FREE MINDS ARTICLES
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- Translators of the New World Translation
- Randall Watters of Free Minds, Inc.
- Growing Up in a Divided Household
- How to React if your Child has Been Recruited by Jehovah’s Witnesses
- How I Helped My Family Leave Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Holidays – Refuting Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Women Who Are Leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses
- Good Advice When you have a Wife in a High Control Group
- Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses – On having true friends
- Life as a Jehovah’s Witness by Jeanne Jackson
FREE MINDS JOURNALS ARCHIVE
- Free Minds Journal vol 25 no 1 Feb – Apr 2006 – Long Road to Christianity
- Free Minds Journal vol 17 no 3 Summer 1998 – Latest Whoppers from the Faithful and Discreet Governing Body
- Free Minds Journal vol 17 no 2 Spring 1998 – Apostasy Knocks at Bethel’s Door
- Free Minds Journal vol 16 no 6 Nov-Dec 1997 – Bloodguilt Spurs Appeal Letter to Watchtower Society
- Free Minds Journal vol 16 no 3 May-June 1997 – Father Images in Cults – Why They Have So Much Control
- Free Minds Journal vol 16 no 4 Jul-Aug 1997 – The Watch Tower Occult Image Scandals
- Free Minds Journal vol 16 no 5 Sept Oct 1997- Special Edition – The Franz Incident
Translators of the New World Translation
The following list of translators of the New World Translation is a compilation from a variety of sources:
Frederick W. Franz: Main translator. Took liberal arts sequence at University of Cincinnati; 21 semester hours of classical Greek, some Latin. Partially completed a two-hour survey course in Biblical Greek in junior year; course titled "The New Testament--A course in grammar and translation." Left in spring of 1914 before completing junior year. Self-taught in Spanish, biblical Hebrew and Aramaic. Entered Brooklyn headquarters facility of Watchtower Society in 1920. Probable ghost writer for J. F. Rutherford (2nd president of WTS) from late 1920s through 1942. Vice president of WTS from 1942 to 1977, president from 1977 until death in 1992 at age 99.
Read moreRandall Watters of Free Minds, Inc.
Randall Watters - Free Minds Inc
Listen as Randy Watters Explains Why He Left Watchtower Headquarters in 1980
Free Minds Articles and Journal Archive
Having been a pioneer for two years and anxious to live at the hub of "God's organization," Bethel seemed like a wonderful place to be. From the start, I learned to run a press, printing the New World Translation the Aid to Bible Understanding book, and many other publications. By 1977 I had been appointed a floor overseer and a Bethel elder. I was in charge of the presses that printed their Bibles, and help start an offset printing training school. Later projects involved helping to renovate the entire printing operation. Travelling regularly around New England as a speaker, I made many fine friends and enjoyed my work. I was convinced this was truly "God's organization," and was even zealous to report those who were entertaining thoughts contrary to those of the "faithful slave." I was well-known as an "organization man."
Read moreGrowing Up in a Divided Household
Growing Up in a Divided Household
I needed to tell all of you how much you have helped me. I too, have been hurt by the Jehovah's Witnesses. I grew up in what they call a "divided household." My mother was a very strict Jehovah's Witness and my father was a military man. My earliest recollections of being a witness child were in Germany. My father was stationed there. I went to school on the military base. My mom wouldn't let me salute the flag. I remember the other kids making fun of me and teasing me. I would wet my pants on the bus ride home. My mom told me it was good to be persecuted for Jehovah God. But a little girl 5 years old doesn't understand that. I remember being afraid from then on. I was moved around a lot to many different schools. I was always the Outcast, the Jehovah's Witness, the Communist, the new kid. I was always afraid.
Read moreHow to React if your Child has Been Recruited by Jehovah's Witnesses
How to React if your Child has Been Recruited by Jehovah's Witnesses
by Andrew X
If your child has been recruited by the Jehovah's Witnesses, my advice would be to act quickly and - most of all - cautiously. Right away at the beginning of the Bible lessons, the Witnesses teach new recruits to expect opposition from "the devil's" forces. So if you oppose the Witnesses' influence over your child, he is likely to consider even his own parents agents of the devil. Their recruitment techniques are thorough.
Read moreHow I Helped My Family Leave Jehovah's Witnesses
How I Helped My Family Leave Jehovah's Witnesses
By Randall Watters
The question facing many of Jehovah's Witnesses who consider leaving the Watch Tower Society is: What do I do with my family? If I march into the house and tell them that the Watch Tower Society is a bunch of bunk, they could all react with standard Jehovah's Witness training and shun me. I too faced this exact issue, and pondered what I needed to do deal with it.
Read moreHolidays - Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses
Holidays - Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses
Reprinted from the book Refuting Jehovah's Witnesses by Randall Watters
Biblical Overview
There are a number of religious groups claiming to be Christian that deny the celebration of holidays to their members, including Christmas, Easter, birthdays, Mother's Day, etc. This is especially the case with Jehovah's Witnesses. While there are some Witnesses who celebrate these holidays secretly for fear of being caught, most take pride in this prohibition. Parents are willing to allow their children to suffer much peer pressure and isolation, and are perfectly willing to isolate themselves from their families during holiday times, even taking the opportunity to go door-to-door during these seasons of celebration. What are the reasons given for this stand against holidays? Is it wrong to celebrate holidays?
Read moreWomen Who Are Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
Women Who Are Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses
by Randall Watters
I don't believe a day ever passes without my getting a distress call from either a woman whose husband is a Jehovah's Witness and is a tyrant, or who is seeking to leave the Watchtower and her husband is threatening divorce, or worse. What could be worse, you say? Usually these situations are accompanied by either physical or emotional abuse, and often if there are children the threat of a custody suit is hung over the woman's head.
Read moreGood Advice When you have a Wife in a High Control Group
Good Advice When you have a Wife in a High Control Group
notes compiled from the writings of Willard F. Harley, Jr., Ph.D. - Your Love and Marriage: Dr. Harley Answers Your Most Personal Questions
Dr. Willard F. Harley wrote an article on his website that I felt I should share, as his advice is accurate from my experience. While the scenario he mentions is not typical of all relationships with belief-related conflicts, it is certainly typical of some. If you are in this position, perhaps it will help.
Harley likens religious conversion in this scenario to an affair:
Read moreEx-Jehovah's Witnesses - On having true friends
by Randy Watters
I have roommates. Three of them! Why do we fight so much? I don't treat other people like I treat my roommates. Sometimes I do not think before I speak, I just blurt out what I feel. I COULD do better. I could carefully weigh what I say each time. But I don't. Yet I am happy with the arrangement, and I consider them my extended family. I wonder how many basic families are just like this? I guess we all could do with a little more kindness.
Read moreLife as a Jehovah's Witness by Jeanne Jackson
by Jeanne Jackson
At the age of five, my mind was fresh, my parents taught me the Religious mess. They sat me down in hard back chairs, in Kingdom Halls full of stares. They told me GOD put men in power, mediating for us in an Ivory tower.
Read more