I was raised as a Jehovahs Witness. Currently I still am part of a congregation, which I gather is also the case for many who come here. I no longer consider them God's chosen people. Nor do I consider any modern day religion to be favored by God because none actually apply the commandment of Christ. Love was paramount, on love, "the whole law rests, and the prophets." In 1 Corinthians 13, after describing love, Paul said, "For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known." He goes on to write that for now three things remain, faith, hope, and love.
The Bible was written to tell us what sort of people to be, what to expect, what to watch for; but, not when it would happen. We are not to be anxious over tomorrow, worrying about even when armeggeddon happens, rather live in the day and by the law of love with faith in a better future and hope that you'll see it. That was enough for Paul, who's own words indicate that he knew they could not know what was to happen. So why then does the Governing Body insist on pinpointing future events? Why do they concern themselves over little things like what the third heavens are, or who the king of the north and south are, or who babylon the great is or who the beast is...? The heart of the matter is love and the good knews of a happy future which was indeed commanded to be preached - yet that is not what they preach. If the Bible itself says, and it does, that the time of prophets is no more - why are you trying to BE a prophet?
The governing body allows the idea that they are led by god and thus cannot be wrong, yet the bible says that no man is perfect and whenever a prophet made a mistake he admitted to it - something proven by the fact that they wrote it in their books. This example is not followed. The fact is that when they meet together each week, they are all wanting something and they are all looking for scriptures to support their own aims for the whole organization. Equally they look for ways to shut each other down, and all with a mask of civility I'm sure. It's like looking up at the night sky, when you do you see stars. The only time you see constellations is when you WANT to - thus, the governing body only sees gods backing when they want to find it hard enough. They are no different from any other imperfect man, no different then King Saul, who when he wanted permission to do something he knew wouldn't be approved sought a spirit medium to make an apparition tell him what he wanted to hear.
Being raised a witness harmed and closed my mind. I no longer know if God is a must-be, because now I think outside that and consider that if matter can neither be created or destroyed then matter has always been - a quality also attributed to God. If two lifeless rocks can collide and spark energy via a flame or explosion, who is to say the same event couldn't bring about life? After all, a fire is hungry/thirsty, has a will, moves, breathes, and yet can come from absolutely nothing completely by chance application of oustide chaotic forces. Why should it be impossible to imagine that life, like that fire, cannot result from the same?
My mind, not being in prison anymore, I whole heartedly believe is in thanks to James Marlowe. At least I believe his first name was James. Whether he intended it or not he caused me to start thinking outside the box and apply my mind to actual reasoning instead of confined, controlled thought. When this was accomplished I started doing my own study of the Bible with all the right tools and I found that yes, there is no hell, no soul, the earth will abide forever, all creation reconciled to perfection, a small group going to heaven and a much larger group on earth, it is indeed fact that the bible doesn't support the trinity doctrine - yet all this being true is not a credential for this organization, it is rather the blanket for the lies underneath that you can never see unless you physically go dig for them; which, you cannot do. Yet, despite this impossibility, enough proof exists. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks", and then there's the scripture about what fruit is borne by men will show you their true self. Examine what they say, and what comes of what they say and do and that will prove it.
They are more concerned with numbers then people, whether it's the number of hours or the number of people. The biggest part of the yearbook is never the experiences, but the report - numbers. They don't care if you can't find a job, as long as you're at the meetings. They don't care if you live in poverty, as long as you pioneer. All the while saying, "we aren't saying you have to live in poverty or harm your lives," but then with the other hand saying, "there's no excuse for not making room for pioneering", "There's no excuse for not getting baptised." They dangle the good things in front of you but collar you with guilt and fear and this is not something which christ would approve. From the gospels we see that even the desciples themselves doubted Jesus, even after all of his miracles, because the scribes taught - accurately - that the bible said elijah must come first. Yet did he scold them? Did he disfellowship them? No. Try doubting the Governing Body and see what happens.
I apologize for the long post, but I've had all this and more built up for a long time and nowhere to vent it all. This is only a small fraction, very small, of all the discrepencies that exist scripturally between Christs example and their own. I am forcing myself to stop typing, because I know long posts are annoying and often go ignored.