Closure isn't needed
In Georgia recently, a religious "criminal" died. This one had been brought to account. He had admitted his wrongs. But here is a paradox: This man had thousands who are grateful for his "crime" and saddened by his death.
Raymond Franz was 88 when he died. He had served as a minister and missionary and finally a member of the gGoverning Body of Jehovah's Witnesses---until suspicions grew that he was not happy with all his religion taught.
Time magazine for Feb. 2,1983, wrote: "Franz privately concluded that the religion emphasized human organization rather than biblical teachings...[saying that] 'While producing people who were outwardly moral, they subverted the essential qualities of humility, compassion and mercy.'"
He and his wife resigned from headquarters, moving to Georgia, but he was watched. Eating a meal with a benefactor who had resigned from the Witnesses provided the technical infraction for which Franz was finally "disfellowshipped". For thirty years, Franz was shunned.
Franz wrote in "Crisis of Conscience": "At stake is the freedom to pursue spiritual truth untrammeled by arbitrary restrictions and the right to enjoy a personal relationship with God and his Son free from the interposition on the part of a human agency."
Many of us think the "crime" of Ray Franz should never have closure.
MAEVE COURTEAU
Fayetteville
I had to say what I could in 250 words. I want my captive friends to have the big picture that was shut away from my eyes and my mind. There are the Time magazine article for them and Franz's book with the info, Crisis of Conscience for them to check out privately.and I wanted them to know how the FDS DF'd him.
When they are in field service this Saturday morning, they break for coffee in droves at Rick's Bakery. I picture a brother picking up a paper lying about and reading what happened to Ray Franz at the hands of "God's Organization"---and choking on his donut. I hope the brother says something to the others and I don't care what it is--I hope eventually the real truth will set them free.
The Organization bears the fruit that it bears--that's all there is to it---and it is rotten to the core.
