Stopping Thought Stopping.

by Peeringin 15 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Peeringin

  Hello,

  Im sure that many on this forum will be aware of the thought-stopping techniques that are taught by JWs/WTS to suppress difficult thoughts and overcome cognitive dissonance in favour of reverting back to belief in WTS.

  Often in conversation these will be clear verbal cues that can sound unnatural during the course of a conversation, as though an individual is temporarily reading a script to overcome a difficult point.

  My question to you all is this:

  Are there any methods or resources that people are aware of that can help to break through a thought stopping mechanism when it is noticeably in effect? A question perhaps, or technique that will encourage the individual to think the thought through in its entirety?

  Any suggestions or retorts would be greatly appreciated.

  Many Thanks
• 

  benny

  I am still a witness physically but I am finally waking up after 40 years.

  I think the best way to get through is to gain knowledge of their own printed material. "JW facts " have a wealth of material.
• 

  punkofnice

  If it's on a personal level, I never use terms like 'the truth(tm)' or 'in the truth(tm)'. I refer to 'the corporation' or being 'in the corporation' It works wonders to overcome the loaded language.

  Also, 'where else will you go?(tm)' - Me: 'what did Jesus say the answer was? Would you care to read it to me from your Bible' (Even though I don't really believe Jesus existed...at least not in the form organised cults say).

  I think it's a case of recognising the weazle words and phrases.
• 

  Giordano

  I've gotten a tad more firm about avoiding their doctrines or allowing them to hide or deflect in what they have been told to believe.

  "I am sure that thought gives you comfort (Sister or Brother) ....but I am more concerned with your JW pedophile problem. I hope your religion understands that if they don't make changes every door wiIl eventually be closed to you. Normal law abiding people in our community will not tolerate pedophiles who in the process of representing their religion are sizing up families and their children under the guise of a bible study or creating a false friendship.

  Do look this issue up and make up your own mind."

  Of course that will make this the last visit I'll receive from any JW.

  But those that march past my door will know what I accused them of. And perhaps curiosity will cause one or two of them to take a look at how thoroughly this issue has been reported in the non apostate news media.
• 

  blondie

  It is a challenge to leave the WTS terms behind. Even as ex-jws even PIMOs, it is handy for a shorthand way of discussing the WTS thinking together. It is when we talk to non-jws or never been jws, that we have to be more specific when we talk about the WTS. It is like translating from language to another.

  The biggest one I have continued to root out is the phrase, The Truth.
• 

  EverApostate

  I use the following whenever i ecounter a JW, to stop their THought Stopping: This would be said after exposing some facts to them about the ugly WT history).

  If the JW, is well educated I try to rekindle their Educationalistic Ego.. Like. You are an educated person. Why dont you use your critical thinking to think this over.

  Touch their free will criteria. Why dont you use your god given free will to make some research about this. Even the Bible warns us not o beleive everyone and anything.

  If you value the word TRUTH, why dont you do some truthful research about this.
• 

  days of future passed

  I think questions are a good way to do it, or to tie in what they believe to actual events. A witness at work who is always doing the "the world is so bad" line is one I do the actual events on. When ISIS was destroying temples, she complained about the art being destroyed. I said Well they believe it's pagan. It's no different than the Israelite's going around and destroying all the pagan temples and art. Silence and big eyes. She says it's terrible the people they are killing. I say yes it is, they took homosexuals to the tops of roofs and threw them off. Silence.

  I've also discussed with her that there are people that are born with both the X and Y so that doctors don't know what gender they are. That homosexuals are really born that way. That caused her to think.

  Will this all mean something down the road to her? I don't know. But as they say A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
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  Vidiot

  I actually stopped using the phrase "The Truth" before I even faded.
• 

  Anders Andersen

  Questions, questions, questions.

  More specifically, questions that actually invite a person to think about what they believe or think is true.

  Avoid making statements or even launch an attack by means of 'questions'. That will only trip them into shutting their minds.

  Use questions to make them think. Questions may linger long after the conversation finished.

  The goal is to make a person open their mind and think, even if just a little and for a short time.

  Maybe next time it will be more....and more....until the avalanche in their mind can't be stopped.

  They can only convince themselves anyway..
• 

  blondie

  I was watching a show recently on Einstein and many of his discoveries was asking himself questions and visualizing and thinking about the possibilities, and looking for the answers.