Are JW's brainwashed?

by snare&racket 8 Replies latest jw friends

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  snare&racket

  I know as a JW I concluded several times that I was not brainwashed as I was not some unautonimous zombie and had not experienced anything akin to...

  

  BUT in reality, brainwashing is a control of thought and ideas over a person and changing the way they think. In normal life such sentences are not used, in fact they are highly discouraged..

  You shouldn't read that

  You are over thinking it

  That sounds like independant thinking

  There is no point pondering that issue now

  You should not dwell on asking so many questions

  We should just trust the society

  The fear ang guilt one feels as a JW when thinking on doubts or questions or on reading material that Watchtower does not approve is a CLEAR SIGN of an altered brain. It is not innate to all humans, tribesmen in africa are not afraid to read the work of an ex governing body member (Ray Franz), a protestant child is not afraid of watching Harry Potter and a catholic priest is not afraid to.....well, let's leave that one for now....only those indoctrinated by current Watchtower beliefs are afraid of normal every day activities for many people...

  • Listening to the the current music facing dissaproval by WT
  • Talking to people that no longer share your beliefs
  • Associating with work mates outside of work
  • Swearing
  • Staying in School
  • Playing Sports in School
  • Furthering your career
  • Watching 'soaps'
  • Playing shooting games (xbox/ps)
  • Flirting
  • Masturbation
  • Lusting after some honeyz
  • Walking into a beautiful religious building/church/temple/mosque
  • Accepting literature from a householder
  • Watching a tv nature program that mentions evolution
  • Having an interest in politics
  • Daring to make their own medical desicion

  The fact that your brain processes such activities and induces fear as a response, unlike all other non indoctrinated humans, means the hardwiring has been changed in your brain. Although culture and upbringing can do this too, you have to question the authority of the people doing it to you, something ironicaly frowned upon. Stating doubt at the authority of WT after baptism, even if baptised as a child, results in the most severest of punishments... cutting off from all other members. That's how I ended up here!

  What is the key to brainwashing? Start when they are young.... induce fear and a reinfocment of loyalty for the person/organisation and a humility to its authority. Punishment is essential even from an early age if the authority is ever questioned i.e. rules, doctrines, beliefs.

  Oh yeah and the donkey needs a carrot, so amazing things will be gifted the loyal... note there is NO evidence of these gifts...ressurection, life after death, living forever, perfect health, forever young, an end to life's dificulties. Note that these will come at a later, yet unseen time, like a man promising a prize behind a curtain you can never see or question, it is yours as long as you give him your life some of your finances and your unquestionable loyalty.

  It also helps to remove any outside influences so that this behaviour appears totally normal as everyone around you will believe the same things, though in reality even with the indoctrination these actions will feel embarassing amongst the undoctrinated, you know you are different. To reduce this, family and organisation unity and association is essential....
  
  

  I have no doubt I was brainwashed and indocrinated.... think twice before you program our child's brain to the opinions of 8 men in Brooklyn whom you have never met.

  Snare x
• 

  DS211

  Actually brainwashing is ugually done under coersion....what WT does is mind control first to reform thoughts, build relationships and indctrination and THEN the brainwashing is done by scaring you with armageddon, satan, etc. so brainwashing is not the same as mind control but the two are generally used together.

  DS
• 

  Phizzy

  I think some may play the semantics card and object to your use of the word "brainwashed" because of the way it has been used by some, and hence the thoughts it conjures up of someone who can be triggered to become an assasin or something.

  I agree that Mind Control is used heavily by the WT, I do not know of any mind control technique that they do not use.

  The problem for the believing JW is that they believe their mind needs controlling, that they themselves do not have the ability to think things out for themselves, or to sift information as what is "truth" or not. They have given that right and that power to the 8 old men in N.Y that they have never met.

  So, how do we get them to see that to think clearly and properly is within the scope of nearly all humans, if only they will learn how to do it ???

  What I have done in the past is when I have detected something that the JW has decided for themselves without WT input, I have praised them for using their own thinking skills, and then tried to get them to do it more. But WT Blinkers stop them from seeing so much.
• 

  Vanderhoven7

  To PIMIs everywhere

  
• 

  TonusOH

  According to Merriam-Webster, brainwashing is:

  1. a forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up basic political, social, or religious beliefs and attitudes and to accept contrasting regimented ideas.

  I don't consider that the WTS uses force, though there are some blurry lines there. But the second definition is:

  2. persuasion by propaganda or salesmanship.

  In which case, yes-- the WTS brainwashes people. At the same time, that definition is a bit broad. It's not unusual for us to be persuaded through the use of propaganda or salesmanship, so we're all brainwashed in some way or other.
• 

  road to nowhere

  There is strong coercion. Disfellowshipping, ridicule, ostracizism, fake friendship, guilt
• 

  LongHairGal

  ROAD TO NOWHERE:

  Yes, the Witnesses certainly are brainwashed.

  The tactics you mentioned of ridicule, ostracism and guilt were used on me back in the day in order to get me to quit my full-time job and take up the ‘approved’ housecleaning and pioneering! ..I even had an over-righteous old lady insult me.

  However, I could never bring myself to do this foolish thing which would have harmed me in the long run.. The JWs want people to sacrifice and do things detrimental to themselves in order to appease the congregation..The hell with that. I am so grateful all these years later that I never listened to a word they said.
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  Sea Breeze

  My ex-FIL who was Presiding Overseer once said mockingly on stage: "I was a accused of being brain-washed at someone's door recently. I told him we all need a good brain-washing from time to time".

  - racous laughter from KH audience
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  Jeffro

  There seems to be a perception that ‘brainwashing’ involves a moustachioed villain twirling a black and white spiral in front of someone tied to a chair and so ‘of course JWs aren’t brainwashed’. Back in reality, coercion and undue influence is much more subtle, and definitely in the JW toolbox.