I guess after leaving the witnesses 5 years ago - I had always thought the " control" issues had started years down the road in Rutherford's time and that initially the motives were good when Russell started this organization. Boy was I wrong. I've been reading the book " Kingdom of the Cults " by Walter Martin- revised edition and thought I'd share some eye opening quotes from C.T. Russell from 1910.
Check this quote from Russell in this book taken from the September 15 , 1910 Watchtower , page 298 where he emphasizes his publication " Studies in the Scriptures" - " If the six volumes of Studies in the Scriptures are practically the Bible, topically arranged with Bible proof texts given, we might not improperly name the volumes THE BIBLE IN AN ARRANGED FORM. That is to say, they are not mere comments on the Bible , BUT THEY ARE PRACTICALLY THE BIBLE ITSELF. "
He continues, " Furthermore , not only do we find that PEOPLE CANNOT SEE THE DIVINE PLAN IN STUDYING THE BIBLE BY ITSELF , but we see, also that if anyone lays the Studies in the Scripture books aside, if he then lays them aside and ignores them and goes to the Bible alone...., our experience shows that within two years HE GOES INTO DARKNESS. On the other hand, if he had merely read the Studies in the Scriptures with their references, and had NOT READ A PAGE OF THE BIBLE, as such, he would be in the light at the end of two years, because he would have the light of the Scriptures. "
Pretty creepy quotes, you think ? How arrogant of this man to assume the ONLY WAY people could understand the Bible was through HIS publications ! Sound familiar ? Over 100 years later from the late 1800's Jehovah's Witnesses and the WT society are still using " mind control" to influence people to believe that ONLY the WT society can help them interpret the Bible in the correct way. So the controlling aspect of this cult was set in motion from very early on. Just wanted to share this. I welcome any and all comments . Thanks, Peace out, Mr. Flipper