If one reads the bible, it clearly states that what is important is a relationship with God and Jesus.When you get too many people together with an agenda, it becomes their views, not God's.
This is what I was going to say. Anyone can read the bible and can develop a personal relationship based on that knowledge and Jesus' teachings.
When you join an organization (whether it be religious or social or any other) you learn what they believe (in) and make your decision to join (or not) depending on what you hear.
Organizations tend to have by-laws that you are required to obey and disregarding those by-laws will end up in your dismissal because they want everyone IN that organization to think, act and believe exactly the same way.
Thus, you have the Watchtower Society, that has all of the above, despite the fact that God makes no mention of having an "earthly organization", nor does Jesus tell us that his followers MUST be within one to please him either.
This is all WTS man-made thinking, and the way the WTS is beating his sheep, they will be dealt with according to their deeds. The longer the WTS is in existance, the tighter the bindings, man-made rules and unchristian treatment is getting. The true love for their members has disappeared and a dictatorship has emerged.
If members discover that they're "membership" has taken on new meaning since they were dedicated to this organization, then you find that the by-laws are rigidly supported, ending with a dismissal from that organization to all who don't comply.
So much for love and compassion. But what can you expect from a publishing company?
Annie