BluesBrother
Noticeably, the WTS denigrates ex members, so called apostates, but never answers our legitimate concerns. I guess they can’t.
Trying to respond to objections draws too much attention to them. But see also Streisand Effect.
What kind of literary device is this?
by EdenOne 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Jeffro
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slimboyfat
Poisoning the well?
I think I’d call it a rhetorical device rather than a literary device.
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Terry
SYLLOGISM:
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EdenOne
Well the "apostate" is in itself a created stereotype:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereotype
Then come several syllogisms:
First:
a) All apostates hate Jehovah;
b) You must hate those who hate Jehovah (Psalm 139:21)
c) Therefore, you must hate apostates.
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Second:
a) An apostate is someone who becomes a defector from the faith.
b) You have defected from the faith by dissociating yourself.
c) Therefore, you're an apostate.
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Third:
a) Independent thinking is dangerous because it threatens unity;
b) Apostates fell for independent thinking.
c) You're displaying independent thinking by criticizing the ways of the Organization;
d) Therefore, you're becoming an apostate, and you're a threat to the congregation.
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Fourth:
a) Apostates do Satan's bidding;
b) Satan wants to eliminate the the Jeovah's Witnesses;
c) Therefore, the goal of apostates is the elimination of the Jehovah's Witnesses.
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Sixth
a) All apostates are liars and deceivers;
b) Jehovah's people shun lies and deception;
c) Therefore, never listen to apostates' arguments.
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Seventh
a) The Bible says that those who argue about words are "mentally diseased";
b) Apostates make arguments about words, definitions, doctrines, prophecies.
c) Therefore, apostates are "mentally diseased".
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Eight
a) Apostates disagree with the Organization.
c) Apostates are evil, disgraceful, dirty, satanic, selfish, ungrateful, atheist; driven by resentment; they should be hated; they deserve death. (Stereotype)
b) If you disagree with the Organization, you're an apostate. (Stereotype)
and so on and so on.
In these examples, what are the logical fallacies?
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slimboyfat
“Poisoning the well” best describes the strategy Watchtower adopts with apostates. Because Watchtower routinely characterise apostates as schemers, liars, and malicious twisters, often turned either to a life debauchery, or crazy born again-type Christianity, equally exotic and scary to the average JW. To the extent that if a JW ever encounters an apostate, or suspected apostate, they are actually frightened of them.