it is my contention that the wtbts, (as do all high-control, authoritarian cults), deliberately cultivates dysfunctional beliefs among its members.
in particular, the most destructive of these beliefs are those that undermine one's feelings of self-worth.
for a research project i am doing, i am looking for direct quotes from wt publications that seem to be specifically designed to manipulate the readers into feeling: unworthy, unlovable, inadequate and/or helpless.
Here's another example of what I am looking for:
"Loyalty to family should never be greater than loyalty to Jehovah"
This is from the outline for the Circuit Overseer's service talk from September 2017 through February 2018, which was recently leaked and posted by WiFi Bandit:
Directions like that erode a persons sense of autonomy and locus of control resulting in learned helplessness.
getting pissed with sean and michael (hollywood memory).
the year is 1983. .
two new james bond films are slated for release, one of which will star the one, the only, sean connery, while the other one sports jolly roger moore.. never say never again vs octopussy, and i am one of the original james bond fanatics--so, how can i possibly miss out on the opportunity to attend the world premiere of connery’s flick?
Also, you broke the BroCode Law of the Urinal by taking the center urinal when the other two were empty. I know you think you were bonding, but that's definitely not a cool play.
You must promise to do that never again.
getting pissed with sean and michael (hollywood memory).
the year is 1983. .
two new james bond films are slated for release, one of which will star the one, the only, sean connery, while the other one sports jolly roger moore.. never say never again vs octopussy, and i am one of the original james bond fanatics--so, how can i possibly miss out on the opportunity to attend the world premiere of connery’s flick?
Aw, I thought you were going to tell us how you went out drinking with them and got drunk. That would have been a much better story and a happier ending.
"Getting pissed" and "Pissing with" are not the same thing. I feel cheated somehow.
You're in trouble. Rather a let down actually. It left me feeling somewhat, ... empty and drained.
i come from a catholic background, but most recently had been with the churches of christ.
i have contacted my local congregation and will be talking with someone tomorrow, hopefully setting a study up for next week.
i want to study scripture, but also want to immerse myself in everything jw publishes.
Rob: What denomination did you guys end up in? Or are you not going anywhere?
Good question.
Personally, I am spiritual but not religious.
i come from a catholic background, but most recently had been with the churches of christ.
i have contacted my local congregation and will be talking with someone tomorrow, hopefully setting a study up for next week.
i want to study scripture, but also want to immerse myself in everything jw publishes.
Now you know. You're welcome.
i was wondering today what i would say if i ever were to be called to a judicial trial in the congregation, and my conclusion was that i didn't really have any biblical defense against it.
so i was wondering what you guys would recommend.
it seems far fetched to me that the bible condones a 1 vs 3 biased trial (where you already have been judged beforehand), instead of one where you have a unbiased judge, a defense and a prosecutor/accuser.
Here is a previous thread on the subject that you may find enlightening and thought-provoking:
this is my second topic here.
sorry for this biiig post.
i would like to tell you guys about one of the things that bothered me most, despite of being something quite simple, but since it affected me directly, so.... well, being a ministerial servant, i knew the bad view the jw in general have towards beards.
Just recently I met an ex-Bethelite who had been at the Bethel in Selters, Germany.
He told me that there was a storage room where they kept alcohol for the Bethelites. All Bethelites were explicitly forbidden from telling anyone that came for a tour of the facilities about this secret stash of booze. He added that this was one of the things that really bothered him when he was there and got him to question the religion. (Note that it wasn't that they HAD alcohol, it was that they were to be secretive about it to visitors. The hypocrisy and the putting on of a false image were what bothered his conscience).
i come from a catholic background, but most recently had been with the churches of christ.
i have contacted my local congregation and will be talking with someone tomorrow, hopefully setting a study up for next week.
i want to study scripture, but also want to immerse myself in everything jw publishes.
Hi Rob, I greatly appreciate your comment, "The more I learn the better." Just remember that the purpose of education is to learn how to think, not what to think.
So why would you want to "study" with Jehovah's Witnesses. They are a high-control, authoritarian group that uses undue influence and coercion to control and manipulate their members. All Watchtower publications are designed to indoctrinate readers into unquestioning acceptance of their peculiar beliefs.
They demand extreme obedience to the group even over family relationships. You should avoid this group, as well as any and all others that exhibit cult-like behaviors.
this is my second topic here.
sorry for this biiig post.
i would like to tell you guys about one of the things that bothered me most, despite of being something quite simple, but since it affected me directly, so.... well, being a ministerial servant, i knew the bad view the jw in general have towards beards.
This is a cult. Doctrines actually do not matter (which is why they can change at any time). Control does.
You have discovered the line between EXPLICIT rules and the IMPLICIT ones by having a beard and writing letters about it to the elders. You have implicitly shown that you think that you know more than they do. But again, it is NOT about knowledge, facts, doctrines or truth.
It is about control. Authority and control.
It's a cult.
he was all for getting rid of religions and their delusions for the betterment of mankind.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mydmc1wio8.
“Many forms of Government have
been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one
pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed, it has been said
that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other
forms that have been tried from time to time.” - Winston Churchill
