)Something I wrote some years ago)
The Circle and JWs (this will work for any cult or cult-like group):
Picture a circle for the group called the JWs. Everything and everyone outside that circle is taught by the leaders and believed by the followers to be not safe/not of God/bad/sinful/of the devil/evil/opposed to truth/and the list of negative evil things goes on and on.
Meanwhile, within the circle it's taught by the leaders and believed by the masses that ONLY THIS GROUP is safe/loving/of God/has truth/has salvation/and so forth.
This is exactly how Jim Jones, David Koresch (sp?), Charles Russell, and other cultists viewed/view themselves and their group and the rest of the world. It's a very exclusive and very "us" verses "them" kind of mentality.
The circle diagram is a picture of the dynamics involved in any sort of significant-degree-of-control type of cult. The line that draws the circle is pretty well defined by those in charge. In other words, to use a biology illustration, this is not a very permeable (sp?) membrane – It's pretty hard and solid. And, it gets reinforced continually by teachings and writings about how bad/evil things (and people) are outside the circle and how the ONLY ONLY ONLY safe and good place is inside the circle
Now, besides the claim to exclusivity and superiority, let's add another dynamic: For everyone inside the circle (especially the leaders, who don't want their power and control threatened), one of the big priorities is to not allow any of the corruption/sin/evil/whatever that is in the 'evil outside' to come inside and disrupt or corrupt the group. Hence, not much in the way of in-depth relationships are encouraged with those "outside."
Add this to the mix as well: Will the masses defend the "truths and teachings" of the circle (plus those in authority who draw the line of the circle)? You betcha. Which means that questions and challenges to what the authorities say are discouraged. There is even the threat of tossing out (excommunication, or disfellowshipping) anyone who might be a threat of disruption or corruption from within (especially when those leaders who draw the line have told the followers to do this).
Now, let's think about it from a personal standpoint - here's a scenario: Here's a person who's been inside the circle for awhile. But, he/she comes to a point where the beliefs don't make sense anymore, and the practices are really looking both inconsistent, hypocritical and contrary to the Bible.
Think about the various kinds of pressure on that person to shut up, stop talking about these dangerous (disruptive and corruptive) ideas you're having, and be a "good" member of the circle and conform.
In other words, think about everything a JW will/will have to give up or be excluded from if they get df'd (tossed outside the circle): Friends, family, supposedly God, supposedly his salvation.
(You understand, of course, that I'm giving the part about 'losing God and salvation' from how a JW would see it, and this is NOT what I personally believe for anyone who leaves the JWs, right?)
Between the loss of most (maybe even every) significant relationship you have, PLUS the idea that, now that you're df'd, where are you? You're ALL ALONE in the bad/evil OUTSIDE – the place you've been warned about for years.
This is why a lot of JWs don't leave -- The blackmail factor, and the fear (terror) factor that goes with it.
I knew a JW like this years ago. He didn't believe the crapola that the WTS was teaching any more. But, he stayed and went through the motions because he still wanted to have relationship with his children - he knew he'd never see them again if he was honest with his (committed JW wife about where he was at. I still think of him now and then and say a prayer for him and his family when I do.
Bottom line – It's about power and control over people a whole lot more than it is about just beliefs. And the dynamics of power and control (how large they are and how far they go) are the things that makes JWs a cult.
REPLY
The Circle and JWs (this will work for any cult or cult-like group):
Picture a circle for the group called the JWs. Everything and everyone outside that circle is taught by the leaders and believed by the followers to be not safe/not of God/bad/sinful/of the devil/evil/opposed to truth/and the list of negative evil things goes on and on.
Meanwhile, within the circle it's taught by the leaders and believed by the masses that ONLY THIS GROUP is safe/loving/of God/has truth/has salvation/and so forth.
This is exactly how Jim Jones, David Koresch (sp?), Charles Russell, and other cultists viewed/view themselves and their group and the rest of the world. It's a very exclusive and very "us" verses "them" kind of mentality.
The circle diagram is a picture of the dynamics involved in any sort of significant-degree-of-control type of cult. The line that draws the circle is pretty well defined by those in charge. In other words, to use a biology illustration, this is not a very permeable (sp?) membrane – It's pretty hard and solid. And, it gets reinforced continually by teachings and writings about how bad/evil things (and people) are outside the circle and how the ONLY ONLY ONLY safe and good place is inside the circle
Now, besides the claim to exclusivity and superiority, let's add another dynamic: For everyone inside the circle (especially the leaders, who don't want their power and control threatened), one of the big priorities is to not allow any of the corruption/sin/evil/whatever that is in the 'evil outside' to come inside and disrupt or corrupt the group. Hence, not much in the way of in-depth relationships are encouraged with those "outside."
Add this to the mix as well: Will the masses defend the "truths and teachings" of the circle (plus those in authority who draw the line of the circle)? You betcha. Which means that questions and challenges to what the authorities say are discouraged. There is even the threat of tossing out (excommunication, or disfellowshipping) anyone who might be a threat of disruption or corruption from within (especially when those leaders who draw the line have told the followers to do this).
Now, let's think about it from a personal standpoint - here's a scenario: Here's a person who's been inside the circle for awhile. But, he/she comes to a point where the beliefs don't make sense anymore, and the practices are really looking both inconsistent, hypocritical and contrary to the Bible.
Think about the various kinds of pressure on that person to shut up, stop talking about these dangerous (disruptive and corruptive) ideas you're having, and be a "good" member of the circle and conform.
In other words, think about everything a JW will/will have to give up or be excluded from if they get df'd (tossed outside the circle): Friends, family, supposedly God, supposedly his salvation.
(You understand, of course, that I'm giving the part about 'losing God and salvation' from how a JW would see it, and this is NOT what I personally believe for anyone who leaves the JWs, right?)
Between the loss of most (maybe even every) significant relationship you have, PLUS the idea that, now that you're df'd, where are you? You're ALL ALONE in the bad/evil OUTSIDE – the place you've been warned about for years.
This is why a lot of JWs don't leave -- The blackmail factor, and the fear (terror) factor that goes with it.
I knew a JW like this years ago. He didn't believe the crapola that the WTS was teaching any more. But, he stayed and went through the motions because he still wanted to have relationship with his children - he knew he'd never see them again if he was honest with his (committed JW wife about where he was at. I still think of him now and then and say a prayer for him and his family when I do.
Bottom line – It's about power and control over people a whole lot more than it is about just beliefs. And the dynamics of power and control (how large they are and how far they go) are the things that makes JWs a cult.
REPLY