3. Preface to the Fourth Edition

Crisis of Conscience (1983)

Not a Watch Tower publication — Raymond Franz

Franz's account of nine years on the Governing Body (1971–1980): how its decisions were made, the debates over 1975 and the "generation" of 1914, disfellowshipping policy, and why he left. This is the text of the fourth edition (2008 printing) as reissued by NuLife Press in 2018, with its appendices; the publisher's foreword and epilogue and the page-number indexes of that edition are not included. The Watchtower and other Society publications have described former members who publish such criticism as apostates.

Raymond Franz (1922–2010) served at the Society's world headquarters and was a member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses from 1971 to 1980; he was a nephew of the Society's later president Frederick W. Franz. He left the headquarters in 1980 and was disfellowshipped in 1981. His Crisis of Conscience (1983) describes how the Governing Body worked and why he came to disagree with it; the Society considers him an apostate.

Critical Works: Writings that criticised C. T. Russell, his successors or the Society, by contemporaries, rival Bible Student groups and former members. They are included because they are part of the historical record, and the Society answered many of them in its own publications, which are in this archive.

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Preface to the Fourth Edition

IN THE HISTORY of a religious organization there can be defining moments, particular times and circumstances that allow for seeing beyond external appearance and recognizing the true character and essential spirit of the organization. The organization’s own self- image, its dominant cast of mind and outlook, its motivating force and its pattern of response to disagreement or challenge, can then be seen more clearly. The factors that come to light may have actually been there all along, at the inner core of the organization, but were beneath the surface, even at odds with external appearances and professed principles. The defining moment may produce a portrait that is disturbingly different from the image the organization holds in the minds of its membership, and that defining period may even escape their notice if those at the organization’s center can effectively suppress awareness of it.

Most readers of the book that follows will have at least some familiarity with the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Consider, then, the following statements and ask yourself as to the possible source of these expressions, and also as to their validity:

The natural man can see that a visibly organized body, with a definite purpose, is a thing of more or less power; therefore they esteem the various organizations, from which we have come out, in obedience to the Master’s call. But the natural man cannot understand how a company of people, with no organization which they can see, is ever going to accomplish anything. As they look upon us, they regard us simply as a few scattered skirmishers—a “peculiar people”—with very peculiar ideas and hopes, but not worthy of special notice.

Under our Captain, all the truly sanctified, however few or far separated in person, are closely united by the Spirit of Christ, in faith, hope and love; and, in following the Master’s command, are moving in solid battalions for the accomplishment of his purposes. But, bear in mind, God is not dependent upon numbers (See Judges 7, as an illustration).

. . . We always refuse to be called by any other name than that of our Head—Christians—continually claiming that there can be no division among those continually led by his Spirit and example as made known through his Word.

Beware of “organization.” It is wholly unnecessary. The Bible rules will be the only rules you will need. Do not seek to bind others’ consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God’s Word today, and so continue growing in grace and knowledge and love day by day

. . . by whatsoever names men may call us, it matters not to us; we acknowledge none other name than “the only name given under heaven and among men”—Jesus Christ. We call ourselves simply CHRISTIANS and we raise no fence to separate from us any who believe in the foundation stone of our building mentioned by Paul: “That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures”; and those for whom this is not broad enough have no right to the name Christian

If asked to assess these statements and characterize the principles they advance, among Jehovah’s Witnesses today most would certainly classify them as of an “apostate” source. The actual source is, however, the Watch Tower magazine—of an earlier time.1 The rejection and discarding of the principles espoused in those published statements were factors in a major transformation within a body of people initially joined together in free affiliation, having no visible organizational structure, and their transposition into a highly centralized organization with a distinctive name and the claim to the exclusive right to be viewed as genuinely Christian.

That transformation took place many decades ago. Yet the pattern it established remains in effect to this day and exercises a controlling force.

Similarly with the events and circumstances set forth in Crisis of Conscience; they point to a defining moment in more recent times, one that for many may be as unfamiliar as the previous quotations from the Watch Tower magazine. The evidence presented in this edition demonstrates the continuing impact of that period’s developments through the succeeding years and into this 21st century. Rather than diminish their relevance, the years that have passed have instead served to enhance the significance of that period and its events, to validate the picture that unfolds, and provide living examples of the accompanying effect on people’s lives. It is against the background of that defining period that one can discern a reality that is as meaningful and crucial today as it was at the time of the original writing of the book.

1See the Watch Tower magazines of March 1883, February 1884, and September 15, 1885. For photocopies of the actual material see the book In Search of Christian Freedom, pages 72-76, which have been inserted into Appendix B of this 2018 edition of Crisis of Conscience.

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3. Preface to the Fourth Edition

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