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core conceptsThis section covers core concepts that form the basis to why a Witness is a Witness. Arguing doctrine will rarely convince a Jehovah's Witness the religion is wrong whilst they hold to these concepts. For this reason, the articles in this section should be pondered as a starting point prior to reading the rest of the site.
1919 - How Derived
1919 is a key year for Jehovah's Witnesses, this being the year that Jesus is said to have chosen the Watchtower and its Governing Body to represent him on earth. The Scriptural backing the Watchtower uses to support this year is flimsy and illogical. more ...
Salvation only for Jehovah's Witnesses
The Watchtower teaches that at Armageddon only Jehovah's Witnesses will survive and billions of people will be eternally destroyed. It is common for a Witness to claim that is not the case, but this article contains numerous Watchtower quotes making such statements. It then goes on to explain why such a teaching is not at all realistic. more ...
Directed by Holy Spirit
The Governing Body claim to under Jehovah's direction by means of his holy spirit. The logical conclusion is that what they teach should be accurate; yet numerous changes show this is not the case. The Governing Body's defence is that they are actively directed by holy spirit - but not inspired. Strange, since in such context the definition of inspired is to be directed by holy spirit. This article brings clarification to the confusion. more ...
Light gets Brighter
Previous errors should indicate that Watchtower doctrine is not being relayed from Jehovah, through the Slave class. However, the Governing Body dispel such a conclusion by saying historical errors in Watchtower doctrine were foretold by a phrase in Proverbs that the "light gets brighter". This is a highly successful concept in preventing a Witness questioning Watchtower teachings. This article shows how this Scripture is misapplied and also that Watchtower doctrine does not get brighter, but changes and flip-flops. more ...
Jehovah's Prophet
Deuteronomy states that a prophet that speaks something that does not come true is not from Jehovah. The Watchtower has claimed to be Jehovah's Prophet. This is important to reflect on in light of the Watchtower's string of failed prophecies, such as that the battle of Jehovah would be within the twentieth century. more ...
Organization - Essential for Salvation?
Organization is not a word that appears in the Bible, yet the Watchtower constantly refers to belonging to an organization as essential for a person's salvation; the Watchtower Organization. This article shows that for the majority of Bible history, there was no organization to belong to, and when there was, servants of God regularly operated outside of or against God's Organization. more ...
Faithful & Discreet Slave
The defining concept to being a Jehovah's Witness is not worship of Jehovah, but rather following the "faithful and discreet slave". Though defined as Anointed Christians, in practice the Governing Body represents the Slave class. No satisfactory evidence exists to show God actively directs the Watchtower Governing Body, but by drawing on the parable of the Slave, Watchtower leaders demand all-encompassing power over their followers, with tragic consequences. more ...
Governing Body - First Century vs Today
The Watchtower claims to structure its leadership hierarchy after a model set by a first century, Christian governing body. However, the term "governing body" does not appear in the New Testament. Neither does the concept of a small, centralised group of leaders. more ...
Watchtower supports each topic in this section by use of rhetorical fallacies, and identifying these is critical 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
As identified by Stephen Hassan, specialist in high control religious groups, it is not doctrine that holds members in, but rather more fundamental underlying concepts.
"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."
Stephen Hassan Releasing the Bonds p.145
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.
There is still a chicken or egg quandary; a person cannot fully comprehend these 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. Don't expect that awakening a Jehovah's Witness will ever be easy.
Paul Grundy 2005 - 2024