"Nothing is more terrible than ignorance in action."
{Spruche in Prosa (Proverbs in Prose) - JOHANN VON GOETHE

Excerpts from Erich Fromm's ESCAPE FROM FREEDOM Mechanisms of Escape 1. Authoritarianism A. Masochism - the annihilation of the individual self and attempt to overcome the unbearable feeling of powerlessness, through absorption of self into another. B. Sadism - the annihilation of the individual self and attempt to overcome the unbearable feeling of powerlessness, through the absorption of another into the self, enlarging the self from others, extending the original powerless, weak self. "The sadistic person needs his object just as much as the masochistic needs his. Only instead of seeking security by being swallowed, he gains it by swallowing somebody else. In both cases the integrity of the individual self is lost." p. 157 2. Destructiveness "Destructiveness is an escape fro the unbearable feeling of powerlessness, since it aims at the removal of all objects with which the individual has to compare himself. " p. 179 3. Automaton conformity INTERNALIZATION OF EXTERNAL IDEAS & CONFORMITY TO PUBLIC & GROUP OPINIONS "Although freedom of speech constitutes an important victory in the battle against old restraints, modern man is in a position where much of what "he" thinks and says are the things that everybody else thinks and says: that he has not acquired the ability to think originally - that is, for himself - which alone gives meaning to his claim that nobody can interfere in his conduct of life man has become free from external authorities, which tell him what to do and what not to do. We neglect the role of the anonymous authorities like public opinion and "common sense," which are so powerful because or our profound readiness to conform to the expectations everybody has about ourselves and our equally profound FEAR of being different."p. 105 " Anonymous authority is more effective than overt authority, since one never suspects that there is any order which one is expected to follow. In external authority it is clear that there is an order and who gives it; one can fight against the authority, and in this fight personal independence and moral courage can develop. But whereas in internalized authority the command, thought an internal one, remains visible, in anonymous authority both command and commander have become invisible. It is like being fired at by an invisible enemy. There is nobody and nothing to fight back against." p. 166 "Rationalizations are essentially lacking the quality of discovering and uncovering, they only confirm the emotional prejudice existing in oneself. Rationalizing is not a tool for penetration of reality but a postfactum attempt to harmonize one's own wishes with existing reality."p. 193 "What holds true of thinking and feeling holds also true of willing. Most people are convinced that as long as they are not overtly forced to do something by an outside power, their decisions are theirs, and that if they want something, it is they who want it. But this is one of the great illusions we have about ourselves. A great number of our decisions are not really our own but are suggested to us from the outside, we have succeeded in persuading ourselves that it is we who have made the decisions, whereas we have actually conformed with expectations of others, driven by the fear of isolation and by more direct threats to our life, freedom, and comfort." p. 197 "In watching the phenomenon of human decisions, one is struck by the extent to which people are mistaken in taking as "their" decision what in effect is submission to convention, duty, or simple pressure. It almost seems that "original" decision is a comparatively rare phenomenon in a society which supposedly makes individual decision the cornerstone of its existence." p. 199 "We are proud that we are not subject to any external authority, that we are free to express our thoughts and feelings, and we take it for granted that this freedom almost automatically gurantees our individuality. The right to express our thoughts, however, means something only if we are able to have thoughts of our own; freedom from external authority is a lasting gain only if the inner psychological conditions are such that we are able to establish our own individuality." p. 240

According to some experts (Steve Hassan) in "exit counseling" there are four components of mind control. 1. Control of behavior, 2. Control of thoughts, 3. Control of emotions and 4. Control of information. This web page touches the surface.

Information Control

Through out history, mankind's governments and religious organizations have restricted their citizens from reading, viewing and speaking any information that was critical or expressed a different viewpoint other than was taught by the government or religion. Those who dared disobey were jailed, tortured, killed or shunned, being labeled as outcasts, heretics.

All information was censored and the only knowledge that was allowed by the government or religious organizations were positive, upbuilding stories, whether they were true or false. They were all designed to be in favor and support, no matter what crimes, injustices, lies and false teachings were being taught and practiced. This helped persons to truly believe that their country was a righteous one, worthy of dyeing for and if religious, having God's approval, worthy of dying for. The masses were cut off from the true knowledge of what was really going on behind closed doors and teachings that would expose the leaders and their interpretations as being either wrong, elaborated on or slanted in an unfair direction.

