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See also:
- “Personal thoughts on Ray Franz“
- Tribute at CommentaryPress.com
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“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie — deliberate, contrived and dishonest, but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.” – John F. Kennedy
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The Legacy of Raymond Victor Franz
May 8, 1922 – June 2, 2010
Grace, integrity and willingness to help others – all qualities used to describe Raymond Victor Franz. He was an unassuming man. 
Anyone who knew him would tell you that. His frankness, honesty and integrity have proven to be a vital link in helping tens of thousands of people come to know the real truth about the Watch Tower organization and Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Born on May 8, 1922, Raymond Franz spent his early years in association with Jehovah’s Witnesses, becoming a baptized member in 1939. He entered the full-time service in 1940, upon graduating from high school and becoming a special pioneer in 1942. He served at the organization’s world headquarters for fifteen years, from 1965 until 1980. He was a member of the Governing Body from October 20, 1971 to May 22, 1980. His father was baptized in 1913. His uncle, Frederick Franz, was a member of the Watch Tower headquarters staff and was a close associate of the Watchtower’s second president, Judge Rutherford. Fred Franz was influential in the religion’s development, practices and doctrines and later became the fourth president of the Watchtower Society. Fred Franz had promoted 1975 as the end of a system of things, and that he had been instrumental in driving his nephew out of the Watch Tower.
From 1944 to 1965, Raymond served on many assignments in the US and South America. He attended Gilead, graduating from the 3rd class in 1945 served as a special pioneer and traveled in the circuit work. While in San Diego, California, Franz spent five nights at ‘Beth Sarim’ (meaning ‘House of Princes’). This was a large home built by the Society and said to be ‘held in trust’ for the faithful men of old, from Abel onward, to be used by them upon their resurrection. Judge Rutherford, who had had some lung problems, spent the winters there during his life.
Franz was eventually assigned to Puerto Rico as a branch overseer. Before leaving, the third president of the Society, Nathan Knorr, warned that if Franz and the other young men serving as branch overseers wished to remain in their missionary assignments they were to avoid anything that might lead to courtship and marriage. The policy was: Loss of singleness meant loss of assignment.
In 1957, the Society asked Franz to check on the native Witnesses in the Dominican Republic, since all the American missionaries of the Witnesses had been expelled. A wave of violent persecution resulted in many local Witnesses being brutally beaten and imprisoned.
Finally in 1959, when Franz was 37 years of age, the Watch Tower lightened its’ stance on marriage, and Raymond married Cynthia Marie Badame, a graduate from the 28th class of Gilead. Together they continued their missionary work from 1959 to 1965, in Puerto Rico, the British Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.
“We continued in traveling work until 1961 and then were transferred to the neighboring Dominican Republic… During our nearly five years there, we saw the fall of four separate governments and in April of 1965 experienced a war that centered around the capital where we were located” – Crisis of Conscience, Page 19, paragraphs 3 & 4.
Eventually, Franz was assigned to the writing department at the Watch Tower headquarters in Brooklyn, New York. Ray was given the task of collaboratively writing the ‘Aid to Bible Understanding’ – the first religious encyclopedia published by Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Franz wrote:
“A few months after our arrival and after I had done some work in writing, President Knorr showed me into an office containing a table piled high with stacks of typed papers and asked me to undertake the development of a Bible dictionary… Others shared intermittently for varying periods but the *five persons mentioned carried the project through until the 1,696-page reference work, called Aid to Bible Understanding, was completed five years later.” – Crisis of Conscience, Page 21, paragraph 1.
*The ‘five persons’ were Lyman Swingle, Edward Dunlap, Reinhard Lengtat, John Wischuk, and of course the author (Raymond Franz).
In 1971, Franz was chosen to serve as one of 11 members of the worldwide Governing Body, something he viewed as a great responsibility and privilege.
In his book, Crisis of Conscience, Franz described his experiences at the world headquarters this way:
“What I saw, heard and experienced during the next fifteen years had a great impact on me. Whether the reaction of the reader will coincide with mine, I have no way of knowing, but one thing is certain and that is that no one could understand what brought me to a crisis situation without knowing these developments. The proverb is apt: ‘When anyone is replying to a matter before he hears it that is foolishness on his part and a humiliation’.” – Crisis of Conscience, Page 20, paragraph 4.
Frustrated by what he viewed as the Governing Body’s dogmatism and overemphasis on traditional views rather than reliance on the Bible in reaching doctrinal decisions, Franz and his wife decided to leave the international headquarters.
In an online tribute to Raymond Franz, CommentaryPress.com states:
“As Raymond learned the inner workings of the Governing Body, he became deeply concerned that the focus was more on preserving the image of the Organization rather than on sound Biblically based decisions. His disappointment lead to his sharing with Cynthia what he was troubled with concerning the Governing Body. Cynthia agreed with Raymond and together the two of them decided to leave the world headquarters in 1980.”
Raymond Franz informed headquarters of his decision with a letter dated May 22, 1980, that simply stated:
“Dear Brothers:
By means of this letter I submit my resignation as a member of the Governing Body. I will also be terminating my Bethel service. My prayers will continue to be offered on your behalf as well as for Jehovah God’s servants earth wide.
Your brother, R V Franz”
Raymond and Cynthia moved to Alabama, where he took up laboring work on a property owned by another Witness. The following month a committee of the Governing Body raised concerns over the spreading of “wrong teachings” emanating from headquarters staff and began questioning headquarters staff on their beliefs.
