Is The Fear Of Apostates Rational?
Anyone who disagrees with the teachings of the Watchtower or simply leaves the organization is considered to be an apostate. Even if someone hasn't committed any crimes, Witnesses are intensely afraid to speak with an apostate or consider anything they might say. Why is that? No one can say for sure. However here's what the Watchtower says about name calling.
'Name-calling slaps a negative, easy-to-remember label onto a person, a group, or an idea. The name-caller hopes that the label will stick. If people reject the person or the idea on the basis of the negative label instead of weighing the evidence for themselves, the name-caller's strategy has worked.' -- See Awake!, June 22, 2000 pages 6 - 10. See Mind Control
It is obvious from the June 22, 2000 Awake! Magazine, that the Watchtower Society knows name calling can be an effective strategy to prejudice people against persons and ideas based on the negative label, rather than on what they have to say.
Some say that by using the word 'apostate', Jehovah's Witnesses are mentally programmed to 'reject the person or idea on the basis of the negative label instead of weighing the evidence for themselves.' Also see Mind Control
People who leave because they disagree are lumped together with evil, wicked, and immoral individuals under the same 'apostate' label. Anyone who criticizes the organization is said to be an 'enemy'.
Apostates and Enemies of God.
Jehovah's Witnesses Apostates.
|
