tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307964706905270102.post1569159412328085614..comments2008-12-06T10:23:39.332-08:00Borz Löma Nal (Lema Nal)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00472412925599801039noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307964706905270102.post-11523869051020336852008-12-06T10:23:00.000-08:002008-12-06T10:23:00.000-08:00Actually, the Branch Davidians and Jonestown are extreme examples in many ways. Not all the cults commit group suicides or kill people. Not all the cults are isolated either.<BR/><BR/>Mind control (thought reform, coercive persuasion) is not isolation. It is an extreme form of social influence with the purpose of changing not only people's behavior, but also their attitudes. Mind control implies use of a set of methods of social influence for a long period of time, in many cases, without any physical violence.<BR/><BR/>Well, maybe JWs have a teaching about love to one another. What about practice? Do they love those who have doubts about some JW teachings? Those who are disobedient to elders? Those who have been excommunicated? What is JWs' attitude to these people?<BR/><BR/>There are many psychologists among Christians. Just two examples among people who I mentioned in my blog. Dr. Paul Martin and Dr. Flavil Yeakley both have Ph. D. in psychology and both are Christians. Yeakley has been a Christian minister for many years. Dr. Ronald Enroth is a sociologist, but he also knows psychology well.<BR/><BR/>Christian ministers use psychology in their ministry. For example, pastoral counseling requires a good knowledge of psychology.<BR/><BR/>Psychology and Christianity do not contradict one another. Christians used psychological knowledge long time before modern secular psychology was formed. The Bible also contains some psychology.<BR/><BR/>What do you mean by misunderstanding of JWs?Borz Löma Nal (Lema Nal)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00472412925599801039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307964706905270102.post-35028952624733477122008-12-06T09:07:00.000-08:002008-12-06T09:07:00.000-08:00Your first paragraph says "any group that uses mind control methods"<BR/><BR/>I consider cults to be groups that are isolated, like the Branch Davidians or Jonestown or the polygamists in Texas.<BR/><BR/>Jehovah's Witnesses are not isolated, JWs are througout the world.<BR/><BR/>JWs are not abusive as the teachings are to love one another. Any abuse would come from individuals not following the teachings.<BR/><BR/>Christians don't care about psychology and what that says.<BR/><BR/>JWs are not heretical, but are just misunderstood.Edward Albrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115946270655365230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307964706905270102.post-18115590002326027052008-12-05T21:09:00.000-08:002008-12-05T21:09:00.000-08:00First of all, since there are many definitions of a cult (as I have written several times in this blog), I would like to ask what is your understanding of a cult? Saying that Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult, what exactly do you mean? Then, what do you mean by abuse - spiritual abuse, psychological abuse, physical abuse, or something else?Borz Löma Nal (Lema Nal)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00472412925599801039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7307964706905270102.post-36477111041076733972008-12-05T19:00:00.000-08:002008-12-05T19:00:00.000-08:00Jehovah's Witnesses are not a cult and are not abusive.Edward Albrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01115946270655365230noreply@blogger.com