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Interestingly enough, Leon Festinger first developed the theory of cognitive dissonance after looking at the behavior of doomsday cults. His book, When Prophecy

Interestingly enough, Leon Festinger first developed the theory of cognitive dissonance after looking at the behavior of doomsday cults. His book, When Prophecy Fails is fascinating: it looks at a doomsday cult in the 50s that believed aliens were going to rescue the cult from the world's end on a specific date. The members went all out preparing for the end, selling their belongings and gathering in one place. The date came went, but instead of accepting that they were wrong, the members justified it by saying "the force of Good and light" spared humanity and became more fervent as a result. While I can't speak to your experience, I will say that it's amazing that as many people manage to leave JW as they do. Out of curiosity, what do you think was your last straw if you don't mind sharing?

ItWasAllWrong 10y ago
The last straw for me were the huge conflicts with science and Jehovah's Witnesses literal interpretation of the Bible: - Adam & Eve vs DNA & archeology: JW's believe Adam was created about 6000 years ago, 4026 BC to be exact [1] and he was the root of humankind. - The Genesis flood narrative: JW's believe that all known kinds of animals survived a worldwide flood in 2370 BC [2], in a boat made from wood. - Destruction of Jerusalem (607BC vs 587BC): JW's use the wrong date 607BC [3] as a base of a dooms day prophecy, which is supposed to point to 1914 but streched and streched over time. Still waiting. During the research of these things, I noticed quite some manipulative writings in their literature, presenting only the facts they agree with and misrepresenting the others. They also misquote and twist the words of scientists A LOT! [4] Another thing was there their involvement with the UN. For an outsider this might look as a none issue, so let me clarify. This is what JW's are teached about the UN: "No, the UN is not a blessing, even though the religious clergy of Christendom and the rabbis of Jewry pray heaven’s blessing upon that organization. It is really “the image of the wild beast,” the visible political, commercial organization of “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil. So the UN will soon be destroyed along with that beastly organization." Watchtower 1984 Sep 15 p.15 "The United Nations is actually a worldly confederacy against Jehovah God and his dedicated Witnesses on earth." Watchtower 1987 Sep 1 p.20 But the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (this is how the JW organisation is officially called) joined the UN as an NGO and signed their charter, telling them they agreed with their ideas. [5] That's being dishonest and hypocrite about what they teach and what they do. I could continue for a while, but you get the idea :) [1] http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000089#h=7 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000089#h=7 [2] http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001150#h=2 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001150#h=2 [3] http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011736 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011736 and http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011810 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011810 [4] http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.php http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.p... [5] http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/united-nations-association.php http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/united-nations-association...

ItWasAllWrong 10y ago

The last straw for me were the huge conflicts with science and Jehovah's Witnesses literal interpretation of the Bible: - Adam & Eve vs DNA & archeology: JW's believe Adam was created about 6000 years ago, 4026 BC to be exact [1] and he was the root of humankind. - The Genesis flood narrative: JW's believe that all known kinds of animals survived a worldwide flood in 2370 BC [2], in a boat made from wood. - Destruction of Jerusalem (607BC vs 587BC): JW's use the wrong date 607BC [3] as a base of a dooms day prophecy, which is supposed to point to 1914 but streched and streched over time. Still waiting. During the research of these things, I noticed quite some manipulative writings in their literature, presenting only the facts they agree with and misrepresenting the others. They also misquote and twist the words of scientists A LOT! [4] Another thing was there their involvement with the UN. For an outsider this might look as a none issue, so let me clarify. This is what JW's are teached about the UN: "No, the UN is not a blessing, even though the religious clergy of Christendom and the rabbis of Jewry pray heaven’s blessing upon that organization. It is really “the image of the wild beast,” the visible political, commercial organization of “the god of this system of things,” Satan the Devil. So the UN will soon be destroyed along with that beastly organization." Watchtower 1984 Sep 15 p.15 "The United Nations is actually a worldly confederacy against Jehovah God and his dedicated Witnesses on earth." Watchtower 1987 Sep 1 p.20 But the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society (this is how the JW organisation is officially called) joined the UN as an NGO and signed their charter, telling them they agreed with their ideas. [5] That's being dishonest and hypocrite about what they teach and what they do. I could continue for a while, but you get the idea :) [1] http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000089#h=7 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200000089#h=7 [2] http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001150#h=2 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001150#h=2 [3] http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011736 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011736 and http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011810 http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2011810 [4] http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.php http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/misquotes-deception-lies.p... [5] http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/united-nations-association.php http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/united-nations-association...