Is the Watchtower Corporation guilty of purposely infusing a overwhelming amount of fear to control people ?

by Finkelstein 28 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Finkelstein

  If you were to pin point out the workings of the WTS., of what attracts people to the

  organization and what is the catalyst that controls them once

  they are inside of it, the conclusion would most likely be drawn that fear is the paramount

  vehicle that the WTS uses as a controlling mechanism.

  There many are different facets to this imposing implication, its not a solely weighted

  upon Armageddon coming soon.

  Here's a brief list ...

  Who you are to associate with, are they non-jws, are they DF or Da people from the organization ?

  What books are you reading are they old WTS publications ? are they scientific in nature and not

  supporting of their own religious ideologies ?

  What education are you taking or pursuing your personal interests upon ?

  Are you making a good personal appearance, as in hair style and clothing as a sales Representative of the Watchtower Corporation ?

  How are you talking ? is it completely beneficial in supporting everything about the organization, including set and enforced doctrines ?

  So as you can see there are many extending circumstance where fear is used to build and support the structure of this organization,

  a lot more encompassing than most people realize. Either you strictly adhere to these set rules and defined regulations or you are posthumously

  discarded and pretty much throw out like trash.
• 

  designs

  Why would you say that preaching 99.999% of the world's population will die at Armageddon is fear mongering.
• 

  Finkelstein

  Absolutely Designs , think about how many times over the years has the WTS. put a picture of the world being destroyed

  on the front cover of the Watchtower and Awake magazines. ....... many
• 

  Heaven

  Fear is definitely a motivating factor for staying. I can also see it being a motivating factor for joining.

  I think my Mom was drawn to this organization because her Father was, and because she believed they had "The Truth". She wanted to do what was right. She wanted to bring her children up with Bible principles. As for my Dad, he got sucked in over time and became entrenched after we all grew up and moved out and after he retired. It gave him something to do. I suspect fear of not gaining eternal life was also part of their decision making process.

  What Mom failed to realize is that you do not need to belong to any organization to do what is right and raise your kids with proper principles.

  With regards to fear, according to Steven Hassan from "Combatting Cult Mind Control" p 63:

  'Emotional control, the 3rd part of mind control, attempts to manipulate and narrow the range of a person's feelings. Guilt and fear are necessary tools to keep people under control. Guilt is probably the single most important emotional lever for producing conformity and compliance. ....

  However most cult members can't see that guilt and fear are being used to control them. They are conditioned to always blame themselves, so that they respond gratefully whenever a leader points out one of their "shortcomings".

  Fear is used to bind the group members together in 2 ways. The first is the creation of an outside enemy who is persecuting you: the FBI who will jail or kill you, Satan who will carry you off to Hell, psychiatrists who will give you electroshock, armed members of rival sects who will shoot or torture you, and, of course, deprogrammers. The second is the terror of discovery and punishment by the leaders. Fear of what can happen to you if you don't do your job well can be quite potent. ...'
• 

  designs

  My daughter when she was little really had nightmares from the Wt. publications. Terrible thing to do to kids, I still have guilt over allowing it as long as I did.
• 

  rip van winkle

  Heaven said:

  I can also see it being a motivating factor for joining.

  Sad, but true!!!
• 

  kurtbethel

  Fear? No way! You are just being silly and pedantic.

  

  

  
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  OUTLAW

  The WBT$ is a Fear Based organization..

  These Jehovah`s Witness`s don`t..

  Do Enough for the WBT$..

  Jehovah`s Witness`s who don`t..

  Do Enough for the WBT$..

  Will Die at Armageddon..

  

  ....................... ...OUTLAW
• 

  Finkelstein

  However most cult members can't see that guilt and fear are being used to control them.

  Lets not forget good old fashion human ignorance is another element to which cults like this become so successful.

  For example my mother who was brought up a devoted Catholic, was first introduced to the WTS. by a sweet smiling JWs at

  her front door when she was only 21., with two babies at her side. When the mention came about that the world was soon to be destroyed

  by god, I'm pretty sure she was thinking not only about herself but the welfare of her own children.

  Guilt is the other most important emotion used by the WTS. to maintain their power and control.
• 

  Finkelstein

  Fear as a psychological emotion, can truly be used as a commercially viable commodity.

  Fear mongering charlatans have been using it for a very long time, particularly where there is a financial aspect to their endeavorers.

  It could be said that Charles T Russell was a turn of the century Harold Camping, they both sold books and made public speeches

  to directly support those published works, over time their imposing proclamations turned out to be obviously false.