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I often read things that are helpful in understanding what's going on here. Currently I'm learning about the "Ladder of Inference." Imagine a ladder with several rungs. The first rung represents selectively filtered data. Most of the time we as individuals choose why data we want to take in. The WMS and groups like it give their preconcieved data to individuals. The next rung is "I add meaning" which is influenced by culture/personal/context. The third rung we make assumptions. (Based on the meaning that we've added) The WMS gives the member the assumption that they are supposde to have. On the fourth rung we draw conclusions. The fifth rung we adopt our beliefs. (At this point we affect the origional rung when we selectively filter what kind of data we want to let in.) The top rung of the ladder is when we take actions based on out beliefs.
For me I have seen this play out so many times and just watching the back and forth that takes place on our forum just cements this idea even more for me. I hope this help many of you understand a little better how our minds work and how control groups use our natural processes to gain control.
Example of this process: (Step 1) I am told that stoves can be used to prepare food and that they may also burn things. (Step 2) So stoves can burn things like our hands or arms. (Step 3) Burns hurt and that causes a lot of pain. (Step 4) Stoves cause a lot of pain! (Step 5) Because I don't like pain I don't use stoves. (Step 6) I remove the stove from my house and encourage others to do the same.
It's a really simplified example but I believe you will understand the steps. (See what I did there?)
Wisdom spoken from Joshua once more!!
Thanks for sharing!!
I really wish us non-member loved ones, had a ladder system to reverse this process…
It’s an emotional roller coaster…
This ladder system is what I feel, gets many members out. Many people who were members, joined because of their own failed search to find themselves in Christianity (and religion). Lets be honest, with Religion your asked to trust the scripture, holy book, leaders and members, that when you die, you were believing the proper way so that you won’t burn. Wms, tries to prove that they have the Answer, you were misled, and that it you believe their way, you’ll REALLY go to heaven.
But as you learn in WMS, the questions based on their inconsistencies become daunting.
My ladder system felt like this;
“My previous beleifs, were wrong”
“These new beleifs seem so valid”
” Wait, what the Missionary taught me seems contradictory to this”
“Why do they keep telling me these things”
“I have more questions about the bible now, than I did before I joined!”
“Time to leave”
I do make a little progress when I ask questions. My husband really doesnt have answers (yet he got baptized 8 yrs ago) bc he says if it wasnt for me he would study more…ugh?! I asked him the other day if you just have to go to Passover/keep Sabbath day/worship 2 koreans to get into Heaven what was the point of Jesus dying on cross. Crickets…
@Abba. When we left, my wife purchased a great book called, “The believing mind”. It basically talks about how on a Socio-psychological level, we desire to be in touch with, “the divine”. So much so, that if you left a group of people on a secluded island with no outside contqct, give it some time, but they will create their own religion/spiritual system. Heck, they may have a God of Coconuts a Sand God, etc.
I think this comes into the effect with Wms, because they seem to have the answers to all the questions. The gap they have unsuccesfully filled, is the questions that their own doctrine can’t fill. Whem I joined, Sabbath, 7Day creation, Be baptised Immediately,…ALL made sense. But when I found out Ahn and Zhang had kids, were married, Ahn died (we were lied to about that), and some of the doctrine errors, I had questions. Just like I did when I was involved with Evangelical Christianity, before WMS.
My point Abba, is that he has NO rebuttal, because he doubts and also subconsciously realizes something doesnt add up. He is also brainwashed to NOT answer questions. My fellow Ex-members know of one go to statement made to the doubting member whom goes to a leader with questions;
“Bredder, *sigh*, What does that have to do with your Salvation?” I took that as a round abouy way of saying, “Why are you asking that question?”
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