In his personal memoir Franz said that at the end of 1979 he reached a personal crossroad:
“I had spent nearly forty years as a full time representative, serving at every level of the organizational structure. The last fifteen years I had spent at the international headquarters, and the final nine of those as a member of the worldwide Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It was those final years that were the crucial period for me. Illusions there met up with reality.”
In September 1980, the Governing Body distributed a letter to all Circuit and District overseers stating that apostates need not be promoting doctrines to be disfellowshipped. The letter stated that individuals who persisted in “believing other doctrine despite scriptural reproof” were also apostatizing and therefore warranted “appropriate judicial action”.
Shortly after Franz’s employer submitted a letter of disassociation from Jehovah’s Witnesses, the September 15, 1981 issue of the Watchtower announced a change of policy on disassociation, directing that those who formally withdrew from the religion were to be treated as disfellowshipped wrongdoers. Franz continued to socialize and eat with his employer and was subsequently summoned to a judicial hearing on November 25 and disfellowshipped for disobeying the edict.
Franz wrote two books presenting detailed accounts of his years spent as a Jehovah’s Witness, a Governing Body member and his experiences throughout various levels of the organization. ‘Crisis of Conscience’ goes into detail about the Malawi/Mexico conundrum, the alternative military service fiasco, and the non-allowable bedroom intimacies debacle. His book, ‘In Search of Christian Freedom’, Franz’ love for God, justice and freedom shine through right to the end. These books have helped many within Jehovah’s Witnesses to honestly examine their beliefs as well as the actions and decisions of the leadership.
About Crisis of Conscience, Ray said:
“What this book contains is written out of a sense of obligation to people who I sincerely love. In all good conscience I can say that its aim is to help and not to hurt. If some of what is presented is painful to read, it was also painful to write. It is hoped that the reader will recognize that the search for truth need never be destructive of faith, that every effort to know and uphold truth will, instead, strengthen the basis for true faith. What those reading this information will do with it is, of course, their own decision. At least it will have been said, and a moral responsibility will have been met.”
After leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ray continued to answer questions from the curious. He helped many to discover their own path in serving God through his humility and scholarly knowledge. Raymond was never interested in starting or leading a group of people. His only care was that others be able to worship God with a clean conscience, free of the fear of man, and free of intervention from the agendas of men.
On June 2, 2010, Raymond Franz passed away from a severe brain hemorrhage caused by head trauma, in Winston, GA. He was 88. He touched the lives of thousands of people. To many, he was like family. While being treated for various ailments in an Atlanta hospital for eight days, Cynthia Franz died of a massive heart attack, on December 29, 2013.
Ray was universally known as a gentle man, full of knowledge and love for the bible. He devoted his entire life to helping others get to know Jesus through his actions and the scriptures. Along with this love and humility was a desire to be honest and truthful with all, and it was this courageous honesty that defined his life in his later years. It will be his lasting legacy.
The sentiments expressed by his friends, in the following quotes, show how deeply he affected people:
“At a moment when decisive action was required, Ray resigned his leadership position… due to actions of the Governing Body that disturbed his conscience… When I think of Ray Franz, I think of his kindness, compassion and concern for others. He wanted justice, not for himself, but for the entire brotherhood and that’s why his conscience grieved him so.”
“This is one notable aspect of Ray Franz’s legacy. He wanted folks to know what was going on. For good or bad, Ray put it out there for people to decide however they will.“
“Franz has shown a much better grasp and deeper appreciation for the Scriptures than many prominent members of the Bethel family. From what I have observed, most of the organization’s middle management are much more concerned with what the Watchtower magazine and headquarter policy says. For them, the Bible is just a big lump of Play-Dough to mold around the Watchtower’s teachings.”
“Franz left a profound legacy to many worldwide. Raymond Franz, a former Governing Body member of a religious organization, exposed it, and helped many break free of the bondage.”
“Ray’s heart was breaking over the fact that the Governing Body members were heartless and cruel, sticking to tradition and legalism, viewing ‘the friends’ problems in a cavalier way. “
During the past 30+ years, through his two compassionate and revelatory books, Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom, Franz, never consumed by bitterness, provided a rare glimpse into a very secretive organization that continues to insist on 100% conformity to heartless and sometimes harmful rules and ever-changing doctrines.
Fueled to a great degree by Raymond Franz’s remarkable conscience-stirring words there has been an ongoing, extensive loss of members internationally as they also want to worship with a clear conscience, free from the fear of man, and free of the abuse of power by a hermetically sealed leadership, no matter what the penalty.
Raymond Franz’ wish was for each and every person to find happiness and experience joy every day of their lives and that’s why he was so totally against the impossible psychological religious demands of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In conclusion, Raymond Franz’ words leave a legacy of hope for all those pursuing true happiness, joy and freedom:
“Simply withdrawing from a system that one has found to be seriously flawed is not a solution in itself. It is what one does thereafter that determines whether there has been progress and benefit or not.
It is also true that any transition—even if only one in outlook—can require not only time but also mental and emotional adjustments. “
“It seems, however, that we can often learn as much from the “unpleasant” experiences of life as we can from the pleasurable ones—perhaps more that is of lasting value. “
The softest pillow is a clear conscience – French Proverb
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Ray died in 2010 and his wife Cynthia died in 2013. Many knew him personally, but many thousands more have come to know him from his books: Crisis of Conscience and In Search of Christian Freedom. The first contribution above is from someone who knew him personally.
(Information about his books, below, taken from Amazon, with a selected review for each.)
CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE: By Raymond Franz (2004): Fourth Edition – November 2, 2004 (1st Ed, 1983)
In Search of Christian Freedom – October 1, 1991
2 of the shorter reviews from Amazon are presented below.
