Loaded words

by Odrade 17 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Odrade

  I know this subject has been done before, but.... some words we used as JWs have a different meaning to us, even now. Encourage, truth, witness, apostate, worldly...

  So how did those words get so loaded? And are they still programmed in us?

  Here's something interesting I found in my reading:

  Emotional filters

  Each of us has what might be called emotional filters that block or distort our understanding. Most people have heard of Pavlov's famous experiment in which he taught a dog to salivate at the sound of a bell. In the 1930s, Gregory Razran, of New York's Queens College, conditioned people to salivate in response to certain words like "style" and "urn." Razran's experiments demonstrated that it is possible to systematically give words emotional connotations that are totally unrelated to their rational meanings.

  The conditioning process by which most of us develop our emotional filters is often less systematic, but not necessarily less powerful than Razran's approach. In our childhood, parents, teachers or other esteemed adults or peers may have couple words like communist, hospital, politician, black, and cop with quiet sneers, scowls, frowns, or other gestures of contempt. Other seeming neutral ideas may have been accompanied by smiles and other signs of pleasure. Once such conditioning takes place, often without design, the child (or adult) reacts to the words emotionally. The gut-level response to the now emotionally laden word interferes with the reception of messages containing that word. --- People Skills, Robert Bolton, Ph.D.

  I know for myself, anytime anyone uses a sentence with one of the loaded JW words in it, I immediately turn off. A few weeks ago, I was in a class to learn some centering techniques, and the instructor kept saying that we need to be a "witness of your true inner self. I would like to encourage you..." blah blah. It was the most unproductive class I had participated in. To me, "witness" means to go out and preach, it has a seperatist meaning... you all know... so it was most unhelpful as I couldn't even tap into the real (neutral) meaning when I tried.

  Anyone figure out a good way to "deprogram" these loaded words? And if not, how do you live with it, and still communicate with normal people?

  Odrade

  *edit to attribute quote*
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  Sassy

  Definately they are programmed into us. I am trying to figure out myself what some of those words mean to me now. For a huge example, apostate. A friend recently questioned how I viewed the word now that I am out and I didn't realize until that moment that it didn't necessarily mean what I always thought it meant, if indeed I really didn't believe this organization was the only correct way to please God. I am to be honest, still milling around in my head what I think that word means.

  I have to relate about a week ago my bf called me up and said something like "one of these days you have to sit down and explain to me about You People"... Well.. you know what my immediate reaction was.. You People meaning JW people. I have been called YOU people at the doors or elsewhere through the years. I have been trying to explain to him about JWs so he can understand why I left but more so, where I come from, because there are parts of our background that do make us "different' as much as after coming out we don't want to be. WELL he didn't mean that at all. He was totally referring to something else and it wasn't even derrogatory..

  but there I was.. sucked right back into that mentality.. till I realized I didn't even know what he was talking about because I had gone off in my brain in the wrong direction.
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  drwtsn32

  a·pos·tate n. One who has abandoned one's religious faith, a political party, one's principles, or a cause.

  Wow...I guess I am an apostate!

  I know I have a lot of the dub loaded language in me, but I never thought about it affecting me in a negative way. I'm not really worried about it.
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  maxwell

  I'm not sure that I have an emotional response to words that have a special meaning to JW. But it is true, that sometimes the definition specific to JW still comes up in my mind when I hear the word. I could be listening to the news and if they say witness when talking about a court case, the first definition triggered is the old JW definition (and then I think about southern Baptist churches and a preacher hollering "Can I get a witness to testify?!!?"). With some words, I have to conciously pick the correct definition. Since I was raised as a JW, some words initially entered my vocabulary with the JW specific definition. So for some words, I've just had to pick up a dictionary and read the generic definition and try to reorient myself.
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  simplesally

  Before, I would have said I am apostate. But I have not abandoned my faith. I have decided not to go back to a corporation religion that teaches hypocrisy and hate. I certainly have NOT abandoned God.
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  A Paduan

  There is a whole language behind jwism. The words that they use are frequently distortions of the originals and it plays an important part in the maintaince of the belief system. It is quite easy for someone to believe that an apple is a pear if they had always been told it was a pear - naturally they'll even argue it.

  Some of the words I have identified in the past

  • reponsibility - response ability (jwism = duty)
  • worship - honour to be worthy (jwism = pay homage to)
  • jealousy - guarded concern (jwism = envy)
  • humble - down to earth / fair dinkum (jwism = subservient)

  The list is long, and I find that a conversation in jwism is simply a torturous and unpleasant thing - I find the religion is an attempt to nail down the Word before lifting Him up - but the Spirit always escapes them.
• 

  DanTheMan

  Anyone figure out a good way to "deprogram" these loaded words?

  I always enjoy Blondie's 'Comments You Won't Hear..." threads. On her latest one, I condensed all the trigger-words and catch phrases contained in the article, the ones that are repeated in the Watchtower publications ad nauseum. For me, doing this helps me to see how absurdly repetitive they are in using these words and phrases, and lessens their impact on me when I hear them in different contexts. Here's my condensation:

  build up rather than...tear down

  ... use our tongue to praise Jehovah...None of us are perfect...pay attention... avoid harmful speech...engaging in spiritual conversations....cultivating the habit of engaging in upbuilding conversations...We need, then, to ask ourselves...Adjusting our priorities...Purposeful meditation... overflow with praiseworthy speech...regularly ponder on spiritual matters...Having a good spiritual routine... upbuilding conversations....our conversations will build others...adhere to the apostle Paul's admonition...Scriptural counsel...we avoid passing on gossip...critical times...maintain fine conduct... interesting experiences...how encouraging it is to hear of the spiritual accomplishments of others...build love and unity in the congregation... our lips are guided by Scriptural principles...upbuilding conversations...meaningful, spiritual conversations...opportunities for upbuilding discussions...treasure opportunities to enjoy rewarding spiritual conversations...Spiritual conversations...opportune time...Spiritual conversations...When our conversations are spiritual...
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  Odrade

  Whoa! that was cool, Dan. Lining it all up like that really shows up not only how works based it is, but also how little they say that's of any value.

  O
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  DanTheMan

  The "treasure opportunities to enjoy rewarding spiritual conversations" line from that article is a classic, towerspeak at its most hilarious!!!!
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  rocketman

  It's kind of a language all its own. And yes, sad to say, we were all probably affected to varying degrees.