The recent thread on baptismal vows sparked me to do some research, which resulted in this essay.
Perversion of Baptismal Vows by Jehovah's Witnesses
The manner in which the Watchtower Society handles the two baptismal questions/vows given to baptismal candidates just before baptism shows how the Society has gone Pharisaic. The Biblical notion of Christian baptism is simple: a person comes to know God, comes to accept the basics of Christianity, and then gets baptized. According to various biblical accounts the whole process can be done in less than a day. However, in its infinite wisdom the Society has expanded on this simple process and made it into something far more complicated, something that usually takes many months for a prospective JW convert to get through.
Typically, the proselyte first has to go through more than four months of study in the book Knowledge That Leads to Everlasting Life , then has to go through another four to six months of study in the book United in Worship of the Only True God. During this time, he or she has to begin attending the five weekly meetings and going in field service, the latter only after being examined by a panel of elders to see if he has progressed sufficiently. After more time passes, during which the proselyte is under careful scrutiny, he is declared to be an "unbaptized publisher", which upgraded status is formally announced to the local congregation. A bit later he starts to receive the internal memo Our Kingdom Ministry and is instructed to study these along with the ongoing book study material. If the person decides to get baptized, and passes another examination by a panel of elders, he is given the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, which is a sort of handbook on "how to be a good Jehovah's Witness". An appendix in the book contains some 120 questions along with hundreds of scriptural "proof texts" that the proselyte is then expected to study. After meeting with an elder for as many hours and weeks as it takes to answer most of the questions correctly, which includes expounding upon them in his own words, the proselyte is given the go-ahead to get baptized, which usually happens at the next circuit or district assembly. At the baptismal ceremony, a lecture is delivered explaining what baptism means and so on, along the lines of what the student had been taught in the publications he studied up until then. At the end of the lecture, the group of baptismal candidates is asked to stand, listen to the two key baptismal questions/vows, and answer Yes. Then the group goes off to the actual ceremony of dipping under water.
Here is the interesting part: the proselyte is normally never told about the actual wording of the vows until they are put before him at the end of the baptismal lecture. The 2nd vow, in which the proselyte actually declares absolute loyalty to the Watchtower Society, is worded so that this declaration of loyalty to an organization rather than to God is not readily seen as such. Thus, in the excitement of the baptismal ceremony and because of its public nature, the typical candidate either will not understand the vow for what it is -- a legally enforceable declaration that the proselyte will go along with whatever the Watchtower Society says, including implicitly agreeing to be disfellowshipped if he later decides to publicly disagree with the Society -- or if he does he will go along anyway because of the public peer pressure.
This entire procedure, which ends up with most proselytes vowing to do something that they would be far less likely to do if all of the ramifications were explained to them ahead of time and without the immediate pressure of the ceremony, is typical of the railroading that most cults use to entrap followers. It is one more proof that Jehovah's Witnesses are a classic cult, albeit one that is less extreme than, say, the Moonies or Scientologists. Not one of the publications normally studied by a proselyte during his progress towards baptism contains the vows or alludes to the precise nature of the 2nd, offending vow, although the Knowledge book (p. 176) does contain cleverly worded language similar to it (see below for comments).
Below I will present a number of quotations that illustrate and prove the above ideas.
The offending 2nd baptismal vow:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?
The only words about baptism in the basic textbook United in Worship:
uw p. 95 Chapter 12
The Meaning of Your Baptism
IN THE year 29 C.E., Jesus was immersed in the Jordan River. Jehovah himself was watching and expressed approval. (Matt. 3:16, 17) Three and a half years later, following his resurrection, Jesus gave instructions to his disciples, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.” (Matt. 28:18, 19) Have you been baptized in harmony with what Jesus there directed? Or are you preparing to do so?
2 In either event a clear understanding of baptism is important. Questions that deserve consideration include these: Does the baptism of Christians today have the same meaning as that of Jesus? Does everything that the Bible says about baptism apply to you? What is involved in living in harmony with what Christian water baptism signifies?
Scripture that shows that baptism is not done in connection with any organization:
Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.
