Posts by MaudeW

8

Brainwashing

by MaudeW in

brainwashing.

a systematic, coercive effort to alter an individual's beliefs and attitudes, usually by physical and/or psychological means; also referred to as "thought control.".

brainwashing has been used predominantly in reference to severe programs of political indoctrination, although it is used occasionally in connection with certain religious, especially cultic, practices.

MaudeW

Love the icon Elsewhere! LOL!

I would not have responded favorably to anyone telling me I was being brainwashed or to anyone referring to the JW religion as a cult either. But then again, it's pretty much the truth isn't it?

8

Brainwashing

by MaudeW in

brainwashing.

a systematic, coercive effort to alter an individual's beliefs and attitudes, usually by physical and/or psychological means; also referred to as "thought control.".

brainwashing has been used predominantly in reference to severe programs of political indoctrination, although it is used occasionally in connection with certain religious, especially cultic, practices.

MaudeW

BRAINWASHING

A systematic, coercive effort to alter an individual's beliefs and attitudes, usually by physical and/or psychological means; also referred to as "thought control."

Brainwashing has been used predominantly in reference to severe programs of political indoctrination, although it is used occasionally in connection with certain religious, especially cultic, practices. Brainwashing works primarily by making the victim's existing beliefs and attitudes nonfunctional and replacing them with new ones that will be useful in the environment created by the captor.

Basically, the techniques of brainwashing involve the complete removal of personal freedom, independence, and decision-making prerogatives; the radical disruption of existing routine behavior; the total isolation from, and destruction of loyalties to, former friends and associates; the absolute obedience to authority in all matters; intense physical abuse and threats of injury, death, and permanent imprisonment; and the constant presentation of the new beliefs as the only correct and acceptable alternative to continuing an unenlightened life.

These techniques are intended to induce in the victim a state of childlike trust in, and dependency on, the captor. Confessions of imagined past crimes are often part of the brainwashing process, with the victim admitting to trivial or absurd shortcomings and errors, and sometimes implicating others falsely. Other captives who have already been brainwashed may be used to reinforce the process, criticizing the victim and supporting the captors and their value system.

Once the process begins to take hold, threats and punishments are replaced by rewards. The victim is allowed increased physical comfort and given psychological reinforcement in the form of approval and friendship. All efforts are directed toward cementing his or her new identity, based on the new set values and beliefs provided by the captor.

The study of the techniques and effects of brainwashing grew markedly in the 1950s, after a number of U.S. soldiers appeared to have become indoctrinated when taken prisoner during the Korean War. They confessed to imagined crimes, including the waging of germ warfare, and refused to be repatriated when the war ended.

Studies of these prisoners of war and of individuals who had undergone ideological conversion in Chinese prisons during the same period revealed connections between the radical changes in attitude caused by brainwashing and existing knowledge about attitude and identity formation and change in ordinary circumstances.

While some brainwashed individuals may actually be released and allowed to return home, researchers have expressed doubts about whether the process can be completely effective or really last for a prolonged period. Its short-term and long-term effectiveness in actually altering an individual's beliefs-both within the brainwashing environment and removed from that environment-vary from individual to individual, depending on personality characteristics and many other factors.

Intense effort and complete control over the victim are required, and must be exercised over a period of years. Consequently, many of the brainwashing efforts made during the Korean War were ineffective, with the prisoners either resisting change or merely becoming confused instead of indoctrinated.

In addition, certain attitudes on the part of prisoners proved particularly resistant to change. Due to these limitations, many psychologists believe it would be impossible to brainwash large populations, even with the use of mass media.

A classic literary example of brainwashing is found in George Orwell's novel, 1984. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is subjected to isolation, humiliation, physical deprivation and violence, and constant threats of further violence. He is also forced to make false confessions which include implicating and denouncing others. His captors express their intent to "squeeze you empty and fill you with ourselves."

Their ultimate success in forcing Smith to adapt to whatever beliefs they choose is most memorably demonstrated in his final capitulation to the view that two plus two equals five.

10

How to succeed in field service w/o really trying

by joe_from_kokomo in

ah, field service .

that joy of knocking on a total stranger's doors to try to sell them on your own religious doctrines.

isn't it joyful?

MaudeW

I always hated field service and grabbed every opportunity to do rural visits because you spent more time driving and there was always a good chance nobody was home. It's a wonder more JW's aren't blown away with the current trend being what it is. Ya know, not once have I ever talked to anyone who was "happy" to see the JW's coming!

7

Answer door?

by Phil in

a few years ago we lived in a different city and my wife and i had a battle when a jw would come to the door.

my wife liked to hide and like to answer the door and talk to them.

i am rather stubborn that way.

MaudeW

No to both questions Sandra.

19

Listening To The Answer To Your Prayers

by MaudeW in

i've always been curious about this.

i'm an ex-jw with serious god issues but enough about me.

in all the years i was a witness, i was always taught the proper way to pray.

