Hello Kent,
Thank you for your comments, as ever vigorously made!
If I have given the appearance of black and white thinking in my posts, I have failed to make my point clearly. I was actually attempting to address the issue of how some XJW’s might have a ‘black and white’ view of JW’s. All bad, no good. Alan and I were trying in our communication with one another to grapple with the very complex issue of ascertaining at what stage JW’s become victims, willing victims, and whether the depth of mental conditioning by the WTS is perhaps underestimated. I also raised the point as to whether our frustrations which would be directed at the WTS leaders are sometimes heaped on their hapless victims - an act imho, though understandable, of little true value and eventaully demeaning to the 'heaper'.
You note:
That’s black and whit thinking, and your argument looses lots of weight because of that.
Kent, surely what is black and white thinking is the ‘us and them’, ‘saints or sinners’ mentality. What I am trying to do is to reach a point of balance in my own understanding, and perhaps others looking in, of how we should deal with JW’s . What should it be, building bridges of kindness over which some may cross, or a passage through a gauntlet of hostility?
Why should I respect a liar and a cheat?
I have no respect for liars and cheats, hence my desire to hit the true targets. I see little nobility in attacking those who have gullibly believed the liar
Thor Samuelsen is a Jehovah’s Witness, and every other Jehovah’s Witness – as well as the rest of the Norwegian public could hear and SEE that he was lying. That was proven in the program. What do you think happened when the JWs were asked in their "field work"? The Watchtower had NEVER; they said, encouraged or promoted such teachings.
Rice once said ‘A lie has always a certain amount of weight with those who wish to believe it’. The JW’s have spent sometimes decades within a system of mental manipulation which allows their own conscience to become inhabited by the WTS. The WTS sets within their minds, during this process values which allows them to control what a person thinks is a lie or not. The average JW does not know what he believes to be a lie or truth until he is instructed by this WTS on this issue. I say ‘average’ JW as of course you always have those who’s ‘processing’ is not as successful as others.
Nobody actually FORCES them to parrot the Watchtower.
This is an oversimplification Kent, especially given the very subtle forms of brain games that the WTS plays with its adherents.
So, I’m afraid I don’t have all that sympathy for your typical "JW elder way" of handling this question. People following a system that suppresses others, hide child molesters and murderers, doesn’t really have my pity. They are free to leave – to the expense that decision will unfortunately bring. But so what?
I feel that the JW’s are mentally abused and in some cases abused beyond the imaginable, subsequently, yes, I do have pity for them. I am not sure what you mean by ‘JW elder way’ Kent, I may be wrong but I do not think that it meant to be a compliment!
Best of luck to you and did you get to the wedding? - HS
