Cyberjesus said:
You are doing it again...
"So rephrasing that idea, we can probably assume that a healthy dose of skepticism WAS lacking in those who are now reading this thread, for if they HAD exercised a bit of due diligence and caution before joining a cult, they would have researched (TTATT, The Truth About The Truth) and wouldn't be here on JWN, AFTER the fact. :)"
The whole purpose of questioning is not to assume things.... cuz assumptions are liars... The above assumption is incorrect as well. I was born in. I did not joined a cult willingly, i , like many was forced in it.
I'm not trying to make any assumptions about YOU, individually, or anyone else. Frankly, I don't KNOW anyone here, and don't have any illusions to do so.
This is only an EXERCISE, an attempt at listing personality traits and assumptions that MAY be shared by those reading here, since the fact is if you ARE reading here there must have been SOME trait or assumption that WAS exploited by cults like the JWs. Otherwise, it's unlikely you'd even BE here, right? The idea is to help others out, or to avoid making mistakes.
But all of these are POSSIBLE examples, NOT an attempt to nail someone down to being THE definitive problem that led to THEIR joining a cult. Fact is, it's not all about YOU or I, your ego or mine (and someone has already mentioned the "appeal to people's narcissism", over-estimating their own worth to others). Instead, it's about trying to HELP others to engage in self-examination, so THEY can fix a problem they may not even be aware that exists. It's all about identifying traits that MAY be shared.
And if that's too embarrassing or personal for some, then you don't have to play along. No one can force you to share, or force you to read.
However skepticism is something that many not only the people who read this thread lacks.....
And skepticism is what makes me challenge your assumptions....isnt it ironic?
No irony, unless you are over-reading the intent, and assuming that others' experiences MUST apply to everyone else. Or you feel that identifying these assumptions that are often are made means they MUST apply to you, too.
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ALTHOUGH, your challenge DOES remind me of a BIG ONE that has not yet been mentioned:
Most Xians react quite subconsciously to what they perceive as hubris and arrogance in others, since the Bible itself constantly harps on how mere men are unworthy fools, compared to Almighty God, to who all glory should be deflected. The Mightiest Pharoahs, gov't officials, and healers are all humbled before YHWH.
If they see someone DARE to stand out of the crowd, in their own mind they are thinking, "Who does HE think he IS!?!? How dare HE? Who made HIM ____? What does HE know that makes him so special?"
If someone was raised in another religion, and accepted the message that men shouldn't even try to do anything to help others, they'll surely have no problems with accepting the same message offered by JWs. It fits right in, and feels comfortable.
Most health-care providers have dealt with this one, first-hand: a patient comes to you to ask advice on their condition, but some patients hit you with an attitude of, "who do YOU think you are? What makes YOU think you know anything about (my area of expertise)?" (Nevermind the diplomas hanging on the wall, as if they were bought at a swap meet, LOL!)
Of course, you want to tell them that if they don't value your opinion, then why did they book an appointment with the office, and pay my fees, LOL! Most, of course, are in denial, upset that you didn't tell them the message that they WANTED to hear, and NOT the truth that they need to hear. Most are doctor-shopping, shopping for an opinion they like, and allowing their disrespect for mere unworthy mortals to justify it.
Some distrust all human expertise enough to fall for the lure of non-experts, i.e. homeopathy, quacks, etc. In fact, my Mother was a JW, and she wasted her life (and alot of $$$) falling for false hopes of cures, seeking Laetrile treatment in Mexico for her cancer. She fell for the "what the FDA doesn't want you to know!" kind of conspracy thinking, and paid for it when she died of uterine cancer in her 40's.
