Revealing Questions

by leavingwt 6 Replies latest jw friends

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  leavingwt

  Thinking of becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses?

  On page 109 of Steve Hassan's first book, 'Combatting Cult Mind Control', he advises that people ask the representative of the group the following series of questions:

  "How do you feel about former members of your group? Have you ever sat down to speak with a former member to find out why he left the group? If not, why not? Does your group impose restrictions on communicating with former members?"

  Hassan goes on to say:

  "This is one of the most revealing sets of questions you can ask any cult member. Any legitimate organization would never discourage contact with former members. Likewise, legitimate groups would support any member's decision to leave, even though they might not like it. Destructive cults, on the other hand, do not accept any reasons for a person's departure no matter what they are. Likewise, cult groups make sure to instill fear in members, insuring that they stay away from critics and former members."

  (Via)
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  Morbidzbaby

  I loved Combatting Cult Mind Control. It helped immensely when I was see-sawing back and forth between "Is this the Truth/ is it a cult?"

  Asking that one question is very telling... I know on one of the other boards I visit, I've seen countless JW's trying to count their time by preaching and "innocently" bringing up topics for a bible discussion. When I bring up DFing, they're shocked that I know what it is, and their Aposta-senses start tingling...but the funny thing is, they keep talking to me lol. Everyone asks what DFing is, and if the JW doesn't explain, I do. And then in an effort to refute it and state WHY, they just dig themselves deeper because everyone else who is not familiar with JW's ends up perceiving the person as a stark raving lunatic when they start saying "OMG you're an APOSTATE! I can't talk to you!!" and then cite scriptures to back that up. Those who are learned in scripture tend to see how misapplied their "scriptural basis" is. And everyone else just says "Man, that's just not NORMAL!" lol.
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  leavingwt

  When I bring up DFing, they're shocked that I know what it is, and their Aposta-senses start tingling

  Good one.

  By necessity, DECEPTION is involved in the recruitment process. The JW recruiter vies the disgusting doctrines of the WT as "solid food", and he feels that the spiritual infant is not ready for such. The disgusting doctrines (solid food) are introduced after the person is a victim of Thought Reform, which prevents the new person from questioning, mostly due to fear.
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  leavingwt

  bttt
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  leavingwt

  bttt
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  OnTheWayOut

  For some reason, your thread did not catch on before. Maybe now it will

  I know the careful outsider answers to these questions from a full-fledged member and I know the actual answers.

  "How do you feel about former members of your group?"
  Actual answer: They are disgusting apostates that left for selfish sinning.

  Careful answer: People are free to do as they want. (SOME WILL GO A BIT FAR: Not everyone chooses righteousness.)

  "Have you ever sat down with a former member to find out why he left the group?"
  Actual answer: NO, I didn't listen to them at all.

  Careful answer: I have spoken to some that left, typically they had problems they were not ready to face.

  "Does your group impose restrictions on communicating with former members?"
  Actual answer: YES. (Some may say it is for their protection and others may say they wish it weren't so.)

  Careful answer will be one of the following: No, each individual decides how to treat such ones.
  Yes, but that is a protection from those that have abandoned true worship.
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  JonathanH

  I get the creeps just reading your responses, OnTheWayOut. They are so accurate it makes me feel sick. I can imagine all of these people I used to know responding exactly like that. I can imagine my past self responding just like that.