to wit, "Bible Students," "Associated Bible Students," "Russellites teaching the truth as expounded by Pastor Russell," " Stand-Fasters," and like names, all of which tends to cause confusion and misunderstanding:
NOW, THEREFORE, in order that our true position may be made known, and believing that this is in harmony with the will of God, as expressed in his Word, BE IT RESOLVED, as follows, to wit:
THAT we have great love for Brother Charles T. Russell, for his work's sake, and that we gladly acknowledge that the Lord used him and greatly blessed his work, yet we cannot consistently with the Word of God consent to be called by the name "Russellites"; that the Watch Tower Bible and
Tract Society and the International Bible Students Association and the Peoples Pulpit Association are merely names of corporations which as a company of Christian people we hold, control and use to carry on our work in obedience to God's commandments, yet none of these names properly attach to
or apply to us as a body of Christians who follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus; that we are students of the Bible, but, as a body of Christians forming an association, we decline to assume or be called by the name "Bible Students" or similar names as a means of identification of our proper position before the Lord; we refuse to bear or to be called by the name of any man;THAT, having been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer, justified and begotten by Jehovah God and called to his kingdom, we unhesitatingly declare our entire allegiance and devotion to Jehovah God and his kingdom; that we are servants of Jehovah God commissioned to do a work in his name, and, in obedience to his commandment, to deliver the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to make known to the people that Jehovah is the true and Almighty God; therefore we joyfully embrace and take the name which the mouth of the Lord God has named, and we desire to be known as and called by the name, to wit, Jehovah's witnesses. - Isa.43:l0-12; 62:2; Rev. 12:17.
As Jehovah's witnesses our sole and only purpose is to be entirely obedient to his commandments; to make known that he is the only true and Almighty God; that his Word is true and that his name is entitled to all honor and glory; that Christ is God's Ring, whom he has placed upon his throne
of authority; that his kingdom is now come, and in obedience to the Lord's commandments we must now declare this good news as a testimony or witness to the nations and inform the rulers and the people of and concerning Satan's cruel and oppressive organization, and particularly with reference to "Christendom" which is the most wicked part of that visible organization, and of and concerning God's purpose to shortly destroy Satan's organization, which great act will be quickly followed by Christ the Ring's bringing to the obedient peoples of earth peace and prosperity, liberty and health, happiness and everlasting life. That God's kingdom is the hope of the world, and there is no other; and that this message must be delivered by those who are identified as Jehovah's witnesses.We humbly invite all persons who are wholly devoted to Jehovah and his kingdom to join in proclaiming this good news to others, that the righteous standard of the Lord may be lifted up, that the peoples of the world may know where to find the truth and hope for relief; and, above all, that the great and holy name of Jehovah God may be vindicated and exalted.
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Nathan Natas
These "resolutions" are always such fun to read.
Rutherford was a pompous windbag who delighted in "the language of the court." He could talk his entire lifetime without saying anything at all.