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5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for EX-Witnesses, November 19, 2008
By
g.mom (TX,USA) – See all my reviews
This review is from: In Search of Christian Freedom (Paperback)
Wow, after reading “Crises Of Conscience” I felt like I was hit in the head. I felt utterly confused. I didn’t know what to think about anything I thought I knew so well. This book will help you get your balance. This book helped me to know where the Watchtower really twists scriptures to meet their own ideas and in actuality what the bible does and does not say on certain topics like: door to door, faithful & discreet slave, blood issue, disfellowshipping, good news, people for his name, salvation by works, congregation. It’s like the organization just invented stuff as they went along. Nothing means what they (Watchtower) says it does. This book gave me some grounding. After leaving, I needed to read this book. After reading I felt at peace and felt hope again. Now, I believe in the grace of God and finding my own way instead of turning over the responsibility to an organization to tell me what to think or what to do and how to worship and render service to God. I didn’t realize how under Law we still were as Witnesses and how the organization is much like the Pharisees. This is a sad situation, how can so many be so deceived? This is a must read for ex-witnesses, never look back, and rethink everything
5.0 out of 5 stars I thought this book was both disturbing and insightful., January 24, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: In Search of Christian Freedom (Hardcover)
I read both of Raymond’s books and they have had a very definate effect on me.I spent 10 years as a Witness,had been inactive for several yrs. I still believe much of what they teach and know the individual people to be very honest and dedicated people. However, I agree with Raymond about the authority of this organization over members lives.It is my belief that all of us are resposible to our Creator, Jehovah God and Jesus Christ and owe no theocratic loyalty to any human. All in all I really appreciate Raymond’s courage and honesty. I have to respect him and would love to meet him and just sit down and have a long talk with him.
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1914 - The LAST DAYS of Chronology in the Doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses (Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society) 
Ray Franz decided he didn’t want to go door to door anymore and fell away as a result.
Those that knew him in the months before he was disfellowshipped know that this isn’t true. In fact, he didn’t fall away. He was forced out.
Jwanswers …..I would like to edit my comments …..
…after submitting …Always a need to correct a point
Can I ?
Thanks
Rob
It looks like I can’t give permission, but I can make some edits for you. What I can do is take the update, or you can just make a new comment that incorporates the old comment and replaces it. I will delete the old one, if you don’t have permission to do that yourself. The only problem is that I check the comments about once per week.
That’s okay ..THE errors are never major
Rob
Jesus’s disciples said to him; where can we go? You have sayings of everlasting life. So where do those that abandon Christ go? Somewhere where their conscience is soothed I.e. easy religion where Satan welcomes them with open arms. Come to your senses return to the God of truth,the one whom Jesus referred to as my heavenly father, whose name he made known with no fear of man, yes you have abandoned the ransom sacrifice of Jesus our only hope for the future through the kingdom that Jehovah gave to him to rule the earth. So I ask you what are you doing with your life ? This is for all that have left or are thinking of doing so. Remember this is Jehovah’s organization where correction is needed there will be correction,just be patient, trust in Jehovah not man!
Jesus disciples never said to Jesus “where can we go?” although most of us invariably quoted it this way as JWs. What they said is “Who will we go away to?” The very fact that this idea removes Jesus Christ from the verse and replaces it with a “Where” rather than a “Who” might actually be something to consider before judging others as the ones “that abandon Christ.”
The importance of returning to Christ is exactly the reason that some have been pushed away from the Watchtower Society. It is specifically because they believed that the God of truth prefers truth in all things, and that would include the truth about the Bible’s teachings on subjects like 1914, the Kingdom, the ransom, the good news, etc.
Remember that Jehovah’s organization is not earthly but heavenly. The true religion, according to James 1:27, is looking after orphans and widows in their tribulation. In other words, it’s our compassion and love for our neighbors and our enemies. Read the rest of James for an expansion on that idea. It’s what we do for elderly persons, poor persons, sick persons, and even those without a warm coat. This is what Jesus looks at when he says that we are judged based on the extent to which our love for Jehovah and Jesus has motivated us to share our love, compassion and material possessions with others.
When Hebrews 10:24,25 says that we should not forsake the gathering of ourselves together, it’s for the purpose of encouraging each other to love and good works. Remember Tabitha (Dorcas)? These are the types of good works that are much more important to Jehovah’s true organization. Recall, too, that “ministerial servants” in the book of Acts were the ones who distributed food to widows.
Jehovah’s Witnesses tend to judge each other by the number of hours spent in promoting the publications of the Watch Tower Society (some of which are very good, by the way). Jehovah judges us, not by our charitable works themselves, nor by the time spent performing them, but by the motivation behind them. There is no reason to judge others whose charitable work is based on love for God and neighbor, and there is no reason to try to quantify that type of work when true Christians will, in effect, not even let their left hand know what their right hand is doing. If you believe that Jehovah’s organization is earthly then you will be waiting on men to make those needed corrections. In fact, it’s obvious that those corrections were already made thousands of years ago in his Word. We should appreciate truth now, and not wait until men tell us it is time to appreciate truth. As you so rightly said: “Trust in Jehovah not man!”
Where did he go to?
If you are asking where Ray Franz went, I’m not sure what you mean exactly. Before he died, he spent many years with hundreds of friends and acquaintances who would speak to him on the phone, ask for advice, come to his home for Bible study, etc.
You are right …he could not find that command in the Bible
…..so he quit …can YOU find it in the Bible ?
