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

The author presents a fair, balanced and forthcoming expose about the inner workings of the leadership of The Jehovah's Witnesses sect. There is no sensationalism, or bitterness, or "gotcha!" whistleblower approach here. Instead, it is the journey of discovery of one man who had risen to the highest level of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Sociey leadership, called the "Governing Body" and was also a member of the elite "anointed class" — one of the approximately 8,000 or so of the 8 million regular members who are destined to assend to heaven and become angelic rulers over all mankind on the earth.The book focusses on his experience of being one of the top rulers, and his subsequent disillusion with what he discovered during a church assigned scholastically research project to formulate evidence and reasons to bolster some of the church's more controversial and foundational doctrines. His discoveries led to his resigning his leadership position, only to be kicked out of the church, shunned, and left penniless with no normal means of supporting himself and his wife, following his lifetime of volunteer, unpaid service to the church.His book is labeled as "apostate lies" and "Satanic" by the church and it's most devout members. Many Jehovah's Witnesses who have read this book cite it as the primary reason they "woke up" to the truth about the church, and therefore resigned their membership, or were kicked out, only to be abandoned and shunned be all of their church friends and family members.Highly recommended.

I now have copies of 4 different editions of this worthy book, including a rare original first edition hardbound version.This is one of three most important books that document the long and troubled history of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and its followers known as Jehovah's Witnesses. As a child and teenager growing up as a Jehovah's Witness, I only had vague suspicions and occasional hints that something was wrong with the "new religion" my parents had been talked into joining. My father was initially set against converting to the religion that my mother had chosen to accept, but soon was convinced that his Baptist upbringing was not in any way "true Christianity." So from the age of 8 to 22 I was an active Jehovah's Witness and figured that I would be one for the rest of my life. But then I met a young JW who had actually worked and served at the religion's headquarters in New York. He too had been totally dedicated to the religion, but then stumbled across the truth: In fact, it was all "smoke and mirrors" and the leadership was basically lying to Jehovah's Witnesses about almost everything. Years later I heard of Raymond Franz and his book. Franz was right in the middle of the mix and both he and his uncle were high ranking officers within the organization. If you have any connection or interest in Jehovah's Witnesses or have relatives or friends who are JWs, by all means get a hardcover or Kindle copy of this important (and now updated) book that simply tells the real truth about "the Truth" and how a religion has managed to mislead and ruin the lives of millions of followers. If you think Scientology and Mormons are controlling and misleading religions, then be prepared to learn of another religion that exists only to control its followers and to milk them for every dollar possible.l

EVERY Jehovah's Witness should read this book, preferably before being baptized when it will be too late to leave without painful consequences. It is a scholarly work, a bit dry reading, but JWs should be used to that. When I first read it many years ago, I was freshly out, and was still damaged from the post cult mentality. I was worried that reading it constituted the "unforgivable sin" of apostasy. And what is worse, I was actually concerned about "demon influence." It is hilariously funny now, but serious to me at the time, that is how well I was brainwashed. But reading now I got a lot more out of it. Having a family member at Bethel when a lot of this was going down (and who is still there btw) I had heard bits and pieces, but of course filtered in a much different way. But Franz lays it all out with footnoted references, actual photocopies where possible to back up his claims, as well as of course just compelling restatement of his experience. If you were in the JWs in the 70s and 80s, and look back now you can see the real truth behind the 'Truth' with the help of this work. We all knew something was going on up in the top ranks but were forbidden from speculation. Franz never comes across as a hateful or vindictive person. Instead you can detect a scholarly man of conscience. He presents all he has to say with facts, and in the few areas where he does speculate, he makes it very clear. If you have anyone you care about who is thinking about becoming a Jehovah's Witness, challenge them to read this book. Get down on your knees and beg them if you have to. The internet age is exposing more and more of what is going on behind closed doors by the Governing Body. I don't know what the end result will be, but I feel this book was the beginning. JWs rank and file aren't bad people, they're merely victims. As I was, as my family is. Eventually what is done in darkness will come to light by means of books like these, court cases, and websites, blogs, etc.

