I was tempted to write the WTBS today. I'm reading a loaned copy (from my younger sister, 'Waiting') of Ray Franz's "In Search of Christian Freedom." It is a masterful point-by-point refutation of the WTS doctrine. And who would be in a better position to do it, than an ex-GB member?

What I was tempted to write the Borg was something like 'boy, did you make a HUGE mistake in disfellowshipping that guy!' Talk about knowing where the skeletons are hidden!
(But I wouldn't waste the paper or stamp on a letter I know wouldn't get past the front desk and waste basket.)

His gentle rationale and use of the Bible scriptures is so clear in demonstrating the errors the Borg have made regarding door-to-door, blood transfusions, clerical hierarchy, legalism, etc. It's 'just what the doctor ordered!' And I'm only half-way through.

Not that I haven't been equally impressed with the writings of ones on the Net such as AlanF. But I'm still discovering every day. It's only been since March of this year that i 'left.'

Pat

"All religions die of the same disease--that of being found out."

Hi Pat,

sometimes the "light gets brighter"
for others too, and as a result they "can see
LIGHT"!

Nice to have your thoughts,
Agape, J.C. MacHislopp

Hi Pat!

It's me, your email pen-pal from the other half of that big state out west somewhere. I decided to give this posting thing another try.

I heartily agree with you on the value of Ray Franz' books. I ended up reading "Christian Freedom" first and then COC. They aare both exposes ( can't make an accent for that word) of the first degree as far as I am concerned. Especially ISOCF is a masterpiece of research and reasoning, and enabled me to let go of the lingering fears of "what if they could be right" about this or that issue, and feel the full weight of indignation of things like disfellowshipping which I had no real personal experience with, never having had a close friend or relative suffer it.

I agree that they made a huge mistake DFing RF not only because he knows where the skeletons are, but because his writing style was so much more readable than 90% of the standard WT output. They should have let him write a lot more. I had no trouble reading the hundreds of pages in his 2 books, but I can barely make it through 3 or 4 pages of the WT before numbness sets in. Of course the object of the subject matter may have something to do with that.

Looking forward to conversational interchange with you here, and in my email box!

LMR

Ray has really performed a great public service with his books. It takes time for society to make changes in itself, but it does happen, and perhaps the end really is near for the Evil Empire. Its true, too, that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. When enough people make enough noise, the WTBTS will slouch into its own self-imposed end.

And something else. I met Ray when he moved to Winston, GA and was in the end stages of completing his home there. Worked with he and a few friends putting together some meetings of ex-JWs and other interested parties. The first meeting was held over in Alabama. Anyway, I had a chance to deal with Ray on a close personal basis for a few years back in the late eighties, and the point I want to make is that he is such a mild-mannered, gentle, honest, spiritually oriented and motivated guy, its hard to believe that the Borg did not listen to him when they had the chance.

It's obvious that Ray doesn't have a selfish bone in his body. And it would be hard to believe that he would ever be motivated to seek personal promotion or "glory" for himself or for his ideas. And yet the bozos at Borg headquarters allowed their own selfishness, their own ambition, their own hard-heartedness to allow this gem of a guy, endowed with no small intellect, to escape them. When they lost the services of Ray Franz, they lost the last, best, hope of turning around and sinning no more.

Think about it. Where would the JWs be today if they had sincerely adopted Ray's interpretations into the body of their beliefs; if they had ceased defending the indefensible, if they - in short - had gotten real and acknowledged the validity of the concerns of its members? It's strange to think about it in these terms, but the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses could have evolved into quite an attractive bunch. But they didn't, of course. It's hard to get people who think they speak for God to acknowledge the validity someone else's viewpoint. And its gonna cost 'em. Big.

Just musing.

Francois

I had the pleasure of meeting Ray and Cynthia too when I was in Atlanta in Nov 1986. My cousin and I drove over to see him and she was so impressed by his humility and love and their hospitality.

They had just moved into their home out of the van at that time.

