Do You Feel That You Were Brainwashed Into Becoming A JW?

by minimus 34 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  dedalus

  Alan is exactly right about the semantics of "cult" and "brainwashing." The denotations of these words pretty much do the job of describing Witnesses, but their connotations don't always -- and so these words are understandably too distracting to be productive, at least in any discussion with Witnesses. Of course, the phrase "discussion with Witnesses" is sort of an oxymoron, at least if the word "discussion" means anything.

  Anyway, I guess my parents tried to brainwash me (read: "inculcate the troof in me"), but it didn't work.

  Dedalus
• 

  AlanF

  : Alan, Your definition may be paraphrased regarding "brainwashed" ones but nearly every rabid political party member could be "brain-washed", then.

  Precisely, Minimus.

  AlanF
• 

  larc

  There has been a lot of discussion about this subject. I am not sure myself about the proper words to use. Is it brain washing? Is it mind control, or is it information control? I don't think that the differentiation in terms really matters much, but some are more inflammitory than others, with brain washing being the most inflammitory.
  
  I think that on a macro level all organizations and on a micro level, all families attempt to impose their values on those that are members of their group. So, is it brain washing when IBM attempts to produce a certain level of conformity on its employees? Is it brain washing if a mother and father attempt to instill certain values and behavior on their children?
  
  We call it good parenting if parents are successful at positively influencing their children. But, is it, at the same time, mind control? It seems to me that it is, except, in this case, we like the outcome.
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  minimus

  Larc, the result is what counts, as well as the environment.......... If you "inculcate" something acceptable in the community, like Communism in China, it's o.k. If you try to teach your family, friends and associates that Communism should be adhered to, in this country, the FBI will be paying you a visit.
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  lv4fer

  I don't like the term brainwashed or cult. This conjures up visions of mass suicides or Patty Hearst robbing a bank. But what is the difference really. Was I brainwashed? Now that I look back and reflect upon how I thought, what I said, how I acted. Most definitely yes. When I was totally in it around 7 or 8 years ago if one of my children needed a blood transfusion to live I would have let them die. This is ludicrous! I love my kids more than anything. If a man got up on a podium and announced that a good friend of mine was disfellowshipped I would not talk to her anymore. I did that. Because they had convinced me that I was doing the right thing. Now, how does a person who knows right from wrong act in this way. It has to be Brainwashing or if you want to call it mind-control same difference you are not thinking for yourself someone else is telling you what to do and what to think you are a puppet.
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  Lady Lee

  It seems to me that information control is only one aspect of the mind-control techniques. I could provide all the biased information I wanted but if I say "believe it or not the choice is yours" there is no mind control. Granted providing only one side of any topic might be controlling but it is not sufficinet to say I am controlling another person. They are still free to choose for themselves. The problem seems to arise when theyre are penalties for not accepting my view. If I set myself up as THE authority and tell you "believe me or else" then I am applying other mind control techniques that reinforce the control of information.

  Hopefullly parents don't teach their children this way but we know some who do. This keeps the child at a developmental stage where they cannot access critical thinking. It gets stopped due to the fear of penalty for not accepting what is being taught. And we see the same thing in groups who use mind control techniques, the control of information, the authority, the introjection of fear to maintain control, special language, deciding who to include and who to exclude, etc.

  And the reality is that some people/religions could be accused of using some of these controls some of the time. That would not make them a mind-controller. But those who use most of these techniques most of the time would definitely qualify and the JWs are right up there on that list
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  minimus

  When someone or thing gets set up as "the authority" and demands exclusive devotion and loyalty, and NEVER admits a mistake, and people TOTALLY BELIEVE this authority, they are either "brainwashed" or under total "mind control".
• 

  gumby

  LadyLee,

  The problem seems to arise when theyre are penalties for not accepting my view. If I set myself up as THE authority and tell you "believe me or else" then I am applying other mind control techniques that reinforce the control of information.

  Bingo!

  There are varying degrees of rebuttles from those we oppose.

  If a man attending a church regularly were to stand up and say.."I cannot except the bible as gods word and I don't believe in Jesus as my personal savior......there would be some serious rebuttles.Many would try and talk you out of your opinion, and in time.....if you didn't change your thinking......would no doubt abandon you somewhat.

  The difference from this situation and a dub doing this........would be the rebuttle. What would be the difference between the two?

  One group would ostrasize you independantly and keep their distance, while the other would shun you out of a demand to do so by it's leaders whether the individual wanted to shun the unbeliever or not.

  Gumby
• 

  Scully

  There are many factors, not just "brainwashing" (although I prefer not to call it that), that are in play when someone is being indoctrinated into the JWs or any other high control group.

  That would include information control, thought-stopping clichés, black and white thinking, a dichotomous world view (us vs. them), and the like. However, the most powerful tool that is used, in my opinion, are the social controls; the you-can't-play-in-our-sandbox-unless-you-do-what-we-say routine. To someone who is emotionally vulnerable - and this is the type of person that is targeted in the preaching work - it can be very difficult to distinguish love-bombing from genuine care and concern. By the time the person figures out they are involved with a kooky religion that is going to make them forfeit their life or their children's lives, they are in at a deep level, and have likely discarded prior friendships and relationships in favor of JW friends.

  It was definitely the social aspect that sucked me back in when I was a teenager.

  Love, Scully
• 

  Mulan

  I, too prefer "mind-control" over "brain-wash".

  How about "mental regulating"? Ephesians..........something. Thankfully I forgot where.