by bohm 15 Replies latest jw experiences
I have already read C.O.C. and im not really interested in more about the doctrines.
I have read about the book "Taking Back Your Life", and mr. Bohm has been pestering me about reading the book "Releasing the Bonds" by Steven Hassan.
Which other books would you recommend?
Love, Miss Bohm
If you want to read about WT, but not doctrine, I highly recommend an older one that is humorous and serious and awakening in a different way:
The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses. http://www.amazon.com/Orwellian-World-Jehovahs-Witnesses/dp/0802065457
The Steve Hassan books are great for personal progress and thoughts on helping others without ever going to doctrine. They have nothing to do with WTS but yet have everything to do with it.
" Jehovahs's Witnesses On Trail "by Finnerty
I haven't read "The Orwellian World" yet, but I had a look at a few pages here and there, and agree with On The Way Out that it does offer a different angle.
"Captives of a concept" by Don Cameron,easy to read .
I strongly second the motion to read "Releasing the Bonds" or even "Combatting Cult Mind Control", both by Steven Hassan.
Seriously, I think these are "must reads" for ex-JW's.
Literature specifically designed to be read as information on the Watchtower Society tend to fall into one of two types:
1 Autobiographical 2 Doctrinal/Historical Exposures.
1 Of the former the most eloquent, and well written, I found, has been "Visions of Glory - A History and memory of Jehovah's Witnesses" by Barbara Grizutti Harrison. The late Mrs Harrison was a Bethelite in the 50s and 60s whose disillusionment with the lack of spiritual qualities in an organization she expected to be dedicated to the task of "pure worship" is well recounted in her book. The crisis ridden journey from true believer to sceptic and finally to spiritual renewal, makes for a worthwhile read. Apart from this, a bonus is her superb command of the English language [she was an award winning professional writer of note] The book is an intense, sometimes hilarious, but always moving autobiography of a beautiful lady who found eventual peace with herself, and who went on to become an inspirational writer in own right.
There is also "I was Raised A Jehovah's Witness" by Joe Hewitt, and "Why I left Jehovah's Witnesses" by Ted Dencher. Both are written from a male perspective and reveal the inner struggle that living in a high control, regimented religion affords. Other autobiograhies of note are; ""Held By the Watchtower" by Susan Thorne, "Pilgrimage Through the Watchtower" by Kevin Quick and "We Left JWs - A Non-Prophet Organization" by Edmund Gruss.
2 Doctrinal Exposures of the Watchtower abound in the market today, given that we currently live in a pluralistic society. And rather than give the titles I will recommend certain authors who specialize in certain sub-groups of Watchtower teaching.
If you are interested in reading about doctrinal infractions of the Watchtower as examined from a conservative, Evangelical perspective, the best author to read is Robert Bowman. He writes with clarity, dignity and is never harsh in his critisism. He has published several books on the Watchtower: "Why You Should Believe In the Trinity" "Putting Jesus In His Place - The Case For the Deity of Christ" [co-authored by Ed Komoszewski] and "Understanding Jehovah's Witnesses". Other respectable authors of note are:
Ron Rhodes, "Reasoning From the Scriptures with The JWs" and Edmund Gruss. Gruss is a third generation JW who subsequently left the Watchtower. He specializes in the prophetic speculations of the Watchtower: "Apostles of Denial" "The Four Presidents Of the Watchtower" "JWs - Their Mounments To False Prophesy" "JWs - Their Claims, Doctrinal Changes, and Prophetic Speculation" are specialist reading. Of this same subgroup is "The Gentile Times Reconsidered" by Carl Olaf Jonsson. It is the best exposure of the Watchtower's 607 BC theology available. It is in its latest fourth, and expanded, edition.
If you are a Roman Catholic, you will enjoy reading:"The Gospel According To JWs" by John Francis Coffey, and "Answering HWs" by Jason Evert.
A good place to start looking for this sort of literature is to go to www.freeminds.org web site. Randall Waters, who runs the site, is himself a writer of perception with his own "Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses" book.
Probably the best book on the history of the movement, and a standard in its field, is "Apocalypse Delayed" by James Penton. In in you will find much information that debunks many of the urban legends of the Watchtower that have become streotypical Watchtower mythology.
Hope this helps.
The four presidents was one of the final nails in my coffin!
Moggy Lover, you said "In in you will find much information that debunks many of the urban legends of the Watchtower that have become streotypical [sic] Watchtower mythology."
What do you mean? Could you give an example?
Have You Seen My Mother by Bryan Lee McGlothin
Written one of our forum members. Bryan was kidnapped by his JW Dad. A good book for anyone considering bringing up their children in a cult or with a cult partner.
http://www.haveyouseenmymother.com/
Cheers
Chris
