New here, but picking up on some good stuff. I'm not here to gripe but to glean what I can about the big O.
JWF, your thread and comments are VERY MUCH appreciated.
I am wondering, however, how your observations on Pierce jibe with Barb Anderson's portrayal of him. Are you familiar with her statements?
Which Bethel were you in?
James_woods:
Since the current GB members were all hand picked by Ted Jaracz, NO, there is no R Franz, D Sydlik, or L Berry there. Those guys were his nemeses! Berry was Knorr's man who removed TJ as branch servant in Australia back in the 60-70s, so TJ never forgave him. Berry, who ran the Writing Dept., also had a bachelor's degree, and you can see from recent reports how the current GB members have been ranting against that! I think Barb A (?) has related that things were so bad between TJ and DS that at 'get-togethers' in Bethelites' rooms, DS would leave if TJ showed up!
There doesn't seem to be anyone even remotely competent to think & write anything other than 'meeting the needs of the bros.' anymore. I remember one Writing Dept. bro. telling me some years ago how they needed some real scholarly types but how there was opposition to that. And that was while Sydlik and Berry were still alive. With no liberal GBers now, you can just imagine how they think: 'Research the truth? We already have it, brother! No need to research it.'
Anyway, it's all changed now. TJ's thinking rules thru his selected protegés, and that rules out anything theological.
Room 215:
Spot on! Did Karl Adams die? I've been out of it for a while.
Glad to be here and finding folks who want to do more than complain. (No put down on complaining though—we all know there's plenty of valid reason for that!)
Cheers.