Today, right in the midst of countries with adequate human rights and freedom, their exists religious

			Inundated With Activity
			In a One Week Time Period
	1.		Reading of a 30 page magazine.
	2.	a.	Reading of the book study assignment.
		b.	Attending the book study.
	3.	a.	Reading the ministry school and service meetings assignments.
		b.	Attending the ministry school and service meetings.
	4.	a.	Reading the Watchtower study article.
		b.	Attending the Watchtower study.
	5.		Preparation of talk assignments.
	6.		Field service door to door preaching
	7.		Kingdom hall cleaning assignments.
			Other Additional Assignments
	1.		Kingdom hall building projects.
	2.		Convention preparation service.
	3.		Three yearly conventions, consisting of many consecutive hours.
	4.		Bethel service.
	5.		Pioneer meetings.
	6.		Elder and Ministerial Servant meetings.
			Meetings Service
			What We Should Inundate
			Ourselves With:
	1.		Faith and Trust in the Universal Ground of Being Alone.
	2.		Love, Compassion and Forgiveness of Man.
	3.		Personal Prayer, Solitude and Mediation.
	4.		Personal Study of Different Sources: Theology, Philosophy, Psychology & etc.
			Religious Sacrifices Secondary

groups that censor all information their members can read and watch. People are not allowed to talk to each other about anything critical of the leader, doctrine, or organization. Most importantly, people are told to avoid contact with ex-members or critics. Those who could provide the most information are the ones to be especially shunned. (1)

For instance, in the course of a one week period, all of Jehovah's Witnesses are strongly encouraged to read a 30 page magazine (the Watchtower or Awake), the weekly book study assignment, the weekly ministry school assignment, the weekly service meeting instructions and the Watchtower study article. In addition to this, there is the preparation of talk assignments, field service time, 3 weekly meetings and other projects as well as hall cleaning. All of this inundates each person in a whirlwind of activity, giving no time to read or explore any outside information in detail.

But this goes much further. All outside information of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, that is religious in nature, contradicting or disagreeing with the Watchtower, is completely forbidden. In all cases, any religious information that is in disagreement of or criticizes the Watchtower Society is labeled "apostate," "evil" and from "Babylon the Great." Anyone of Jehovah's Witnesses that are caught reading, viewing or speaking about such literature or information are addressed by the congregation elders.

If a witness is found to be reading this so called labeled "apostate" literature and is a Ministerial Servant or Elder, he is most likely deleted and removed from his position. The elder's will then strongly counsel the witness, instructing him to destroy all of the so called "apostate" literature and he or she must comply. If compliance is not met, then further actions are taken. But more likely, the witness is disfellowshipped for reading or speaking of this material, depending on the judging elders in charge.

The first step is counsel, The second step is the person looses his or her privileges in the congregation, such as restrictions, removing the freedom of answering questions at meetings, going out in field service preaching. But in other cases the person is disfellowshipped from the organization and is completely shunned by all, including all family members who do not live with the person ! Needless to say, the outcome can be devastating for the person.

	"Two sets of weights are a sin to God		and a false balance not good"
	Proverbs		20:23
			Do You Wisely Destroy Apostate Literature ?
	Persons of the public are urged to keep an open mind toward Watchtower literature even though it challenges their present religious beliefs		Witnesses are urged to immediately destroy literature that is critical of their beliefs.
	The Awake - 11/22/84		The Watchtower - 3/15/86 p 12
	In Search of Christian		Freedom, page 412

So here is a strong control of information over all the members of the Watchtower Society, Jehovah's Witnesses, to do what they are told and not to read, speak, view or question anything critical of the organization. If they comply, everything is fine, but if they question and look anywhere else, even if completely sincere, they are punished severely. Notice the woman throwing the literature she has received in the mail into the garbage, without even considering its contents.

What happens after a period of time? Certainly after much time of only reading and absorbing information strictly written and produced by the Watchtower Society, including hours of attending meetings of hearing solely Watchtower interpretations of scripture on a steady repetitious basis, along with hours put in the door to door preaching of Watchtower teachings, along with three annual conventions consisting of 8 hours days of non-stop scriptural interpretive talks and demonstrations, persons become indoctrinated and under mind control. They truly believe whole-heartedly that all religious information that is critical or in disagreement with the Watchtower is "apostate" and part of "Babylon the Great." The Watchtower Society has now accomplished it's goal, all of it's members truly believe that they independently made the decision to believe this, when in reality, they never came to this decision on their own, but were indoctrinated to believe so.

