Contents:

Part I. History. [Chapter 1] The beginning of a movement. Charles Russell: the early years --

George Storrs --

Russel and the object and manner of Christ's return --

Dr. Nelson H. Barbour and the three worlds --

Early Schisms: 1878 and 1881 --

Russell's independent ministry --

The Bible Students' Association --

Russell as the faithful and wise servant --

Russell's marital tribulations --

The New Covenant schism --

Russell's last years and death --

[Chapter 2] The creation of theocracy. Joseph Franklin Rutherford --

The Watch Tower schism of 1917 --

The Bible Students and the First World War --

Post-war reorganization --

Millions now living will never die --

Rutherford's ministry --

Conventions --

Rutherford's growing power --

The new name --

The development of theocratic government --

Growing social alienation --

The growth of the Bible Student --

Witness Community --

The vindication of Jehovah's name --

The attack on religion --

The great multitude --

Rutherford's personal life and last days --

Rutherford's death and legacy --

[Chapter 3] The era of global expansion. Rutherford's successors --

The Olin Moyle case --

The remoulding of the Witness Community --

The growth of a Witness Community --

New World assemblies --

Fighting for freedom of worship --

Congregation committees and disfellowshipping --

A slowdown in growth --

Stay alive till '75 --

Organizational and congregational liberalization --

[Chapter 4] Prophetic failure, reaction, and rebellion. Response to prophetic failure --

The attack on intellectuals --

Closing heaven's gates --

Doctrinal vacillations--

The growth of dissent --

Jehovah's Witnesses today --

[Chapter 5] Relations with the world. Attitudes towards other religions --

Religious persecution --

The nature of anti-witness propaganda --

The charge of sedition --

Witness concepts of relations with the state --

Opposition to preaching --

Military service --

Patriotic exercises and political neutrality --

Marxist persecution --

Witness compromises with the world --

General social attitudes --

Blood transfusions --

Separateness and social concern --

Part II. Concepts and doctrine. [Chapter 6] Base of doctrinal authority. The faithful and discreet slave --

Progressive revelation --

Natural theology and the Bible --

Biblical interpretation --

Philosophy of history --

[Chapter 7] Major doctrines. Theology --

Christology and soteriology --

Covenantal relationships --

Spirit creatures --

The nature of man --

Baptism and the Lord's Supper --

The church --

The great crowd --

Creation --

Bible chronology and eschatological prophecy --

The resurrection --

The sacredness of life and blood --

The preaching work --

Part III. Organization and community. [Chapter 8] Organizational structure. The witness hierarchy --

The president of the Watch Tower Society --

The governing body --

Governing body committees --

The world-wide headquarters --

The legal corporations --

Watch tower wealth --

Watch Tower literature --

District and circuit overseers --

Branches --

Elders and ministerial servants --

Pioneers --

Congregational meetings --

Evangelism --

Formal organizational controls --

Informal controls --

Organizational efficiency --

[Chapter 9] The Witness Community. Membership, recruitment, and conversion --

Sex, marriage, and the family --

Education --

Entertainment, the arts, and literature --

Moral values and social relationships --

Moral behaviour --

Ethnic and racial attitudes --

Witness mental health --

Decreasing zeal --

Dissonance and dissent --

Response to dissent --

The effects of Watch Tower policy --

Witness instability and conservatism --

Conclusion. Jehovah's Witnesses since 1985: an afterword.