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.'
(The
Mail On Sunday Review.
Page
22.
6th April 1997).
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:
To
take notice, observe.
DISSONANCE:
Want of harmony;
discord;
disagreement.
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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.
(The Mail On
Sunday Review.
Page
22.
6th April 1997).
6/4/97B. |