Daniel 8 for Dummies - Introduction: "The Powers of the Dark Side"

The two articles I'm going to present are going to be an indictment of Fred William Franz. I consider Franz to be the second most evil man in Watchtower history, next to Joseph Franklin Rutherford, if you measure the term "evil" not only by motive and action, but by the sheer numbers of people adversely affected from it.

When people were in his presence, Franz's good sense of humor, apparent modesty and geeky way of dressing made him instantly likeable: up until the instant you crossed him or one of his interpretations, according to his nephew Raymond Franz. Then Fred Franz became downright hostile towards you.

There is no doubt that Franz was a very intelligent man. There is also no doubt that he used his intelligence and powers of persuasion (not to mention his position of authority) to force lies he KNEW were lies down the throats of people who clung to his every thought as being divinely directed and inspired. Why would he do this? He would do this in order to make the JW masses think that Corporate decisions and Corporate fantasies of the WTS were in harmony with the Bible.

Before we get on to Daniel chapter 8, let's take a few examples of what I'm talking about.

Page 198 of the 2nd edition of Crisis of Conscience discusses 1975 (you know, that FAILED Fred Franz apocalyptic fantasy). Paragraph 4 of that book states: "Bill Jackson smilingly said to me (Ray Franz), "We used to say, you just take the date from this shoulder and put it on the other shoulder." Can you consider how cavalier such an attitude was considering the fact that millions of people lived and died based upon those dates, and millions of people made lifelong (and bad) decisions based upon those dates that were casually tossed from "shoulder" to "shoulder" as people like Jackson "smiled?"

From 1918 and for the next quarter of a century, Jehovah's Witnesses were told that Jehovah had faithfully promised the resurrection to earth of the ancient prophets and that this would happen before Armageddon. Jehovah's Witnesses were thrilled to know that "Jehovah" had lovingly provided a beautiful mansion in San Diego for them to enjoy after their resurrection. Countless tens of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses had foregone marriage and children because of this "prophecy" and countless tens of thousands of Jehovah's Witnesses went to their graves single and without children because of the failure of this prophecy. Why?

A.H. MacMillan ("Faith on the March") who served in Bethel under 3 Watchtower presidents and died as a faithful JW tells us why. He said that Beth-Sarim was built "for no purpose other than to get the drunken and declining Rutherford out of Brooklyn." Note the words: "no other purpose" than to deal with an abusive alcoholic. Very revealing about the true character of the man Franz, isn't it?

Haydn Covington, also a long-time ranking member of the Bethel family quoted Fred Franz as saying, "they built the judge a house out in California just to get him out of Bethel." MacMillan also stated that it was Franz that "concocted the cover story...saying that the house was for the ancient prophets due back 'any day' in the pre-Armageddon resurrection." Yet, all along Fred Franz clearly knew that house was build for "no other purpose" than to get one substance abuser out of the hair of the other Corporate liars, yet he "concocted" a "story", a LIE which was presented as coming from Jehovah himself for "spiritual" consumption by the believing masses.

Do you think that from these examples I've just mentioned that Franz had any respect for the Bible? Do you think that anyone who "concocts" a "cover story" from the Bible to solve a short-term human problem has any respect for the book he is entrusted to interpret for millions of people? Do you think that a person who would callously manipulate these people who've give him the full trust of their futures and their family's futures in order to solve the problems caused by one drunk man deserves any respect? I don't. I despise the man for what he has done to millions of people. I despise his arrogance. I despise his dishonesty and his hypocrisy.

One time Ray Franz asked Fred about who specifically Fred thought was the "Faithful and Discreet Slave." Franz answered that he thought he himself was one of them. When pressed further to name a few other names, Franz would not do it. He would not identify even ONE other person besides himself as being a member of the FDS! Does not such an attitude from a man who was solely responsible for prophetic interpretation for all JWs throughout the world DISGUST you? It disgusts me.