JanG
CAIC Website: http://caic.org.au/zjws.htm
Personal Webpage: http://uq.net.au/~zzjgroen/

Hi all:

I have to say that reading Ray CofC book was the true turning point for me too!

I had to read it in spurts though as it would get me so upset and riled, I had to keep putting it down and pace or go do something else for awhile. Someone said yesterday (sf?) that finding these things out was like getting a blow to the stomach and not able to get your breath. This was what I, and many of you here too, had based my whole life on, had trusted with all my heart to be the only way to serve God and I was never going to grow old...HA!

Many times, people who have never been a JW, can't understand why we hang on here and don't just let go and forget about the WTS altogether.

If only they could feel what we feel. We were so convinced, so manipulated into absolutely believing all we were told about prophecies, the brotherly love, the preaching work being done, the growth proving God's direction and spirit, the insight into the scriptures, all identifying us as being the one blessed religion, and then the carrot of paradise on earth being dangled in front of us to spur us on to do more.

The GB was painted as this pure, holy, humble, servant of God dedicated to doing God's will in helping us poor lowly sheep. What an eye-opener finding out the details of the real "truth" about the dirty skeletons, the underhandedness, the "hide the truth so our image is squeeky-clean" manipulations.

YES....we have every right to be angry and "froth at the mouth", and feel hurt, disappointed, fearful for our JW relatives and friends. We want the truth to be known to all..the REAL TRUTH.

This control over peoples' lives has to stop. These books, and others like it, are a priceless weapon in destroying the pristine, pretty picture the WTS wants to paint of itself.

These books, along with all the info coming out on the web, and soon in the media, have got to have a domino effect on stirring many more into action...either of leaving or causing enough disruption to result in drastic changes being made.

I hope we see it in our lifetime. I feel so grateful to Ray in getting the ball rolling by exposing the truth to us. I know ones who have talked to Ray recently, and who also say he is such a kind, humble, unassuming, meek man who was duped like us, but has used his knowledge to help so many others break free of their chains.

Had Enough

had enough saysMany times, people who have never been a JW, can't understand why we hang on here and don't just let go and forget about the WTS altogether.

If only they could feel what we feel. We were so convinced, so manipulated into absolutely believing all we were told about prophecies, the brotherly love, the preaching work being done, the growth proving God's direction and spirit, the insight into the scriptures, all identifying us as being the one blessed religion, and then the carrot of paradise on earth being dangled in front of us to spur us on to do more.

#####

right on time- so true so true indeed

Hello everyone,

to Patio 34,

It is nice to find out , that this subject elates so many good observations:

How cleverly the WTS refuses to defend its policies on the basis of 'apostasy' when Jesus, Jehovah, and the early Christians did just the opposite. "

to Francoise:

"….if they had ceased defending the indefensible, if they - in short - had gotten real and acknowledged the validity of the concerns of its members? "

Very good, logical and true point.

to Farkel:

"He's DFd for questioning the "generation" issue, which the society quietly changed later. He DIED DF and he had it RIGHT to begin with. "

Very, very sad. Someone has to pay for all this …cruel attitude!

to Dedalus:

"Well, I don't know her personally, and even so, I wouldn't know the full facts of what happened there." It's going to get frustrating for you if you try to share what you're learning with other Witnesses. Personally, I find that passive, do-nothing stance repulsive ..."

I have the same feeling. Btw , CO and DO take very often that attitude…the easy way out!!
Not Christian…but coward!

to HadEnough:

"This control over peoples' lives has to stop. These books, and others like it, are a priceless weapon in destroying the pristine, pretty picture the WTS wants to paint of itself.
These books, along with all the info coming out on the web, and soon in the media, have got to have a domino effect on stirring many more into action...either of leaving or causing enough disruption to result in drastic changes being made."

I do agree with you and hope as you wrote that:

"....result in drastic changes being made."

Agape, J.C. MacHislopp

Dedalus,

It's nice to have you with us, again. :)

: "Well, we don't have the whole story," he said.

Translation: "Until we get the WATCHTOWER spin on the matter, we won't know how they want us to think."

(Think about what I just said above. Think about that seriously.)

Farkel