It is all completely whacky. You have a religion that claims to be a "Christian Congregation," but it teaches -
- Jesus created a New Covenant between he and only 144,000 people.
- The covenant is symbolized by an annual "Memorial" in which only those 144,000 people are to participate. All others are simply "observers".
- Jesus gave his life as a sacrifice to balance the scales of cosmic justice that Adam put off kilter. This ransom gives no one but those 144,000 brought into the new covenant any sort of "salvation".
- Anyone outside this 144,000 who wishes to receive some sort of salvation from everlasting destruction has to show unwavering, blind obedience to the writings of 8 men in Walkhill, NY who are probably part of the 144,000, though some in the past have been labeled as not. Anyone else who claims to be 144,000 is probably mentally ill.
Here's the real kicker - Many on this very website are like me; born and raised as a JW, a loyal JW for decades, and never knew this!
I didn't learn until after being a born-in Witness who faithfully practiced the religion until I was in my mid-30s that my own religion taught that Jesus did not die for our sins. I learned after the fact that I, as part of the "Great Crowd," only had a hope of salvation. That I was hedging my bets on riding the coattails of 144,000 people who were guarantied salvation.
The passengers and crew of he RMS Titanic came to about 3,300 people. As the passenger ship is sinking the captain says there are lifeboats for only 412 people. How many people will make it one life boats? Answer: 412. The real question is why are 8 of the 412 people telling the other 2,900 passengers to pledge their lives to them in exchange for salvation?