NOTE: I found the following experience where someone (Rob) applied Captives of a Concept’s Chapter 21 when trying to help his father-in-law see some of the interesting he learned from the Proclaimers book.
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“This past Wednesday night, the 6th. I met with my father-in-law. He was baptized in the 1960's. I had borrowed the "Proclaimers" book from him last month.
He had asked a couple of times if I had read it yet and if I had any questions. I had let him know I did and learned some things from the book that surprised me. I had let him know a few weeks later that I would like to sit down with him to go over some things.
“Four months ago I read (about a 100 times), "Captives of a Concept". I took Cameron's advice in chapter 21 and basically copied in my hand writing chapters 2-5. I included a few choice past Watchtower writings that back up the books fine points.
“My father-in-law was an elder in the 70's and was disfellowshipped for reasons I am not clear of. He was reinstated but never back to elder.
“I started the questions out, by pointing out the issues described in chapter 21. I told him I was surprised to learn that neither Russell or Rutherford never knew Christ returned invisibly in 1914. "What? Where does it say that?"
“I told him I would point that out, let me just get through my points first. He agreed. I went through 6 other points with him. Letting him know many times that this was just an outline.
“I then went over the outline of how the GB judges other religions (Matthew 7:2). How Franz explained it in "Gods Kingdom of a Thousand Years has approached". And how they use the Watchtower June 1, 2001 to come up with 4 points to Watchtower Standards. He agreed that this is "correct".
“Long story short - He was not aware that the writings that "Proclaimers" book stated (without stating) that the first 2 Presidents didn't know when Christ arrived.
“Had never made the correlation that The GB didn't know until 1943 that Christ had returned. He was visibly upset with this but a few minutes later composed himself.
“He went through automatic dispelling of the facts. I held firm to what the book was stating.
“I then asked that the Jehovah's Witnesses do without fail follow the bible scriptures. "There is no doubt they do" was his reply.
“Well, I told him I was surprised to learn that they were the only religion not watching for Christ's return and didn't open to him in 1914. In direct conflict with (Luke 12:36-37), which we immediately read in the Bible.
“I have never received a more hateful stare in my life!!
I immediately countered with this is what the "Proclaimers" book is stating, not me, and that I was just as surprised. This seemed to disuse the situation.
“There were no questions, no counter with scripture, no attempt to use (Proverbs 4:18). I WAS SURPRISED! We talked for an hour about these issues. Me keeping the points on course with numerous attempts by him to bring other bible scriptures into the mix.
“There were 2 attempts to use (Proverbs 4:18) to show me that these topics were off course. But by having first established the strict Watchtower Standards using (Matthew 24:45-47) and that Jesus would “review what they were teaching UP to 1919, he had no argument for the facts.
“The only issue that was met with complete Refusal was the fact that ---- "In 1919 that slave was identified as the remnant of anointed Christians." Watchtower January 15, 1994 p.16
“This is not true. They didn't identify that slave this way until 1927. In 1919 that Slave was still identified as C.T. Russell. Complete refusal on my father-in-law’s mind to accept it. He stated that the watchtower was correct in stating it was Russell.
“So much for the plural nature of the Watchtower writing.
I walked away from the table shaking his hand. I had let him know that it was my research into the history that prevents my Daughter from attending the Kingdom Hall. He said he was OK with that.
“Since then I feel like I have Disrespected a good man. But then I remember some quotes from Ray Franz and realize I need to do what is right to protect my family, and when I am asked why, I state "I have learned the Truth about the Truth".
“I hope this experience will help someone."
“Rob”
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Submitted by Don Cameron