I was a school servant for years ….AND slowly figured this idea of
Destroying earths inhabitants is bunkum…after some 18 Billion years
…of progress ….in any case all the wicked pass on after a quick 60 yrs
They don’t stand a chance ..why set a date to destroy them
…are destroyed themselves…in time …makes n sense at all
The Bible put together by an illiterate ..Constantine…dumped the bulk of writings ……saved a few he preferred
Constantine Pagan ..who knew nothing ….we now revere his collection and call it the Bible and pose off as Gods word
This collection …has become a tool for frightening the hell out of gullible masses …..a means of crowd control
You can announce the end till you have used up all the dates you can think of ..and no end will come …..Fighting yes ..but no end !
Almost every night I have someone pinching my nose while I sleep or pulling at my leg …one even gave his hand ….if all are demons ..I’ll be blowed …even if they are ..it proves there is life out there …
What JW teach is a load of rubbish ….they know less than nothing
RJR
You sir are bitter and blind . If you cannot the see the prophecies of Jesus dealing with the end of this wicked system coming true in front of you I pity you. Thousands of years of selfish human rule are about to end and dire predictions of doom by the scientific community will come true unless we have divine intervention soon . As for Jehovah’s Witnesses another religious hierarchy that lorded itself above its flock who I was a member for many years
You are short of doing research ….start all over…
….make sure of all things
…test it all …again and again …until you are perfect
Anne and all others
Allow me to say
We have been hoodwinked by a selfish world particularly religious
The tiny DNA molecule has information one can hardly imagine the
…unlimited data …scientists claim put side by side could reach the moon and back….not twenty times but
…20 thousand times …this is to keep our bodies in good repair
..a million micro organisms protecting us from all kinds of harm
…….just magic.
Likewise our brain consciousness holds similar amount of vital protective life giving God giving information that no one can do without
This was ….the
….. best way to help HIS children ….
….instilled about way back
Perfection …..nothing more he assured was necessary…
the heart and every other organ directs us Miraculously …
All kinds of superstitious distractions man has thought about …millions of religions ….you name it…..insurance…. prophesy ….etc al
…that brought nothing but dissension….the help it brought 5%
..distraught 95%
In contrast man has said we need more than what God has given and so …..
…wrote hundreds of so called holy Scriptures….it has wrought more trouble….
Of what help is David and Goliath …Cyrus …the serpent in the garden
…the apple ..the flood ..Noah’s Ark ….Jonah Whale …etc
Yes it helped us as kids …we found it lovely ….
You have to agree …..that our Creator has never said one word to us directly ….
……quietly ….personally yes …largely coming from our own heart and intelligence ……but never publicly as the
… early Hebrews claimed …..every weekend …and loud for all to hear
Prophesy …another Jewish invention ..to shake the living day lights
…out of their own poor people ….to get them in line …..crowd control …
.what does it give ….nice expectation?
…or devilish threat …is that how the true God ..handles his Kids !
What a world …..
Rob
Our Creator has cleverly installed a safety net for every thing living
And in that …we
…..have very little trust in..
…….it is not the Sacrifice
….because that will exclude many billions
…he is not prepared lose
Rob
Unfortunately, Mr. Franz died an apostate. His lack of faith and loyalty to Jehovah has severely diminished his chances for a resurrection.
As far as I can tell (along with the hundreds of persons who continued to converse with Ray Franz), he never lost his faith or his love for Jehovah.
Also, the word “apostate” refers to anyone who leaves their previous religion. The apostle Paul died as an apostate from Judaism. James from Acts 15 tried to observe a Christianity without being an apostate from Judaism (see Galatians 1 & 2).
But what’s more interesting is that there were a couple copies of each of Ray Franz’ two books in the Bethel Library, in a special cabinet with other ex-JW writing. What he wrote has helped improve Jehovah’s Witnesses. As it turns out, many of the problems he pointed out have been fixed. They needed to be fixed so as not to continue to embarrass JW’s after they were exposed in his books. You may already know this, but no one on the current Governing Body, or in the Writing Department or Service Department has ever been able to find anything he said in his books that was not true.
Ah! What were those problems please? It’s been a great difficulty finding out what he(RD) was upset by
The great Sermon on the mount….too beautiful ….
Tells me ….The Lillie’s of the field toil not …yet not Solomon was never as gloriously clothed ….the Lillies are cared for by our maker ..how loving
Adam …faults once ….& faces capital punishment …the sentence is
.extended to all his progeny ….no matter whether they turn out good or bad …
Clearly ..mans idea …not Our Creators wishes ….
Then why do none of their members admit or show any knowledge of this . Where and when was the article in the watchtower admitting fault and accountability
You clearly don’t know the difference between serving Jehovah and serving a cult that made so many mistakes over the years, had lots of members killed, false prophesies, subliminal images in publications, misquoting references, and using your donation money for stocks and property investment purposes while your leaders aka the governing body are always wearing fancy jewelry and clothing (watch the JWbroadcastings). Franz died loving Jehovah and I’m sure he did the right thing to help others know the truth about “the truth”. I for myself have stopped attending the brainwashing meetings that controls your thinking and emotions and elders can’t even think for themselves. What a shame. Clearly the bible’s teaching is different from Watchtower’s. I pray you come to the truth as a Christian and not a “Watchtowerite”.
But also clearly, we must be organised to do the work that Jesus set his disciples to do…….
how to know he was an apostate when all he did was trying to protect his conscious against man
Comment Raymond pouvait il être un Apostat ? Lui,qui a aussi cité des textes bibliques en Grec, textes que la Watch-Tower à visiblement trafiqués, en intervertissant par exemple les mots HIERON,(le temple dans TOUT son ensemble,
et le NAOS, qui est LE SAINT DES SAINTS.