Scriptures that show how simple the biblical steps leading to baptism are:
Acts 8:26-39
26 However, Jehovah’s angel spoke to Philip, saying: “Rise and go to the south to the road that runs down from Jerusalem to Ga'za.” (This is a desert road.) 27 With that he rose and went, and, look! an E·thi·o'pi·an eunuch, a man in power under Can·da'ce queen of the E·thi·o'pi·ans, and who was over all her treasure. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 but he was returning and was sitting in his chariot and reading aloud the prophet Isaiah. 29 So the spirit said to Philip: “Approach and join yourself to this chariot.” 30 Philip ran alongside and heard him reading aloud Isaiah the prophet, and he said: “Do you actually know what you are reading?” 31 He said: “Really, how could I ever do so, unless someone guided me?” And he entreated Philip to get on and sit down with him… 35 Philip opened his mouth and, starting with this Scripture, he declared to him the good news about Jesus. 36 Now as they were going over the road, they came to a certain body of water, and the eunuch said: “Look! A body of water; what prevents me from getting baptized?” 37 —— 38 With that he commanded the chariot to halt, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 When they had come up out of the water, Jehovah’s spirit quickly led Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, for he kept going on his way rejoicing.Acts 16:25-34
25 But about the middle of the night Paul and Silas were praying and praising God with song; yes, the prisoners were hearing them. 26 Suddenly a great earthquake occurred, so that the foundations of the jail were shaken. Moreover, all the doors were instantly opened, and the bonds of all were loosened. 27 The jailer, being awakened out of sleep and seeing the prison doors were open, drew his sword and was about to do away with himself, imagining that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out with a loud voice, saying: “Do not hurt yourself, for we are all here!” 29 So he asked for lights and leaped in and, seized with trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 And he brought them outside and said: “Sirs, what must I do to get saved?” 31 They said: “Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will get saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of Jehovah to him together with all those in his house. 33 And he took them along in that hour of the night and bathed their stripes; and, one and all, he and his were baptized without delay. 34 And he brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed God.
The Society's cleverly worded but self-serving perversion of Matthew 28:18-20:
kl 176 18 Make It Your Aim to Serve God Forever
12 Jesus commanded his followers to baptize new disciples “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.” (Matthew 28:19) What did Jesus mean? Baptism “in the name of the Father” indicates that the person being baptized wholeheartedly accepts Jehovah God as the Creator and the rightful Sovereign of the universe. (Psalm 36:9; 83:18; Ecclesiastes 12:1) Being baptized ‘in the name of the Son’ means that the individual acknowledges Jesus Christ—and particularly His ransom sacrifice—as the only means of salvation provided by God. (Acts 4:12) Baptism ‘in the name of the holy spirit’ signifies that the baptismal candidate recognizes Jehovah’s holy spirit, or active force, as God’s instrument for carrying out His purposes and for empowering His servants to do His righteous will in association with His spirit-directed organization.—Genesis 1:2; Psalm 104:30; John 14:26; 2 Peter 1:21.
The above bit of misdirection not only effectively equates the Watchtower Society ("Jehovah's spirit-directed organization") with God himself, but fails to inform the proselyte that if he later decides that the Society is not in fact equivalent to God, he is tightly restrained from doing anything about it by virtue of having agreed to the vow form of this statement. Nor is he informed that he will actually be required to vow to adhere to this view.
Until 1985 the Watchtower Society theoretically viewed baptism as signifying a dedication to God and God alone, but legal challenges revolving around this correct view, where litigants sued the Society for requiring loyalty to it rather than to God and enforced such requirement by disfellowshipping, caused the Society to begin fooling proselytes into taking a legally enforceable vow that is nothing more than a loyalty oath and a promise to do anything the Society commands.
