Ray Franz blamed for 1975 false prophecy

by EndofMysteries 33 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  EndofMysteries

  I was raised a JW and as a kid my family made brief mention of apostates in Bethel that falsely prophecied about 1975 and were kicked out of Bethel.

  Was this the same with anyone else? I was shocked after I got out and learned that him being removed had absolutely nothing to do with 1975. I think that partial lie spread is what kept my relatives in.

  1975 a big let down/false prophecy, then they are told that a governing body member and many in bethel are found apostate and cleaned out, etc.

  Is this a common thing or was it only within my family that they got the facts mixed up?
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  Captain Obvious

  Franz wasn't even on the GB yet... Am I wrong?
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  EndofMysteries

  Ray Franz was put on the governing body in 1971 but for when they first started mentioning the 1975 which I think was around 1968 or so that is correct. My family told me/believed that there were many apostates in Bethel and all of them were responsible for 1975, and because they believed that, they never had a problem with what happened because they thought it was an apostate thing.

  I wonder what they would think if they knew the truth on that part.
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  Londo111

  JWs tend to mix up the Franzes. Some don't know there were two. Freddie definitly was to blame.
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  pronomono

  It wouldn't be surprising if that came out as the "official" statement in another 10 years or so, especially now that he has passed and is unable to defend himself.
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  EndofMysteries

  Yea, the point is and which I'm wondering, is 1975 was a FALSE prophecy/failed prediction. The reason it wasn't scrutinized by my family is because they thought it was due to apostates who have all been removed. If they knew it was by the governing body who were never removed, then possibly they would have been thinking twice about it.
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  EndofMysteries

  As I kid I was told I might hear about 1975 one day but not to worry, it was apostates and false prophets who were all kicked out. I was shocked to learn the real reasons Ray Franz was removed when I finally did.
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  pronomono

  Even if apostates wrote it, the governing body is responsible for reviewing all literature that is to be approved for printing. They can't deny responsibility in any event, but alas they have and most JWs buy into it. The Society claims that some had unreasonable expectations for that year. That was true. They failed to mention that they were the cause of those unreasonable expectations and try to imply that it originated in the R&F.
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  DATA-DOG

  When you claim to speak for GOD and demand allegience as THE Channel of Truth, you will be held accountable for your "expectations." That's my personal belief.

  The WTBTS is so good at twisting and hiding information, that it's small wonder most JWs have zero clue as to who Ray Franz was. They don't even realize that some of the most balanced WT articles ever written most likely came from him. Balance has no place in a high-control religion that claims to have all the answers. Jws have no real personal beliefs, if you do then you won't last too long. All that matters is the current ideas of the GB/FDS.

  Show your family the Walsh trial transcripts where the WTBTS leaders admit to being false prophets and demand unconditional unity, with death as the alternative.
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  Old Goat

  Fred Franz was the responsible party. Witnesses would be better off today if he'd been disfellowshipped for apostacy.