The only way we can see and know our real inner selves is to put adequate limits on the amount of our exterior and religious (organizational) activity. Inner solitude is essential for spiritual growth. Thomas Merton relates:

"We cannot be ourselves unless we know ourselves. But self-knowledge is impossible when thoughtless and automatic activity keeps our souls in confusion. In order to know ourselves it is not necessary to cease all activity in order to think about ourselves. That would be useless, and would probably do most of us a great deal of harm. But we have to cut down our activity to the point where we can think calmly and reasonably about our actions. We cannot begin to know ourselves until we can see the real reasons why we do the things we do, and we cannot be ourselves until our actions correspond to our intentions, and our intentions are appropriate to our own situation. That is enough. It is not necessary that we succeed in everything. A man can be perfect and still reap no fruit from his work, and it may happen that a man who is able to accomplish very little is much more of a person than another who seems to accomplish very much. (3) In silence we learn to make distinctions. Those who fly silence, fly also from distinctions. They do not want to see too clearly. They prefer confusion. A man who loves God necessarily loves silence also, because he fears to lose his sense of discernment. He fears the noise that takes the sharp edge off every experience of reality. he avoids the unending movement that blurs all beings together into a crown of indistinguishable things. The saint is indifferent in his desires, but by no means indifferent in his attitudes toward different aspects of reality. (3a)

Organizational, that is church activity, can be the obstacle from living a humble meditative and contemplative prayer life, a life of intimacy with God that lives beyond the mind and intellect, deep within the intuitive heart. As many church organizations put church activity above the inner transformation of the meditative and contemplative life, balancing between the life of liturgical activity and that of the inner solitude of contemplative activity, these were the two issues that the pre-reformation church dealt with for many centuries. In witness terminology, this can be labeled the exterior organizational life and that of the private prayer life. Not always being a problem in the early church and keeping both sides in congruency, many thoughts on the matter were written by St. Benedick, St. Basil, St. Gregory and others highlighting each side, leaning towards one or the other.. Much of the mystical movements that recognized the need for the lessening of liturgical (organizational) activity and the strengthening need for the inner contemplative, occurred in the 14th century with that of the Rhenish Mysticism movement and the Dominican theologians Eckhart and Tauler. The problem that existed at times was that of liturgical (organizational) activity overran the inner prayer life of the contemplative, degenerating prayer life to that of heartless mechanical routine. In other instances the contemplative life had the false piety of quietism, again that of a mechanical and routine nature, that of the mind and not from the genuine emptiness found in humility. In defense of the contemplative life over liturgical activity was Dom Augustine Baker who stated:

There is no doubt that the decay of religion has principally preceded from this preposterous disorder, viz. that is most religious communities active spirits (organizational activity) have got the advantage to possess themselves of prelatures and spiritual over the contemplative (inner prayer life), though the state of religion was instituted only for contemplation. And this has happened even since contemplative prayer has been restored by persons extraordinarily raised by God, as Ruysbroeck, Tauler, St. Theresa, etc . . . Active spirits (organizational activity)that live in religion, not being capable of such (inner contemplative) prayer as will raise them out of nature have no apprehension of such employments. (i.e. superiorship). On the contrary, being led by natural desires of per-eminence and love of liberty, they do not fear to offer themselves, and even ambitiously to seek dominion over others, falsely in the meantime persuading themselves that their only motive is charity and the desire to promote the glory of God. . . But what the effect is experience shows. (3b)

In addition to that of organizational activity overcrowding the inner realm, that is the place of development, the Watchtower's repetition of the same scriptures used over and over again each week, three times a week, bring people to automatic answers with automatic thinking, as their subconscious minds become overloaded in this badgering method that surfaces in the conscious. Beginning at the surface layers, constant repetitive indoctrination digs deeper, preventing both character development and intimacy with God. He alone is our source of strength, no men can do this for us. Answers given at meetings are simple and to the point, yet lack the paradoxical dynamics and depth that can only be found in God's Spirit, in truth. Merely quoting scriptures alone, to support answers pre-interpreted by the organization, a group of men, in Brooklyn, New York bring surface knowledge and human thinking.

Yet all truth in itself is paradoxical. That is what makes it truth. In our silence we learn to make the clear distinction and sharp outline between the words and letters of men and the living word, the Spirit, of God. We become aware of the words and ideas of men with their erroneous layers produced under social, cultural and confined values limited to human expression, human experience and human language. Truth is seeing the clear cut difference between men and God, yet truth, paradoxically, is entering into uncertainty, insecurity and the ambiguous area of mystery, the unknown silence of indistinct outlines that brings us to God. It is here, away from the security of men and religious organizations, that we find God, deep within our interior selves, relying on God, not as a drunk leans on the lamppost for support, or a builder relies on precise and neatly drawn architectural plans, but as one who walks in Spirit of revelation, entering into the silent thunder with the darkness of faith. 

