Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 85
Response Member Pioneer
Ministerial
Servant
Elder
Circuit
Overseer
A. Never heard of it 37 7 3 0
B. Vaguely 19 2 3 0
C. Fairly familiar with it. 11 3 7 1
D. Very familiar with it.7 7 5 7 2
E.
Very familiar and applied it
in some situations.
2 1 4 2
F.
Very familiar and applied it
in many situations.
0 1 6 3
Total 74 19 30 8
The next question—―How would you best describe the theocratic war doctrine?‖—was
answered as follows (the numbers do not add to 131 because the respondents could select
more than one response):
Response Member Pioneer
Ministerial
Servant
Elder
Circuit
Overseer
A.
The court‘s definition of
truth ―One must tell the
whole truth and nothing
but the truth‖ must be
strictly adhered to.
3 1 0 0
B.
We do not have to follow
the rule, i.e., they can
withhold the truth from
those who have no right to
know it.
38 10 14 4
C.
To protect the interests of
the Watchtower and God‘s
organization, it is
appropriate to tell what
the world might conclude
are little white lies.
38 10 11 4
D.
One must use words in
such a way to defend
God‘s organization--even if
this means lying in worldly
terms.
23 8 10 4
These data indicate that a majority of Witnesses are aware of the doctrine. These data also
indicate a clear relationship exists between the level of activity in the Watchtower and
awareness of the doctrine. All of the former circuit overseers were fully aware of it, and
over half admitted that they used it. Although 37 persons (28% of the entire sample)
claimed they never heard of the doctrine, only 3 persons (2%) chose the incorrect definition
of the doctrine, response ―A.‖
An examination of the questionnaires of those who claimed they were not aware of the
doctrine shows they were far less involved in the Watchtower—some were at best nominal
Witnesses who attended meetings often as a result of family pressure. Dedicated Witnesses
who held administrative positions were, with only one exception, very aware of the doctrine
Response Member Pioneer
Ministerial
Servant
Elder
Circuit
Overseer
A. Never heard of it 37 7 3 0
B. Vaguely 19 2 3 0
C. Fairly familiar with it. 11 3 7 1
D. Very familiar with it.7 7 5 7 2
E.
Very familiar and applied it
in some situations.
2 1 4 2
F.
Very familiar and applied it
in many situations.
0 1 6 3
Total 74 19 30 8
The next question—―How would you best describe the theocratic war doctrine?‖—was
answered as follows (the numbers do not add to 131 because the respondents could select
more than one response):
Response Member Pioneer
Ministerial
Servant
Elder
Circuit
Overseer
A.
The court‘s definition of
truth ―One must tell the
whole truth and nothing
but the truth‖ must be
strictly adhered to.
3 1 0 0
B.
We do not have to follow
the rule, i.e., they can
withhold the truth from
those who have no right to
know it.
38 10 14 4
C.
To protect the interests of
the Watchtower and God‘s
organization, it is
appropriate to tell what
the world might conclude
are little white lies.
38 10 11 4
D.
One must use words in
such a way to defend
God‘s organization--even if
this means lying in worldly
terms.
23 8 10 4
These data indicate that a majority of Witnesses are aware of the doctrine. These data also
indicate a clear relationship exists between the level of activity in the Watchtower and
awareness of the doctrine. All of the former circuit overseers were fully aware of it, and
over half admitted that they used it. Although 37 persons (28% of the entire sample)
claimed they never heard of the doctrine, only 3 persons (2%) chose the incorrect definition
of the doctrine, response ―A.‖
An examination of the questionnaires of those who claimed they were not aware of the
doctrine shows they were far less involved in the Watchtower—some were at best nominal
Witnesses who attended meetings often as a result of family pressure. Dedicated Witnesses
who held administrative positions were, with only one exception, very aware of the doctrine