The Society's instructions about presenting "baptism questions":
The following are entries from the two large Publications Indexes, 1930-1985 and 1986-1999:
dx86-99 0 Elders
baptism questions: w96 1/15 17; jv 479
how and when to review: km 9/86 3-4
how many candidates together: km 5/87 8
how many different elders: w96 1/15 17
inform candidate of proper baptismal attire: km 5/92 4
length of sessions: km 5/87 8dx86-99 0 Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry (Book)
elders’ review of baptism questions: w96 1/15 17; jv 479; w89 1/15 17; om 173-5; km 5/87 8; km 9/86 3-4dx30-85 0 Baptism
baptismal talk and two questions: w85 6/1 30; w73 280; w72 492-3; w70 308-9; w68 297; w66 465; w64 123-4; w63 333; w60 308; w58 478, 639; w56 407-9; w55 411-12; w51 572; w45 44-5; w42 302
Not all of the entries are relevant to this discussion, so below I present only the relevant ones:
The following quotation shows what the proselyte is expected to study just prior to baptism:
w96 1/15 17 Jehovah's Sheep Need Tender Care
9 As an unbaptized publisher progresses spiritually, he may make a dedication to God in prayer and want to be baptized. (Compare Mark 1:9-11.) He should make his desire for baptism known to the congregation’s presiding overseer, who will arrange for elders to review with the publisher the questions on pages 175 to 218 of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry. The four parts into which the questions are divided may be covered in three sessions by three different elders if possible. If they agree that the unbaptized publisher has a reasonable understanding of Bible teachings and qualifies in other ways, they will tell him that he may be baptized. As a result of his dedication and baptism, he becomes ‘marked’ for salvation.—Ezekiel 9:4-6.
The following shows the kind of hoops the proselyte must jump through in order to qualify for baptism. Note that it is from 1986 and uses the term "approved associate". Around 1988 this term was dropped and more or less replaced by "unbaptized publisher".
km 9/86 3-4 Question Box
Question Box
When is a person eligible to receive his own copy of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, and how and when should the elders make arrangements for reviewing the questions with those desiring to be baptized?
Information on this subject is given on pages 173-5 of the Our Ministry book, under “Note to Congregation Elders.” There it is explained that when a person has conformed his life to Jehovah’s righteous standards, is a regular meeting attender, and is having a meaningful share in the field service as an approved associate, he may express to one of the elders his desire to be baptized and at that time receive a personal copy of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry.—See also pages 97-100 regarding “approved associate.”
Upon receiving the book, the approved associate should begin reviewing the questions for baptismal candidates starting on page 175. He should endeavor to discern the application of the quoted and cited scriptures. After he has had opportunity to go over the designated information, some of the elders will review the questions and answers with him. The presiding overseer makes arrangements for this.
Preparation for baptism should not be rushed. Therefore, the individual should inform the elders well in advance of the time he plans to get baptized. It is not necessary for the elders to wait until an assembly has been announced before going over the questions with those who are preparing for baptism. Those conducting Bible studies should be alert to the spiritual progress of their students, discern when they are approaching dedication, and let them know how to make arrangements for baptism.
Elders reviewing the questions with a person desiring to be baptized may decide that it would be advisable for him to make further spiritual advancement before taking this important step. Perhaps he needs to take in more knowledge or become more adept at expressing his faith to others. (1 Pet. 3:15) It may be that he should gain additional experience in the field ministry. Or it could be found that he really does not yet qualify for baptism. (See Acts 8:36.) In each case, the elders should outline what further progress is needed and, if necessary, arrange for whatever personal assistance may be required to help the person to qualify later.
The following shows what the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry has to say about baptism:
om (1989) 173-175
[NOTE TO CONGREGATION ELDERS: The elders can do much to help a newly interested person advance in the truth. Endeavor to get acquainted with him as soon as possible after he starts having a regular home Bible study. Close cooperation between the elders and the one conducting the study will help the new one to become a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ.
As the Bible student makes good progress, he will conform his way of life to Jehovah's standards and, according to his personal circumstances, attend congregation meetings regularly. In time, he may meet with two elders to determine if he qualifies to be an unbaptized publisher. If he qualifies, he may then obtain a copy of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry.
When he makes known to one of the elders his desire to be baptized, he should begin reviewing material in the Appendix of Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry, starting on page 175. It should be pointed out that all the questions can be answered on the basis of the quoted Scripture texts. Additional references give further Scriptural proof or other related background information. Encourage the Bible student to look up and read as many of the cited scriptures as he can, since these will help him to round out his understanding of the answers so as to be able to express these in his own words.
