not a captive

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Posts by not a captive

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  36

  A Responsible Discussion on Ray Franz's Role in the Lives of Former JW's

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since it was learned that ray franz went to the hospital and then passed away, most threads have in my opinion, correctly tried to give some honor and respect to a courageous, honest, and principled man.. some borderline trolls, who know many former jw's are easily upset (and they know this.

  i know this...) try to take advantage by hitting on a hot button.

  in this case, its to call you a follower of ray franz.. we all know that isn't true.. but i think that a legitimate discussion on this is in order.

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  not a captive

  Thank you Psac and Georgie Girl, What wonderful things these are to share with us. maeve
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  18

  How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

  by not a captive in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in february of 2009 i slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former book study conductor who was out of town.

  that letter was written because i could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in wts literature.

  at the time i was a sister in good standing.

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  not a captive

  Thanks, Baba, I am bailing out of these premises as I type so --good luck for any who think that live here! Posting the letters (My son did it thanks to your info) was important as I'll lose my internet when I am all packed out. And it was important to leave behind the hang-dog feeling of being not the right sort of true Christian. That was a lingering sickness for a while--But no more! I want to put the reality out there--at least mine . This Organization walks on ordinary people who are just trying to serve God.
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  18

  How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

  by not a captive in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in february of 2009 i slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former book study conductor who was out of town.

  that letter was written because i could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in wts literature.

  at the time i was a sister in good standing.

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  not a captive

  Sylvia, I got brave after I got desperate. (Is that being brave?) But thanks for your kind words! Girl, you have got the lively threads--I get a lot of R&R at your house.(((((Syl)))))

  Room215--Yes, it was a long letter because they were having to deal with the reference material from their own volumes! That was the sick part. They were going to have to destroy my confidence in their own reasoning to bring me into the fold again. As I said, it was a real mind-bender. But--I recovered my faith.

  Soldier77--Thanks for the kind words. Not so much courage as "fox-hole faith". I had to fight for my spiritual life. As Tammy noted above, my bible thinking may be off, but my conscience couldn't move without crushing my relationship with God. God is more merciful than the FDS.
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  18

  How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

  by not a captive in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in february of 2009 i slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former book study conductor who was out of town.

  that letter was written because i could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in wts literature.

  at the time i was a sister in good standing.

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  not a captive

  That was it , Tammy. As we see on this discussion forum, even when we agree on the basics there are still differences. By the time the process was over I realized that in their ruthless quest to make us speak the "pure language", they reduced us to a monosyllabic groan.

  It was obvious that the WTS does not value the relationship that each believer must cherish and develop with the Father and Son with their whole heart, mind, soul and strength. That was the issue in the end.

  I love that you have the Christian strength and the delicacy to agree AND disagree with me. That is why I call you "sister".
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  11

  The one good thing about Ray's death.

  by yesidid in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  apparently it was painless and without trauma for him.. he deserved that.. .

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  not a captive

  Yesidid, I feel the same about his passing so quickly and without trauma--for him. To have relative health and vigor--he was outside after all on a walk--and then just to go. Even that he was there a while is not terrible. No chance for futile medical efforts to prolong a damaged brain. Yet, mercifully Cynthia found him before he had died.

  I hope the same for myself. And I hope to live so faithfully.
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  18

  How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

  by not a captive in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in february of 2009 i slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former book study conductor who was out of town.

  that letter was written because i could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in wts literature.

  at the time i was a sister in good standing.

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  not a captive

  sooner7nc--you got a pm

  zzaphod--Anyway we leave is good! it took me a while to sort myself out. You sound like a man of action.

  Loz x--I did want some sanity at least. One Brother during those shepherdings thought I was being "obsessive", I reigned that thought in--how about concerned? There is not much dignity in finding that you cannot be more than a puppet before God. It wiped me out for a long time, as I realized how this religion robs us of our value before God and men. I love Ray Franz.

  Aussie-- Good for you! As I said---I put those letters out on the ether for whatever good they can do.

  Yes, I spoke to a wall when I spoke to the brothers. The letter from the Branch pushed all the buttons that are supposed to make us wet our pants and cry. But fortunately the process had taken so long that I had had time to THINK WITHOUT THE MEETINGS(No wonder they warn us about that)I knew I wasn't "enraged against Jehovah" as they were implying. I was disgusted with them. Love your posts Aussie.
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  18

  Asking for Prayers

  by oldflame in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i got a call yesterday from a very dear and close friend.

  we go back over 20 years .

  let me explain.

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  not a captive

  There are ways God helps us get through this. I will pray for you and them to feel his help. Maeve
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  9

  Governing Body, Watchtower vs Ray Franz -- Irony

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  governing body, watchtower vs ray franz -- irony.

  watchtower teaches jehovahs witnesses that its governing body is a contemporary version of the body depicted at acts chapter 15. .

  acts chapter 15 depicts a meeting of christians where the subject and deliberations are disclosed.

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  not a captive

  Great observation.

  I noticed when I sent a letter to the Branch it had my personal name on it. What I got back said "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses". My elders said that the Branch is busy. And I said that I had received a letter from a corporation.

  Things didn't go well--except that I figured out this wasn't the way Jesus wanted things to be run.

  Ray Franz LIVED the way Jesus told the disciples the "greatest among them" would behave--as the least, a servant to all. How helped us all!
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  18

  How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

  by not a captive in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in february of 2009 i slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former book study conductor who was out of town.

  that letter was written because i could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in wts literature.

  at the time i was a sister in good standing.

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  not a captive

  In February of 2009 I slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former Book Study Conductor who was out of town. That letter was written because I could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in WTS literature. At the time I was a sister in good standing. I never thought I would ever leave "God's Organization".

  That letter set in motion a process that changed my Christian brothers into "the Organization". I was changed too.

  It took over a year for the change to take place and there is more change to come. But I am no longer associated with the Organization. And I have never been happier in my whole life.

  In these next few weeks I'll be moving back into the Arkansas hills and thought I should post the paperwork of that year into the ether of the internet. What good these letters can do , I don't know. But they do show what happens if you truly try to be faithful to God and follow Jesus in a(ny) religion that pre-empts your conscience.

  Paul described the role of servants of God: "Not that we are masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by [your] faith that you are standing." Whether anyone agrees with the Bible issue I first raised in my local congregation, the issue that I first raised with the WTS, they should ask if what followed was the kind of relationship to the faithful that Paul expressed. In the end the Organization demanded conformity of belief and then hung me out to dry.

  I decided to take my chances with a more merciful God.

  This is the link to the correspondence. http://s743.photobucket.com/albums/xx79/vineydee/How%20I%20left%20the%20Watchtower
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  49

  Ray Franz Tribute

  by besty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  over at freeminds we didn't want this day to pass without some recognition of the life and death of ray franz.

  in view of his stated wishes not to have a memorial or service we hoped for something that he would have liked for all of us to take a moment over.. .

  we owe a note of thanks to v for his graphics work and atjeff for the obituary writing - i know neither of them need mentioned by me.. .

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  not a captive

  Beautiful. Wonderfully done.