I'm really interested to know that there are still 'Russellites' out there!!! Three generations ago my relitives got hooked on Russell's books and have stayed with the mainstream religion (funny to call the JW's that!) ever since, though I suspect more in spite of the organisation than because of it. I suspect that my grandmother was always happier reading her old Russell books than the modern WT.
I suspect they see the problems in the WTS as the effect of the evil slave on honest hearted and god directed men. Obvioulsy, I took a different view and determined that the modern WT bares no real resemblence to what Russell developed.
Just one question, there's a group of people around the world who have a strong bible based belief structure but claim to have no collective name and no central organisation (they refer to each other as 'the friends' I think). The women often wear no make-up, wear long dressess and long hair (as a head-covering I beleive). They meet two or three times a week for bible meetings in people's homes. I think they've been called 'Koonie-ites' (that's what it sounds like anyway). As far as anyone knows, does this group have any Russelite connections, or is it the same (or related to) group Ray Franz now associates with?
I've taken a more secular humanist view of the world (to borrow a terms from one of the online religion tests!). I couldn't take up a religion, but I don't have a problem with others having faith either.If people are happy with their religious and lifestyle choiuces, good for them. If they're not, there's plenty of info and help out there to help them readjust their choices if they choose to.
Cheers, Jon