by punkofnice 49 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I think this apparent high realistically comes in when people realize that their sitting for hours on end listening to boring talks has finally ended.
Particularly for young children and teens wanting to talk to their pals afterward.
And boy wasn't the assembly dinner after the afternoon session smell great too, with everyone hungry.
Ah yes I remember it well.
I see assemblies as nothing more than psychological reinforcement, listen to the kingdom melodies with emotional attachment and scan the thousands of people who believe the same thing as you...... Its enough to make most people sentimental. Humans are very susceptible to pomp and ceremony, especially in large numbers of like minded people.
Mecca is a good example of a similar event, though they do it alot better than the JWs, no corny american drama there! Also these mega churches in the US pretty much have assemblies every weekend, even Dawkins said it was a vast stimuli of the senses, the music, the emotion, the numbers.
All shine and no substance however, one of the hardest things to do at an assembly is think of what you got out of it..... Going out dancing and drinking with your pals didnt seem like an appropriate answer.
snare
"All shine and no substance however, one of the hardest things to do at an assembly is think of what you got out of it....."
Snare! I think you hit the nail on the head! As an avid note taker I was amazed that I could only think of one or two things I got out of the CA/DCs.
This is the last thing I remember from a DC: "The toes don't matter!" I've blacked all the others out since. I was way too awake to "Safeguard My Heart" last year! LOL!
Great thread Punk!
This is the last thing I remember from a DC: "The toes don't matter!"
Haha, excellent, that was my takeaway too.
Although I mostly felt drained after an assembly, that was because I can't handle crowds for a full day, being an introvert. The same thing happened to me after a full day of field service. BUT -- a half-day of service often left me with this warm feeling inside. So those of you who aren't so overwhelmed by people as I am would probably retain or even build on this feeling over the course of the day or extended weekend of attendance.
I am pretty sure that the feeling is not the after-effect of adrenaline, nor relief that it's over, but rather a feeling of camaraderie and conscientious satisfaction knowing that we did the right thing by going. Naturally as we stop being so "into" the truth, these feelings would go away.
Interesting. . .
Looking back on it now, I think that the "feeling" I experienced after a convention or ASSembly (besides "ASSembly rage") was my Cognitive Dissonance being anesthetized. Doubts are assuaged, some guilt for even having doubts thrown in there as well, and reassurance that thousands of other people believe the end is "sooooooon"
We used to discuss the "high" at the assembly (which is funny, because no witness talking about it had been any higher than what laughing gas from the dentist gives you) followed by the 'post convention depression" the inevitable low...Hearing all the stuff you're not doing right. Read all the magazines, read your bible all the time if not more often, forgive the inevitable dumbassery of the elders (they are only human) and donate! My sisters were always recruited to sit at contribution boxes, what a waste of time.
some time ago, while I still listened to the talks in orderto catch a new Truth/light or a new way of saying the same old tired thing,-- I felt as I had been beaten with rods, because of the High-energy hype and self-satisfied stance of all the speakers, interviewees.
Later when I learned to catch up on my note book and mental work, I started to feel normal.
people do/feel abnormal things when in crowds, hitler's rallies, beetlemania, Elvis, ass semblies of groupies?
I think "high" is exactly the right word. Post assembly, your brain is bathing in a feel-good chemicals. Personally, though, I'll stick to marijuana. More feel good, less brainwashing.
Thinking about all your comments, it makes me think that it's all down to the 'crowd' thing. We were happy to be with like minded individuals and thought god was somehow in the mix.
Mob mentality?
A$$emblies were just a grind, especially with kids. The only glow I had after a convention was from sunburn.
