I think I know where R R is coming from. About a year ago I contacted the local Bible Students and went over to talk. I got the chart talk and bought Studies in the Scriptures.
I find them very calm, devout and patient people with none of the JW hubris at all. If there ever was going to be a little flock of the faithful there are fewer candidates that are better than the Bible Students.
Studies in the Scriptures is a remarkable tome! The writing, in my opinion, is quite beautiful. The reasoning, for what it is and what it purports to be, is not outside the mainstream of how devout people in the 1800's talked and thought regarding spritual matters.
Without trying to sound insulting I'd say it was the best compliation of offbeat, non-mainstream thoughts money could buy. There is a genuine feeling of peaceful sweetness to Russell's writing and a sense of genuine feeling for his messege.
Now, having said all the above as sincerely as I possibly can, I have to say that I am speaking from the standpoint of an Agnostic who is bitter about spiritual matters. IF (a huge "if") the Bible was the "word of God" I see no reason to have to distill it into an even larger book by a man! Either the Bible is the result of God's intention or it isn't. (I say it isn't). But, to continue to have more and more and more explanations is not only redundant but insulting to the mind behind the word of God (which if it really was divine would be higher than man's anyway.)
You see, for me, it comes down to having learned a profound HUNGER for fantasy in the person of a divine supreme being who loves me. I really fell hard for that. I had a crush on God, bigtime. But, to continue to moon after that wish and to inflate my passion by chasing after fanciful stories that tickle my ears is a waste of my life. That's MY decision.
R R has his own wants and needs and desires and that they revolve around a divine personage is commendable because of the virtue attached to what the idea of "god" represents. R R is trying for a transcendant life. I congratulate that. He believes he has found a path that has few stumbling stones on it. Good on him!
We who have tasted Kool-aid and nearly died from it aren't too keen on the lemonade stand on the corner with the same brand attached! Our horror at all things C.T.Russell and J.F.Rutherford is surely understandable!
I enjoy R R's posts. I find him elegant in his manner of expression. He is no doubt exasperated with criticisms; but, he handles it well. Better than I do or would.
I applaud the fact that all of us can come together and discuss these things. But, our very real exasperation with the METHODOLOGY of "slaves" discreet or otherwise, leaves a very nasty taste upon our lips.
I view this as a pleasant afternoon's discussion of Flat Earth theories and perpetual motion machines. Nothing more.