Hey Sandy,
I've read about this experience in Crisis of Conscience. If it were a lie, don't you think that the WTBTS would have sued Ray Franz for falsifying documents (there are pictures of actual documents in his book) since the WTBTS has tried to sue anyone who would try and tarnish their right to freedom of worship?
I do remember writing letters to the Malawi government politely requesting that they stop beating, raping & killing Jehovah's Witnesses because the witnesses wouldn't buy a $.25 political card. It was deemed necessary to remain "completely neutral" with their lives.
Do you remember when (around 92-94) the Watchtower has articles about our Mexican brothers giving such open praise and able to bring their Bibles & songbooks to their meeting place........even openly calling them Kingdom Halls NOW? Why couldn't they do this openly before? We were led to believe that JW's were being persecuted by the Mexican government.
But noooooooooooo, Jehovah's Witnesses couldn't call their meeting place a Kingdom Hall & sing songs to God there because then they'd have to pay taxes on it. So it was called a social building.....and the WTBTS didn't have to pay taxes. Then the Mexican government changed their laws.......and Voila!......the WTBTS now had Mexican Kingdom Halls!
The Mexican government wasn't persecuting anyone. They just wanted the WTBTS to pay taxes....just like other religions.
Nice to meet you - hope you stick around. Nice place.
waiting