Does it not disgust you that a never-married, VIRGIN (likely) childless old man took it upon himself to dictate in great detail religious rules about sexuality in general, marital sexual practices, and who compared female teenage adolescence to "cows in heat" was actually revered and nearly worshipped by millions?

Does it not disgust you that this same man was the one who made it an enforced religious policy to severely punish females who were brutally raped but failed to scream out, even if they were threatened with death if they did; yet at the same time this very man meted out the same severe punishment to females who dared divorce their husbands when they found out their husbands were having sexual intercourse with four legged BEASTS or MEN?

I think I'm going to puke, so enough of this. Let's take a trip into another aspect of sheer Fred Franz insanity. This trip will be a lot more fun than the stuff I've just mentioned. It will be a true yet farcical trip of "Franz in Wonderland." We are going to see the "Deep Things(tm)" and "True Meaning(tm)" of Daniel chapter 8, ala' that great story teller, Fredrick William Franz.

Coming up next: Part II - "The Watchtower Strikes Back"

and finally,

Part III - "The Return of the Red-Eye" (if you don't know what "red-eye" means, don't ask!)

Farkel

"I didn't mean what I meant."

Brilliant! I am looking forward to Parts II and III. I am curious what old Freddy would say, if he could talk from the grave. It would be fascinating! - Thanks for a well stated post. - Amazing

Well done Farkel. Good read - However where in "Faith on the March" would I find the following quote!

Fred probably felt that since he was THE ORACLE speaking for god in the last days that he had "prophetic" license to dispense a little tongue-in-cheek nonsense every once in a while to accomplish what he felt was some nobler purpose. (otherwise known as theocratic stragegy)

I believe F. Franz was sincere. World events cooperated nicely with Watchtower predictions. Two world wars. Clear antagonists in the US and Soviet Union. Development of a super weapon that could really destroy life on the planet. And there on the podium the little wise-ass who probably felt that if an idea came to his head that it was put there by holy spirit.

hippikon,

: However where in "Faith on the March" would I find the following quote...

Right next to the part where he accurately explains that Rutherford had to assume control of the WTS because "renegades" were trying to take it over and "subvert" Jehovah!

Farkel

"I didn't mean what I meant."

Hey SirFred,

Sure Big Joe's been pushing up pansies for about 60 years, sure we're pissing on his grave but until fairly recently the lies held us trapped just as they do millions now living.

How about commenting on Farkels post? As a JW of longstanding you know how the bethel boys despise and manipulate the zombified mass's. How about telling us what you think of Franz sidelining the Judge at Beth Sarim and concocting the lie about the resurected prophets needing a comfortable place to booze 'n snooze. Did Joe Rutherford really think Daniel and David would crunch up his driveway and press his doorbell one sunny Californian afternoon? Did he keep ice and fresh lemonade handy for when Moses and AAron came calling? Did he actually believe any of the lies he foysted on his neive gullible followers?

These are questions as relevent to this board as any related to the current shenanighans in the Brooklyn and London branches of the Russellite vine.

cheers, unclebruce

Hey Fred, the Judge is a colorful mexican pinate .. it's New Year .. we've hung him up ... come here .. (unc makes sure freds blindfold is secure) .. way ya go SirFred .. belt him with ya cane till the candies drop! .. careful now .. we recon he's full o' shit ... lol oooo yaaarrrk!

Farkel,

That was superb!

Danny

Thanks Farkel,

I take it you managed to find this series or someone else had a copy. Have you lost anything else? It would be a great loss to us all as you have done some excellent research.

Thirdson

Unc,

: Could you please post that link to your stuff again and how about having it inserted in your "who's Who" bio?

Why should I do that? I spend tons of time trying to show WT insanity for the folks and not only does hardly anyone read it, but its five pages down the board in a matter of hours.

You put up a post on "butt wax" and it gets double the response in 1/2 the time. You've discovered the secret to getting out the message people really want to see!

I'm definitely writing about the wrong stuff and spending too much time doing it, too.

Therefore, I think I'll do some research and post an article on "smegma." If I play my cards right, I might even get the Pulitzer.

Farkel