Information Control
Source : http://web.archive.org/web/20000229154513/www.geocities.com/WallStreet/7209/mind.html
Through out history, mankind's governments and religious organizations have restricted their citizens from reading, viewing and speaking any information that was critical or expressed a different viewpoint other than was taught by the government or religion. Those who dared disobey were jailed, tortured, killed or shunned, being labeled as outcasts, heretics.
All information was censored and the only knowledge that was allowed by the government or religious organization were positive, upbuilding stories, whether they were true or false. They were all designed to be in favor and support, no matter what crimes, injustices, lies and false teachings were being taught and practiced. This helped persons to truly believe that their country was a righteous one, worthy of dieing for and if religious, having God's approval, worthy of dieing for. The masses were cut off from the true knowledge of what was really going on behind closed doors and teachings that would expose the leaders and their interpretations as being wrong.
Today, right in the midst of countries with adequate human rights and freedom, their exists religious groups that censor all information their members can read and watch. People are not allowed to talk to each other about anything critical of the leader, doctrine, or organization. Most importantly, people are told to avoid contact with ex-members or critics. Those who could provide the most information are the ones to be especially shunned. (1)
For instance, in the course of a one week period, all of Jehovah's Witnesses are strongly encouraged to read a 30 page magazine (the Watchtower or Awake), the weekly book study assignment, the weekly ministry school assignment, the weekly service meeting instructions and the Watchtower study article. In addition to this, there is the preparation of talk assignments, field service time, 3 weekly meetings and other projects as well as hall cleaning. All of this inundates each person in a whirlwind of activity, giving no time to read or explore any outside information in detail.
But this goes much further. All outside information of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, that is religious in nature, contradicting or disagreeing with the Watchtower, is completely forbidden. In all cases, any religious information that is in disagreement of or criticizes the Watchtower Society is labeled "apostate", "evil" and from "Babylon the Great." Anyone of Jehovah's Witnesses that is caught reading, viewing or speaking about such literature or information is addressed by the congregation elders.
If the brother found to be reading this so called "apostate" literature is a Ministerial Servant or Elder, he is most likely deleted, removed. The elders then strongly counsel the witness to destroy all so called "apostate" literature and he or she must comply. If compliance is not met, then further actions are taken.
The next step is the person looses his or her privledges in the congregation, such as restrictions of having the freedom of answering questions at meetings, going out in field service preaching. But in other cases the person is disfellowshipped from the organization and is completely shunned by all, including all family members who do not live with the person ! Needless to say, the outcome can be devastating for the person.
Do you wisely destroy
apostate literature ?
The Watchtower
3/15/86 page 12
So here is a strong control of information over all the members of the Watchtower Society, Jehovah's Witnesses, to do what they are told and not to read, speak, view or question anything critical of the organization. If they comply, everything is fine, but if they question and look anywhere else, even if completely sincere, they are punished severely. Notice the woman throwing the literature, that she has received in the mail, into the garbage without even considering its contents.
What happens after a period of time? Certainly after much time of only reading and absorbing information strictly written and produced by the Watchtower Society, persons become indoctrinated and under mind control. They truly believe whole heartedly that all religious information that is critical or in disagreement with the Watchtower is "apostate" and part of "Babylon the Great." The Watchtower Society has now accomplished it's goal, all of it's members truly believe that they independently made the decision to believe this, when in reality, they never came to this decision on their own, but were indoctrinated to believe so.
What is so ironic about this, is how Jehovah's Witnesses are
The Watchtower Society has now accomplished it's goal, all of it's members truly believe that they independently made the decision to believe this, when in reality, they never came to this decision on their own, but were indoctrinated to believe so.
constantly working hard to distribute the Watchtower literature in the hands of outside persons. All persons who refuse to accept their literature are viewed as closed minded and spiritually blinded by Satan "the god of this system of things", except them of course. They encourage the householder to at least read the information and compare it with their religion, regardless of whether they are new in their religion or involved for many years and this makes perfect sense. The householder's refusals are constantly attempted to be overcome with the "how you might respond to conversation stoppers" in the Watchtower's reasoning book.
Here is a clear double standard. If a Christian of any denomination were to attempt to place their religious literature with one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they are not supposed to accept, per instructions from the Watchtower Society. The reason is that the information is either "apostate", if critical of the organization or from "Babylon the Great" if in religious disagreement with the Watchtower. No, a witness is not even allowed to view the information and compare it with his or her beliefs, for it is considered to be "poison", the same as pornography is, as the Watchtower states so plainly states.
It is true that reading and viewing information that is critical or in disagreement with the Watchtower Society can cause persons to question, yet this can nowhere be compared to the "poison" of pornography, as the Watchtower so brazenly claims. On the contrary, the "good news" has nothing to hide, for the truth of God cannot be exposed as false. Persons are only mislead if they follow men, such as "slave classes" and governing bodies, instead of Christ alone. Christians are "obedient and submit to those taking the lead", but do not allow them to make black and white scriptural interpretations on the many conscience matters of the bible with the threat of explusion if not obeyed. They do not allow "those taking the lead" to be "masters over their faith."
Followers of Christ maintain Christian freedom, "where the spirit of the Lord is." And this freedom includes the God given right to read and view all biblical literature, including that which is critical or questions the teachings of manmade "slave classes" and governing bodies of men. This freedom also includes the God given right to attend different churches at any time and serve God and Christ as "full grown in our powers of understanding" without the dictation of men or reliance of a "mother organization" to feed us as "babes" and do the thinking for us.
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