12 Phrases you cannot say as a JW

1. I don’t believe only JWs will be saved.
2. I don’t believe the GB is guided by God.
3. I have doubts about 1914.
4. I think Armagedon won’t happen (soon).
5. I want to be close friends to someone outside the organization.
6. I celebrated my child’s birthday.
7. I read a book or watched a video critical of the organization.
8. I don’t agree with the blood transfusion prohibition.
9. I think Ellen White or other religions might have some truth.
10. I’m tired of attending all the meetings.
11. I don’t want to preach door-to-door.
12. I don’t believe this is the truth anymore.

Techniques for controlling people

1. Information control
2. Social isolation
3. Thought-stopping
4. Fear based motivation
5. Punishment of dissent

Steven Hassan’s BITE model

• Behavioural control
• Information control
• Thought control
• Emotional control

10 Mind Control or Manipulation Phrases used by the Watchtower

• Undeserved Kindness. JWs are receipients of undeserved kindness, but then you have to show appreciation for this gift. You now have to do everything that the organization tells you. You end up having to work for your salvation.
• Unclean. It is used to refer to anything that defile or oppose their way of worship. So anyone who would believe differently to what they believe or teach. Moral defects such as sexual sins. By focussing on these sins makes people more likely to think about these things. This creates a bigger problem than would otherwise be.
• God doesn't want anyone to be destroyed. (But he will.)
• True Worship. We're the only one who does it. Just because you constantly say it, doesn't make it true. You call every other believer false.
• Jehovah's happy people. We are happy (regardless of how we actually feel.) Best life ever.
• Pray about it.
• Demonstrate humility. Another thought-stopping expression. But it only applies to the followers, not the leaders. It keeps you in a docile and passive state.
• Encouragement. It always has an ulterior motive. An intrusive controlling strategy. Its used to pull someone back in who you think is harbouring subversive thoughts. If you don't respond correctly, then others will either abandon you or report on you.
• Selfish. Prov 18:1 - The one isolating himself is seeking his own selfish advantage. "Selfish" is anything you might want (goals, hobbies, dreams, desires, etc.) that don't benefit the organization.