Howcome the WTS does not include personal testimonies...

by jgnat 40 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  jgnat

  Howcome the WTS does not include personal testimonies in their meetings (I mean, ones that have not been edited by the writing department)?

  Oftentimes when I am preparing for an instructional course, I go looking for a sample completed form. In order that my students are not led astray, I try and find the perfect sample. I have yet to find one. I always end up creating a "dummy" form, with all the sections completed perfectly. Is this not very much like the little dramas set up at the KH? In order to provide the "perfect example", a dummy family scenario is created.

  It also goes to show that pobody's nerfect.

  The WT approach points to an instructional mindset. That is, information flows one way - from Bethel in to the minds of the believers.

  I think one of the most powerful aspects of a discussion board like this, is that it gives all of us a personal voice. There is something very powerful and authentic about sharing our own story. It has the ring of truth. Imperfect, yes, like a daisy in a field, but beautiful in it's own way. Unedited, uninterrupted (unless we manage to be Very Rude) real life.
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  blondie

  Hi, jgnat, actually, the Bible Students in Russell's time did have a meeting for just that.

  Proclaimers Book

  p. 238

  Brother Russell realized that more was needed than just study of doctrinal matters. There must also be expressions of devotion so that people’s hearts would be moved by appreciation of God’s love and by a desire to honor and serve him. The classes were urged to arrange a special meeting for this purpose once a week. These were sometimes referred to as "Cottage Meetings" because they were held in private homes. The program included prayers, hymns of praise, and testimonies related by those in attendance. These testimonies were sometimes encouraging experiences; included, too, were the trials, difficulties, and perplexities confronted during recent days. In some places these meetings fell considerably short of their objective because of excessive emphasis on self. Kindly suggestions for improvement were set out in The Watch Tower.

  But notice how the WTS denigrates their usefulness. Note how this was missing in this comment in an earlier publication, the 1975 Yearbook.

  1975 Yearbook

  pp. 43-44

  "Cottage Meetings" were held on Wednesday evenings. These also became known as Prayer, Praise and Testimony Meetings. Concerning them Edith R. Brenisen writes: "After a hymn and a prayer, the leader read an appropriate scripture, giving a few comments, and then the meeting was turned over to the friends to comment as they wished. Sometimes it would be a joyful experience one had in the service work or some evidence of Jehovah’s special leading or protection. One was free to offer a prayer or ask for a certain hymn to be sung, the words often expressing the thoughts of one’s heart better than the person could. It was an evening for meditation upon Jehovah’s loving care and for close association with our brothers and sisters. As we listened to some of their experiences we grew to know them better. Observing their faithfulness, seeing how they overcame their difficulties, often helped us in solving some of our own perplexities." This meeting was the forerunner of what has since developed into the service meeting, held weekly by Jehovah’s witnesses today and so helpful to them in their preaching work.

  By the time of Rutherford starting in 1922, these meetings had become a discussion of the Bulletin (forerunner of the Kingdom Ministry) and testimonies were a thing of the past.

  All the experiences are carefully rehearsed especially at the circuit and district level. They are carefully crafted to bring in the "theme" of the convention and many times leave off vital facts such as there was no positive outcome.

  The brothers want to control every word off that platform so spontaneous comments are forbidden. I have seen an older sister get away with it once or twice or people from the audience at the KH. Otherwise, it is controlled.

  Blondie
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  mouthy

  I can remember when they used to -There was a pastor of the Church ( lutheran) that stood up one time & told the story of his organist who left the church to become a JW-He went to sit on a study & then was enlightened to the troof.....& became a JW---at the time I was SO HAPPY .....another escape into the promised land !!!!!!NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  jgnat

  Thank you for the history. So what is so dangerous about spontaneous declarations of faith? What is the worst thing that could happen?
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  blondie

  The most dangerous thing they could say....They might tell the truth, jgnat.