After the person requesting baptism has had time to study over the designated information, the presiding overseer will make arrangements for some of the elders to review the questions and answers with him. The four parts can be covered in three sessions of about one hour each, Parts III and IV being covered together in the third session. Where possible, a different elder should be assigned to handle each of the three review sessions. It would be good to open and close each session with prayer.
The elders will make sure that a person being baptized has acquired a reasonable understanding of basic Bible teachings. Additionally, they will want to ascertain whether the prospective minister qualifies in other ways to be accepted into the Christian congregation as one fully dedicated to Jehovah. If the person does not understand primary Bible teachings, or if he has not as yet conformed his life to Scriptural principles, the elders will arrange for him to receive the necessary personal assistance so as to qualify for baptism at a later time. Others may need to be given time to gain more experience in the field service. It will be up to the elders to use discretion in apportioning the hour or so spent in each session so as to discern fully whether the baptismal candidate is ready to take this important step. Although more time may be spent on certain questions and less on others, all the questions should be reviewed.
The elders assigned to help a baptismal candidate will meet after the third session and decide whether or not the person should be accepted for baptism. If for some reason it is determined that he is not ready for baptism, arrangements will be made for the person to receive needed assistance so that he may qualify later.
Elders will take into consideration the background, ability and other circumstances of each baptismal candidate. Our interest is in those whose hearts are turned to Jehovah and who have grasped the sense of fundamental Bible truths. With your loving assistance, those being baptized will be encouraged and helped to enter into the Christian ministry, adequately prepared to accomplish that important assignment.]
"Part III" of the Appendix to the Our Ministry book is titled "Submission to Jehovah's Arrangement of Things". This section again effectively equates the Watchtower Society with God by influencing the proselyte to believe that the Watchtower way is identically equal to God's way -- that Watchtower leaders are for all practical purposes inspired because they claim to be "spirit-directed".
Under the first subheading "Submission in the Congregation Arrangement" we find questions like these (pp. 205-6):
(1) What is the basic principle underlying Jehovah's arrangement of things within the Christian congregation?
The required answers are the standard "the head of Christ is God; the head of the man is Christ; the head of the woman is the man" and "Jesus Christ is the head of the congregation". This sounds fine on the surface but is yet another means of implicitly equating Watchtower leaders with God, since God and Christ are said to communicate with mankind only through the mediatorship of Watchtower leaders.
(2) Why is there a particular need for submitting to Jehovah's arrangement of things in the Christian congregation today?(3) What are some examples of Jesus' disciples submitting to his instructions in order to carry out their ministry in an orderly way?
(4) How does Jesus exercise headship over the Christian congregation today?
The required answers center around the false notion that Watchtower leaders comprise a composite "faithful and discreet slave" which is to be obeyed as God would be.
(5) By what visible means is Christ's headship represented in the congregation?
Elders, of course.
(6) How do members of the congregation demonstrate submission to the headship of Christ in the congregation?
Be obedient to elders and "the faithful slave", of course.
The final section of the Appendix is titled "Dedication and Baptism". It too contains no references to the two baptismal questions or vows. The questions are:
(1) What should always be our attitude toward the doing of Jehovah's will?(2) Why should this joyful and willing attitude prevail even when we are persecuted or undergoing any form of trial?(3) What does it mean for a person to dedicate himself to Jehovah?(4) When a person has sincerely repented, turned around and made a decision to follow Christ, why should he be baptized?
The answers to the above are well known to observers of JWs.
The last question somewhat alludes to the 2nd baptismal vow and seems designed to make it easy to fool proselytes when they hear a similar concept in the form of a vow:
(5) Why is it appropriate for dedicated and baptized Christians to be called Jehovah's Witnesses?
The classic Watchtower answer is given:
“YOU are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “even my servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and have faith in me, and that you may understand that I am the same One. Before me there was no God formed, and after me there continued to be none. I -- I am Jehovah, and besides me there is no savior. I myself have told forth and have saved and have caused it to be heard, when there was among YOU no strange god. So you are my witnesses,” is the utterance of Jehovah, “and I am God. -- Isa. 43:10-12.
