Regarding Raymond and works published by Raymond's "publishing concern, Commentary Press" https://friendsofraymondfranz.com/ says the following. "Because his efforts were made for those seeking spiritual truth and
freedom, we offer these works freely to anyone looking to benefit from
those unique insights. Further, we encourage you to share this archive
with others." https://friendsofraymondfranz.com/books-in-english/ has free PDF downloads of Commentary Press editions of the following books:
- Crisis of Conscience (Fourth edition, Revised and Updated – May, 2004) by Raymond Franz (with topical and Scriptural indexes), 420 pages
- In Search of Christian Freedom (Second edition, Revised and Updated – 2007) by Raymond Franz, 736 pages
- The Sign of the Last Days – When? [English] (First edition, 1987)
by Carl Olof Jonsson & Wolfgang Herbst, [Edited by Raymond Franz], 390 pages.
The above downloads seem to be with permission by the new publisher, for in contrast in regards to The Gentile Times Reconsidered [English] (Fourth edition, Revised and Expanded – 2004) by Carl Olof Jonsson, 390 pages, it says the following. "(No longer available due to request from new publisher. Available for purchase here)".
Sadly when it came the topic of evolution Commentary Press displayed the same negative type of views as did the WT. See https://friendsofraymondfranz.com/why-popular-reasons-for-believing-evolution-are-wrong/ . Though that essay (which is a Book review of Icons of Evolution by Jonathan Wells, Ph.D.) makes a number of true factual statements which are critical of some ideas of evidence of evolution, it doesn't state any of the overwhelming evidence that strongly support evolution as being true.
https://ad1914.com/jw-experience-of-raymond-franz/ says the following.
'In an online tribute to Raymond Franz, CommentaryPress.com states:
“As Raymond learned the inner workings
of the Governing Body, he became deeply concerned that the focus was
more on preserving the image of the Organization rather than on sound
Biblically based decisions. His disappointment lead to his sharing with
Cynthia what he was troubled with concerning the Governing Body. Cynthia
agreed with Raymond and together the two of them decided to leave the
world headquarters in 1980.” '
https://ad1914.com/personal-experience-carl-olof-jonsson/ says the following.
'Anyone who has studied Watchtower literature knows that they are
experts at misrepresenting scholars. The quoting of scholars in this
case is no exception. Let me share an example. In the Watchtower
publication, “Let your kingdom come,” p. 187 they try to present the
picture that Babylonian history might be in error, and that yet
undiscovered material could drastically alter the chronology:
“Professor Edward F. Cambell, Jr., introduced a chart, which included
Neo-Babylonian chronology, with the caution: ‘It goes without saying
that these lists are provisional. The more one studies the intricacies
of the chronological problems in the ancient Near East, the less he is
inclined to think of any presentation as final. For this reason, the
term “circa” [about] could be used even more liberally than it is.'”
As Jonnson points out, the Watchtower did not mention that the chart
referred to “covers the chronologies of Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Asia
Minor, Assyria and Babylon from c. 3800 to the death of Alexander the
Great in 323 B.C., and although the term “circa” is placed before many
of the reigns given in the lists for this long period, no circas are
placed before any of the reigns given for the kings of the
Neo-Babylonian period!” (p. 292)
So much for doubting the accuracy of the Neo-Babylonian sources!'
