One after another new persons are coming to this board with their tales of abuse at the hands of the elders and The Watchtower Society. Scooby's story of the seperation of her from her husband is all too typical of the WT's intrusion into family life. They have no business sticking their nose in where it does not belong. Her husband thinks that happiness can only be found inside the Watchtower Society. That has got to be one of the most wicked lies ever told. It sets people up for severe depression and hopelessness when one exits the JW's. I am thoroughly disgusted at the vile way that the Borg treats the sheep in their midst. Please understand everyone that we were all completely indoctrinated. The friends and family that we have left behind are still in the clutches of the WT. I feel a great sadness for those that are still in.
I can't be silent as countless victims of this cult come forward with their stories. I have recently begun to do some investigation on what constitutes a cult. You may be surprised at what I have found. A lot of the things that we experienced as Jehovah's Witnesses certainly fit many of the criteria for cult groups.
What I found particularly disturbing is the seeming universal emotional turmoil one goes through when leaving a cult. I have lived through hell this past year. I many times thought that I was going insane. It is not uncommon to have these feelings upon exiting cult groups.
There are a host of web sites dealing with cult issues. I found one to be very informative. www.factnet.org/rancho5.htm?factnet Please take some time to see the signs of a cult. I was shocked to find that the JW's fit into quite a few categories here.
There is also an internet resources that lists scores of web sites dealing with cult issues. The address is www.factnet.org/orgspubs-list.html?factnet
I found one web site that had an excerpt from Steven Hassan's book: "Releasing the Bonds Empowering People To Think For Themselves." This excerpt is found at this web site: www.ex-cult.org/bite.html
When a person attempts to leave a cult, such as Jehovah's Witnesses, they are programmed to experience overwhelming guilt and fear. It is the hope of the cults to hang onto their members by this very thing. The guilt that Scooby's husband is living through is one example of how powerful the WT's mind control techniques are.
Here are a few excerpts from Steven Hassan's book mentioned above. He calls it Mind Control, The Bite Model. That stands for behavior control, information control, thought control and emotional control. I thought the information under emotional control was excellent. Here is what Steven Hassan lists as emotional control of a cult.
Emotional Control
3. Excessive use of guilt
a. Identity guilt
1. Who you are (not living up to your potential)
2. Your family
3. Your past
4. Your affiliations
5. Your thoughts, feelings, actions
b. Social guilt
c. Historical guilt
4. Excessive use of fear
a. Fear of thinking independently
b. Fear of the "outside world"
c. Fear of enemies
d. Fear of losing one's salvation
e. Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by the group
f. Fear of disapproval
What I thought was particularly intriguing was the information on Phobia Indoctrination. Note what Steven Hassan lists for this topic.
7. Phobia Indoctrination:
Programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leader's authority. The person under mind control cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being in the group.
a. No happiness or fulfillment "outside" of the group.
b. Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: "hell"; "demon possession"; "incurable diseases"; "accidents"; "suicide"; "insanity"; 10,000 incarnations"; etc.
c. Shunning of leave takers. Fear of being rejected by friends, peers and family.
d. Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group's perspective, people who leave are: "weak"; "undisciplined"; "unspiritual"; "worldly"; "brainwashed by family, counselors"; seduced by money, sex, rock and roll.
The Watchtower Society programs us with unnecessary and harmful guilt, fear and instills us with phobias. It's no wonder that Scooby's husband and others in a similar situation are going through such intense emotions. Please realize that these guilt feelings and unnatural fears are caused by the WT. Don't let the WT destroy your marriage. Eventually your husband will find happiness outside the WT. He will find out that he believed in a lie.
I hope that this information has been of some help to you Scooby and all other lurkers that may be experiencing similar things in your life. Don't give up. In time these intense emotions will subside and you will be able to live a normal life.
Mr. Shakita