MaudeW

Thanks everybody. You've given me a lot to think about.

24

Climbing the Walls

by Sargon in

i've been planning this for 4 months, well sort of.

the planning took 5 minutes the procrastination has taken up the rest of the time.

after 26 years of indulging, i've finally tried to quit smoking.

MaudeW

Ooh I know a lot of this subject! I quit two years ago. I got all my support online. I have some great websites for you! One place I visited a lot was http://www.quitsmokingdiaries.com You can check in there with people who are going through the same thing you are. http://www.quitnet.com will hook you up with a quitmeter that will measure how many days, weeks hours and minutes you've been quit, how many cigarettes you haven't smoked and how much accumulated money you are saving. It's a great motivator. Another site that I made myself go to was http://www.whyquit.com It has experiences of people who have died of cancer. The list is long, the pictures and the stories are gruesome but I made myself look at them so that I could burn it into my brain what I was saving myself from - kind of an aversion therapy if you will.

Drink lots of water because the nicotine is going to start coming out of your pores. I had black gunk coming out of my nose, my ears, etc. (Probably more about me than you EVER wanted to know right? )

Keep saving your money that you don't spend on cigarettes. My boss did and she was able to go on a cruise at the end of a year! I bought myself an opal and diamond ring after my first year! Reward yourself! You are doing a hard thing!

Your Quit Date is: 9/5/2000

Time Smoke-Free: 889 days, 22 hours, 14 minutes and 36 seconds

Cigarettes NOT smoked: 22248

Lifetime Saved: 5 months, 19 days, 22 hours

Money Saved: $3,944.94

Edited by - MaudeW on 11 February 2003 22:14:58

20

Do YOU answer the door now?

by christopherceo in

when i left the org the elders would come by at the most inopportune time at least every day sometimes twice.

i never answered the door, i just continued doing whatever it was i was doing and ignored the pounding at the door knowing it ticked them off because they knew i was home.

when the witnesses randomly come to my door now i still don't answer but have thought about it just to give them hell.

MaudeW

I'd get out my Ouija board and put it on my kitchen table so they could see it when they first come in, then I'd invite them into the living room where my DVD of "The Exorcist" would be playing loudly.

7

Answer door?

by Phil in

a few years ago we lived in a different city and my wife and i had a battle when a jw would come to the door.

my wife liked to hide and like to answer the door and talk to them.

i am rather stubborn that way.

MaudeW

Hi Phil:

Can't say I hate Jehovah's Witnesses because I used to be one of them. I pity them because they are brainwashed "sheep" like I was. I wanted to respond to your post though. I thought it was interesting that the "sister" took your book. I can't believe she did that! I remember wanting to discuss anti-JW literature one time with a regular pioneer and she told me to throw it in the garbage - she didn't even want to see it because, "You don't have to learn a lie to tell the truth." They have so many pat answers to questions they don't know the real answer too. I do hope this gal read Mr. Franz's book, but I wouldn't hold my breath. That would take independent though, something that Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to possess.

10

Daughter still in Patterson

by Phil in

my daughter was cohersed to marry her present husband and they moved to patterson to do what ever they do there.

it realy affected the family, particularly me.

i was wondering if there is anyone who reads these messages knows my daughter.

MaudeW

Hey Phil:

I'm curious as to which Patterson you are talking about. I am familiar with Paterson, WA. How far off am I?

19

Listening To The Answer To Your Prayers

by MaudeW in

i've always been curious about this.

i'm an ex-jw with serious god issues but enough about me.

in all the years i was a witness, i was always taught the proper way to pray.

MaudeW

Thanks for all your replies. I appreciate it. You know it was interesting because for a period of time I attended Alanon meetings (got rid of my reason to attend in a divorce but that's another story! ) I remember them talking about how to hear the answer to your prayers. It is totally open to personal interpretation but they suggested that it might come in the form of a conversation you might overhear, a magazine article, a song on the radio, etc. It was nothing earth shattering and supposedly so subtle that you might miss it if you weren't paying attention. I know a lot of people believe this and it brings them comfort.

I could never figure out how, when I was a JW, anyone could love this jealous, murderous God. I had no family or friends that were JW's. I dragged my family members through Bible studies but none of my family took the bait. I remember being so depressed and so miserable that all of my family and friends were going to die at Armeggeddon. Plus I was terrified of the Great Tribulation. How horrible for a God to make his people suffer starvation, rape, persecution, etc. Maybe I'm getting off topic, but if you can't even believe that your God hears your prayers, how can you love him? I never understood how so many people could actually be happy being a witness, going out in field service (which I hated and had absolutely no gift for whatsoever) giving talks, going to assemblies, etc. I know a woman whose been a witness all her life and she's in her 90's now. She says she loves "the truth." What does she know that I don't know?

What I wanna know now if you will is, did you ever love Jehovah?