Hi Refiner,
I was very interested to read your essay, although Im a little confused. ; According to Steven Hassan, brain washing by his explanation (and many other brainwashing experts) always includes some type of physical deprivation or physical confinement and possible inclusion of torture.
Could you please explain to me how a JDub can be brainwashed if they are not physically tortured, confined, deprived etc??
I would also like see your thoughts on how the use of this "loaded language" brainwashes a person.
All of us have our own "loaded language" to some extent I imagine. There are those words and phrases that we use almost every day of our lives, eg Honey, Sweetheart, ;going to the salt mines, thank God its Friday, ;KFC, MacDonalds, Pizza,..............Vacation, Good Morning, Sweetdreams, I love you..........etc etc.
Does my regular use of repetitive words and phrases mean that I'm brainwashed?
I thought that an organization or a person had to meet a whole range of conditions including use of physically abusive punishment before they could be accused of having brain washed someone else.?
If that is correct (what the experts say), then the JW's do not "brainwash" anybody.
Perhaps you could explain to me in more depth how you have concluded the Jw's are brainwashed simply because they have their own words and phrases.?
I guess we all must be brainwashed if your explanation is correct?.
Didn't this Lifton guy include physical punishment as part of his conditions for having been brainwashed?
Could you please provide me with some reference stuff on the name of his book and other page numbers, chapter;etc where I can find this information?
My Regards and Happy New Year,
Gareth