Belief Extras: Persuasion

Since beginning this project in 2006 I have been fascinated with understanding the dynamics of persuasion, belief, and disenchantment as experienced by individuals who were once Jehovah's Witnesses. In November 2007 I presented this short section of video to the Humanities Institute at Stony Brook University - focusing on the aspect of persuasion.

These were my Windows Movie Maker days - so the editing is not as nice as now - but the message is still very interesting and hopefully informative. You may recognize some of the segments from other videos.

~Mani

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Belief
• documentary
• augustOne
• Jehovah's Witnesses
• student film
• persuasion
• Humanities Institute
• Stony Brook University
• Mani Garcia

[gorgobar]

Those quotes and suggested presentations for field service are so familiar - and yet in themselves they are so so strange. Isn't it amazing how one can wholeheartedly adopt such a unique way of speaking and thinking as a Witness, and then look back and realise how utterly odd it is.

And every assembly I attended, I now realise I was seeing the masses of people who would rather hang on by a thread than leave altogether and lose everything. The fringes of the organisation, the sad silent majority.

[beliefdocumentary]

@gorgobar Yes they are memories that seem so distant sometimes - but it was and IS so powerful. I worry a lot about the "sad silent majority" - who I call the "unseen voices" unable to make the impossible choice between love and identity.

[inspirediam]

it take tremendous courage to do what you believe to be right, even if it means that you will no longer have ties with all of those whom you used to, within the organization.

[beliefdocumentary]

@inspirediam Yes it does! I really admire and am happy for those who are able to do so and also feel lots of sadness and compassion for those are unable to sustain the loss they would face doing what they believe to be right - so are stuck in an unhappy situation. Either choice is very painful! So many people need support! Thank you for your comment.

[slanelcla]

@inspirediam I recognize that now. At the time it doesn't feel that way. You are courageous, friend!