Author Raymond Franz, a former member of the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, shares his personal struggle to uphold his God-given freedom of conscience and that of others. His candid account reveals a journey marked by sensitivity and compassion, raising fundamental and unsettling questions. The origins of Jehovah's Witnesses date back to the 1870s as a small Bible study group in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and have since grown to over eight million members in approximately 240 countries. Despite their extensive door-to-door outreach, the religion remains largely misunderstood, even by its adherents, many of whom lack knowledge about their own history, doctrines, and the policymaking processes of their organization. The sessions of the Governing Body are private, with decisions made by this council being enforceable upon all Witnesses worldwide. As a third-generation member, Franz spent sixty years within the organization, including nine years on the Governing Body. His experiences culminated in a crisis of conscience, which serves as the book's central theme. This unique narrative provides insight into the decision-making of Jehovah's Witnesses' inner council and the profound, sometimes dramatic, effects their decisions have on people's lives.
