Where Else Would I Go?

The first question a Jehovah’s Witness will ask when confronted with the truthfulness of the Watchtower Society is:

"Where else would I go?"

This question is a ‘thought stopping’ technique. It may appear valid but at the time of questioning it is often a mental diversion from an issue being discussed. The validity of an issue is deflected by inducing fear of what will come next. “Where else to go” is of no relevance until there is a thorough understanding of the more important question;

“Does the Watchtower Society promote truth?”

Fear should not prevent an honest evaluation of the facts about the group. It is only once convinced that the Watchtower Society does not teach truth that a person can legitimately address and understand “where to now”.

This question is not unique to Jehovah's Witnesses, but common to members of high control groups. Mormons, Seventh-day Adventists and Worldwide Church of God echo this identical sentiment. (See sites such as ex-sda.com and exmormon.org) Steven Hassan refers to this as Phobia Indoctrination, saying “members are systematically made to be phobic about ever leaving the group”[1]. This fear is reason for the success high control groups have in keeping their members from facing the truth about their religion.

This article is not intended to promote a particular religion or belief structure. Rather it discusses the errant concept of a single true organization and the different directions former Jehovah’s Witnesses take upon leaving the Watchtower Society. What follows is written predominantly from a Christian perspective.

The Watchtower encourages the question “where to go” by misapplication of scripture. Ask a Jehovah’s Witness what Peter said when Jesus asked if he would leave him. The answer will invariably be that Peter said “where would I go?’ as quoted by the Watchtower

Where could we turn if we would leave God’s organization today? There is nowhere else! (John 6:66-69)"
Watchtower 1975 September 1 p.531 "

"Furthermore, suppose a person was to separate himself from Jehovah’s people. Where could he go? Is he not faced with the same issue that confronted Jesus’ apostles when he asked them if they also wanted to leave him? The apostle Peter rightly replied: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life.” (John 6:68) There is nowhere else to go but to “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion, or into the clutches of Satan’s political “wild beast.” (Revelation 13:1; 18:1-5) Largely, disloyal ones who have left Jehovah’s visible organization have made common cause with those in God-dishonoring “>Babylon the Great." Watchtower 1988 March 15 pp.18-19

At John 6:68 Peter actually said to Jesus “Lord, whom shall we go away to?” This is the essence of Christianity; it is not about an organization but about being a follower of Jesus.

Galatians 3:29 “Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.”

John 8:32, 36 "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. … the Son sets YOU free"

Freedom comes from belonging to Jesus, not an organization; otherwise a person is no freer than the Israelites that were enslaved to the legislation of the Pharisees. Likewise, salvation is only through Jesus;

John 10:9 “I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, and he will go in and out and find pasturage.”

Acts 4:12 “Furthermore, there is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved.”

Acts 16:31 ““Believe on the Lord Jesus and you will get saved, you and your household””

2 Timothy 2:10 “that they too may obtain the salvation that is in union with Christ Jesus along with everlasting glory.”

Jehovah's Witnesses believe there is an absolute truth and that the Watchtower Society represents it more accurately than anyone else.

"Brother Schroeder highlighted the confidence Jehovah’s people have because their faith is based on absolutes. They know, for example, that Jehovah is the Universal Sovereign and that his Word, the Holy Bible, is absolute truth." Watchtower 1987 December 1 p.22

Believing the Watchtower version of this absolute truth is thought to be essential if a person does not wish to be destroyed at Armageddon.

“This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ.” (John 17:3) That is one of the scriptures most widely used by Jehovah’s Witnesses to help others appreciate the importance of studying God’s Word. It is certainly no less important for each one of us to do so personally. Our very hope of living forever is contingent on our growing in knowledge of Jehovah and his Son, Jesus Christ.” Watchtower 2000 October 1 p.23

The idea that there is absolute truth is sound, what the Watchtower fails to acknowledge is that it is impossible for us to know absolute truth. If following absolute truth is the criteria for being acceptable to God the Watchtower precludes itself, due to the ongoing doctrinal errors and changes. To say that any one particular Christian group has a special key to 'truth' has no scriptural backing, and to search tens of thousands of religions is not only impossible but pointless, as no other religion teaches absolute truth either. Such a search is fraught with disappointment.

Why does a person need a concrete belief structure? Faith is the belief in what is unproven and by definition the very reason no one can prove a complete “truth”, so why insist on demanding one? What is the answer? It is not doctrine; in fact Jesus rarely discussed doctrine. It is not an organisation; Jesus never mentioned an organisation. The Bible shows that Christ is 'truth'. The Bible message is to follow and recognise him as the means for salvation.

