Do you think any GB Members will have the courage to pull a 'Ray Franz'?

GetBusyLiving

Do you think any current GB member could have the courage to come clean and leave the Org. a la Ray Franz? If so, who?

GBL

jeanniebeanz

Honestly, I think that would only occur if there was a significant amount of money to be made in doing so.

Ray was a rare bird...not many people would take a hit like that because of conscience alone. And a juicy book deal is only possible if there would be significant public interest. Witnesses are a legend in their own minds; most people don't give a $hit, so book sales would not really be much of an incentive.

Last I heard, Ray was not exactly living in the Taj Mahal...

J

frankiespeakin

Well I would not be surprised if many at HQ already have plans to do away with the GB terrany, and not fullishly think they could reform it like Ray. Ray was a trusting man and so he gave the GB the benifit of the doubt all the time,,that was his mistake to which he paid dearly. I think there are some of a far higher intelligence thier that might do something more clever.

blondie

First, Ray Franz never intended to leave the WTS; that wasn't even a thought in his mind.

Second, Ray Franz was merely interested in Bible study and he thought the WTS was too. He found out that the WTS was not interested in any Bible study that led to conclusions other than the official WTS ones. (Read his book for the details just in case I have mistated something.)

Third, he left Bethel and given $10,000. He left because he was asked/told to by the administration but he was not DF'd.

Fourth, he associated with a congregation and continued his life as a JW until he was retroactively DF'd based on a new rule that you could not asscoiate with DA'd or DF'd people. I would note that his wife was present and was not DF'd herself.

Fifth, while his leaving Bethel caused some uproar in Bethel, the rank and file knew very little about it except the few things people at Bethel told them. Usually Bethelites can hardly wait to tell the rank and file something only they know, but many were obviously scared to say much. Except for a brief note in the KM that Ray Franz was not longer at Bethel, nothing. (There was an article in the Time magazine in 1984 that finally shed light on some of it for the rank and file.)

Those days of earnest Bible study among some of the Bethelites is long gone. Even in the congregations the WTS clamped down hard on small informal Bible study groups. The unwritten rule is that only 2 families maximum can get together to study their WT; meaning that only 2 single people (of the same sex) could get together because they represent 2 families. Before that time, speakers at the KH and assemblies/conventions felt free to add their own little twist on things. Now the speakers are watched like a hawk, that they don't deviate from the script.

Any GB or powerful Bethelites have seen this unfold and have learned their lesson well; that this is what can happen to them; so they keep their mouth shut, probably trusting few to even share private thoughts with.

Blondie

jeanniebeanz

I agree, Blondie. Ray was an unusually dedicated person and acted on his conscience. I doubt there are many there who whould have the spine to do what he did.

I think if there was a lot of money to be made with some 'kiss and tell' book, there may be someone take advantage of that. But there is just not enough interest.

Like you say, the society has learned its lessons well in the case of Ray, and have really tightened their grip on things.

J

frankiespeakin

Excellent points Blondie! You have a nose for details. But could there be a genius at work somewhere to take away control from the "bad guys"? Have you ever thought of that possiblity?

garybuss

Yup! What Blondie wrote. Ray Franz never left the Watch Tower, they kicked him out. If they hadn't kicked him off and out, I'd bet my life he'd still be on the Governing Body.
If the Witness people hadn't started being mean to me and my family I'd probably still show up at meetings or the occasional assembly every couple years or so and not be exposing them here today.
Their rejection was my attraction.

potleg

I think Ray was trying to get the Org to be kinder and gentler with more compassion and greater latitude in matters of conscience. It didn't work. Since then the borg has tightened up and I don't see much evidence of a change in direction yet. Sure someone may leave or get the boot like Chitty and Greenlees but I would be suprised if there are any GB members with a conscience like Ray's. They appear to be organization men today.

GetBusyLiving

Good points Blondie.. its true he didn't leave the org. of his own doing, my mistake. I bet if any of those jackasses up in Brooklyn got their own asses booted out they would do anything in their power to discredit the WTBTS.

Fortunetly there are some people that have the strength of character and honesty to leave that Organization of their OWN doing.

GBL

Latte

Blondie is spot as usual!

I do believe that many 'long timers' get into a 'comfort zone' where they just could never see themselves leaving, afterall they would literaly have to start over again wouldn't they??

I think that the FDS probably have a wonderful life are would not choose go anywhere else

Do you think any GB Members will have the courage to pull a 'Ray Franz'?

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