Crisis of Conscience

Author Raymond Franz, former member of the Governing Body of Jehovah¿s Witnesses presents his story of a struggle to prevent the erosion of his God-given freedom of conscience as well as that of others, forming the heart of this very personal and candid account. Franz description of his journey in Crisis of Conscience is presented with sensitivity and compassion. The information nevertheless raises very fundamental questions that are both disturbing and conscience stirring. Starting in the 1870¿s as an independent Bible study group composed of a handful of persons in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jehovah¿s Witnesses today number more than eight million in some 240 lands. In countries where they are active, few people have not had contact with the Witnesses as a result of their intense door-to-door activity. Yet for most persons the religion remains a near mystery. More remarkably, very few Witnesses themselves have any knowledge of their history or doctrine forming and policy-making processes of their own organization. The Governing Body sessions and discussions are totally private and not open to the rest of Jehovah¿s Witnesses. Yet that Body¿s decisions are applicable and enforceable toward every Witness on earth. As a third-generation member, the author lived the first sixty years of his life among Jehovah¿s Witnesses, serving in various countries at nearly every level of the organizational structure. The final nine of those sixty years were spent on the central executive council, the Governing Body. Those years led to his crisis of conscience, which is the theme of this book. It is a unique account as it allows the reader a view of the decision-making sessions of Jehovah¿s Witnesses inner council, and the powerful, sometimes dramatic, impact that their decisions have on people¿s lives.