Holy disproportionate response, Batman! Emotional icebergs

The term "emotional icebergs" simply means that only a small portion of an emotion and reason for it are apparent.  The majority is "below the surface", not known to bystanders and sometimes not even known to the individual experiencing it.  If you notice a disproportionate emotional response to something, an iceberg may be the reason.

Destructive emergence of emotional icebergs ("shipwrecks") is a common pattern with ex-cultists.  One common trigger for the iceberg's emergence is belief--being presented with new information that cannot be easily confirmed by personally witnessing it--feeling pressured to believe.  Believe in something we're being told. Seeing others believe in what they're told.  Belief is a trigger.

There is camp #1 who instantly believes it without evidence or question.  Even after contrary proof has been provided, just like we were brainwashed to do--they keep believing.  Thinking for yourself is hard, painful and dangerous--it's bad, don't do it.

Camp #2 staunchly defends anyone who claims to be fighting the cult no matter how incredible the story becomes.  They want so badly for the vile cult to fall, they will ignore reason.  They are willing to send cash to alleged cult fighters (complete strangers) and are hostile when anyone questions the truth or asks for proof of anything, including identity.

Camp #3 who is overly skeptical but open minded.  These folks have done the needed personal work to get to this point.

Camp #4 who disbelieves and criticizes everything in a cynical, sometimes mean spirit.  Conspiracy theories abound. They operate on the same premise as Camp #1--thinking for yourself is hard, painful and dangerous--it's bad, don't do it.  They just err on the side of disbelief rather than belief--the second side of the same extremist coin.

Love it or hate it, that's us.  Injecting reason during these conflicts does help people reason, learn and grow.

Jehovah's Witnesses may be in violation of religious hatred laws in the UK

Police inquiry over Jehovah's Witness magazine 'mentally diseased' article - Telegraph

The Jehovah's Witnesses have published a statement that former members are "mentally diseased", and in some countries this may constitute a violation of religious hatred laws.

To read the original magazine, click here. Download the study version of the 7/15/11 issue.

Here is a direct copy and paste from that issue:

"'Apostasy' is a standing away from true worship, a falling away, defection, rebellion, abandonment."

The definition of an 'apostate' is anyone who abandons a set of beliefs. And then:

"Well, apostates are 'mentally diseased,' and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. (1 Tim. 6:3, 4) Jehovah, the Great Physician, tells us to avoid contact with them."

Calling God "The Great Physician" underscores the disease analogy.

This is not the first time this church has called former members diseased. In fact, not only have they been labeled with frightening diseases, they have been called demon possessed.

In fact, the church in 1909 clearly stated apostates were all former members, and all of them were stricken with rabies, mental illness and are Satanic. (Remember, this church teaches they have always been the source of truth and the truth does not change, so this old teaching is still valid.*)

The Watch Tower of October 1, 1909 states:

“All who cut loose from the Society and its work ... these manifest anger, malice, hatred, strife, ‘works of the flesh and of the devil’ such as we have never known worldly people to exhibit. They seem inoculated with madness, Satanic hydrophobia[rabies].”

Click the link at the top of this post to read the news story about the police inquiry into this suspected violation of religious hate laws.

What do you think? Please take our poll at the top left of this blog, and post a comment below.
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*"...this one supreme, almighty God. His religion is one of right belief and is harmonious in all its expressions...The true religion of the one God does not disagree with itself, deny itself or get divided with itself. If it had internal disagreement, contradiction and disunity, it could never stand; it could not be simple truth; it would disagree with the scientific laws of the universe; it could not triumph in the long-drawn-out conflict between true religion and false. But true religion must triumph, because truth cannot be destroyed. That is why, despite all the many false religions in the world, the true religion has lived through till this day..."--Watchtower 11/15/1963