"2) That he was a smoker, and didn't agree with the policy change.
I'm just curious if in fact he smoked. "
Did he ever smoked in his life? Does anyone know for sure. Thanks!
Urban Legend, or TRUTH? How did story of Ray Franz "spitting on" Karl Kline get started?
by dreamgolfer 22 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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biblecheck
I dont care whether he smoked or spat - Crisis of Conscience was one of the most courageous works undertaken by a cult member ... esp. considering his upbringing.
The rest is background noise...I never knew him, but I will always love Ray!
...and he had much better dress sense than his uncle who looks like a bacca chewin' bible slingin' cowboy in this photo...
"Too much RED FRED !"
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darth frosty
Sounds like BS to me.
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JWB
I haven't heard of that rumour, but there certainly were others (see post below)!
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JWB
Rumors About Raymond Franz
(Extracts from Crisis of Conscience, pages 322 & 323:)
One rumor that circulated widely, in fact internationally, was that these three men (Vázquez, Sánchez and Kuilan), all of whom worked in the Spanish Translation Department, were deliberately making changes in material when translating and that I knew of this and had condoned it. (In French-speaking countries the rumor was adjusted to apply to French translation work.) René’s comments on this were:
That is ridiculous. It would have been impossible to do. There were no changes made and that never came into our minds. No one ever accused us of that. Everything translated had to go through about five different persons for checking, Fabio Silva being the last one to read it. In translating it was always necessary to strive to be faithful to the original idea. [32]
Probably the most vicious rumor, passed on as "truth" by elders and others in various parts of this country, was that there was homosexuality being practiced among the "apostates." Where such a blatant lie originated is difficult to imagine. The only explanation I can think of is that, about a year before the inquisition tactics began, an organizational member in a position of considerable responsibility had been accused of homosexual tendencies. The Governing Body handled the case and endeavored to keep the matter quiet. Nonetheless, it seems that some talk did circulate. In the rumor mills this man’s actions were now transferred over to the "apostates." This was easy to do since spreaders of rumors are seldom concerned about facts. I can think of no other possible explanation.
Why would people priding themselves on their high Christian principles pass on such vicious rumors when they had absolutely nothing but gossip on which to base them? I believe that in many cases it was simply because many felt a need somehow to justify in their own minds and hearts what had happened. They had to have reasons other than the true ones to explain why such summary and harsh actions were taken against people with unblemished records, people whom even their closest associates knew to be peaceful, unaggressive persons. To see the ugly label of "apostate" suddenly placed on these people required something more than the facts of the matter provided. Without such, those who knew these people, and others who heard of them, would have been obliged to face up to the possibility that the organization they viewed as God’s sole channel of communication and guidance on earth was perhaps not what they thought it to be. For many this was to think the unthinkable. It would severely disturb their feeling of security, a security that rests largely (far more so than most would acknowledge) on their unquestioning reliance on a human organization.
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[32] Not only was everything checked by a number of different persons in Brooklyn, but a large percentage of Branch Office personnel in Spanish-speaking countries know English and read the publications in both languages. Had such charge of deliberate alteration been true, it would have been quickly reported. To think otherwise simply betrays an ignorance of the facts or a lack of concern for facts on the part of those originating and spreading the rumors. -
Farkel
"A rumor travels halfway around the world, while the truth is still putting on its pants." - Mark Twain
Farkel
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james_woods
The most remarkable absurdity about this silly rumor is the fact that in real life, Ray Franz was the most mild-mannered, non-aggressive person you could ever meet.
The idea of him spitting in somebodies face (really for no reason, too) AT A FUNERAL is absolutely beyond comprehension to anybody who ever met the man.
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biblecheck
This is definitely not an urban myth...
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AnnOMaly
A new one on me. He didn't seem the type - came across as a more reserved and 'think before you act' sort. I call BS too.
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LisaRose
I always thought the rumors about homosexuality were spread by the GB themselves to deflect attention from the real reason. One comment in the right ear and it would be all over Watchtowerdom by the next day. The dubs do love a juicy piece of gossip.
