Cognitive Dissonance Can Be A Good Thing!

by DT 10 Replies latest watchtower child-abuse

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  DT

  Many of us have been disheartened by all the comments about the Candace Conti case from apologists that indicate cognitive dissonance at work. Some of them even seem to show a shocking lack of empathy.

  This might be seen as evidence that even the most shocking revelations will have little or no effect on faithful Witnesses.

  I disagree. I think this case is having a profound effect.

  I think many Witnesses have been under the impression that this kind of judgement is impossible. Well, they have been proven wrong. They may try to justify it as persecution or a result of apostate activity. They probably feel they will be vindicated upon appeal. That's OK. The mind of a cult follower can only absorb so much information at a time. They have been forced to accept that Jehovah won't always prevent this sort of incredibly embarrassing and costly situation.

  We are seeing these kinds of comments because Witnesses really are trouble by this news. They might not be troubled as much as we would like. Most probably won't leave the organisation over it, but this shocking event gives their doubts a chance to grow.

  We should also remember that the public comments we are seeing may not be representative of Witnesses as a whole. Most Witnesses know that they aren't supposed to comment on or even read these articles. The Witnesses who comment on these articles are already good at maintaining cognitive dissonance in their minds. The comments may not even be representatives of the minds of those making them. For many, defending the organisation has become almost an instinct, even when they are having doubts. A cult member is unlikely to verbalize doubts until he has had time to make sense of them in his mind.

  It's hard to predict what kind of effect this news will have. Much depends on what will happen in the future. However, the Watchtower Society has become an unstable system based on strict discipline and information control. While some big events may have little impact, it's at least possible for even small events to start a chain reaction.

  Is this post a symptom of my own cognitive dissonance?

  It could be. It's human nature to try to harmonize conflicting evidence. The magnitude of this case seems to be at odds with the bizarre JW reaction. This is my attempt to explain this apparent contradiction.

  However, it is also human nature for those with with a more pessimistic view to see the JW reaction as confirming their perspective while paying less attention to certain psychological factors.

  Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Or perhaps future events will give us a much better picture of what is going on.
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  blondie

  It does take time to overcome the dissonance. In my case it was 1993 that my jw thinking was rocked and I realized that the WTS could lie....and that a careful look at a doctrine a few years later and the arrogant "help" of the elders pushed me closer to the door. Finally it was a circuit assembly comparing non-jw spouses to corpses (kissing a corpse), that we should be conditioned like young elephants to think we are weak and cannot leave, and that Jesus values shiny quarters over "dirty" pennies, that made me leave right that day and never go back, 7 years of crap.

  So I don't say it can't or won't happen, just not as quick as you might hope.

  Blondie
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  LostGeneration

  It's hard to predict what kind of effect this news will have. Much depends on what will happen in the future. However, the Watchtower Society has become an unstable system based on strict discipline and information control. While some big events may have little impact, it's at least possible for even small events to start a chain reaction.

  I agree it can be tough from this side of the fence, we expect hundreds to register on this site and say "Damn, I sure have been fooled all of these years" Its just not that easy to overcome. But this event is a seed that will be planted in hopefully millions of captive minds. A few of those seeds will grow over the next year, and eventually they will find their way out. We have to remember that people can't just walk away from this highly controlling religion without incurring huge losses. Some will stay in the religion even with full knowledge it is a sham, simply to keep their family.

  I'm optimistic about the next year, check this quote from the original silentlambs press release.

  Two years ago Silentlambs again started work on litigation for eight different victims in California. The purpose was again the push the boulder of proof up the hill a bit further to give future abuse survivors within Jehovah’s Witnesses a solid basis to pursue litigation when hurt by the destructive policies of the organization on child abuse. The first major result has happened today!

  Now who knows if each of these victims are willing to go to trial like Candace did, but if say two or three are able to courageously fight the WTS to the end, these verdicts may continue to pile up at the feet of the evil WTS. More press scrutiny will follow, and most importantly, more JWs will have to confront the cognative dissonance staring them squarely in the eyes. If that boulder reaches the top of the mountain and starts rolling downhill, then we will finally see some real damage to the Watchtower.
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  panhandlegirl

  I think it is still early and it's difficult to assess what the future will bring. It's like the hole in the dam that finally breaks. Some will never leave, but other's faith in the WTS will be shaken.
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  okage

  I feel that every Witness that defends the Organization in this matter, every Witness who condemns Candace Conti for seeking justice, they deserve to go down in flames with the Hindenberg that is the Watchtower Society. Dissonant or no, they know molestation is wrong. These ones try to justify the pedophile acts of Kendrick, some stating he was not in the congregation at the time. Despite knowing Kendrick went on service with the girl, these ones lie through their teeth. I suppose they feel if their God, the Governing Body decided Kendrick was worth hiding, it would be blasphemous to argue with Jehovah's current incarnation of Don Adams and Company. It'd be the only viable (although inane) reason for these ones to claim people are lying about Jehovah when Jehovah isn't being mentioned. Cognitive Dissonance can never excuse their undying support of people who destroy the innocence of children. It will never excuse their undying support of a group of men who make policies that protect abusers by making the victim feel like they were being unclean in Jehovah's eyes. The lot of those baptized Witnesses that comment in favor of the Governing Body deserve the worst that life can offer.
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  Kojack57

  Okage: You are speaking the gospel. I feel the same way.

  Kojack
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  sizemik

  Cognitive Dissonance is the possession of every human. It prompts us to evaluate and make judgements. It's not the Cognitive Dissonance that's the problem . . . it's how we respond to it.
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  DT

  I agree about those who condemn Candace Conti for seeking justice. I would rather see them stay in the Watchtower organization. They deserve each other.

  I'm sure that kind of talk even bothers some Witnesses. They are the ones that may eventually take a stand and leave.
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  Hermano

  Fifteen years I would've defended the Organization. It's what I was trained to do. It's the only thing I knew to do.
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  Fernando

  The Witnesses who comment on these articles are already good at maintaining cognitive dissonance in their minds. The comments may not even be representatives of the minds of those making them.

  Great point and write-up DT, loved it.