Terry,
Here are some comments on your post. You said, "Here is my short list of what pulls a curious JW away from most (not all) Ex-Witness books on the market."
"1.The book immediately demonstrates a bias. Any anti-JW bias will be read as an unfair attack. The solution to this is a NEUTRAL presentation, which is balanced, fair and more of a fact-finding expedition.
"Captives of a Concept" has been translated into German by the same person who translated "In Search of Christian Freedom" into German (Herbert Raab). Here is what he said about the book…
"’
Captives of a Concept’ is in my opinion a very fine book, since it speaks in a matter-of-fact tone about the Watchtower teachings. I don't really like those writings of ex-Witnesses that a full of spite and hate. Surely most Witnesses seek to serve Jehovah sincerely but are mislead by some (or should I say: many) erroneous teachings. So they are often victims themselves. As to the Watchtower leaders, it is as Ray Franz wrote in his Search book: ‘We are not to judge them; for only Jehovah and Christ Jesus know how much guilt they have heaped on themselves.’"2.The ex-JW author usually lapses into sob story of how they were duped and mistreated.
"Captives of a Concept" does not do this.
"The solution to this is steering clear of the personal recriminations.
"Captives of a Concept" does this.
"3.The worst offenders (from the JW point-of-view) are the newly born-again ex-Jdubs who extol the ‘I've found Jesus scenarios’!
"Captives of a Concept" does not do this.
"The solution to this is to put selling your newfound "Hallelujah" moment on the backburner and concentrate on helping a trapped JW find something to agree with in what you are offering.
"Captives of a Concept" does not have a "Hallelujah moment." But it does offer an unorthodox suggestion about how to go about "helping a trapped JW find something to agree with."
"4. The average rank and file JW hardly knows (or cares!) about the history of the organization. They've been led by the nose into the "progressive revelation" over time nonsense. "That was THEN and this is NOW" would be the natural response.
Perfect. "Captives of a Concept" explains why this Witness' thinking is what has led them to "The One Mistake All Jehovah’s Witnesses Have Made" – Chapter 5
"The solution to this is to concentrate on two important non-refutable points: 1914 as the result of the elusive 607 B.C.E. date and false prophecy. (i.e. How can a false prophet be Jehovah's mouthpiece?)"
"Captives of a Concept" takes a different approach that doesn’t involve having to delve into (1) ancient history as it relates to the destruction of Jerusalem or (2) the Society’s complicated interpretations that end up in 1914 as the date of Christ’s "invisible presence." The book’s approach only requires the reader to know that 1914 is the date the Society assigns to the Second Coming of Christ and then hold them to it.
"The number one problem with reaching a JW who is on the fence about whether they are in the right religion is this: THERE IS NO PLACE THEY CAN GO to replace the Kingdom Hall that won't make them flinch. You can't send them anywhere. They are stuck out there on their own. They sure as hell aren't going to skip down to the local Baptist church! When you take something away from somebody you have to fill the empty space with more than just nothing.
"Captives of a Concept" offers an alternative ‘place they can go to replace the Kingdom Hall.’ - See former Circuit Overseer on Frye’s suggestion on page 136.
Don
