Welcome to the board Jim. Your comments are welcome and I hope you will decide to continue to contribute. But you have to know that a lot of us here will not agree with your position. Personally, I object to the last part of your little missive, as quoted here
Unfortunately, this whole affair has not been healthy or upbuilding, and if Bill thinks he is going to gain much by attacking a man who has been responsible for the liberation of thousands of Jehovahs Witnesses, he should think again. Whether Ray was right, wrong or indifferent to the issue at hand, there is no valid reason to attack him. Furthermore, none of us including Ray Franz - is required to do anything unless his or her conscience tells him or her to do so. For freedom Christ set us free.‑ Gal. 5:1
This sounds like a JW elder preaching from the platform and chewing out an apostate threat in his congregation. I listened to a talk just like this directed at me when I started to question the leaders who presumed to be a special tool of God and Christ. I object to your supposition that Ray was a liberator, as if God were using him to lead people away from the evil kingdom of the Watchtower. I think even he will object to such an idea. And since when is it wrong to disagree or even attack another person who makes himself your adversary? That's typical of those who think they are more special than they really are. I don't know you at all and I haven't read your books. But it is obvious from your comments here that you think Ray Franz is some special force for good. I think that's rediculous. I don't think Bill Bowen is some specially appointed force for goodness either. But I have met him and I don't think he believes there is "no valid reason" to attack him. He has appologized for his part in contributing to the problem, as an elder under the authority of the WT Society. I read Rays books and appreciated them. But I don't remember him appologizing for his part in the inhumanity his "body" of governors has inflicted on innocent victims in this matter of child abuse. Ray is forgiven, and I think most of us realize he was duped like the rest of us. But why not admit to his part in the debacle perpetrated by the Society he once fully supported? Seems only fair.
I also can't believe that so many of you still feel that God or Christ is at all involved in this whole affair. Whether JW's or Catholics or Mormons. It's all the same. God is not participating. It is man abusing man. Stop looking for answers in the sky. The answer is within ourselves. The more of mankind that stands up to abuse, like Bill and others are now doing, facing powerful systems of deceipt and control, the better off we will be in the future. I agree that no one should be convicted on allegation alone. That is also a crime. Certainly, BOTH crimes should be punished according to the degree of severity they deserve. There is no perfect solution. But I think that there is more good, more that is 'upbuilding' and 'healthy', in arguing the merits of all sides than there is in suggesting that no arguments or attacks erupt.
Again, while I am critical of your viewpoint I am happy to welcome you to the forum. This has proven to be a very useful place when adjusting one's mind to accomodate the opposing view. I hope this whole matter will prove to be beneficial for all involved. Maybe you will prove useful in preparing those missing studies you speak of so that we can have more data when the courts start getting more involved.
Sean Kennedy
