Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #832807 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 438 pages

Customer Reviews

Sadly "The Truth"
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!

Its your Faith!
A well-written and thought provoking book, with no hint of spiteful revenge against an organization that has passed itself off as the channel between God and men.

Raymond Franz deals with the WBTS in a way that most of us would find alien considering their treatment of him. Each subject shows careful and scholarly research that will enable the reader to see God instead of an organization. If you are a Witness you really should take the time to read this book, it will do nothing to damage your faith in God. An excellent and must have publication for everyone no matter what their faith.

A narrow tale with a wide importance
In writing this book, Raymond Franz had a lot of things stacked against him. Just by putting pen to paper, he laid himself open to the accusation that he was interested only in self-justification.

Also, he was the only one telling the story. The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is more secretive than the Kremlin.

Despite these hinderances, 'Crisis of Conscience' is a masterpiece. It only makes one wonder that such a sensitive and intelligent man could have spent so long as a Witness, and risen so high within their ranks.

However, this book is not of value just as a showcase for Mr Franz's character. Even if one were to discount the unverifiable details of Governing Body deliberations, the book would be well worth reading for its discussions of the development of Watchtower doctrines, these discussions being fully documented with quotes from Watchtower literature.

I hazard the opinion that this book, and its companion volume 'In Search of Christian Freedom' must be among the most important religious works of this century. This importance extends well beyond the Witness community. They both show in chilling detail something like a live version of George Orwell's 'Animal Farm', in which we see how the Witnesses (originally 'Bible Students') went from champions of religious freedom to an arid authoritarian cult. The wider importance is in the lessons to be learned from this sad tale of a comtemporary microcosm of Christendom. Put it this way, it's a modern and instructive example of an old old story. We can only be glad that instead of being one of the leaders of the Witness 'revolution', Mr Franz has instead become its Edmund Burke.