# **Which Way to "Salvation"?

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Posted by WitnetObserver [WitnetObserver] on November 15, 1999 at 07:52:48 {AS5l1tybL6dDxJLkw9cMQv.iPpdwjE}:

In Reply to: *Which Way to "Salvation"? posted by FaithFulJW on November 15, 1999 at 06:45:13:

It takes the sum of all the scriptures not just a few.

Sadly though, no one has EVER agreed upon what that "sum" is. As a result..things like THIS
happen:

What the WATCHTOWER Wants

WE want wealth and power for the Governing Board,
to be supplied by members.

Wealth may include:

transfer of cash, real estate, and other property,
profits, from exploitation of members' labor in
printing business.

Power may include:

manipulation of all relationships, work,
or schooling to meet the needs of the Organisation,
assignment of city or country of residence,
regulation of family structure,
behavioral/ideologic controls via group punishments,
or threatened expulsions, and limitation of members'
opportunities to relax, to pursue individual interests,
or simply to be themselves.

WE exhort members to proselytize; predictably,
more members mean more wealth and power for US.

What the WATCHTOWER Doesn't Want

WE are uninterested in altruism as a moral imperative.
WE have self-serving moralities
to benefit the organization
and its leadership in particular.
Individual fulfillment is irrelevant."UNITY"
Pseudoaltruistic activity helps image building.

WE don't want high overhead.
Members in OUR enterprises may be underpaid or unpaid,
work in unsafe environments,
or have no provision for medical care.

WE don't want our inner workings exposed,
Or our manuals/handbooks to new members.
We have people to manage our image.
We don't need help promoting,just recruiting.

WE do not want to be called a "cult."
As for Thought Reform: Definitions and Studies

WE are currently using thought reform to recruit
and control members, by employing the following:

Miracle - ideology imputing miraculous power
to leaders and/or activities.
we call it "JEHOVAH'S SPIRIT DIRECTED ORGANISATION"

Mystery - secrecy obscuring actual beliefs and practices.
that way we can tell US from THEM.

Authority - claims on members' time, talents,or property
to meet group needs. we call it PRIVILEDGES,service to
Jehovah, spiritual food, fellowship, book studies.

Thought reform is a hyperefficient indoctrination
achieved when secrecy impairs indoctrinees' awareness of what
is happening to them and what they are becoming - thus,
there is no full, informed consent.
(but our members will say that they were not forced to
believe anything.In fact we carefully guide them step-by-step
through the research-stages to CONVINCE them that they are
using their own free will)
We call it "being in the TRUTH".

Beware of 'ORGANIZATION.' It is wholly unnecessary." WT 9/15/1895,p.1866

Those in the truth got there by the ministry of Russel.
To repudiate his work is equivalent to a repudiation of
the Lord. WT 5/1/1922,p.132

Meekly go along with the ORGANIZATION. Do not pit human reasoning,
sentiment, and personal feelings against the ORGANIZATION.
WT 2/1/1952,p.80

"Jehovah's ORGANIZATION ...should influence our every decision."
WT 3/15/1969,p.172

Failure to respond to the direction of the ORGANIZATION
indicates a rejection of Divine rulership. WT 2/15/1976,p.124

...come to Jehovah's ORGANIZATION for SALVATION...
WT 11/15/1981,p.21

"an ORGANIZATION to direct the minds of Gods people" WT 3/1/1983,p.25

"We cannot take part in any modern version of idolatry-be it
worshipful gestures toward an image or symbol
or the imputing of SALVATION to a person or an ORGANIZATION."
WT 11/1/1990,p.26

"identifying themselves with Jehovah's ORGANIZATION
is essential to their SALVATION."
Our Kingdom Ministry, 11/1990,p.1

1) We place Watchtower literature into the hands of the people
through door-to-door and other methods.

2) We follow up with a "return visit" to determine and encourage interest.
3) Try to arrange a "Bible study" using the Society's latest books.
4) We encourage the persons showing interest to come to the
Sunday Public Meeting,Congregation Book Study,and then
encourage attendance at the Theocratic Ministry School meetings
to help prepare them for field service/door-to-door work.

5) The last step is the dedication of the person's life to Jehovah's
Organization (The Watchtower Society) through baptism.

TYPICAL BEGINNINGS
1denying the existence of hell so as to retain
a more understandable view of God's love.
2 Formulation of a simplified interpretation of
Scripture so as to make the Bible
more acceptable or believable.
3 Followers of the leader(s) must recognize them as
the modern day spokesman for God, or leave the group.
4 One's salvation must depend on belonging to the group.
5 Freedom of thought is inhibited, lest the followers
be overpowered by another train of thought
alien to the religion.
This is usually accomplished by
(a) keeping the convert too busy to read or consider
other views,
(b) developing a morbid fear of the devil
and his efforts to use others (even friends) to lead them astray,
(c) prohibiting the reading of other religious literature,
especially that written by former members of the religion, and
(d) a continual daily or weekly program of indoctrination
that must be kept up in order to maintain their unique world view.
Such a fabricated world view must be emphasized regularly,
or it will soon lose its power over the person.
His own common sense will seek to re-establish control over his mind.
A tremendous guilt complex is placed on the individual
who bucks the system, so that even if he/she leaves,
they are at best a shell of a person fraught with morbid fears
and mental problems, only too happy to later re-join the fold
to re-establish peace of mind.

The followers soon become divided: the "loyal" ones
allow their consciences to be dulled to the real moral issues
and justice as they re-affirm their leader as God's chosen spokesman,
while the dissenters refuse to tolerate
the power play going on in God's name.
from http://www.freeminds.org/psych/cultptrn.htm

Follow Ups:

- ***Which Way to "Salvation"? CriedAndPuked 09:54:40 11/15/99 (1)
  - ****Which Way to "Salvation"? WitnetObserver 16:24:09 11/15/99 (0)

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