Apocalypse delayed : the story of Jehovah's Witnesses / M. James Penton.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 399-424) and index.

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 -- Bible Students' Association -- Russell as the faithful and wise servant -- Russell's marital tribulations -- New Covenant schism -- Russell's last years and death -- [Chapter 2] The creation of theocracy. Joseph Franklin Rutherford -- Watch Tower schism of 1917 -- Bible Students and the First World War -- Post-war reorganization -- Millions now living will never die -- Rutherford's ministry -- Conventions -- Rutherford's growing power -- New name -- Development of theocratic government -- Growing social alienation -- Growth of the Bible Student -- Witness Community -- Vindication of Jehovah's name -- Attack on religion -- Great multitude -- Rutherford's personal life and last days -- Rutherford's death and legacy -- [Chapter 3] The era of global expansion. Rutherford's successors -- Olin Moyle case -- Remoulding of the Witness Community -- 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 -- Attack on intellectuals -- Closing heaven's gates -- Doctrinal vacillations-- Growth of dissent -- Jehovah's Witnesses today -- [Chapter 5] Relations with the world. Attitudes towards other religions -- Religious persecution -- Nature of anti-witness propaganda -- 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. 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 -- Nature of man -- Baptism and the Lord's Supper -- Church -- Great crowd -- Creation -- Bible chronology and eschatological prophecy -- Resurrection -- Sacredness of life and blood -- Preaching work -- Part III. Organization and community. [Chapter 8] Organizational structure. Witness hierarchy -- President of the Watch Tower Society -- Governing body -- Governing body committees -- World-wide headquarters -- 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 -- Effects of Watch Tower policy -- Witness instability and conservatism -- Conclusion. Jehovah's Witnesses since 1985: an afterword.