Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, 2002, Page 94
court. This ruling, in effect, seems to allow JWs to use deception in Ohio
courts in the name of religious freedom (Raines, 1996, pp. 29-30).
Summary
The Watchtower theocratic war doctrine teaching may result in rather blatant dishonesty if
the Witness perceives that this approach will benefit the Watchtower's interests. Numerous
examples were given that illustrate how the doctrine is interpreted and applied by active
Witnesses in a wide variety of situations. Bias and slanting of information in court to favor
one‘s position is not unusual in the American judicial system. A major distinction is that the
Watchtower institutionally supports and condones what many people regard as dishonesty.
Furthermore, many of the cases cited here were custody cases, and in custody cases lack of
candor and open dishonesty are more of a problem than in many other types of court cases.
This is partly because of the bitterness commonly observed in divorce and custody cases.
The application of the doctrine is not limited to custody cases, though, and is used in a wide
variety of situations, sometime those that benefit the Witness more than the Watchtower
society.
References
Anonymous. (1999). Letter. Comments from the friends. 18(1), 9.
Bergman, J. (1994). Theocratic war strategy: Why Witnesses lie in court. Free Minds
Journal, 13(2), 1-5.
Bergman, J. (1996). Why Jehovah's Witnesses have a high mental illness level. Christian
Research Journal. 19(1), 36-41.
Bergman, J. (1999). Jehovah’s Witnesses: A comprehensive and selectively annotated
bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Boettcher, R. (1980). Gifts of deceit. New York: Holt Rinehart &Winston.
Branden, V. (1988, Autumn). Lying for God‘s sake. Humanists in Canada, 18-19.
Bok, S. (1978). Lying: Moral choice in public and private life. New York: Pantheon.
Bowyer, B. J. (1982). Cheating. New York: St. Martin‘s Press.
Buber, M. (1946). Under two dictators. New York: Dodd and Mead.
Carelli, R. (1998, Jan. 21). U.S. agencies can punish workers for lying in court. Chicago
Daily Law Bulletin, 144(14), 1.
Carlson, B. (1996). The Risk of HIV transmission by screened blood. New England Journal
of Medicine, 334(15), 993.
Carrizosa, P. (1997, July 3). S.F. criminal defense attorney is suspended for lying to court.
The Los Angeles Daily Journal, 110(128), 3.
Chadbourn, J. (1930). Evidence–impeaching witness by showing religious belief. North
Carolina Law Review, 9, 77-82.
Dahlin, J. (1988, April-June). Watchtower teaches youngsters to give false testimony in
court The Discerner, 13(10), 15.
Duron, R. (1991, Sept/Oct.). We don‘t want to see you anymore. Liberty, 86(5), 16-18.
Ekman, P. (1985). Telling lies. New York: Norton.
Ekman, P. (1989). Why kids lie. New York: Penguin.
Elkins, C. (1980). Heavenly deception. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.
Ford, E. (1996). Untitled. Unpublished Manuscript.
Frakes, M. (1955, July 13). The Witnesses come to town. The Christian Century,. 818-820.
Franz, F. (Ed.). (1971). Aid to Bible Understanding. Brooklyn, NY: Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society.
Franz, F. (1988). Insight on the Scriptures. Brooklyn, NY: Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society.
Franz, R. (1983). Crisis of conscience. Atlanta, GA: Commentary Press.
Franz, R. (1991). In search of Christian freedom. Atlanta, GA: Commentary Press.
Furse, M. L. (1981). Nothing but the truth? Nashville: Abingdon.
court. This ruling, in effect, seems to allow JWs to use deception in Ohio
courts in the name of religious freedom (Raines, 1996, pp. 29-30).
Summary
The Watchtower theocratic war doctrine teaching may result in rather blatant dishonesty if
the Witness perceives that this approach will benefit the Watchtower's interests. Numerous
examples were given that illustrate how the doctrine is interpreted and applied by active
Witnesses in a wide variety of situations. Bias and slanting of information in court to favor
one‘s position is not unusual in the American judicial system. A major distinction is that the
Watchtower institutionally supports and condones what many people regard as dishonesty.
Furthermore, many of the cases cited here were custody cases, and in custody cases lack of
candor and open dishonesty are more of a problem than in many other types of court cases.
This is partly because of the bitterness commonly observed in divorce and custody cases.
The application of the doctrine is not limited to custody cases, though, and is used in a wide
variety of situations, sometime those that benefit the Witness more than the Watchtower
society.
References
Anonymous. (1999). Letter. Comments from the friends. 18(1), 9.
Bergman, J. (1994). Theocratic war strategy: Why Witnesses lie in court. Free Minds
Journal, 13(2), 1-5.
Bergman, J. (1996). Why Jehovah's Witnesses have a high mental illness level. Christian
Research Journal. 19(1), 36-41.
Bergman, J. (1999). Jehovah’s Witnesses: A comprehensive and selectively annotated
bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
Boettcher, R. (1980). Gifts of deceit. New York: Holt Rinehart &Winston.
Branden, V. (1988, Autumn). Lying for God‘s sake. Humanists in Canada, 18-19.
Bok, S. (1978). Lying: Moral choice in public and private life. New York: Pantheon.
Bowyer, B. J. (1982). Cheating. New York: St. Martin‘s Press.
Buber, M. (1946). Under two dictators. New York: Dodd and Mead.
Carelli, R. (1998, Jan. 21). U.S. agencies can punish workers for lying in court. Chicago
Daily Law Bulletin, 144(14), 1.
Carlson, B. (1996). The Risk of HIV transmission by screened blood. New England Journal
of Medicine, 334(15), 993.
Carrizosa, P. (1997, July 3). S.F. criminal defense attorney is suspended for lying to court.
The Los Angeles Daily Journal, 110(128), 3.
Chadbourn, J. (1930). Evidence–impeaching witness by showing religious belief. North
Carolina Law Review, 9, 77-82.
Dahlin, J. (1988, April-June). Watchtower teaches youngsters to give false testimony in
court The Discerner, 13(10), 15.
Duron, R. (1991, Sept/Oct.). We don‘t want to see you anymore. Liberty, 86(5), 16-18.
Ekman, P. (1985). Telling lies. New York: Norton.
Ekman, P. (1989). Why kids lie. New York: Penguin.
Elkins, C. (1980). Heavenly deception. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.
Ford, E. (1996). Untitled. Unpublished Manuscript.
Frakes, M. (1955, July 13). The Witnesses come to town. The Christian Century,. 818-820.
Franz, F. (Ed.). (1971). Aid to Bible Understanding. Brooklyn, NY: Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society.
Franz, F. (1988). Insight on the Scriptures. Brooklyn, NY: Watchtower Bible and Tract
Society.
Franz, R. (1983). Crisis of conscience. Atlanta, GA: Commentary Press.
Franz, R. (1991). In search of Christian freedom. Atlanta, GA: Commentary Press.
Furse, M. L. (1981). Nothing but the truth? Nashville: Abingdon.
