Customer Reviews

Crisis of Conscience

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About 12 years ago I considered myself the "cult-buster." In my young mind I could, armed with proof-texts, shoot down any cult member, especially Jehovah's Witnesses. Unfortunately I was just as rigid and legalistic as the Jehovah's Witnesses I would witness to. Actually most of them were less chained to their ideology than I was. Unfortunately, many books that reach out to Jehovah's witnesses are written by conservative JWs turned conservative Baptist, who take a different doctrinal stance, but still do not shed the notion that only "Only I and those Christians like me have the truth." Franz, on the contrary, offers a more balanced appraisal. Unlike other books written by former JWs, Franz seems more saddened than angry, and his tone reflects this. This style displays his personality, which was in constant conflict with the Watchtower's rigid leadership.

Franz does not detail doctrinal problems with the Watchtower. Franz most likely holds to many of his old Watchtower doctrines. The Watchtower does have doctrinal problems when compared with the beliefs commonly held by the Church throughout Christian history. In fact the Watchtower is in my opinion just another apocalyptic group founded in the mid-late 1800s. However, Franz is not concerned with issues like the Trinity or Christ's divinity. He is more concerned with what makes a group truly a cult, which is control by the leaders over its members. Franz details this marvelously, and explains how the Watchtower even monitored its members bedroom activities. He speaks of disfellowshippings where families were encouraged to "shun" other members who had been kicked out of the Watchtower, effectively ruining the lives of thousands people. Franz also documents and explains failed prophecy, which caused many trusting members of the "truth" to sell homes, postpone college, and other goals in order to be ready for the end. The entire book is a calm and sober, yet highly personal, account of Franz's life deep within the Watchtower and his eventual exit.

Franz's book is a breath of fresh air. I believe that many who write anti-cult books are themselves so concerned with minor issues, that they themselves sometimes come across as cultish. Their tone is often disrespectful, which I think turns off educated people. As someone who studys Christian history and embraces its doctrines and practices, I think the Watchtower is indeed incorrect in certain areas of its theology and its practice, but I think its "cult" status hinges on its leadership's control over members. Franz's book documents this fact in a fashion befitting of Christ's love and mercy.

This book was not available when I left the Watchtower Society in 1974. Had it been, I would not have had to go through so many confusing and agonizing years of readjustment away from the Watchtower Society.

I read many books in my effort to make sense out of it, but not until Ray's, Crisis of Conscience, did it come together. He not only confirmed the things that I had seen that were terribly wrong, he revealed and explained many more deceptive strategies of practice and policy from his vantage point within the Governing Body of the organization.

He uncovered the sinister twists and turns on which this organization moves and operates. But he does so with great skill, gentleness and poise. He is not in the least bit offensive or mean spirited, but writes out of compassion and consideration, while uncovering the deception and corruption of the Watchtower organization. I my opinion, it is the best book ever written exposing the truth about the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of the Jehovah's Witnesses. http://www.psnw.com/~awaketothewt/

I was shocked and amazed. I expected to read a book full of conjecture and accusations. What I read was a book that is backed up with references from the Watchtower Society's own books! He was able to show me where to look to find CRAZY things that the WTS used to teach. He showed how a former WTS president lived in a mansion in CA and how he said it was for the "men of old" that would be ressurected by 1925. You can find a small reference to the mansion in the insight from the scriptures book too, but it fails to mention that Rutherford lived there. It is in older publications though. He also showed me that the WTS has changed it's own teachings over and over. The Witnesses always called it "new light" but the problem with that is that they went back and forth on MANY teachings. It was more like the light was flashing off and on. I would never, as a JW, have read this book, but after seeing a family member who was an elder and PO in the congergation sent to jail for child molestation and watching the congergation and the WTS stand behind him, I began to question the WTS. I could not understand why they would not disfellowship him. They said they needed 2 witnesses against him. The thing is that 4 girls testified in court, but they had not been witnesses at the same time. They were all abused individually. They were shunned for coming forward. Because I questioned this conductI was disfellowshipped for apostacy. I just had to see what apostacy meant. Since Ray was considered the worst of the worst I read his book. If he is an apostate then I am proud to be on along side of him! He is not bitter in his book at all! He seems like a real nice person that is trying to apoligize for his part in this misleading orginazation.
Way to go Ray!

I was brought up a Jehovah's Witness and remember hearing all the rumours surrounding Raymond Franz's departure and the publishing of his book. I asked my father why we were not allowed to read such "apostate" literature because I reasoned that our faith should be strong enough to counter any attacks. He told me that such literature came from the demons and poisoned one's mind. Thus my impression of this book had always been that is was written by a bitter man wanting to take vengeance on the JW's and that it was designed to tear down one's faith.
After finding myself disfellowshipped by the JW's, I still did not want to read this book because of these preconceived ideas I still held. Finally, a friend who had also been disfellowshipped told me that it would not tear down my faith but that I would find it very interesting. IT OPENED MY EYES!!!
My impression from reading this book is that Brother Franz is a kindly man, whose love and fondness for his former "brothers" shines through strongly, despite his being treated the way he was.
Needless to say, my faith was not torn down but built up immensely. I could see the hypocrisy of the JW's, despite many sincere individuals within the organisation. This book is full of honesty and truth, written by a man who has the courage to face up to the truth and bear the drastic consequences of his actions.
Thank you Brother Franz!

