Cognitive Dissonance.htm

JWs SUFFER FROM 'COGNITIVE DISSONANCE'
AMONG THEIR LEADERS AND THEMSELVES.
.

Cognitive dissonance is described as:
'The process whereby followers of a religious leader or sect actually become more firm in their belief when the leader's prophecy fails.' (Mail On Sunday Review. pg.22. 6/4/97).

The sect of Jehovah's Witnesses still stubbornly boasts, in word and print, of their founder and first leader Charles Taze Russell. Although he claimed to be anointed with Holy Spirit, all his prophecies failed. How was this possible? In fact, since Russell's death, all prophecies from subsequent JW leaders have failed men who also claimed to be anointed. Events that took place many years ago, and which this sect claims fulfil certain scriptures, have proven to be false.

Among the many powers bestowed by Holy Spirit upon faithful anointed sons of God, are revelation, teaching and discernment. So what went wrong among these JW leaders claiming to be anointed witnesses of God? Plainly, they were not anointed, but are liars. (See Rev 3:9).

Why then, do these false prophecies make their followers so stubbornly loyal to them, described by psychologists as being: 'more firm in their belief when the leader's prophecy fails' ? In answer to this, I am reminded of a statement made on a radio talk show: 'Without lies in our lives, life would be unbearable... Statistics have proved that one in every eight verbal statements is a lie.' Sadly, JWs have proven they need these lies in contravention of the Word of God to continue.

From the overwhelming evidence, the following scripture applies to the apostate sect falsely calling themselves Jehovah's Witnesses: "So that is why God lets an operation of error go to them, that they may get to believing the lie, in order that they all may be judged because they did not believe the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness." (2 Thess 2:11,12).

Cognitive dissonance can be attributed to the sect of JWs. They are under an operation of error that creates discord between themselves and the Will of God. Stubbornly holding onto false predictions that fail to be fulfilled, they then slither away with shameful excuses and become steadfast in the apostasy they try to substantiate, "that they may get to believing the lie".

COGNIZE:
DISSONANCE:

To take notice, observe.
Want of harmony; discord; disagreement.

691. Modern cults which have expected to see a similar number 'raptured' include Lee Sang Rim (whose predictions of the end of the world almost brought Korea to a halt in 1992); the Ukrainian Maria Devi Christos; and the Jehovah's Witnesses.

692. For the Witnesses, the 144,000 figure poses a slight problem. There are up to 11 million of them worldwide, (around 200,000 are in Britain).

693. They now take the view that, when the millennium comes, the 144,000 most worthy Witnesses will go straight to heaven, while the remainder make do with 1,000 years in an earthly paradise.

694. Jehovah's Witnesses are used to such difficulties. Since Charles Taze Russell founded the cult in Pittsburgh in 1872, they've had to explain away eight mistaken predictions (some more definite than others) of the end of the world: in 1874, 1878, 1910, 1914 (not a bad stab), 1918, 1925, 1975 and 1984.

695. The 1975 scare was particularly embarrassing. Many Witnesses had sold their homes so that they could evangelize full-time.

696. The fact that the sect has survived may be attributed to what psychologists call 'cognitive dissonance' the process whereby followers of a religious leader or sect actually become more firm in their belief when the leader's prophecy fails.

697. In 1995 The Watchtower announced that the Witnesses would no longer speculate on the date of Armageddon.

Mail On Sunday Review.
Pg.22. 6th April 1997.

6/4/97B.