If Ray Franz would have kept his mouth shut and not disfellowshipped, and remained part of the Governing Body how many of us ex-jw would still be trapped in the Cult?
Would we have come this far?
Ray Franz and You.
by John Aquila 28 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Finkelstein
Ray had no significance on my leaving the JWS, its was my own instinct and personal integrity that drew myself out.
Pre inter net I might add.
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dubstepped
Ray didn't move me to wake up, but his books sure confirmed a lot of what I saw. He also added enough extra to make me overcome the brainwashing and break free emotionally. I saw a signature on another forum that said " I planted, apostates watered, but Google made it grow". In my case I could say "I planted, online apostates watered, but Ray Franz made me go". He helped me decide to leave once and for all time. I may have got there on my own, but not at fast. -
opusdei1972
In my case, when I read "Crisis of Conscience" for the first time I was a fanatical Witness Apologist. So, though I admitted to myself that Ray told some truths, I did not want to leave the organization, because I wanted to believe that witnesses are the only ones who want to follow the Bible teachings. In fact, the book which shocked my faith in the organization was "Apocalypse Delayed" by James Penton. This book motivated my research in the history of the organization, so by this I could discover that Rutherford was an evil man. So I went back to "Crisis of Conscience" and I had to admit that Ray was totally right. Then I read "In the Search of the Christian Freedom", then other books like these. I think that the force of the beginning of internet was stronger than "Crisis of Conscience". At least, in latin countries, the books of Ray are not available, so, without internet, many in the latin world would still ignore TTATT. -
umbertoecho
I read Ray Franz book just before I was due to be baptized. I was in a state of anxiety about the coldness and harshness of the congregation I was in. I was told in so many different ways that I should not ask too many questions. It was showing a lack of faith.
But things were bothering me greatly. I read that book and just knew he was telling the truth. Then I recalled something about a "great apostasy" that had taken place at Bethel from family who are still in....It helped me to loosen up and research even more. So in a great way, Ray Franz book helped me to get past "men in authority". It shook me up though, for I was deeply convinced from childhood that it was the only truth. I felt sure I was going to die no matter what good I did for other people.
I was devastated at how spiteful the congregation seemed to be. They were not spiritual in any sense that I could see. They were mean to some of the younger and more beautiful sisters and picked out a man who was gay but inactive and treated them like shit. A recently widowed woman was treated as though she was mentally ill, when all along she was simply grieving. So Yes. A big yes about the impact Ray Franz had on me. Sorry for the intimate aspect of this post, but they really hurt me.........these lovely witnesses with their earthly spiritual paradise......not.
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umbertoecho
OH, while I'm on the topic of Ray Franz and other such means of getting clear about the WT..........One thing I vividly recall was being told that my sorrow over the recent death of my youngest daughter, was in fact showing a lack of faith in the resurrection.........Yes. She had been dead for only two years and I was lonely for her, wanting her back.....My study conductors, two old die hard seventy something, cold eyed and bitter to the core witness teachers, had the gall to tell me this.........Some of Ray Franz' observations about this lack of love and compassion was a great assist in letting me call things as I saw them.
Those two oldies had expected Armaggedon to have been and gone by now and they were caught up in hating the young and lovely people in the hall who were modern and still able to have fun. My only wish was that these young people would get out...in the end. Oh dear, I feel very angry and upset about it this morning for it took years of joy out of my life and I let it.
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problemaddict 2
I still haven't read them......but I know they have helped thousands either get out....or stay out.
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opusdei1972
I strongly recommend the books of Ray. It will be difficult to find another GB member following this path of honesty. -
John Aquila
umbertoecho
I think you were probably in one of the worst of the worst congregations. And yes I feel for the young ones.
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OnTheWayOut
When I had posted for the first time on this forum, I had yet to ever hear of Ray Franz and his books. The internet was loaded with information that helped me to escape, but it was me that started the search. So take some of it out and there was more to replace it.
But yeah, Ray Franz was just the man to write about the Ivory Tower and what really goes on.