Born and raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses I am well aware of their teachings. Even as I write this I fear I am doing somethng "wrong". Anyone once a Jehovah's Witness will understand what I mean. This book allowed me to stop feeling guilty and to stop feeling that I am alone in my feelings. You don't have to give up belief in God to stop believing in the "organization". The guilt can stop now!

To all my fellow Witnesses: After reading this book, I was VERY disheartened. Having spent most of my childhood and early adult life affiliated with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, I can attest to EVERYTHING that Raymond Franz states in this book. Throughout all my years as a JW, I knew something wasn't right, but did not know what a fraud this organization really is. I urge you to PLEASE read this book with an open mind and heart. I am glad I did, and now I am truly FREE. This book will tell you what exactly what goes on behind the Watchtower curtain. Read the book, than ask yourself if you are in "the truth". I cried and cried as I read experiences that were similar to my own. The emotional pain of growing up "not of the world" will remain with me for the rest of my life. Thankfully, people like Raymond Franz, and many others are exposing this organization for what it really is: A CULT. All my love to the world, FINALLY!

In his book Crisis of Concience Raymond Franz provides a heart wrenching account of his spiritual journey from advocate of Jehovah's Witnesses exclusivism to member of the Watchtower organizations elite and authoritarian Governing Body to finally an understanding of Christian grace. Franz break an almost century long silence on the inner workings of the Watch Tower's Governing Body and provides details on how controversial doctines were decided upon and how the history of the organization has been whitewashed by revisonists. The book is extreemly valuable to anyone in any way associated with the Jehovah's Witness movement and much of the information can not be found anywhere else. His arguments are sometimes lengthy, but always stike like thunder. Tragic, but ultimately hopeful the book is undoubtedly the best book ever writen on the controversies surrounding Jehovah's Witnesses and will provide much comfort to anyone with issues about that movement.

If you have doubts about Jehovah's Witnesses, THIS is the book to start with. Before I read this, I figured that the Watchtower Society might have some doctrinal problems, but I thought that they were decent, well-meaning folks. This book showed me just how controlling -- even Machiavellian -- they can be.

The astonishing thing about this book is that its tone is so mild. Ray Franz was treated very badly indeed by the Watchtower power structure, but he never sounds nasty in his book. His gentle tone inspired me when I created my web site (Beyond Jehovah's Witnesses); I decided that I would never sound bitter or take cheap shots.

If you're a Jehovah's Witness, you are not supposed to read a book like this. The rule has its purpose: this book will let you see just how the Watchtower Society really operates -- as seen by somebody who was at the very top of the organization. It's not a pretty sight.

I was a JW for 25 years. I remember all the rumors and lies that were told about Mr. Franz and others who were disfellowshipped in the 80's. Of course I was told they were apostate and we would never want to read anything they wrote.
I have since left the organization as well. I found this book to be a very honest, straight forward account of the inner workings of the governing body of Jehovah's Witnessess.
Mr Franz in never vindictive or hateful, in fact at times I felt he still feels sorrow over the lose of friends and family and would have preferred a different outcome.
It is an excellent book for anyone who has no knowledge of the Watchtower. Mr. Franz goes into the history of the organization in such a way that anyone can easily understand it's roots and how it came to be where it is today.
I highly recommed this book to anyone. It's important not just to know what a religion teaches but how they act as well.

Lord Acton said that power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Raymond Franz describes the descent of the Jehovah's Witness organization from its origins as a group of earnest Bible students, disatisfied with the smug status quo of religion in their day, to an absolutely corrupt spiritual regime.

Raymond Franz was in the ideal place to observe the inner workings of the highests levels of decision-making in Jehovah's Witnesses Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. His account is detailed, careful, and to non-members of the group, perhaps ultimately unsurprising. Governing Body members often made quick personnel decisions, without personal knowledge of who they were appointing. They made doctrinal decisions based on consensus, often with little discussion of Scriptural or historical precedents. Sometimes principles were applied unevenly. There were power-struggles--often justified by Scripture in a manner that suited the moment.

Most religious adherents would admit that such unpleasantries happen in their religious organizations from time to time. "After all," they might say, "we are a broken people struggling to do spiritual work." However, Jehovah's Witnesses claim to be the only true messengers of God--and that message is composed from the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. Adherents place total trust in what is said to be "Jehovah's Organization." Therefore, for a Jehovah's Witness to read that the difficulties, compromises, and personality disorders that plague other religious groups are just as prevelant in their own comes as quite revelation. The failures are all the more troublesome, in that the religion is authoritarian and hierarchical.

This is an important work that will keep open-minded, searching Jehovah's Witness captivated. Those less familiar with the group may find Franz's work at times dry and tedious. His tone is that of a very cautious witness baring testimony against those who he loves but is disappointed in. This is recommended reading for those specifically interested in Jehovah's Witnesses, or those curious about one who has reached the top levels of a religuous group, only to leave it after nearly four decades of service.