The fundamental premise of being a Jehovah's Witnesses is that worship of God requires an intermediary organization. This is so consistently enforced into the minds of a Jehovah's Witnesses that even when they learn that the Watchtower Society does not teach truth it is common to feel the need to fill the void with a similar organization. This feeling is simply due to the amount of emphasis the Watchtower Society places on being part of an organization. Even though the Bible never uses the word organization, between 1950 and 2003 the word organization occurs 10,466 times in the Watchtower magazine alone, an average of over 7 times per issue. Even when the heart knows it is not The Truth, remnants of Watchtower thinking can deceive a person into believing that an organization is needed and there is nothing better than the Watchtower Society.

The word organization does not appear in the Bible. For the first 2,500 years of human history there was no single organization and worship was not contingent on membership of a church. Yet we have records of the most God fearing men of all time; people such as Enoch, Joseph, Noah and Abraham. The Watchtower teaches that Oriental Job served God after the formation of the nation of Israel. Though he had no ties to this group God said that there was “no one like him in the earth” (Job 1:8)

In Christian times Jesus promised to be with his followers at all times providing individual sustenance and guidance through the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:20 “Look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

1 Corinthians 6:1 “What! Do YOU not know that the body of YOU people is [the] temple of the holy spirit within YOU, which YOU have from God?”

(See also Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38; Acts 16:6; Romans 8:26-27)

When the Samaritan woman asked where to worship, Jesus showed a physical place is not important, answering;

John 4:23 "Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him."

A person can rightfully worship alone or in small groups. Jesus promised that he would direct his followers no matter how many were gathered together.

Matthew 18:20 “Where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst!”

Meeting together to discuss things of a spiritual nature with friends over a meal or coffee can be enjoyable; the input from others affords a balanced view and can be more encouraging than being lectured from a pulpit.

The social nature of humans fills people with the need to belong to a community. This is not God’s need, but man’s. A church is not essential for worship, but this is not to indicate that they are of no benefit, or that large gatherings are wrong. Jews had large festivals and would meet at the temple. Jesus spoke to 3,000 non believers on a mountain. Peter spoke to a large gathering after which 3,000 were baptized. Groups were formed by early Christians, “that the congregation may receive upbuilding”. (1 Cor 14:5) Christian congregations met in houses with like minded people worshipping Christ. As traditionally common in society, mature members guided the newer ones. (Acts 20:28)

The formation of congregations indicates order, but it does not imply an organization that demands unquestioning obedience. There was freedom to discuss different points of view without fear of retribution, such as when congregations disagreed over circumcision. When such serious disagreement arose a large group of older men came to consensus, the consensus was not to “further burden” the congregation. (Acts 15:28)

Worship is about faith in God, so what is the reason for belonging to a religion? It may be for teaching and ritual but in large part it is for fellowship. In seeking a group to worship with one of the most important things to remember is that you have freedom of choice. Find the group most suitable for assisting you in that worship.

Joining a new religion can help a Jehovah’s Witness move on from the experiences of the past and the continual rerun of Watchtower doctrine in ones mind. This is better than staying alone trying to create the correct version of Watchtower truth, or creating an anti-religious philosophy based solely on a negative Jehovah’s Witness experience. In the process of meeting with others sharing your Witness experience can also be helpful to regular churchgoers.

People select their lifestyle and religion according to tastes; it has little to do with whether something is or is not true. The reason people become Witnesses is often the attraction to the message of living forever on a paradise earth. If they wish it to be true they see it as true. It is unfortunate that this is often just bait. Once hooked high control religions manipulate such people by convincing them they are worthless sinners if they do not follow their particular flavour of Christianity. To think for yourself as an individual requires courage, a rational mind and the desire to become everything you actually are by nature.

With over 10,000 religious groups and 30,000 Christian sects globally it is impossible to examine a fraction of these and illogical to think there is a single correct religion. No group knows or teaches absolute truth so it is advisable to steer clear of any group whose leaders attempt to take intimate control of your life and opinions,taking away your basic human rights and freedom. Finding the right one for you is personal choice. The overall mentality of the Church matters more than individual doctrines. Are the people friendly, accepting, reasonable and helpful? One of the glories of Christianity is the variety, revel in it. The New Testament does not give long lists of regulations, it gives principles. You can now apply these uniquely based on your individual circumstances and culture around you.

The original purpose of the Watchtower Society was sadly departed from. Russell had stated Bible Students were not to be identified by a sectarian name but simply as Christians.