Pourquoi la Watch-Tower le fait il passer pour un apostat, alors qu’il nous invite à vérifier et constater qu’il avait raison, avec preuves irréfutables … L’article en abrégé est aussi dans ce lien;
http://www.dangersecte-info.blogspot.com . Hiéron, ou, NAOS ??
Merci RAY ;
Entiendo muy bien inglés pero lamento no escribirlo. La Watchtower es una organización de apóstatas. Russell apostató de las creencias de los adventistas y de Nelson Barbour. Rutherford tiró a la basura las enseñanzas de Russell; el binomio Knorr-Franz destrozaron toda la “verdad” del patán Rutherford; y Henschel y la versión 2013 del esclavo fiel y discreto, acabaron con las traza de verdad de todos los anteriores. Y la casi totalidad de testigos de Jehová de a pie, son apóstatas de sus anteriores iglesias o religiones.
Jesucristo y los apóstoles fueron apóstatas del judaismo.
Raymond Franz fue un paladín del verdadero cristianismo.
Enson, una cosa es la lealtad a Jesucristo, el único camino, la única verdad y quien nos dará la vida eterna. Y otra es servir y ser fiel a una organización dirigida por un grupo de autonombrados “esclavo fiel y discreto”.. El día que usted sea capaz de investigar a fondo las teorías de 1914 y el nombramiento en 1919 de los ungidos de la WT como el esclavo fiel y discreto, usted comprenderá que la Watchtower es la obra perfecta de Satanás, el padre todas las religiones cristianas y no cristianas.
You will be surprised to know that Ray is quite alive and well
(Resurrections occur immediately ….the Jews had it wrong)
….there is no religion in the next dimension/s…only love and respect
There are new teachers that will help with any shortfall we may have
Why is it taking so long for us to do research on this matter of life after death ?….keep knocking ….don’t stop
Barry is right
We have stayed uninformed for now on 2 thousand years
…maybe millions …as man evolved for that long
We have the resources to prove many things but keep avoiding it
There is no death …..we have been hoodwinked
Enson, usted confunde la lealtad a la Watchtower que es una organización de hombres, como un club de la fe, a la lealtad a Dios y a su hijo Jesucristo. Su comentario es típico de todos los testigos de Jehova que carecen del amor cristiano al prójimo, que Jesucristo enfatizo: (“…Amen a sus enemigos y oren por quienes los persiguen, para que sean hijos de su Padre que está en el cielo. Él hace que salga el sol sobre malos y buenos, y que llueva sobre justos e injustos. Si ustedes aman solamente a quienes los aman, ¿qué recompensa recibirán?” Mateo 5:43-48
Que Dios le perdone su falta de amor y le de inteligencia para que capte el verdadero camino (Jesucristo).
You have just judged
…be careful …
…do some homework
Our creator sees into the kidneys the liver and the spleen
Motives & intentions ..mans true value cannot be seen on the outside
Rob
Enson…there is no resurrection …Ray Franz I came to know in
…1964…is alive and well ….man is spirit ..and at bodily death he
Transcends ….just the same as you will ….JWs and all relgions have taught this false doctrine …to control man …to get them to worship at their church ….commerce related …yes Samual did speak to Saul
…if man believes he is immortal…it would spoil the business
The Jews liked doing business
So here we are …paying churches to secure a resurrection for us
We have been hoodwinked …go and read Raymond Moodeys books
….and get first hand proof ….and you will be directed to dozens more
Doctors doing research on the same subject …William James …and his friends started research way back in ..1840?…that also might be a great help to start at…..
You have to ….prove all things …MAN is being cheated in every avenue
possible ….before buying check prices ….quality …sometimes once is not enough ….go back and check again …do it until you are sick of going over the evidence …I can tell you our Creator has not left anything hidden…it is there ….for the taking….find it …your life will
…change …and for the first time you’ll define the meaning of freedom
Ray Franz found it so can YOU…..let me know
Rob
Who are you to judge who deserves resurrection ? Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ray Franz was an inspiration and encouragement to me at the time I needed to flee the JWs. I worked in the Bethel Home Writing Department under Ray in the 1970s, along with many members of the governing body. I left the organization around the same time as Ray and Cynthia. I contacted him and connected via mail awhile, and I know God greatly used and blessed him. He sacrificed so much for the Witnesses, gave up his and Cynthia’s dream to be parents in devotion to the ministry. I have met very few men with his integrity and courage to stand up for truth. I am looking forward to seeing him again in Jesus’s kingdom!
Hello! I would love to hear more about your experiences!
http://www.dangersecte-info.blogspot.com . NON Ray n’était pas un APOSTAT , RAY à découvert la supercherie Watch-Tower , et a donné les raisons de son départ en apportant tant d’éléments du Trafic Watch-Tower,que tout le monde peut vérifier . Merci Raymond Franz pour votre courage et votre honnêteté .
