Intellectual starvation among JWs (page 2)

greendawn

It's a great topic as it points out the crucial fact that the WTS thrives on people's ignorance, this also shows why they are slowing down in the western world and gathering speed in the less educated third world. Imagine if people were properly informed on religious issues the WTS wouldn't have a chance to make any headway except with the very naive.

Once they get a good hold on your emotional world with their seductive propaganda it's hard to disentangle.

diamondblue1974

It's a great topic as it points out the crucial fact that the WTS thrives on people's ignorance, this also shows why they are slowing down in the western world and gathering speed in the less educated third world. Imagine if people were properly informed on religious issues the WTS wouldn't have a chance to make any headway except with the very naive.

Completely.

Both my partner and I cleared out the study over the weekend to make way for a lick of paint and a new carpet and I found some of her old Sociology texts from university and its a subject I have not really gone to deep into however I did begin to read (much to her annoyance) one of the chapters relating to the social theory behind organised religion and its role within society...it made excellent reading and I am looking forward to reading more about it when I get back from work; I will try and post about it should it uncover something worth talking about further.

But moving on..if you examine how some dictators gain control of their subjects it is often by heavily indoctrinating them with alternative thinking to that previously held; the ayatollah(sp) I am told even went as far as executing those in professions such as lawyers, politicians (although I can name a few whose back I would like to see against the wall), and other educated people. It is about control, its about manipulation of minds and the WTS is absolutely no different, its just a damn sight more subtle.

DB74

Scully

the crucial fact that the WTS thrives on people's ignorance

The WTS hates education because it produces people who question the WTS's self-proclaimed authority and often recognize it as such. Education helps people develop the ability to think critically about what they are being taught. Education helps people view themselves and their own moral compass as a legitimate authority. What the WTS wants is "~~Godly~~ Obedience" from their followers, and education is one thing that loosens the WTS's grip on the followers.

mrsjones5

Oh my this is such a great thread!

I totally can relate to this comment:

From early childhood I was in love with the mysteries of language, the magic carpet ride of imagination, the heady worlds revealed in books. I attribute my sanity having survived the bizzare teachings of jw to the fact that I ignored their assinine warnings about what not to read. I WISH more of them could see what is being done to their minds!!!

I think reading, having a voracious appetite for the written word other than the drivel I was fed from the kingdumb hall, was the main thing that saved my brain.

Josie

Sunspot

(of the why do guys with no "balls" need a vasectomy class)

Answer: To prevent little baby Dubbies from being born!

Great thread, BTW!

Annie

trevor

We all have certain needs, which must be met in order for our lives to be fulfilled. For life to have meaning we must have a purpose. We set ourselves goals intellectually, spiritually, physically and emotionally. When we find ourselves lacking in stimulation in these areas we can suffer from depression.

To be a Jehovah’s Witness means more than just belonging to a religion, it is a whole way of life and a community within itself. It can offer friendship, security and purpose. It can appeal to those who are looking for reassurance and guidance in their lives. It claims to have an answer for every question you could ask; questions about the past, the future, what is good or bad, right or wrong.

Unfortunately, in return for this package, members are required to hand over their minds to the Watchtower Society and surrender their ability to think in a rational and intelligent way.

jgnat

Yes, yes, and yes! I've been reading about how to optimize our experiences, kind of like the opposite of the anaemic life of the JW with it's routines and drudgery.

http://www.austega.com/education/articles/flow.htm Flow and Education

http://www.wie.org/j21/csiksz.asp Flow and Evolution

http://www.apa.org/monitor/jul98/joy.html Flow and Work

...and maybe my favorite, Flow and fun http://www.unrealities.com/essays/flow.htm

I now can articulate more clearly why crushing sameness does us harm. Zagor, you say it very well.

zagor

I was just listening to radio early in the morning when came up quite an interesting statement:

If you never change your mind why have one?!?

Interesting isn't it?

RunningMan

I was talking to my son just the other day regarding why JWs discourage education. I told him that the reason was because education kills religion - at least when the religion is an intellectual bottom feeder.

Your post hit the point quite nicely. Decades of being spoon-fed repetitious platitudes written at a grade nine level, while denying most accurace science, tends to create non-thinkers. The most dangerous thing in the world to them is education.

A Paduan

I was struck by the most awful sense that my old friend had been stolen and this imposter had taken her place.

I can't figure why even after leaving the jws that for all the 'Bible Study tm ' that everyone did, no one identified these things biblically. Sayings like "I don't know who you are" or "a death of a soul" - strange. Even the 'world', and especially the young, tell fearful stories about the walking dead, and zombies.

Intellectual starvation among JWs

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