Of course, the fact that these words were spoken to the Jews and not to Christians is by now quite lost on the typical proselyte who has gone this far. Also lost is the fact that Isaiah spoke of generic "witnesses", in the sense of "someone who sees something and tells about it", whereas the Society's use of "Witnesses" (note the switch from lowercase to uppercase) in "Jehovah's Witnesses" makes the usage a proper name. This sort of deliberate ambiguity has been used ever since J. F. Rutherford renamed the Bible Students "Jehovah's witnesses" in 1931.
Final references to baptismal vows and illustrations of the Society's Pharisaic perversion of early Christian practice with regard to baptism:
Note how, in the following quotation, the only reference given to prove the author's claim is an "unscriptural writing", which the writer proceeds to claim he is not using as proof. Yet he still uses it, since he put it in there for a reason. Nor does he give any other proof. Clearly, the Society has gone way beyond "what is written" in order to filter out poor candidates for JW-hood. Obviously, argumentation such as this is not only dishonest and wrong, but unchristian.
w89 1/15 17 How Baptism Can Save Us
Qualifying for Baptism
7 When Jesus commissioned his followers to baptize disciples, he did not tell them to sprinkle unbelievers by the thousands. But what have Christendom’s missionaries done? Regarding India, Jesuit Francis Xavier wrote in 1545: “In the kingdom of Travancore . . . in the space of a few months I have baptized more than ten thousand men, women, and children. . . . I went from village to village and made Christians of them.” That is not Jesus’ way to ‘make Christians.’ People must qualify for baptism.
8 Even certain professed Christians of the post-apostolic period believed that those presenting themselves for baptism had to meet strict requirements. Concerning such baptismal candidates, non-Biblical canons, erroneously ascribed to the apostle Paul, say: “Let their manners and their life be inquired into . . . If they be unmarried, let them learn not to commit fornication, but to enter into lawful marriage. . . . If a harlot come, let her leave off whoredom, or else let her be rejected. If a maker of idols come, let him either leave off his employment, or let him be rejected. . . . He that is guilty of sins not to be named, . . . a magician, an enchanter, an astrologer, a diviner, an user of magic verses, . . . one that makes amulets, a charmer, a soothsayer, a fortune-teller, an observer of palmistry . . . , let these be proved for some time . . . and if they leave off those practices, let them be received; but if they will not agree to that, let them be rejected.”
9 Jehovah’s Witnesses do not follow unscriptural writings, such as that just quoted, but elders do hold discussions with those desiring to be baptized. Why? To make sure that these persons are believers who meet divine requirements and who have made a dedication to Jehovah. (Acts 4:4; 18:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:2) Discussing questions in the book Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry helps to determine whether a person qualifies for baptism. If some points are not clear to him, or he has not brought his life into harmony with divine standards, the elders are pleased to render spiritual assistance.
10 If we appreciate God’s kindness in helping us to learn about his purposes, we will be like people to whom Paul preached in Antioch, Asia Minor. Despite Jewish opposition, “when those of the nations [Gentiles] heard [of the opportunity to be accepted by God], they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah, and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers.” (Acts 13:48) Such believers got baptized.
Compare the above claims to the simple biblical requirements as shown at the beginning of this essay.
Here is a solid allusion to the 2nd baptismal vow. Note again how it perverts the simple biblical notion that baptism is into Christianity, not into a particular manmade organization:
w87 4/15 12 Gaining Peace With God Through Dedication and Baptism
Baptism—For Whom?
11 Jesus commanded that his followers be baptized. (Matthew 28:19, 20) They were to be totally immersed in water and raised out of it. Like a burial and a resurrection, this well pictures a person’s dying to a self-centered way of life and being made alive to do God’s will. By baptism you identify yourself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s worldwide congregation. Baptism validates a solemn agreement made with God. (Compare Exodus 19:3-8.) Your life must be in harmony with his laws. (Psalm 15; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) Baptism, which ordains you as a minister of God, reflects also a “request made to God for a good conscience” because you know that you are at peace with God.—1 Peter 3:21.
Note too that a half-truth is told: "Baptism validates a solemn agreement made with God." That may be so in the proselyte's mind, but in the Society's view baptism is also a declaration of loyalty to the Society.
