Thanks for bringing up this topic. It is one that many former JWs are concerned about.

Your belief that 'they have the truth' is so familiar. I was raised in their 'truth', and as such never was given the opportunity to examine the statements the WTBTS made, and until long after I'd made a new life for myself never challenged its claims to be Jehovah's 'only channel of communication' and as such everything it said was God's own truth. I didn't even give the whole 'end-is-coming-in-1975' debacle more than a shrug. "It's just men" or "the light grows brighter" is such an easy way to dismiss errors and false prophecies that came straight out of the mouth of the Governing Body--which claims to be Jehovah's sole "channel of communication".

Maybe 20 years plus or minus is a turning point, because that's how long it took me to stop and take a look at what Jesus really said (I found a red letter bible, which made that fairly easy). Interesting, but there had to be more, so I began reading the bible--without the "help" of WTBTS literature. WOW! What a difference!

Then I made a friend who suggested I talk to God. (SCARY!), but I thought, 'what do I have to lose' and did. I give you her advice. If you want to know where to go, or what to do, ASK HIM. In spite of the the Watchtower says, the Almighty has not forgotten how to communicate.

Meantime...David Reed has an MP3 talk 'Out of the Watchtower Into What?' at www.jwinfonline.com. Its worth listening to if that's your concern.

Beyone that, you'll learn a great deal from Raymond Franz' "Crisis of Conscience" and (even better) "In Search of Christian Freedom". He was Fred Franz' nephew and served for about a decade on the Governing Body. He knows his stuff--stuff every JW needs to know.

There are two books you can read for free online:

Barbara Grizzutti Harrison's (once a Bethelite) "Visions of Glory" and
Ralph Miller's "Jehovah's Witnesses, Victims of Deception" (I once wrote him and received a lovely response.)

Then there's the WTBTS (unsigned) book telling JWs how to handle child custody cases (JW's may be only one of every 300 Americans, but they are one of ever two (2!) contested child custody cases in this country.) It actually advises lying! You can see an elder purger himself (AKA 'Theocratic Warfare') in court on You Tube.

These are things that anyone who thinks Jehovah's Witnesses are the 'true' religion needs to know.

I'm glad you're here, glad you brought this up and am looking forward to hearing more from you.

Hugs, Grandma Cee Cee

Last Edited By: Cee Cee Jan 20 10 7:43 AM. Edited 1 times.