"It is important to understand that in most Bible-based cults, although the member is aggressively taught doctrine, it is not the doctrine that holds him in the group. It is the sense that the group is God's true people, a feeling cultivated by techniques of mind control. Thus, to engage the cult member in a Biblical argument or discussion is often futile."
Releasing the Bonds p.145 Stephen Hassan
A Witness will commonly claim that they alone have the truth because they alone understand Bible doctrine correctly and hence alone worship Jehovah.
The end product of such reasoning is that they alone are worthy of salvation.
However, as the above quote from Steven Hassan identifies, it is not the doctrine that holds the members in the religion, but rather more fundamental underlying concepts.
This can be seen from the fact that when key doctrines changed over the decades the majority of members remained part of the group.
Furthermore, almost none of Watchtower doctrine or practices are unique. Similar religions can be found that share a majority of doctrine and moral standards preached by the Watchtower Society.
This section covers a handful of core concepts that are the basis to why a Witness is a Witness. Arguing doctrine with a Jehovah's Witness will rarely convince them the religion is wrong if they are convinced of the core concepts that:
Jehovah only accepts and saves people associated with a single earthly organization
The Slave that overseers the organization are directed by Jehovah's Holy Spirit
Since directed, the Governing Body must be followed without question
Though beyond question, mistakes are made because the Light Gets Brighter
There are a number of rhetorical fallacies within the above concepts, and these must be identified for any discussion with a Witness to be effective.
Otherwise, a range of thought stopping responses arise, such as:
The Governing Body are directed by Jehovah, and you must not question Jehovah
God must be using an organization and there is none (that I know of) that is better than the Watchtower Society
The Bible said mistakes would be clarified over time
For this reason, the core concepts should be pondered as a starting point prior to reading the rest of the site.
This does however present a chicken or egg quandary; a person cannot fully comprehend the core concepts without an understanding of the history and doctrinal errors of the Watchtower Society, but cannot appreciate the full significance of the history and doctrine without identifying the flaws behind the core concepts.
- FACTS ABOUT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