The 1985 Baptismal Vows:
w85 6/1 30 Subjecting Ourselves to Jehovah by Dedication
Decision Based on Knowledge
Likewise this year many thousands are contemplating the step of baptism during the “Integrity Keepers” Convention that will be held in many locations worldwide. Before reaching this point of baptism, all candidates have carefully reviewed with congregation elders the Bible’s principal doctrines and guidelines for Christian conduct to make sure they really qualify for baptism. Thus the decision to be baptized is by no means a sudden emotional reaction. Rather, each one has ‘proved for himself the good and acceptable and perfect will of God’ and wishes to submit to that will.—Romans 12:2.
At the close of the convention baptism talk, the baptism candidates will be in position to answer with depth of understanding and heartfelt appreciation two simple questions that serve to confirm that they recognize the implications of following Christ’s example. The first question is:
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
The second is:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization?
Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.
Note in the introductory paragraph of the above quotation how the proselyte has been subjected to much scrutiny to prove to the satisfaction of elders that he meets the many standards of Jehovah's Witnesses that go far beyond "what is written". The quotation below outlines the steps:
w86 7/1 24-5 Lining Up With Jehovah's Integrity Keepers
4 Likewise today, those who get baptized are persons who have studied the Scriptures and reasoned carefully on them before taking the serious step of baptism, or total immersion in water. (Acts 17:11, 12) Theirs has not been a hasty, emotional decision. On the contrary, before being accepted for baptism, they have regularly attended Christian meetings with a view to acquiring accurate knowledge of Jehovah God and his purposes through Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 10:25) They have also participated regularly in the Christian ministry, sharing the Kingdom good news with others. (Acts 5:42; 1 Corinthians 9:16) Then, in the final weeks before their baptism, they have carefully reviewed with various congregation elders more than 120 questions about Christian teaching and conduct, as well as considered hundreds of supporting Bible texts—all of this to become approved integrity keepers prior to their baptism.—Acts 8:34-36.*
*The Watchtower of June 1, 1985, pages 29-31, outlines the proper procedure with regard to baptism and sets out the two questions that are presented to candidates toward the end of the baptism talk.
Claim that the switch to a legally enforceable vow was a mere "simplification":
w87 4/15 12 Gaining Peace With God Through Dedication and Baptism
Recently the two questions addressed to baptismal candidates were simplified so that candidates could answer with full comprehension of what is involved in coming into intimate relationship with God and his earthly organization.
Note the gross deception committed here: the purpose of the 2nd vow was not to let a candidate "answer with full comprehension", but quite the opposite. It was to obscure the switch to a legally enforceable vow of blind loyalty to the Watchtower Society. The proof for this claim is easily verified: ask a fair sample of Jehovah's Witnesses if they ever took a legally enforceable vow of loyalty to the Watchtower Society. They will almost always deny that. Yet in court the Society now uses this vow to prove to the court that a person did indeed promise to obey all Watchtower instructions, no matter what they might prove to be.
Conclusion:
What we have here is a classic cultish lack of telling the truth to prospective Jehovah's Witnesses about exactly what they are getting into. Such proselytes are kept ignorant of the full import of what they are required to vow until the very last second before taking the step of baptism. That makes it impossible to make a calm, rational evaluation of the vows they are about to take. The Society is deceiving proselytes by this practice.
Some apologists may object to the above analysis by saying that many Watchtower publications touch on the 1985 baptismal vows. That's not entirely correct, since an exhaustive search of the Watchtower Library on CDROM turns up very few references from 1985 onward to the concepts incorporated in the 2nd baptismal vow, and very few direct claims that the Watchtower Society is Jehovah's spirit-directed organization. Further, it can hardly be expected that proselytes should do exhaustive searches of 15 plus years of Watchtower literature, or will do an exhaustive search for just one of hundreds of new concepts on the WT-CDROM. It seems to go without saying that such important material ought to be presented to proselytes directly in their course of study, and not at the last second before having to make or reject a commitment to the JW religion. That is mere "truth in advertising" and is something that every Christian organization should want to do.
AlanF