TACTIC 1

Increase suggestibility and "soften up" the individual through specific hypnotic or other suggestibility-increasing techniques such as: Extended audio, visual, verbal, or tactile fixation drills, Excessive exact repetition of routine activities, Sleep restriction and/or Nutritional restriction.

JWs engage in what is known in cult terminology as “love bombing”.  Potential converts are overwhelmed with friendliness, love, extensive social contact, and emotional support.

References:  http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/relrpt/stories/s871756.htm

JWs and Love Bombing http://www.ankerberg.com/Articles/apologetics/AP1202W2.htm  http://editorials.arrivenet.com/religion/article.php/5445.html http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Styx/2347/atheistessay4.html

TACTIC 2

Establish control over the person's social environment, time and sources of social support by a system of often-excessive rewards and punishments. Social isolation is promoted. Contact with family and friends is abridged, as is contact with persons who do not share group-approved attitudes. Economic and other dependence on the group is fostered.

Our Kingdom Ministry November 1999 pp.3-6 Use of the Internet-Be Alert to the Dangers!    Admonition to avoid e-mail and the internet, as well as contact with non-JWs.  Electronic communication is mentioned as a tool for Satan.

TACTIC 3

Prohibit disconfirming information and non-supporting opinions in-group communication. Rules exist about permissible topics to discuss with outsiders. Communication is highly controlled. An "in-group" language is usually constructed.

Beware the Voice of Strangers: "Give God Glory" District Convention, Summer 2003

Admonition against listening to non-JW teachings.

Watchtower 1982 April 1 p. 27

Survival or Destruction at the "Great Tribulation"

Discussion of Jesus putting non-JWs to death; those who believe non-JW ideas will die.

Watchtower 1986 April 1 pp.30-31

Questions From Readers

Salvation can only be attained by accepting Watchtower teachings.

Watchtower August 1, 2001 p. 14

JWs must accept Watchtower teachings without question.

Watchtower 2001 August 1

How to Make Your Advancement Manifest

Admonition against harboring personal opinions or private ideas.

Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock (secret elders’ manual)

Those who have dissenting beliefs are expelled and shunned.

Examples of “in-group” language:

Apostate = Any JW who believes non-JW ideas or speaks against the Watchtower Society.  An apostate is under Satanic influence.  The Watchtower once said JWs who speak against it have “Satanic hydrophobia” (Satanic rabies).

Babylon the Great = All religions other than JWs

Christendom = Christian religions other than JWs

Elders = Ministers (Priests)

Fleshly = Biological relative

False religion = All religions other than JWs

Greek Scriptures = New Testament of the Bible

Hebrew Scriptures = Old Testament of the Bible

Pagan = Any non-JW practices or beliefs, which are all regarded as evil and Satanic

Pioneers = Full time JW preachers

Publishers = Rank and file JWs

Ministerial Servants = Deacons

Sisters/Brothers = Fellow JWs

Worldly = Non-JW ideas or persons, who are of Satan’s world

Additional reference:  http://ashelf.com/wordlists/e/eec/www/index.html

TACTIC 4

Make the person re-evaluate the most central aspects of his or her experience of self and prior conduct in negative ways. Efforts are designed to destabilize and undermine the subject's basic consciousness, reality awareness, world view, emotional control and defense mechanisms. The subject is guided to reinterpret his or her life's history and adopt a new version of causality.

Watchtower 1988 March 15 p.13 Trust in Jehovah Leads to Dedication and Baptism

A person must leave his former way of life and dedicate himself to the Watchtower Society upon baptism.  Baptism is the most important day of one’s life, as it symbolizes leaving the past.

Watchtower 1989 January 15 p.13   What Prevents You From Getting Baptized?

JWs must pledge loyalty to the Watchtower Society.

TACTIC 5

Create a sense of powerlessness by subjecting the person to intense and frequent actions and situations which undermine the person's confidence in himself and his judgment.

Watchtower 1967 October 1 p.587 Finding Freedom with Jehovah's Visible Organization

The Bible cannot be understood without the Watchtower Society.

TACTIC 6

Create strong aversive emotional arousals in the subject by use of nonphysical punishments such as intense humiliation, loss of privilege, social isolation, social status changes, intense guilt, anxiety, manipulation and other techniques.

Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock (secret elders manual)

Those who break Watchtower rules lose privileges within the congregation. 

See “Tactic 7” section for information about expulsion and social isolation.

Repetitive pictorial and verbal references to execution of those who do not wholeheartedly follow the Watchtower Society’s rules, including but not limited to:  Learn From The Great Teacher 2003 p.243, Watchtower 1997 September 1 p.23,  What Does God Require Of Us? 1996, Does God Really Care About Us? 1992, Revelation - Its Grand Climax At Hand! 1988, Watchtower 1986 September 15 p.7, Life - How Did It Get Here? 1985, Watchtower 1985 February 1 p.6, Watchtower 1984 September 15 p.6, Watchtower 1984 March 1 p.17, Watchtower 1983 April 15 p.13, You Can Live Forever in Paradise on Earth 1982, Enjoy Life on Earth Forever! 1982 p.28, Watchtower 1978 October 1 p.10, Life Does Have a Purpose 1977 p.141, Man's Salvation Out Of World Distress At Hand! 1975, Watchtower 1975 February 15 p.100, etc.

TACTIC 7

Intimidate the person with the force of group-sanctioned secular psychological threats. For example, it may be suggested or implied that failure to adopt the approved attitude, belief or consequent behavior will lead to severe punishment or dire consequences such as physical or mental illness, the reappearance of a prior physical illness, drug dependence, economic collapse, social failure, divorce, disintegration, failure to find a mate, etc.

Kingdom Ministry August 2002 pp.3-4

Display Christian Loyalty When a Relative Is Disfellowshipped

Inability to speak or interact with disfellowshipped relatives.

Nov 15, 1952 Watchtower pp.703-704 Questions from Readers

JWs are "limited by the laws of the worldly nation in which we live" and thus are prohibited from killing those who leave the organization, unlike in ancient times.

Watchtower 1981 Sept 15 p.20-26 Disfellowshipping  ”How to View It"

Those who are disfellowshipped are sinners and are of bad moral character.

Watchtower Apr 1, 1986 p.30-31

Questions From Readers

Those who have dissenting ideas are not real Christians.

JWs who have dissenting ideas or who don’t follow Watchtower rules completely are considered “marked” and are not regarded as appropriate for socialization and dating.

Additional references:

http://www.towerwatch.com/Witnesses/Beliefs/their_beliefs.htm

http://www.disfellowshipped.org/JUDICIALPAGE_page_2.htm