“We always refuse to be called by any other name than that of our Head --Christians--continually claiming that their can be no division among those continually led by his Spirit and example as made known through his Word.” Zion’s Watch Tower 1883 March p.6

Together they would meet to discuss the Bible. Love was to be the identifying factor rather than intricate doctrinal unity. Russell recognized that forced doctrinal unity was the source of apostasy and bondage.

"The endeavor to compel all men to think alike on all subjects, culminated in the great apostasy … The union of the early church, based upon the simple gospel and bound only by love, gave place to the bondage of the Church of Rome a slavery of God's children, from the degradation of which multitudes are still weak and suffering" Zion's Watch Tower 1893 September p.264

This type of mentality is far healthier than the concept of strict reliance on an organization demanding unquestioning allegiance. After the end failed to arrive as predicted in 1925 Rutherford restructured the concepts of doctrine and organization. The command of Matthew 28:19 to “make disciples” no longer meant to make Disciples of Christ, but rather followers of Rutherford’s organization. William J Schell writes about the transition from Christ to organization in 30 Years a Watchtower Slave Abridged Edition 2001. In 1926 “No longer, as in the old Bible Student days were we following the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 to disciple the nations for Christ, to become Christians. … They had better get in with us as God’s Organization or suffer the consequences which would automatically accrue to Satan’s organization in Armageddon!” (p.69) “Home Bible study was discontinued for Book studies, with the Societies books and textbooks in place of the Bible, and the Bible relegated to a position where it was restricted almost exclusively to reference use.” (p.101)

In The Myth of Certainty: The Reflective Christian & the Risk of Commitment [2] Professor Daniel Taylor warns that this transition is common:

“The primary goal of all institutions and subcultures is self-preservation.  Preserving the faith is central to God’s plan for human history; preserving particular religious institutions is not. Do not expect those who run the institutions to be sensitive to the difference. God needs no particular person, church, denomination, creed or organization to accomplish his purpose…

Nonetheless, questioning the institutions is synonymous, for many, with attacking God—something not long to be tolerated.  Supposedly they are protecting God . . .  Actually, they are protecting themselves, their view of the world, and their sense of security. … This threat is often met, or suppressed even before it arises, with power. . . Institutions express their power most clearly by enunciating, interpreting and enforcing the rules of the subculture.”

Professor Taylor’s comments help explain why religions can become oppressive to the point of excommunication, war or crusade. If choosing a new church, speak to members and former members and research both sides of the story, such as on the Internet. Compare what you find with the eight attributes Lifton specified identify indicate mind control. Many religious groups display high control and this is normally a good indication that they are worth avoiding. If a religion does not feel right to you it probably isn’t right for you.

If a religion is strictly regimented and intolerant of others it is going beyond the scriptures. Jesus warned against those that “teach commands of men as doctrines.” (Matthew 15:9) When the leaders of a religious group are not to be questioned an unhealthy form of worship results. There are estimated to be more than 3,000 cults in America alone that fit this description. Larger organizations that promote this type of unhealthy worship are usually not referred to as cults but as high control groups. Generally in these groups shunning is the result of failing to comply with the leaders demands. This includes Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons and some evangelical Born Again groups. Catholics have a similar structure but in modern times have become less rigid in enforcing these rules.

There is no single destination for former Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many Jehovah’s Witnesses are so poisoned by their religious experience with the Watchtower Society that they are wary of being deceived by another group. Some loose all faith, becoming atheists or agnostics, often cynical that it is possible for anything to be proven true. Others find comfort in non judgmental faiths that promote peace, such as Buddhism. Those that hold on to their belief in the Bible generally are more likely to gravitate to a less dogmatic religion or stop believing it is necessary to attend any organized religious group. Many keep their love of God but their Watchtower experience makes them wary of joining any specific group. Conversely there is the risk of being attracted to another high control group for the comfortable similarity they offer. There are several destinations for those that choose to associate as part of a Christian denomination. Protestant religions are more familiar for former Witnesses as they hold to the sola scriptura principle that the Watchtower adheres to; that is, the Bible alone. Some are drawn to the Baptists because of their active participation in preaching and missionary works. Some find churches with an Alpha program worth trying (www.alpha.org). Others are comfortable with the way Anglicans operate in a decentralized manner similar to early Christians.

Catholicism may seem vastly different to a Witness due to its acceptance of continued revelation from God, hence the acceptance of creeds not based on scripture. Yet there is no reason to believe God could not or would not continue to work through his people. The Catholic Church is the only group that can verifiably claim to span back to the time of Jesus, and are filled with enjoyable ritual and ceremony. Though having a reprehensible history in recent times they have made progressive changes.

