by JeffT 16 Replies latest jw friends
I thought of this while working on my book project, and I realized I don't have a good answer.
Why is the JW leadership so intent on conformity in ALL areas of everyone's lives? Lots of things they regulate have no religious significance. I know the obvious answer is control, but to what purpose?
To keep them from having anything in common with the rest of the world? Which keeps them isolated... because everything else is 'of Satan'. Also, the 'unity' is a big thing in the teaching that they are the one true religion, right? So conformity in all helps to assert that claim.
Just guesses on my behalf, mind you.
Tammy
To make members feel more of the US vs. THEM mentality.
Conformity on beards and grooming, while the entire world isn't opposite them, allows the average JW to reject good people that believe things but have beards or go to church/temple/etc. in casual wear or with the ladies in pants. Despite the fact that many people dress better than the average JW, they can feel special about their dress in the Kingdom Hall. It's also a carry-over from the early part of the 20th century when people all dressed up for all kinds of things- allow the JW's to feel they kept a standard high while "the world" allowed Satan to break down the standard for "THEM."
Conformity on entertainment allows the average JW to think the whole world outside is debased, going to magic shows in Vegas or watching R-rated movies or listening to rappers, etc. etc.
You can imagine the US vs. THEM mentality in virtually any conformity situation.
Excellent answers!
Because it really is easier to mislead people as a group, dear JeffT (peace to you!)... than individually. While often touted in the western world (but not really, and almost utterly rejected in the eastern world)... individuality is more dangerous than groupthink. That's why they DF for individual thinking - it can become a "cancer" that ultimately affects the groupthink. Makes it more difficult to mislead the group. Where groupthink exists, however, control of the entire unit is much easier. It's like the Star Trek Borg - you need the entire group in order to successfully carry out your agenda and so non-assimilation is unacceptable. And assimilation... must be absolute.
The world was kind of heading in that direction, more individuality, around the turn of the 20th century. Then came things like communism... and, after that, the progression of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Two steps forward... six steps back!
I hope this helps and, again, peace to you!
A slave of Christ,
SA
Jehobot Witness..
"Why would I think,when the Watchtower can do it for me?"..
....................... 
...OUTLAW
because that way its easier to draw a pic of them on the WT. see all they look the same.
Because that way its easier to spot them when you go out on field service.
It is in the nature of man.
Think about the different situations that have occured in your life. You were either bullied, or you were the bully.
There is a line in the movie "The Good, the bad, and the Ugly" uttered by Tuco which sums it up well. "There are two types of people in the world my friend. Those who get hung, and those who do the hanging".
Night Owl
The JWs are different cases of individual failure. A failed individual wants everyone to be a failure like him. They are a a group of people who need a "parental" guidance in all aspects of their lives. They lack initiative and freedom of thinking. They resemble in many ways with communist nations.