All I have seen and read here are simply emotive effusions reeking of hate driven by nonexistent evidence against the witnesses of contradicting the divine record. I have not seen any credible alternative to the witnesses. Please provide the world with one. Or are you making the point that as long as you are not a witness its okay. You have not employed any word of credit for them. You have lampooned all the presidents of the watchtower from Russell to Franz characterizing them as men who have no credit. I am not against that because I must respect peoples opinion no matter how warped such my be. But let me remind you of a scripture you conveniently forgot:Acts 5:34-39(the immortal words of Gamaliel the famous 1st century Jewish law teacher) One thing is certain, from the early days of Russell when he printed the first issue of the Zions Watchtower till now, almost 130 years have past. Again, by the time Russell died in 1916 the witnesses were less than 20,000. Today after 100years, their current number is almost 9 million strong. By this though, I do not mean peaks at conventions which include members of the public and some curious passersby who in similar church crusades are regarded as members No! I mean dedicated and baptized witnesses who invariably have undergone serious study of the bible spanning a period of many months and up to a year in some cases. These are active in more then 240 lands of the earth excluding countries where they are currently under restriction. (Pls refer to their current yearbook)So, my point is this, if inspite of all the bad press and condemnation they have been subjected to by their haters and their characterization as being anti-bible and as promoters of heresy they are still waxing stronger after 130years, then one of two things is possible, it is either they are superhumans OR they are backed by God! Once again,please let the world be provided with a credible alternative platform. Never advance the trash that God accepts all religions. He did not do it in Noah’s day, He did not do it in Abraham’ day, He did not do it in the day of the ancient Jews neither did he do it in the day of 1st century Christians. So what makes anyone think he has changed. No he has not changed. He is still God of order and not disorder! 1st For 14:33, 40
If you are saying that all you have seen and read here are “emotive effusions reeking of hate,” then I understand exactly where you are coming from. As JWs, this is exactly what we are expected to “read into” anything that differs from our expectations. We are taught that anyone who opposes JW doctrine is driven by hatred, and this colors our view. It took me a long time to realize that much of what I called “opposition” was actually driven by love and hope that I would also be able to love the type of freedom that Jesus spoke about.
You might have noticed that even that word “freedom” instantly conjures up the idea of apostates wanting to be free of their Christian obligations; free to believe anything they want; free to act immorally. In other words, even the Bible’s own words become “charged” with “apostasy” when we think they are removed from the context of our JW beliefs.
When you mention non-existent evidence, however, this might be a case of intentional blinders. The evidence is abundant and overwhelming that the Watchtower Society has NEVER, ever been correct on any expectation or prediction based on chronology. It turns out that there is abundant Biblical, logical and archaeological evidence that helps us understand where all these mistakes in the Watchtower came from. There is abundant evidence that indicates that the Bible’s chronology is correct, and that the Society’s adjustments to the Bible’s chronology is incorrect. Secular chronology happens to support the Bible’s chronology perfectly through the same time period that the Society found it necessary to adjust (in order to make 1914 appear to work).
If you are looking for a credible alternative to Jehovah’s Witnesses, you need look no further than the Bible itself. I adhere to a faith and belief personally that fits scripture and fits the evidence. It is not the purpose of this website to hold any one person’s view up as the correct one. The Bible says that the holy spirit will lead you into all truth. I don’t take this to mean that everyone will agree on all points of doctrine. Even the Watchtower has disagreed with itself hundreds of times over the years. If anyone insisted on holding to the doctrines of 1990 in 2016 they could be disfellowshipped. If any JW in 1950 found themselves holding to the doctrines which are now considered correct in 2016, they would have been disfellowshipped. I’m sure you get the point.
Specific doctrines are not the way in which we find unity among the worldwide brotherhood of Christians holding to the faith. True Christianity, true “religion,” is as James said: “looking after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and keeping oneself without spot from the world.” In other words, it’s the way in which our love for Jehovah and Jesus motivates us to do good works, and motivates us to not forsake meeting with one another to incite to love and more good works. The primary work of the good news is therefore the charitable and loving way in which we treat one another, our enemies, our neighbor, and especially those related to us in the faith.
You describe the growth of the organization, which you probably realize is quite similar to the Seventh Day Adventists and the Mormons (LDS) both of which also started in the same contexts of history and geography as the religions and sects which derived from the Watchtower Society. I don’t believe that you think this similarity to the Witnesses makes those other religions true, do you? It doesn’t mean that similar sized religions are “superhuman” does it? What about religions who are much larger?
You ask if we are promoting the point that ‘it’s OK, as long as you are not a JW.’ No. In fact, I don’t even promote the idea that one must leave the Witnesses. Anyone can be a Christian among the Witnesses. I see no reason to leave, unless forced out. Several members of the Governing Body and the Writing Department at Bethel, that I knew personally, also dismissed much of our chronology doctrines. Most of them were able to remain JWs in spite of opposition by other Witnesses to their personal beliefs. We can always focus on doing good for others and hold to the general doctrine that the Bible teaches about the end times without being overly concerned with 1914 and the doctrines that are based on that teaching.
At any rate, I do believe the Bible provides an alternative, but it is not another organization. After all, the time is coming and it is now, when true worshipers will not worship in a certain place, or from a certain temple, or a certain “mountain.” True worshipers will worship in Spirit and Truth. Jehovah does not accept all religious organizations, because he does not concern himself with the imperfect human organizations by which we might try to organize and guide ourselves. Jehovah is looking at our hearts to see where the motivation actually comes from that drives us to do good works and good deeds. If that motivation comes from faith in God, and love for God and neighbor, then THAT is true religion.
“After all, the time is coming and it is now, when true worshipers will not worship in a certain place, or from a certain temple, or a certain “mountain.” True worshipers will worship in Spirit and Truth.”
Is this your own wording or are you quoting from another source? Just interested.
It’s a paraphrase of John 4:21, 23, 24:
John 4:21 “Jesus saith to her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. . . . 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:. . . 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him, must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (KJV)
i live in south africa…i am an irish catholic ..my wife is a witness ..i had 6 elders in my house on friday …great fun …great people ..i was the only non jehovah there…but great christian people who believe in God …and there was no crisis of conscience .. god bless you all xx
Thanks for your thoughts.