  Blondie
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  Lady Lee

  Spontaneous proclamations are not under the control of the Boeg.

  Nothing spontaneous is allowed - even the WTS is a set of questions with provided answers.

  There is no control if people are thinking and feeling.

  Many spontaneous testemonies are very emotional. WTS doesn't like a lot of emotion hanging out - they would say it is a lack of control.

  Any testimony would go directly against all this control they want
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  jgnat

  What are they controlling?
• 

  Lady Lee

  information

  behavior

  thought

  emotion

  http://www.caic.org.au/general/mindcon2.htm

  Four Aspects of Mind Control

  (as it relates to people in cults)

  1) INFORMATION CONTROL:

  • Important information which is available to the general public is withheld from members and potential members.

  • Deception is the basic feature of all cult recruitment. It is also what keeps people inside cults.

  • Information is one of the best weapons against cults.

  • In cults information about the cult's history, purposes, doctrines, financial disclosures, methods of dealing with problems, counseling, training, and discipline for offenses are kept as confidentail as possible.

  • Only those members with trusted status are allowed inside information.

  2) THOUGHT CONTROL:

  • "Truth" and reality are distorted for those inside the group by subtly changing the definitions of common terms with new meanings through the use of code words, cliches, and slogans.

  • Different words make the members feel special and separate from outsiders.

  • These different words confuse outsiders who want to understand what the group believes and talks about.

  • The change in definitions of significant words keeps even the members from understanding their own beliefs.

  • Leaders of cults repress questions by conditioning their members to employ "thought-stopping" statements, prayers, hymns, Bible verses, mantras, tongues or rituals to drown out doubt, questions, anxiety or uncertainty. "I can't think about that." "How can you question (the leaders) after all they have done?" etc. The intention is to stop questions regarding the system or leaders.

  • The word "faith" is employed in a negative sense. Members are conditioned to view "faith" in terms of blind submission to the leaders, rather than positive certainity in God's love.

  • Members are conditioned to feel guilty for any curiosity about what is going on within the group; curiosity is a lack of faith. (Therefore, even after some people leave a mind control group, they may be afraid to examine information which explains the background of their old belief system.)

  • Typically, the word "grace" has a different meaning from the Biblical use. The "God" of the group is also different from the God of the Bible. God is defined by, and eventually becomes the group.

  3) EMOTION CONTROL:

  • Guilt, fear and shame are projected onto the members, prompting blame toward themselves for their depression, lack of understanding, anxiety, or inability to cope, rather than examining the leaders, the group's policies, history, doctrines, scandals, and at times, even crimes.

  • Phobic attitudes or behaviors are sometimes noticeable when attempts are made to converse with members regarding their belief in the group or its leaders.

  • Fear, anger, rage or repetitious statements which only go in circles keep the members from thinking through to any rational conclusions.

  • Fear of confrontation with family is common, resulting in very few people being rescued.

  4) BEHAVIOR CONTROL:

  • Tight control of behavior secures the leaders' position of authority and importance.

  • The behavior control impresses members and outsiders to view the group as especially spiritual or successful.

  • The leaders link the required behavior to their special "revelation" of a text of scripture. However the required behaviors are usually superficial controls, affecting appearances and outward activity rather than inward character. These can include grooming, daily activities, career choices, clothing, specific technology, posture, speech mannerisms, food choices, recreation, education, even decisions about marriage, sex and children. (They usually do not deter moral sin.)

  • If a person does not conform, he may be urged to become more like an older group member; to follow the leaders' "example".

  • OBEDIENCE TO THE HUMAN LEADERS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON TO LEARN.

  • The leaders cannot totally control one's inner thoughts, but if they can command behavior, hearts and minds will usually follow.

  • The behavior control isolates the members from society even more effectively.
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  jgnat

  Just playing Devil's Advocate here, could there be any other legitimate reason to control what the R&F say, other than a cultlike need for control?
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  Lady Lee

  no