by lambsbottom 20 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Can anyone tell me exactly how the JWs advertised the '75 being the end of the world? How were they soooo effective? I mean, other cults are effective also, but damn! If someone came to my door and told me the end of the world would be in x year, I would tell them I was sooooo sorry for their parents.
But seriously, how were people reeled in so easily?
I don't know how outsiders were reeled in, but the insiders fell for it because back then, the org seemed more scholarly. Fred Franz (who I think was responsible for the 1975 stuff) was viewed as a brilliant oracle. The hype got started and to JWs, since it was coming from Jah's organization, it must be true.
Were there a lot of outsiders reeled in in the years preceding 1975? Was 1975 hyped to outsiders or was the hype only on the inside?
Oh God. A lot of people only became JWs because they were told the end was coming in 1975. But "effective" is not really the right word; the org. was never that effective in converting people. You're making a mistake if you think these were ordinary people getting reeled in. They were people with a survivalist, Chicken Little mentality.
Then too, other converts at that time were less alarmist, and came in partly due to 1975 and partly for the normal reasons one becomes a JW. And others never heard anything specifically about 1975 while studying, but their teacher conveyed to them that this system wouldn't last much longer and they needed to get into the religion before it was too late.
The effectiveness of the 1975 scare really touches on a general psychological malady in humans where we worry that the world might end; perhaps a useful trait in ancient times, but now a liability more than anything.
They had these elaborate math problems (that when calculated, did not add up correctly), and nifty graphs that looked, deceivingly, like someone smart made them.
Vatican II had reduced some people's faith in mainstream religion--how could true religion be exactly the same for so long and then substantially different all of the sudden?
The US had been in VietNam and there was lots of domestic unrest. The vast social changes occurring in recent years left those who had 1950s conservative values confused and feeling like something was missing. Hippies, Jesus Freaks, heroin--very disconcerting.
Environmental concerns were coming to light & people were concerned Earth could not be restored. People were seeking a solution, something different, something simple, so they didn't have to figure it all out themselves.
Educational levels and scientific literacy were lower back then, so it made for easier targets.
STAY ALIVE 'TIL '75!!!
It rhymed. And I hear it was said a lot.
"Stay alive 'til '75!" was the war cry! JW's were postponing medical procedures and wild debates about how they would survive the "great tribulation." My daughter won't let me forget that I sold her tricycle at a garage sale! Collective madness reigned! We all reinforced one another. As rebel8 says, there were convoluted calculations and special speculations. Everyone was on edge. There was a special edition of the Awake! We were told to study with people for six months, and if they were not interested after that, to drop them like a hot potato.
What a huge letdown when nothing happened. The "prophecy" was first printed in a book called Everlasting Freedom in the Sons of God, published in 1967. So eight years of anticipation just fell flat. Then they told us we were on the "open sea," having passed the last marker, but Armageddon was sure to come "soon." I understand that it's still coming "soon." It had a profound effect on me, having postponed my life for this pipe dream cataclysm.
So, now we ask ourselves, Would I want to spend eternity with the JW's I have known? Only so much eating fruit and petting lions is enough!
Of course, we didn't just greet a householder with a statement that the world was ending next year. Our presentations were pretty much standard, with a heavy emphasis on the Truth book. Once we started "studying" with anyone, however, we were direct and didn't mince words.
This post is a little jagged, but I think I make my point.
I remember multi-millionaire customers of JWs that highly respected, hired those for their sincerety, being swayed by the " this is it, finally" mentality. Vascillating between need repentence and let's have a last fling mentality.
These bright people still do not fault the witnesses for having that 'end-of -the -world ' mentality then.
may be it was the understated way that wt writers introduced these time tables, and the fact that the R&F had to connect the dots themselves that rotted the idea so deeply and naturally in jw's minds, and the condition was contagious.
There is a video out with a rather scrachy sound track of an elder bawling out at a conv. "Stay alive till '75". The disease didnt seem to hit so profoundly here in Australia.
Rebel 8 has a shining description of the situation going at the time.
Once you get past the first bitter bite while being distracted by love bombing, confirmation bias kicks in.
Of course I'm just an observer, so I may be wrong. I watched a parent join up during that time period. I wasn't actually old enough to fully believe or disbelieve.
Back then, the printed word had even more power than it does now. Information was not so easy to get. It was hard to get a book published if you were an author, so a book was regarded as fact.
Just close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself naive, worried about the future, and wanting badly to believe. Now imagine yourself reading a book with this in it. Gives you an emotional response, doesn't it? WOW, of all human generations, it's happening NOW! And you're one of the chosen few who even knows it's coming and will survive it! You're so special! You must adhere to this or suffer torture and death.
This graphic was a big freaking deal back then.
I am not excusing any adult from their responsibility to not teach lies to others or to expose their children to cults. Only explaining how.
Yuck! Looking at that stupid graphic is making me nauseated, literally. That sick little drawing ruined lives.
