Thanks for this review. As a former JW, myself, I agree with your thought that “…a thinking person would” read the book. I don’t know you, personally, but feel a kindred spirit with your thoughts.

Regarding your comments, “Tom”: Yes, JWs do walk away when others disagree or don’t accept their views. What you left out, above, is that as they walk away, they’re condemning the “worldly ones” to death at armageddon. (And, more often than not, coveting the home they’ve just left for themselves after the big event…depending upon how upscale the neighborhood is, of course!) Since JWs are politically neutral (officially anyway) they just don’t really ‘count’ as far as legislation or violence used by some to impose their beliefs goes. They DO, however, impose their views on others via social control; the shunning they practice towards those who change their minds about the teachings of the Watchtower Society DOES stifle questioning from among the ‘faithful’, thus imposing silence and a sort of mass dissociative experience on the remaining members. This practice is as destructive as physical violence. They “coexist peacefully” with other groups because survival is a human tendency; in their minds, they are waiting to be the only ones left on a ‘paradise earth’ where ONLY worshippers of their particular god will survive. I spent 26 years, myself, “peacefully” sharing the so-called good news of the JWs, so my views are based on experience. I finally realized I could no longer engage in the “preaching work” because, in fact, I WAS passing judgment by my very presence on the doorsteps of my neighbors. We were told that we were NOT really in judgment (‘it’s all god’s judgment’), but that’s not how it felt to me.

In recent times, we’ve seen just how far some will take things to try to impose their beliefs on others. JWs may not actually engage in physical violence to impose their views, but their views are imposing, nonetheless. Just ask any person who has dared to change his/her mind.

Few groups follow this peaceful recipe. Many movements, whether religious or not, seek to force their ways upon others. Looking at your list of categories, you have for some reason singled out Jehovah’s Witnesses among religions. And yet they are the only large faith that is innocent of the charges you have leveled in your post.

Though I haven’t read any of your posts in that category yet. Perhaps you make that point clear.