Note: The Following Phobias May Be Hazardous to Your Health!
In fact many would say that these are a JW greatest fear either one of them or a combination of all of them
just something for YOUR FILES
JAMES
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1. Fear of doubt
Witnesses often go through a real struggle with doubt in the beginning, and must suppress information contrary to the Watchtower. They soon learn to dismiss the doubts, but rarely resolve the discrepancies in their minds. Therefore, whenever something triggers doubt once more, or whenever their belief system is threatened, they get scared. It is based on doctrine rather than relationship with God. Doubt causes extreme anxiety and all effort will be made to avoid putting the self into situations where doubt may arise.
2. Fear of leaving the organization
Perhaps the greatest fear of all among Witnesses, due to the radical change it will make in their mental and social well-being. Not only does the Witness suppose he will suffer extreme guilt, shame and suicidal feelings, but he knows he will lose all of his JW friends, and any family members in the organization will refuse to speak to him. The JW's worst suspicions about himself and his inherent depravity will be confirmed. The likelihood is that Armageddon will come while he is disfellowshiped. The Witness believes he will have nowhere to go, and will live the rest of his life miserable and lonely.
3. Fear of success
Witnesses are told that to pursue a career in this system of things is dangerous, as IT will subject them to all sorts of distractions, mainly the love of money. The Witness is often made to feel guilty for pursuing a higher education, since their time is better spent going door-to-door in the "short time remaining" before the end of this wicked old system. If you already have money or a good education, one of two behaviors will be manifested towards you, depending on the spirit of your congregation. Either they will treat you with disdain for being so "materialistic," or they will look up to you as a fine example of someone who has power in the world and yet is successful in "the truth," which is supposedly also a good witness to others outside the organization. Many double standards!
4. Fear of "worldly" people
Since only "Jehovah's people" will be saved, all others will be destroyed at Armageddon. Regardless of how religious or God fearing outsiders may appear, they are "worldly" towards you, and are "bad associations." They will corrupt the good morals of the JW, and will be used by the devil to make inroads into the JW mind with doubts about the organization and will cause them to slack off in the witnessing work.
5. Fear of learning
Witnesses are cautioned not to "go beyond the things that are written," which is interpreted as meaning that they are not to think thoughts that the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses has not thought yet, or thoughts that may be contrary to Watchtower doctrine or policy. Thought-stopping techniques are used to avoid thinking thoughts that would bring on more doubt or increase the JW's internal dissonance (see the Jul/Aug 1987 issue of the Bethel Ministries Newsletter on "How and Why Someone Becomes a JW").
The Witness is taught that higher education will result in "higher criticism of the Watchtower truths and a rejection of the authority of the Organization. Reading books not published by the Watchtower will put a person in danger of being influenced by other's wrong beliefs, and will lead to the pollution of the "pure language" spoken by Jehovah's people.
6.Fear of the devil
The devil is the one who unexpectedly tried to thwart God's purposes in the Garden of Eden, and has succeeded in giving God a complex. God cannot destroy the devil, for the angels would be concerned of his motives. He is in a bind, and must allow the devil to work out his plan. Since God is limited by the devil, the devil is seen as having a degree of power over the JW and is often feared.
7. Fear of close friendships
A sad feature of JW relationships is the encouragement by the leadership to spy on one's brothers, and if anything is unbecoming in their lives, they are to be confronted or turned in to the elders, or both (usually it is simultaneous). There is a "pecking order" in the organization, with the Governing Body on top, followed by Bethel workers and Circuit and District overseers, then the local elders, then the pioneers and ministerial servants, and the "publishers" on the bottom (women being least favored). Since confidences cannot officially be kept, and personal struggles admitted only at great risk of being chastised or "counseled," Witnesses cannot confide in their own, but ironically turn to non-Witnesses for confidences.
8. Fear of "APOSTSTES"
Those that leave the organization (for any reason) are described in the vilest of terms. They are "proud and egotistical, hating authority, liars, deceivers and fornicators" and generally feared by the JWs. They will take extreme measures to avoid even making eye contact with ex-JWs, and may move their residence.
9. Fear of God
The Watchtower may paint a kindly picture of God in their publications, but in practice God is austere and exacting once you are baptized. Salvation is never secure, and JWs can only believe they are saved on a momentary basis. Since a relationship with Christ is not promoted and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is not taught, the believer receives no true joy of fellowship with God. Pride of personal and organizational accomplishments and the spirit of elitism fills the void.
10. Fear of Armageddon
Though death is seen as annihilation by the WT, there are special indignities visited upon those not fully immersed in organizational activities when the end comes. Their eyes will rot out of their sockets and they will suffer immolation at the hands of God. Armageddon is kept vivid in their minds, through pictures such as the one designed to scare small Witness children found in From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, 1958, p. 208209). Much fear is centered around the intense shame and despair that will surely be experienced as the JW sees their friends survive while they die.
11. Fear of other religions
All other religions are part of Babylon the Great, the World Empire of False Religion. God will shortly destroy all of Babylon with her "lovers," meaning all churchgoers and sympathizers. All religious objects or ceremonies are seen as demonic and dangerous, so all physical contact is avoided with anything religious. JWs are not allowed to attend weddings or funerals in churches, partake in traditional holidays or even give gifts at Christmas. Bibles other than the New World Translation are seen as tainted by Christendom's scholars. The fear of demonic attack is ever-present when a JW encounters other religions and/or fellowships with other religious persons.