Flipper: Your comments hit home to me. I remember even as a kid, when I would get a new toy, I would have this terrible feeling of anxiety that I might not get to enjoy playing with it before Armageddon arrived. It seems silly as an adult but I truly believe that this religion is very destructive on young minds.
Phases of Mental Extraction
by freemindfade 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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DesirousOfChange
I really do wonder, just how many 'active' JWs are mentally out?
One of my kids, all of whom are now aware of TTATT, just asked that question of me yesterday. This child still attends because of inlaws/friends/business. You know there is a wide variety of people in any given Cong. Some smarter, some wiser, some more successful in life. You realize that they cannot all still be suckered in on this scam of a religion. After all, YOU yourself finally woke up. From reading this and other websites you realize just how many others are also awake to TTATT, but "trapped" inside still.
Sooooooo, just WHO in this audience of 120 witnesses is sitting there with their eyes rolling in the sockets? Just WHO else knows TTATT but is afraid to speak a word of it to YOU?
I like the bright socks agenda. Next time find it necessary to go to a meeting (ie with my Mom or a funeral or wedding) I'm going to wear bright socks. 1) Because i know Tony III won't like it; 2) so you will know that I know TTATT.
Doc
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freemindfade
I agree with everything you said. So on point. I love stronger now, feel freer, I am happier than I ever was as dub my whole life. All this is with the prospect that this life we have might be all there is. I am way happier. Everyday I wake up I feel lucky, happy to be alive, to wonder and learn and experience. Nobody should ever not be their true self, this is why I believe now from my vantage point many many witnesses have mental illness simply from constantly denying who they really are, policing everyone else, living in a weird twilight zone of pride mixed with guilt. when I sit down at any meeting I really hear now the persecution complex being sold hard. The misery, oh the world, its horrible, we are all getting sick and old and dying and life is nothing but misery. Its blaring now how depressing it is to live listing and believing this.
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Iown Mylife
The sandcastle of the WT washing away - great mental image!
@freemindfade - you would not believe how long it took for me to finally recognize that formula all the meetings utilize! Like you say, they all start out with how horrible life is now, how many problems there are, oh no the humanity! Oh poor poor us, life just sucks! And then wonder why we felt so depressed all the time, it should have been obvious, good grief!
Marina
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freemindfade
JWfacts covers that really well under fear and mind control. It's used often in politics. I read it only recently but backs up this very idea, Check it out.
Speech Techniques
In an article titled Persuasion and Brainwashing Techniques Being Used On The Public Today8Dick Sutphen discusses the speech techniques of Politicians and lawyers. These are also common sales techniques, and mimic the structure of a typical public talk at the Kingdom hall and the outline of Watchtower articles.
First, he might generate what is called a "YES SET." These are statements that will cause listeners to agree; they might even unknowingly nod their heads in agreement. Next come the TRUISMS. These are usually facts that could be debated but, once the politician has his audience agreeing, the odds are in the politician's favor that the audience won't stop to think for themselves, thus continuing to agree. Last comes the SUGGESTION. This is what the politician wants you to do and, since you have been agreeing all along, you could be persuaded to accept the suggestion. In the following political speech, you'll find that the first three are the "yes set," the next three are truisms and the last is the suggestion.
"Ladies and gentlemen: are you angry about high food prices? Are you tired of astronomical gas prices? Are you sick of out-of-control inflation? Well, you know the Other Party allowed 18 percent inflation last year; you know crime has increased 50 percent nationwide in the last 12 months, and you know your pay cheque hardly covers your expenses any more. Well, the answer to resolving these problems is to elect me, John Jones, to the U.S. Senate."
A talk at the Kingdom hall is virtually the same. YES SET "Are you tired of the problems in the world? Do you long for an end to crime, violence and death? TRUISMS These are all a product of Satan's system. Aren't we grateful that soon Jehovah will do away with all this suffering? SUGGESTION We must stick close to Jehovah's Organization to enjoy these benefits."
In The True Believer,9 a book on mass movements, Eric Hoffer suggests at least a third of the population are "true believers." They are joiners and followers, people who want to give away their power, looking for answers, meaning, and enlightenment outside themselves. This type of person is "not intent on bolstering and advancing a cherished self, but are those craving to be rid of unwanted self." This type of person is "eternally incomplete and eternally insecure!" and can easily be transformed into fanatics who will gladly work and die for their holy cause whether politics, churches, businesses or social cause groups. Mass movements generally have a charismatic ruler, and a devil. This type of person is unlikely to be reading this site, they don't want to know. Neither am I convinced that this type of person should stop being a Jehovah's Witness. If they do they most likely will become involved in a similar organization that also uses manipulation to force its members into a prescribed way of life.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/fear-cult-mind-control.php