A great read so far with information from multiple sources from within the organization from high level functionaries. A balanced and compelling review over many years of the inconsistencies and hypocrisy within the organization and the multiple organizational and belief changes effected as a matter of expediency. The reader truly feels the angst and conscience struggle of the author and empathizes with his decision to migrate from the indoctrination and embrace the reality of what was being hidden

Um ótimo livro para pessoas de todas as religiões, o livro inspira e mostra a importância de não colocar a religião acima de Deus. Raymond Franz cativa o leitor e traz pontos de reflexões com base na Bíblia e em suas experiências. Realmente sua obra é de grande ajuda para a liberdade de expressão e consciência cristã.

Great read and very informative. Written by former Jehovas Witness memeber of the Goberning Body, gives you an insight of the incongruences between the religion and their leaders.

I actually have several close family members in this corporation. Circumstances have become even more controlling since this book was written. This is not the organization of 30+ yrs ago.This author seems entirely genuine. He writes of many issues that I have first-hand knowledge of, having watched so much JW family and of those I know, w/o doubt he is speaking factually. I believe him as well on the other issues he writes about. When inside this man made religion, you hear of all kinds of gossip and changes that mean the governing body is after even more control of it's members. Also, he does not spare himself of his personal responsibility when issues needed a majority vote from the gb. He admits he voted with them even when he disagreed bc he didn't want to be divisive. The JW's often use the term that something they preach within the Bible 'has the ring of truth'. So does his account. For your own peace of mind, follow up on his quotes and watchtower's and decide for yourself. This is an excellent book. Even till his death he spoke of his love for people he knew and for the organization of JW's. No malice, no nasty comments. If you are thinking of leaving bcuz of so much dictatorial and punitive control from the governing body, this book is a must read. As well, for those who have left, his book establishes your correctness of - if leaving it was to escape an ever growing man made religion whose demands were of control w no questions permitted. Their dictates on shunning any jw who disagreed on any points amounts to thought police. This book is very well written. I suggest reading it more than once bc there is SO MUCH information to absorb and consider. Be sure to get the 2018 Fifth Edition bc there is more added. Once you are baptized, it is almost impossible to get out without losing every JW family member or friend unless you go thru the long process of getting back in. It is run by fear. Think Cult, the iron fist inside a velvet glove. These are my opinions based on yrs of my families, and the heartbreaking experience of trying to be there when they are shunned for simply wanting out. This book sets the stage. Top notch.

Ray Franz's book is a real eye-opener. The inquisition that this diligent, hardworking former member of the Governing Body was subjected to is sickening to read about. If you are one of Jehovah's Witnesses, this book shows that even a member of the Governing Body is not immune to people denouncing them, and them being disfellowshipped for it, with no chance for recourse, facing their accuser, or even their own defence. If it can happen to Raymond Franz, nephew of the late former President of the Society, Fred Franz, it can happen to you. You must keep looking over your shoulder to see if your 'brothers' are about to stab you in the back.Also extremely interesting is the way in which the calendar dates foretold for Armageddon were moved, ignored, played down and generally explained away by the GB. And the double standards applied to Witnesses from different countries with regard to holding national military ID cards. In Malawi, Witnesses were forbidden to hold one, and many had to flee for their lives from the country. In Mexico, at the same time in history, they were allowed to bribe Government officials for a stamped military ID card so they didn't have to do military service, but holding that card meant taht the Government regarded them as being members of the Army Reserve.This book is written with honesty, reams of contemporary evidence photocopied from Watch Tower and Awake! magazines, with names, dates and accounts of behind-the-scenes discussions amongst the GB. Every JW should read this book especially those at Overseer or Branch levels. Here is one of Jehovah's faithful servants, a man with a deep love for the Scripture, a deep love for Jehovah and Jesus His Son, a deep love for the brothers and sisters all over the world, speaking out about his experiences with factual honesty and not a trace of rancour or bitterness.Just a word of warning, though: if you are seen reading this book by another person from your KH, you will almost certainly be reported and probably DF'd. So buy it and read it in secret; give it a read, and if you don't agree with it, then no-one has seen you. If you do find that you are intrigued by what is in the book, though, then you will have to search your own heart. It's between you, your conscience, and Jehovah God.

Einblicke hinter die Kulisse und infos die man ausserdurch jemand der live dabei war nie bekommen könnte.