There are many Christian fellowships that are based around love of Jesus and healthy lifestyles without judgment and guilt trips.  These may be set up by a major religion or be interdenominational. Groups such as Christian Crusade for Christ, Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth for Christ and Couples for Christ have healthy fellowship. Whereas the Watchtower has little to offer children many healthy Christian churches organize Sunday school, social occasions, camps and activities for youths.

Some former Witnesses remain firmly opposed to the Trinity and find it difficult joining Christian Churches with Trinitarian beliefs. Groups that reject the Trinity include Christadelphians, Bible Students and Christian Scientists. However it is possible to attend most denominations without having to imagine God in terms of a Trinity. Many Church goers do not understand the doctrinal intricacies of the Trinity and think and talk of the Father and the Son as two separate entities.

Traditionally Catholics and Protestants taught Eternal Hellfire, another doctrine former Witnesses may find unpalatable. Hellfire is not taught by many modern Churches, including Seven Day Adventists and other Advent Churches, Mormons, Christian Science, Bible Students, Christadelphians, Church of God, Nazarenes, Episcopal Church and Unitarians. There are also individual congregations within traditional Protestant groups such as Baptist and Lutheran that no longer teach hellfire, and in 1996 the Anglican Church changed its doctrine from a place of torment to “total non-being." The two main lines of reasoning are either;

• Universal reconciliation; that eventually all will find salvation and reconciliation with God
• Annihilationism; that the unrighteous are punished with eternal destruction (such as taught by Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses)

Many former Witnesses relate most closely to Universal Unitarianism (http://www.uua.org/), a group that are not concerned with absolute truth and are non judgmental of a persons individual beliefs. Though started from Christianity they are accepting of all faiths. Closely related is the Perennial Philosophy; an understanding that the ideal of all religion is the same. In general all religion shares a similar core mythology, share ritual, spiritual experience and point to worship of the creator. The core of most religion is a supreme creative God Almighty. This concept is very different than the Watchtower concept of a single organization promoting an absolute truth, but realistic once it is understood that a persons religion is determined by culture more than absolute truth.

It is a good time to consider the benefit of religious institutions and the wisdom of belonging to any denomination. Religion is the great fomenter of bigotry and war. Most denominations tend to promote the belief that they alone have truth. In its extreme manifestation this leads to crusades, witch hunts and terrorist attacks; in modern religion such as the Watchtower Society it can result in alienation and shunning of family. Is it logical that God only belongs to people of a single faith? People are generally the religion of their country or family origins. Would a just God condemn a person for not joining a religion they have never known? Does God require us to belong to religion at all?

It is inescapable that a void will be created when loosing ones beliefs, and it is fear of this void that makes a person ask “where else would I go”. This should not be used as reason to avoid confronting the reality of the Watchtower Society. Once that reality is known a person can make an educated decision on how to proceed.

You may enjoy being a Jehovah’s Witness and choose to continue as one, but at least you can be realistic of how much control you allow the Organization to have over your life. There are many Jehovah’s Witnesses that know the Watchtower Society teaches falsehood, but continue meeting attendance for the sake of family and friends others. However most find that the only way to build a real life is to sever all ties. Some are disfellowshipped or choose to disassociate, others fade gradually over time. Leaving will be difficult, and there is no easy way around that fact. Like entering a cold pool, some people creep in, others dive in. Creeping prolongs the agony.

You have probably spent much of your life following rules of men to catch a dream. Fantasy stifles learning to deal with the real world. As a Jehovah's Witnesses you were forced to suppress your own happiness, contentment and goals and replace them with Watchtower goals, waiting for the promise of better things to come. These can now be replaced with goals based on your choices.

Rest assured - the pain of broken trust will pass. Meaning will not vanish from your life, you still will be you and life will continue with all its glorious highs and crushing lows. Despite the ongoing pain of being rejected by family and friends, most former Witnesses report being happier and healthier once freed. You may choose to join a less intrusive religion or prefer to separate worship from institutions.

There is a distinction between religion and spirituality. Institutionalisation of spirituality leads to powerful hierarchal structures that enforce allegiance through segregation and enforce adherence to dogmatic belief systems.  Where is better? A starting point is a belief structure that does not violate the fundamental rights of family. Whatever path taken, there is no need to allow humans to take from you your right to spiritual freedom.

[1] Combating Cult Mind Control p.45 Steven Hassan Park Street Press 1990

[2] InteVarsity Press, 1986, 1992 p.220