This is only one of the passages that make me conclude that those who leave Jehovah's Witnesses in favour of a supposedly more faithful reading of the Christian heritage are deeply mistaken to think that Christianity is at its root less controlling than Jehovah's Witnesses. Early Christianity displays the same manipulative, coercive and authoritarian characteristics that those leaving the Witnesses tend to take most exception to. I read an excellent book a few years ago that convinced me that Jehovah's Witnesses are not being unfaithful to primitive Christianity when they exhibit such controlling, oppressive tendencies, they are in fact thereby emulating primitive Christianity: Cost of Authority: Freedom and Manipulation in the New Testament by Graham Shaw. It was written by a minister in the Anglican Church who was struck by the problem of the abuse of authority within the church and how this caused ordinary believers all sorts of problems and heartache. He started off thinking if only people adhered to the Biblical pattern that such problems would be solved. But the more he looked to the Bible for solutions the more he realised it was in fact the root of the problem because Christianity has been authoritarian and controlling since its inception. The way to break free from authoritarianism then is not to look to the scriptures but to move away from them.
It makes me think on just a few examples where Jehovah's Witnesses are by no means false to Christianity's heritage in attempting to manipulate and control various aspects of people's lives in the name of God.
Paul discouraged the wisdom of the world and called it empty: the governing body discourages higher education.
Jesus said to be his follower you had to put him before your family: and Witnesses warn new Bible studies that family will discourage them but this is from Satan.
Paul said it was a bad idea to get married because the end was so close: and Rutherford took the same position.
Jesus said having children would be a burden when the system came to an end: Witnesses have at various times suggested waiting until the new system to have children.
Rumours went about the first century Christian congregations that the apostle John would still be alive when Jesus returned: Witnesses claimed the 1914 generation would see Armageddon.
One New Testament writer claimed they were so close to the end they were in the 'last hour': I think the closest Witnesses came was to talk about the 'remaining months' before Armageddon in 1975.
Christians called those from among their ranks with theological differences apostates: Jehovah's Witnesses do the same.
Women were not supposed to speak at spiritual gatherings nor question their husbands: Witnesses treat women just as bad.
For these reasons and others I can't get my head around it when people leave the Witnesses for the so-called 'freedom' of Christianity. Talk about out of the frying pan into the fire. Modern Christian groups only display liberal non-controlling qualities to the extent that they manage to distance themselves from the first century pattern! So if Christianity only offers freedom to the extent that it denies its roots - then why not opt for total freedom by divesting oneself of the whole damn thing?