"If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

To fully see Christ is us, is to gain higher consciousness of Christ in all humanity. To follow Christ means letting our egos go and walking in the universal oneness of the Spirit. Ceasing our reliance on the words of men, books of men, organizations of men, allow us the freedom to grow in our self awareness, removing our insecure needs to conform and seek the approval of others. In turn, our detachment, moves us to serve others out of love, in the atmosphere of freedom. However, with the constant badgering with repetitive, simplistic and fundamental teachings with clear cut answers of men and religious organizations and the need to depend on them, such as the self appointed "faithful and discreet slave class," Jehovah's Witnesses and fundamentalists of all religious persuasions, forfeit their choice, to enter God's Spirit, ceasing to find their own inner true selves. Overwhelmed by a whirlwind of activity and constant repetition, reduces the depth and paradoxical meanings of God and ourselves, into short, rapid, simplistic meanings that alienate them from both God and true agape - charity.

The Watchtower Society Has Now Accomplished It's Goal

All of it's members truly believe that they independently made the decision to believe certain teachings, when in reality, they never came to this decision on their own, but were indoctrinated to believe so.

Is ironic how Jehovah's Witnesses perform their evangelizing activity, constantly working hard to distribute the Watchtower literature in the hands of outside persons. All persons who refuse to accept their literature are viewed as closed minded and spiritually blinded by Satan "the god of this system of things," except theirs of course. They encourage the householder to at least read the information and compare it with their religion, regardless of whether they are new in their religion or involved for many years and this makes perfect sense. The householder's refusals are constantly attempted to be overcome with the "how you might respond to conversation stoppers" in the Watchtower's reasoning book.

Here is a clear double standard and "two sets of weights." If a Christian of any denomination were to attempt to place their religious literature with one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they are not supposed to accept, read or view, per instructions from the Watchtower Society. The reason is that the information is either "apostate," if critical of the organization, or from "Babylon the Great" if in religious disagreement with the Watchtower. No, a witness is not even allowed to view the information and compare it with his or her beliefs, for it is considered to be "poison." The Watchtower Society even goes further with the brazen claim of all critical theology, comparing it the same as reading pornography! How can the views of other theology be compared to pornography? Can not the truth hold up to other's views and questions?

The Watchtower Society Compares Critical Religious Writings The Same As Reading Pornography! Calling it Poison.

It is true that reading and viewing information that is critical in nature or in disagreement with the Watchtower Society can cause persons to question their belief, yet this can nowhere be compared to the "poison" of pornography, as the Watchtower so brazenly claims. On the contrary, the "good news" has nothing to hide, for the truth of God cannot be exposed as false. Persons are only mislead if they follow men, such as "slave classes" and governing bodies, instead of Christ alone. Christians are "obedient and submit to those taking the lead," but do not allow them to be "masters over their faith," making black and white blanket scriptural interpretations on the many conscience matters of the bible with the threat of expulsion if not obeyed. They do not allow "those taking the lead" to replace their God given perception to "distinguish right and wrong," "pressing on to maturity" "becoming full grown in their powers of understanding." They recognize that "those taking the lead as "elders" and "overseers" are fellow slaves performing a service, not authoritative figures taking on an authoritative role that only belongs to the "head of every man, the Christ" and "the only one mediator between God and men."

Followers of Christ maintain Christian freedom, "where the spirit of the Lord is." And this freedom includes the God given right to read and view all biblical literature, including that which is critical or questions the teachings of man made "slave classes" and governing bodies of men. This freedom also includes the God given right to attend different churches and any organizations that are critical of other's at any time and to serve God and Christ with the freedom of being "full grown in our powers of understanding" without the dictation of men or the reliance of a "mother organization" to feed us as "babes" and do the thinking for us.

Behavior Control

Behavior control is the regulation of an individual's physical reality. It includes the control of his environment-where he lives, what clothing he wears, what food he eats, how much sleep he gets-as well as the jobs, rituals and other actions he performs.

Each particular group has its own destructive set of ritual behaviors that help bind it together. These can include mannerisms of speech, posture, and facial expressions as well as the more traditional ways of representing group belief.

In the Jehovah's Witnesses, for instance, we followed many customs, such as carrying book bags, encouragement of inconspicuous type of vehicles used for field service preaching, certain dress and grooming standards, and various Doing these little things helped make us feel we were special.

Obedience to the elder's and the governing body of men from Brooklyn, New York commands were the most important lesson to learn. The leaders cannot command someone's inner thoughts but they know that if they command behavior, hearts and minds will follow. (4)

Thought Control

Thought control, includes indoctrinating members so thoroughly that they internalize the group doctrine., incorporate a new language system, and use thought-stopping techniques to keep their mind "centered." In order to be a good member, a person must learn to manipulate his own thought processes.

