Just my view, of course, but--unless we measure ourselves in terms of being an individual we simply are a drone in a hive of some sort.
To be whole and functioning persons is quite a process! Look how quickly the family we are born into starts wanting to indoctrinate us with their peculiar and provincial views about everything from God to Politics!
The programming we receive bypasses our ability to be skeptical about anything except the us vs them our group gives us. WE are good and THEY are bad is just about the essential messege of every religion and political agenda.
Education begins with objectivity---but, can escape indoctrination from family, church, school and politics to reach a point where an objective thought enters our mind???
No, most unfortunate is it that we have to become disillusioned to begin thinking rationally!
That in itself is a kind of crime. But, that is how it happens.
Teens start seeing their own parents as out-of-touch with reality and then individuations begins.
Lamentably, a teen's peer group simply takes over indoctrination and it is downhill from there.
If we could just avoid groups of any kind until we can objectively assess everything we've been told by some neutral standard! But, how many of us simply use a hand-me-down religious book like the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Koran or the Torah to do our thinking and evaluating for us?
It is vitally necessary to learn how to think BEFORE we accept standards of right and wrong and develop an agenda-based morality and join a group.
Logic is a wonderful tool; but, it isn't even taught in school unless you go for a doctorate!
Logic should be taught in kindergarten. Reading how the history of thinking has shaped men's beliefs, society and religion is vital! Aristotle had more of an influence on the Western world than anybody until Jesus. I personally think the Apostle Paul is really the man behind the curtain when we think we are listening to Jesus, but, that is another discussion. My point is--individual men with strong views influence the shape of society because they think for themselves. That can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on who is listening and how they react to it.
If you find the Buddah on the road; kill him!
Worthy? Worthiness? Am I worthy? I have to have a standard that begins with my own life. Unless I am an individual who thinks for myself and develops my tools of measuring what works and what doesn't I am at the mercy of the opinion of others. Others rule the world. Do I let those "others" measure me and simply accept their opinion? Or, do I measure myself in terms of myself; my own values and knowledge and evaluation? The difference between being a leader and a follower is quite a differenc. A follower only has to stand in a line and go through the motions that others are dictating. But, a leader must know where he is going and why and what he'll do when he gets "there".
JW's are indoctrinated to obey and not to think independantly. If that is not the definition of a programmed robot I don't know what is. An ant in an anthill stays very very busy but is not an individual. Individual's are not tolerated in such colonies. It is the work that gives value to the ant and not the other way around. So too with JW's. As long as you work for the hive you have value. When you emerge as an individual with personal needs or opinions you are a nuisance and a hindrance and you must be eliminated!
Independant thought is unworthy if you are a JW! If you ARE worthy--you don't really exist as an individual. You only have one function or you are considered worthless. Day and Night you simply must stand before the throne and repeat: Holy Holy Holy forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever..........
Lovely religion, isn't it? I'm glad I'm not worthy of it!
Terry