Crisis of Conscience: The story of the struggle between loyalty to God and loyalty to one's religion.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!