Posts by Oubliette

5

Psychology Today - interesting articles about Cult Leaders and Predators in clergy or organization positions

by wannabefree in

i stumbled upon some articles in psychology today written by joe navarro, an ex-fbi counterintelligence agent.. this one talks about predators as priests or clergy as well as in other organizations and why they are attracted to it .... https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spycatcher/201404/why-predators-are-attracted-careers-in-the-clergy.

this article talks about identifying dangerous cult leaders ... how many characteristics do you see in some of the gb leaders past and present?.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/spycatcher/201208/dangerous-cult-leaders.

Oubliette

WBF, I read with great interest the second article, Dangerous Traits of Cult Leaders, by Joe Navarro M.A.

Navarro's concluding comment is very telling:

When a cult or organizational leader has a preponderance of these traits then we can anticipate that at some point those who associate with him will likely suffer physically, emotionally, psychologically, or financially. If these traits sound familiar to leaders, groups, sects, or organizations known to you then expect those who associate with them to live in despair and to suffer even if they don’t know it, yet.

I would say that at least 48 of his list of 50 apply to the GB members individually and collectively. (It might be 50 for 50, but I have no knowledge concerning items #9 or 10).

Let's review: It's a cult!

19

What if JWs Viewed Disfellowshipping and Excommunication as Radical Islamists Do?

by Oubliette in

i found this statement from a recent article about isis to be quite interesting in view of the way that any jw can be accused of apostasy with little or no possible repercussions or consequences for the accuser: .

in islam, the practice of takfir, or excommunication, is theologically perilous.

if a man says to his brother, you are an infidel, the prophet said, then one of them is right.

Oubliette

I found this statement from a recent article about ISIS to be quite interesting in view of the way that any JW can be accused of apostasy with little or no possible repercussions or consequences for the accuser:

In Islam, the practice of takfir, or excommunication, is theologically perilous. “If a man says to his brother, ‘You are an infidel,’ ” the Prophet said, “then one of them is right.” If the accuser is wrong, he himself has committed apostasy by making a false accusation. The punishment for apostasy is death.

Imagine if JWs had THIS policy in place? It would make a lot of elders think twice before accusing or even insinuating that a person was guilty of apostasy.

55

Are we pro-shunning or against it?

by Simon in

just to continue my theme about religious freedom and how we approach criticizing the wts, i've also been thinking about 'shunning'.. i think shunning is the most unifying complaint that most ex-members of religious groups that practice it have in common.

it is the layer that runs under every other complaint - whatever the reason for leaving it seems "... and i was shunned" can be added to it as the final rap on the charge sheet.. of course it seems like a no-brainer to many of us and we hardly ever stop to really think about it - shunning is bad, the watchtower believes in shunning therefore the watchtower is bad.

they need to stop it.

Oubliette

BTW, who are the "we" in the thread title?

55

Are we pro-shunning or against it?

by Simon in

just to continue my theme about religious freedom and how we approach criticizing the wts, i've also been thinking about 'shunning'.. i think shunning is the most unifying complaint that most ex-members of religious groups that practice it have in common.

it is the layer that runs under every other complaint - whatever the reason for leaving it seems "... and i was shunned" can be added to it as the final rap on the charge sheet.. of course it seems like a no-brainer to many of us and we hardly ever stop to really think about it - shunning is bad, the watchtower believes in shunning therefore the watchtower is bad.

they need to stop it.

Oubliette

R&R: I believe any religion has a right to throw you out of church for bad conduct. They own the building and have the right to not allow any member who's conduct is unbecoming of the congregation.

Agreed!

R&R: They don't have any rights out in the streets, funeral homes,hospitals,wedding banquet halls and any other meeting place. The only reason they shun members is to scare the rest of the members (that you will be in the same predicament if you do the same).

Exactly!

Ultimately, with cults such as JWs, the practice of institutionalized shunning is really about control, not morals.

101

You will never grow old in this current system of things... - Awake, May 22, 1969 p. 15

by cappytan in

check this out.

got this bound volume from my dad.. .

Oubliette

VI, it's a pretty great thought!

55

Are we pro-shunning or against it?

by Simon in

just to continue my theme about religious freedom and how we approach criticizing the wts, i've also been thinking about 'shunning'.. i think shunning is the most unifying complaint that most ex-members of religious groups that practice it have in common.

it is the layer that runs under every other complaint - whatever the reason for leaving it seems "... and i was shunned" can be added to it as the final rap on the charge sheet.. of course it seems like a no-brainer to many of us and we hardly ever stop to really think about it - shunning is bad, the watchtower believes in shunning therefore the watchtower is bad.

they need to stop it.

Oubliette

Yes, I believe institutionalized shunning is wrong.

It demands absolute compliance of all individuals in the group in that they must blindly and without question accept the decision of the leaders, usually without even knowing why.

It obviates free choice. It destroys relationships and ruins families. It is wrong.

10

Breaking away from the JW programming and mind control

by suavojr in

it amazes me how much power mind control can have over your emotions, your behavior and thoughts.

let me explain, apathy has taken over a close family that my wife and i care about.

the cognitive dissonance within this family is huge.

Oubliette

they have been marked as Spiritually WEAK.

"Spiritually weak" in JW-lingo usually means spiritually strong and independent in reality.

I've heard it takes about a month of recovery for every year in a cult.

80

Ayn Rand - Opinions?

by cappytan in

jw
friends

for those of you familiar with ayn rand and her ideas on morality, rationality and reason, what is your opinion of those ideas?.

i'm talking about her actual ideas, not the ideals that libertarianism has adopted and, in some cases, perverted.

do you think she's a charlatan?

Oubliette

I know that her novella, Anthem, has helped at least one young JW wake up and see that he was in a cult!

101

You will never grow old in this current system of things... - Awake, May 22, 1969 p. 15

by cappytan in

check this out.

got this bound volume from my dad.. .

Oubliette

For those that foolishly cling to JW false "theology" I offer this:

The Curse

I curse you: Everyone you know is going to die. You are going to die. And you are never, ever going to see God's Kingdom. You hang on in vain to false hopes because you are too afraid to face the truth, the real truth: Everything you believe is a lie and you are too cowardly to see it.

I'm taking it all from you and you will never have it back, try as you might. From this moment on, your hope is gone from you.

-

101

You will never grow old in this current system of things... - Awake, May 22, 1969 p. 15

by cappytan in

check this out.

got this bound volume from my dad.. .

Oubliette

My raised-a-JW ex-wife told me about this not long after we were married in the '80s. She was about 10 when that article came out.

I remember saying something like, "But look: you DID graduate high school and now you're married! They were clearly wrong about this."

The deer-in-the-headlights look on her face was unforgettable. I had converted to being a JW about 5 years before and knew nothing about these kinds of statements by the WTBTS. I stuffed the cognitive dissonance for a few years until the mounting evidence became so overwhelming I could no longer ignore it.

Finally, around 2002-2003, when I found out about the UN/NGO debacle I knew this religion was a farce. I tried to get my now ex-wife to wake up and admit that the religion was false. She refused to hear it. I tried to leave with my kids, but they sided with their mother.

A year or so after I left the religion, my youngest asked me why. I showed him this article. He accused me of being an apostate. I said how can I be an apostate? I'm just showing you what the WTBTS published. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

That was the last time we spoke. My children continue to shun me even though I am technically a JW in good standing. They know I don't believe it and because I pointed out the hypocrisy of the WT leadership they cut me off.

Let's review: It's a cult!