Expert: Andrew - 10/30/2005

Question
Andrew,

I have read the other answers you have given and am I correct in thinking that JWs are not allowed to think for themselves?

Just what do you mean by not thinking for themselves. Doses that mean that everything they do comes form their leaders? DO they have choice in clothing, food, movies, music or are these controlled as well?

You said that they can not use the internet. Is that realy so?

What happens if a JW does not understand some theolgical concept that their leaders print? DO they have to accept everything that is told them

Gordon  

Answer
Dear Gordon,

> I have read the other answers you have given and am I
> correct in thinking that JWs are not allowed to think for
> themselves? Just what do you mean by not thinking for
> themselves.

Cult mind control interferes with people's ability and incentive to think for themselves. So it isn't a matter of a simple regulation which people would respond to by saying, "OK, I'm not allowed to so I'll refrain from doing so."

It's hard to understand what cult mind control is by just scratching the surface. Hollywood unfortunately circulates a lot of misinformation, which makes the average citizen quite unaware of what it is and how it works, and therefore unprepared to defend themselves or understand what is happening to loved ones when they get involved with cults.

In order to get a complete answer to your question, you will have to do some reading about the tactics used. There are only a finite set of tactics used by all cult organizations. That is, perhaps 8 or 10 types. One good summary can be found at http://www.freeminds.org/psych/lifton.htm

My experience suggests that the Witness organization uses all or most of the tactics described. In my opinion, this is the best rule of thumb as to whether an organization is a cult: Does it use all or most of the tactics of cult mind control?

> Doses that mean that everything they do comes form their
> leaders? DO they have choice in clothing, food, movies,
> music or are these controlled as well?

For most of us, most of the decisions we make each day are merely preferences, with little or no moral weight. The Witness mindset is such that almost every decision, no matter how minor, carries moral weight; and that therefore there is a right or wrong choice. If not inherently right and wrong, this mindset suggests that even minor preference decisions may be right or wrong based on how others view God as a result of actions of an individual Witness. The organization is always ready to suggest which course of action in any decision will 'reflect best on God'.

Usually the organization does not lay down hard and fast rules, but instead 'gives guidelines' which individual Witnesses are expected to apply for themselves. This is a dishonest means of enforcement, however, because those who fail to apply an idea for themselves in the way the organization thinks they should are gradually pressured and punished for not doing so. So how can it really be said that a concept was ever self-applied?

Their organization publishes hundreds of pages each year to help individual Witnesses make the "right" choice in even these kinds of things like you enumerate: clothing, food, movies, and music. Individual Witnesses are expected to read these hundreds of pages and keep a home library that goes back many years so as to be able to guide their every decision based on this voluminous written material.

With this way of life, there are no innocent personal preference decisions; little lightheartedness; every decision is potentially a life and death matter, which I think contributes to mental illness among many Witnesses.

> You said that they can not use the internet. Is that
> realy so?

I stopped attending meetings with the Witnesses almost 10 years ago, and have not kept up with their many policies which change constantly. What does not change is their underlying modus operandi.

As of that time, Witnesses were warned about the danger of the Internet. The leadership considers it dangerous because the Internet allows a free flow of information. One of the tactics of cult mind control is to regulate the flow of information, so that followers cannot hear all sides of an issue. The Internet is a real threat to cult organizations, and has resulted in many people beginning their journey toward freedom of mind, because it makes it possible for people to seach for and compare all alternative views. Seeing all sides of any given issue makes people better able to make informed choices.

As of 10 years ago, Witnesses were prohibited from using the Internet in certain ways, but not prohibited from using it entirely. I don't know what their current policy is. I heard throught he grapevine that they have gotten more restrictive regarding the Internet than they used to be. I know people who have been excommunicated for the way they used the Internet.

> What happens if a JW does not understand some theolgical
> concept that their leaders print? DO they have to accept
> everything that is told them

They do have to accept everything that is told them. Even silent dissent isn't permitted. Individual Witnesses must verbally agree with each and every idea that comes from the platform at their many meetings, and from the hundreds of pages per year of written material that comes from their headquarters.

Many discussion sessions makes it difficult to remain undiscovered as a silent dissenter, and pressures people to say they agree. The psychology of cognitive dissonance makes it difficult to continue to dissent within one's private mindspace while saying one agrees (even in pretense).

Agreement is cultivated by many tactics, yet it is artificial because of these tactics, so the unity of thought Witnesses proudly claim is also artificial.

Asking questions to understand is encouraged, and there are many opportunities to ask such questions. The organization has an answer for almost every conceivable question. They are very well prepared.

However asking questions to challenge or invite alternatives or stimulate thinking will very quickly result in getting the questioner shunned or marginalized at best. Tens of thousands of Witnesses are excommunicated each year. They will point to many causes, such as sexual "immorality" and smoking; but ultimately there is only one cause: Dissent. If you don't immediately capitulate when an elder corrects you on any point great or small, you are labelled rebellious, and this is the real reason for excommunication in ALL cases.

Closed systems of logic cannot withstand open inquiry. Their organization would come unravelled very quickly if they did not expel and excommunicate challenging questioners.

They are so strict about not communicating with expelled persons that parents refuse to speak to teenage children and kick them out on the streets. Most of the remaining "faithful" flock left in the congregation after an excommunication never even know the reason a person was expelled, even a best friend, and certainly never get to hear their side of the story. How can there be any other relevant side of the story besides "God's" side?

The problem is equating the organization with God. This is dishonest and does not allow for human error. I hope this answers your question.

Best wishes,
Andrew