I agree that a house full of JWs is often great fun, and I also believe they are great Christian people. Many ex-JWs often need reminders such as this one that we ourselves were JWs once, and for the most part we enjoyed it. We also remember how we treated almost all non-JWs with much respect, knowing that they could potentially become JWs one day. And even if they would never become JWs, we still wanted all to know that we were as normal as the next person.
Remember that Raymond Franz, too, had no problem continuing to associate as a Christian among fellow Jehovah’s Witnesses. He did not desire to leave, and wished to continue as a JW for as long as the hierarchy would permit it. He had not even found it necessary to spread his beliefs to others, even though he knew that they were more Biblical than the versions of these beliefs that the Governing Body of JWs wanted him to teach at the time.
The only time a “crisis of conscience” would usually occur among JWs is when they are told that they MUST hold a certain belief or be punished with excommunication. This rarely comes up among JWs unless they happen to come up against evidence that some of their doctrines are not believed because they are true, but because of decades of tradition.
For example, if your wife were to discover that the evidence for abstaining from blood turned out not to be Biblical, and a situation came up where a medical decision about the use of blood products might make the difference between life and death, only then would your wife be faced with a crisis of conscience. For 99% of JWs, the problem never comes up, and even where JWs choose to die rather than take blood-based medical treatment, there is still no crisis of conscience, because most JWs have never questioned the Biblical teaching on their own.
The “end-time” beliefs of JWs which are discussed on this site, are really quite trivial to most JWs. Some JWs will make important decisions about careers and education and marriage based on these beliefs, but it’s rarely a matter of life and death at all. Yet, if a JW were to discover that the doctrinal basis should be questioned, or even dismissed, then that JW would often be faced with the problem of excommunication, being cut off from all their family and friends in some cases. This can effect their livelihood, employment, inheritance, mental health, etc.
Imagine reading a scripture and realizing that you are not allowed to believe that part of the Bible unless you are willing to give up association with your children and grandchildren, for example. Fortunately, your wife will still have you.
Indeed yes, churches, doctrines, organisations, ideologies are human phenomena and therefore not free from imperfection and falibility. God looks at the heart and values our attitude towards Him. We may err in the process out of ignorance, but once we have love in and among us, God is Happy. Its dishonesty to bring God into personal dog fights based on difference of opinion, which opinions have capacity for error, and claim that God is on our side. Love and dishonesty do not co-exist.
JW….herein lies much truth …..true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth
No temple no ceremony no particular manner… no fellowship no direction from a GBody ….no Bible no protocol no Watchtower….or Kingdom Ministry …no prayer mat
No Prayer book ….no doctrine ..no dogma ….no group study no meeting
Only a persons sincerity of heart
I would prefer …..the first sentence to read
All Humans will Honour their Maker in Spirit And Truth
The word “ Worshippers” bothers me
By then there should not be ‘any other humans’
We are ALL Gods people ….It will take time and work to “panel beat”
…..every one in line …..but my guess is …it has always been our Makers
Intention so it just has to be done!..
It’s easier to Judge than to be Judged?
Thank you for that perfectly timed reminder!! ❤
Linda, you asked some additional questions above, and a “Reply” button didn’t show up (yet?), so I couldn’t answer them up there. On the question of why Ray was upset, I think you’d have no choice but to read portions of his books to understand what was going on. I’m still waiting on permission to include his book on this site. But his exposure of the Mexico/Malawi hypocrisy resulted in a change to this kind of policy. It was easy for him to predict the timing for changes to the definition of the generation. There are several other points that would take a bit longer to explain. You also ask about the need to be organized for disciple-making. For some this is a rationale that defends and rationalizes the organization. But the Bible speaks of “wheat and weeds” growing together, so it can’t be all-important. However, I see nothing wrong with organizing for the particular ministry we feel comfortable with. The Watchtower organization attempts a teaching ministry, and if they can do it well, then I hope they’re blessed in this ministry. But if another group of Christians wants to specialize in building shelter for the homeless, or managing hospitals for the sick, or soup kitchens for the hungry — then I hope they are blessed in organizing for those ministries, too. There is often more “truth” in charity than in doctrine. (James 1:27)
I have come to see that the true God had no intention of being worshipped by his children …honored yes ..as we do each other
but not worshipped ….man started this ..it is now out of control a rush to
..please him ….by worship ….
relax ….everyone is not only from him but also HE
Do what ever you like ….you will eventually conclude we are all ONE
Do research… and see man is spirit ….is eternal ….no need to worry or
Panic about the future
But be careful….just like it is Here……if a rotter …you experience the life of such a person
.the quality of your future depends 100% on the state of your mind …..purity & cleanliness ….will determine life’s quality hereafter
What we are ….or become …is vital …..
…. contrary to what we are told ….
…you take nothing with ?
..NO
…we take every thing with ……..elementary my dear
RjR
Remember too ….Catholics mumber a Billion …and according to JW
….follow a false religion?…..WOW
Do we have a problem there …..are they all wicked ….?
..I doubt that …JWs …feel they should be destroyed
Should they be ?
It is not a matter ..of whether God prefers a religion
…we all know it’s a matter of the heart …the kidneys..the spleen and the liver ….that is how close God will see…..there are millions of religions
..out there ….they count for nothing …including the JWs
Search your heart…..all rights and wrongs are written there in
…there is hardly a need for any holy scriptures either
Your heart and conscience will guide you
Rob
Number One
Ndigwe….nice essay ….which religion ….if not the JWs ?…
Worship …is very old …how it started ….who can tell
Man felt helpless during bad times …drought …calamities
Looked to the skies …mis-.believed God was angry
…wrongly decided to make amends for any of the tribes shortfalls
That is where the idea of a sacrifice entered their thinking
..s new born baby …a pretty maiden ….
