Is it possible that the JW religion appeals to someone with an adolescent level of maturity, and that people leave it because they simply grow up? Those who are satisfied may be adults in other areas of their lives, but perhaps spiritually they are still adolescents or even children?
Level of maturity
by Justin 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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one
but perhaps spiritually they are still adolescents or even children?
or deceiving themselves
brain dead
lazy
there could be other factors and the real answer could be multi-factorial
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stillajwexelder
No - I do not agree - there are some very intelligebt people who have become JWs - see the IQ thread
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one
"some" by not many... besides those who did either were in 'fragile' or receptive situation in their lives and/or were not too intellingent in the related 'department', i could be very intelligent in some aspect of life and very stupid in another... "relativity" has to be always taken into account.
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confusedjw
Well for some you may have something. Too immature to leave the security perhaps?
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pepheuga
:No - I do not agree - there are some very intelligebt people who have become JWs - see the IQ thread could you possibly supply a link thereto? pepheuga
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frankiespeakin
Pep,
They had some thread on IQ test and some were posting there IQ scores as very high in the 130's or 140's and some asked for who tested them I think many became silent.
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rebel8
My answer to the OP's question is YES, but not in the same way as the other posters.
IQ is only one measure of intelligence. It does not measure much of what we would consider intelligence.
I believe JWs have not yet fully achieved the stages of development described here: http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/erickson.shtml It is possible for adults to pass through these stages without fully accomplishing them, or to regress. I believe JWs, among other things, have not fully accomplished the developmental stages needed to view authority in a balanced matter, have a strong sense of oneself, be willing to evaluate right and wrong in each situation (rather than accepting a blanket proclamation by the borganization), etc.
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peacefulpete
When the WT leaders use the word "mature" they have loaded the word with cult meaning. Mature is used to mean "fully intitiate". This means that the method of controling that persons behavior has changed to simple 'direction' rather than 'love bombing' or 'persuasion'. A 'mature' JW is expected to tow the line and not be a source of concern for the leadership. They have become part of the system and are fully invested in it's goals of recruitment. Paul used the word in a similar way, yet seemed less concerned about conformity to a set of doctrinal norms. He used the term as someone fully initiated into the 'mysteries' of Christ. These Mysteries were secret knowledge and cult experience that those outside as well as those only casually involved supposedly could never understand. The protoGnostics who preserved Paul's letters used this language in this elitist way. The later orthodoxy simply washed the gnostic language aside and used the words in a more mundane way.