Posts by john.prestor

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

That's all I'm saying, that it functions, serves, as a means for Jehovah's Witnesses to perhaps, and I emphasize perhaps, see other Jehovah's Witnesses committing "sins" and then report them. I appreciate the honest feedback. I by no means believe that this is the actual point of door-to-door proselytizing, let me state that clearly again. That's not why Russell instituted it, why Rutherford and Knorr retained it, and why the Governing Body emphasizes it.

I like you calling my thoughts musings though, sounds about right, heh.

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

Blondie, that's really interesting information, and thank you for the quote. I try to get behind the mentality of people who want to act like spiritual policemen and the only thing that comes to me is Alice Miller: they never had any control as young people in this organization, when they were policed like that, so now they get to have it as adults.

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

>Jesus Christ people. I wasn't looking for a boxing match against 10 of you. Don't agree with what I have to say, fine. For those of you who critiqued what I was saying and offered suggestions, thank you. For those of you did nothing more than attack me, shove off, including you Simon. That isn't a reply, it's an insult.

11

WT Child/Sexual Abuse Cases and etc

by jdash in

i had this argument with my grandmother and uncles about scandals that the jw's covered up and whatnot, and they won't budge.

i brought up the australian royal commission and of course they laughed.

they then said that the governing body has never lost a sexual abuse case but the "person" who did the crime got charged.

john.prestor

Another thought: I read a paper recently that argued the denial is a very childish defense mechanism people use when their self-concept or perception of their own character is challenged. Jehovah's Witnesses take a great deal of pride in their faith and them belonging to it. So, it's possible your relatives are scared to admit that if some Jehovah's Witnesses covered up child abuse or abused children, their character must not be as high as they think it is. Maybe reassure them before looking that it doesn't speak poorly of them, just on the perpetrators and those who protected them.

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

Exactly, Vidiot. When you put all these kind of practices together you get pretty damn efficient surveillance.

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

Exactly. The organization's literature is, as far as I'm concerned, designed to tug on people's heart strings when they're at their most vulnerable. I remember a Jehovah's Witness telling me that he came to the door of someone who was leaving for a funeral and he gave her the Where are the Dead? tract. I found that really unpleasant.

I agree LV101: it is a family-like structure with "Big Brother" watching over you, not to mention the Elders being permitted to more or less stalk you and watch you from their cars if they suspect you of an affair, for instance.

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

I'm not claiming it is, truth_b_known. And thanks to this site and members like you I'm aware of the process by which door-to-door preaching transformed from selling books into hint-hint giving away books for "free" (a donation).

11

WT Child/Sexual Abuse Cases and etc

by jdash in

i had this argument with my grandmother and uncles about scandals that the jw's covered up and whatnot, and they won't budge.

i brought up the australian royal commission and of course they laughed.

they then said that the governing body has never lost a sexual abuse case but the "person" who did the crime got charged.

john.prestor

Appeal to them emotionally. Most people find themselves disgusted at the thought of child sex abuse. Give them just one example from, say, the Australian Royal Commission about what BCB went through (nothing graphic, I remember her father hit her outright and an Elder just laughed it off, aside from her father's repeated sexual abuse).

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

I want to clarify my original post: I am not claiming door-to-door preaching intentionally was created by Charles Taze Russell (when it began all those years ago, yes Morph, I'm aware of how door-to-door preaching started) for the purpose or intention of surveillance. I am saying that door-to-door preaching facilitates surveillance, i.e., makes it easier to accomplish, as in examples stillin provides.

33

Door-to-door preaching as surveillance

by john.prestor in

i wanted to share some thoughts about jehovah's witnesses and their door-to-door preaching.

door-to-door preaching is supposedly about gathering converts, but in fact, as we frequently discuss, doesn't actually bring that many "sheep-like ones" in.

i want to suggest that a second meaning (what we call the latent meaning in academia) is facilitating surveillance of the congregants who attend some congregation.

john.prestor

I figured you'd say something like that Morph, I can just discard that out of hand. LV101, I didn't know that additional detail and that fits with my claims. Thanks!