Bizarre as it now is….they sacrificed their best to save the tribe from
Disaster ..this carried on for long..so primitive man was
..so The Jesus sacrifice is not…divine……NOTICE it’s beginning
Well intended writers wanted to steady mans thinking & started to write
…the happenings ….old testament…
But …with time ….greed crept in….all sorts of selfishness
Today those holy scriptures …continue…Mormons compiled their own …..Islam
Compiled the Quran ..and a million more …a little good but it lead to ..confusion …..which one was Gods …..true instruction..if any
Watchtower once agreed the Bible was put together…by bishops
…statesmen and Constantine….all so called false worshippers
…pagans …mostly ….they said
.eventually …no one could do anything about this Beautiful book of words ….it is just too universally accepted as Gods Word
Perfect English …wonderful stories …psalms …proverbs …history etc
So Good ..that many wanted to write a divine book of instructions too
Today …let’s leave that for next time Number two…
Oui, Raymond Franz a écrit ceraines choses lorsqu’il éatit ENCORE Témoin de Jéhovah, mais ensuite, osqu’il a quitté la secte ,l’organisation imprimerie de tracts, il a aussi écrit un livre intitulé “CRISE DE CONSCIENCE”, pour dénoncer avec preuves irréfutables le trafic et Magouilles scandaleuses de la watch-Tower et nottament sur la FALSIFICATION de la bible pour en “fabriquer” la traduction du Monde Nouveau qui est ,ce livre, une ABOMINATION devant D.IEU,lui même. ET ETC; Les passages Truqués, falsifiés sont cité concernant surtout “le Naos” et “le Hiéron,” mots intervertis dans la bible, et sans parler de CARL OLOF JONSSON cet archéologue Suédois encore Temoin de Jéhovah en ce temps là,qui a démontré à la Watch-Tower que la date 1914 est arch fausse, ce qui est Très Grave. Et aussi, de dire que les témoins de Jéhvah ont multiplié, là, nous, nous pouvons affirmer que TOUTES les dénominations religieuses peuvent dire cela sans mentir; A SUIVRE !!
On NE PEUT PAS rester dans une secte quand il est prouvé que cette organisation a VOLONTAIREMENT truqué la bible,fabriqué de MULTIPLES FAUSSES DATES DE “FIN DU MONDE”, sans parler d’images subliminales en grand nombre etc etc etc… On ne peut PAS DU TOUT bibliquement se prétendre chrétien tant que l’on reste dans une société où il est PROUVE que cette société là n’est pas Honnête. Il n’y a pas “erreurs” de la part de la Watch-Tower , il y a VOLONTAIREMENT et d’une manière évidente, vérifiable, prouvable que TOUT est TRAFIC Watch-Tower. Si quelqu’un veut y rester et prétendre qu’il est toujours chrétien, alors pourquoi les Témoins de Jéhovah vont tenter de faire sortir de leurs religions les AUTRES gens NON T.J… ??? Les FAUX prophètes ,et de plus, falsifiant la Bible etc etc sont sous la malédiction, ” SORTEZ DU MILIEU D’EUX, selon Deutéronome CH.18/20 à22, selon Apocalypse ou, révélation ch.22/18..19 . http://www.dangersecte-info.blogspot.com .
La traduction du Monde Nouveau est une bible entièrement falsifiée,truquée, déformée dans ses points les plus fondamentaux,”essentiels” A SUIVRE !! Car Toute la SUPERCHERIE DE LA Watch-Tower EST VERIFIABLE, il n’est pas question de “JUGER” il est question de CONSTATER” la malhonnêteté de cette organisation satanique..
Please elaborate on Mexico / Malawi and on the timing for changes to the definition of generation
You can find whole chapter on Mexico / Malawi in the Crisis book.
Quand il s’agit de TRUQUER LA BIBLE, la Falsifier, par des erreurs “volontaires”, comme le fait la Watch-Tower, et sans parler de FAUSSES PROPHETIES habilement construites et images subliminales etc etc.. On peut être sincère,mais on est perdu pour l’éternité. La Watch-Tower est prouvée Malhonnête,et ses membres disent trop facilement AMEN sans réfléchir. Non, il ne s’agit pas d’être sincère pour être sauvé,il faut faire la volonté de D.IEU,et ,ne pas participer aux mauvaises oeuvres des Ténèbres.Il faut fuir la société Watch-Tower,en sortir au plus vite, sinon, c’est la perdition éternelle.. Voici d’autres éléments . http://www.dangersecte-info.blogspot.com .
I’m a Nigerian, My grandmother is a Jehovah’s witness and through him my Brother joined after the bible study called ‘what does the bible really teach’ a little time after, i also started the bible study and started attending the meetings but right in me i didn’t find some things appealing about the teaching example is compelling me to believe what is been thought in the bible study. I made the decision not to continue the bible study again in a particular day when i was in my room and my brother was having his bible study section in the sitting room with is bible teacher so i overheard the teacher telling my brother and trying to make him believe that Jehovah’s witnesses are the only people that will be in kingdom of God. I was shocked to hear that because i felt that was a lie so after the teaching section i called my brother and asked him if he believes what he just heard but he couldn’t talk but with time he believed and started carrying the same message all about….
It was very painful to me.