In totalistic cults, the ideology is internalized as "the truth," the only "map" of reality. The doctrine not only serves to filter incoming information but also regulates how the information can be thought about. Usually, the doctrine is absolutist, dividing everything into "black versus white," "us versus them." All that is good is embodied in the leaders and the group. All that is bad is on the outside. the more totalistic groups claim that their doctrine is scientifically proven. The doctrine claims to answer all questions to all problems and situations. A member need not think for himself because the doctrine does the thinking for him.

A destructive cult typically has its own "loaded language" of words and expressions, such as "the truth,' the "friends," the "other sheep class," the "great crowd," the anointed remnant," the "John class," the Johanadab class," and the "worldly." Since language provides the symbols we use for thinking, controlling certain words helps to control thoughts. Many groups condense complex situations, label them, and thereby reduce them to cult clichés. This label, which is how the loaded language is verbally expressed, governs how one thinks in any situation.

The cult's clichés, or loaded language, also put up an invisible wall between believers and outsiders. The language helps to make members feel special and separates them from the general public. It also serves to confuse newcomers, who want to understand what members are talking about, and think they merely have to study hard in order to "understand" the truth. In reality, by incorporating the loaded language, they learn how not to think. They learn that understanding means believing. (5)

Emotional Control

Emotional control attempts to manipulate and narrow the rang of a person's feelings. Guilt and fear are necessary tools to keep people under control Guilt is probably the single most important emotional lever for producing conformity and compliance. However, most cult members can't see that guilt and fear are being used to control them. They are conditioned to always blame themselves, so that they respond gratefully whenever a leader points out one of their "shortcomings."

Fear is used to bind the group members together in two ways. The first is the creation of an outside enemy who is persecuting you: human governments that are under Satan's control, Satan who is behind all other groups and religious organizations, psychiatrists who teach "worldly" philosophies and so forth. The second is the terror of discovery and punishment by the leaders who will disfellowship you and take away association from all friends and family that are in the organization. Fear of what can happen to you if you don't do your job well, such as a brother loosing his title, position and or privileges in the congregation can be quite potent.

Loyalty and devotion to the group, "Jehovah's Visible Organization," are the most highly respected emotions of all. Members are not allowed to feel or express negative emotions, except toward outsiders. Members are taught never to feel for themselves of their own needs but always to think of the organization and never to complain. They are never to criticize a leader, but criticize themselves instead.

Many groups exercise control over interpersonal relationships. How many people can be invited to get togethers, where to spend "spiritually healthy" time together, the times, places, and style of social gatherings, all what is proper to their God, but in reality, proper in the eyes of the leaders discretion. Opinions or direct restrictions on marriage and dating relationships, sexual feelings and even types of sexual behavior both outside and within marriages. (6)

Brainwashing & Mind Control

Brainwashing is effective in producing compliance to demands, such as signing a false confession or denouncing one's government. People are coerced into specific acts for self-preservation, and once they have acted, their beliefs change to rationalize what they have done. But these beliefs are usually not well internalized. When the prisoner escapes the field of influence (and fear), he is usually able to throw them off.

Mind Control, also called "thought reform," is more subtle and sophisticated. Its perpetrators are regarded as friends or peers, so the person is much less defensive. He unwittingly participates by cooperating with his controllers and giving them private information that he does not know will be used against him. The new belief system is internalized into a new structure. Mind control involves little of no overt physical abuse. Instead, hypnotic processes are combined with group dynamics to create a potent indoctrination effect. The individual is deceived and manipulated-not directly threatened-into making the prescribed choices. On the whole, he responds positively to what is done to him.

It is too bad that the word "brainwashing" is used so loosely by the news media. It evokes a picture of conversion by torture. Those inside a cult know they haven't been tortured, so they think critics are making up lies. (1a)

Steve Hassan relates:

"When I was in the Moonies, I "knew" I hadn't been brainwashed. I do remember, however, Moon giving us a speech in which he said a popular magazine had accused him of brainwashing us. He declared, "Americans" minds are very dirty-full of selfish materialism and drugs-and they need a heavenly brainwashing!" We all laughed."(1a)

Footnotes: 1 Steve Hassan - Combating Cult Mind Control 1a Ibid, p. 56 2 Raymond Franz - In Search of Christian Freedom 3 Thomas Merton - No Man Is An Island 3a Ibid, p. 260 3b Dom Augustine Baker, Holy Wisdom (London, n.d.), p. 177, slightly modernized. 4 Steve Hassan - Combating Cult Mind Control , p. 60 5 Ibid, p. 61-62 6 Ibid, p. 63-64

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Indoctrination of Children In The Watchtower