Posted by Enoch [Enoch] on November 03, 1999 at 15:11:48 {eZOTANvCI6.jbICeEDzEdskMYqmTUo}:
In Reply to: Challenge to GB Member Part II posted by M733 on November 03, 1999 at 12:16:02:
Thanks for posting Ray's letter. Until seeing his reply, I had assumed (from off-line correspondence) that Ray believed this man was a genuine GB member. However, if Ray has serious doubts, then obviously all of us should have similar doubts as well. Ray is in a far better position to assess the situation than we are.
It would seem, GB, that there is no purpose in continuing to post unless you are willing to verify that you are whom you claim to be. But before doing that, you are going to have to decide what the point of all of it is. As everyone seems to agree, once you verify that a GB member is questioning some basic Society teachings, the GB will initiate a vicious, sweeping witch hunt.
How do you plan not to get caught? You are going to have to be willing to lie about it, or else the thing will be over in a day. If you don't want to either (1) lie, or (2) be kicked out into the streets, then there is no point in going any further. Because you will definitely be forced to either lie or be kicked out.
If you get kicked out, what good will all of this have done? The Society will only bear down even more than they presently do on everyone else. If you decide to lie (assuming you can do this with a clear conscience before Jehovah), are you prepared to spend the rest of your life as a double agent--having to carry on a secret life under close scrutiny?
If you choose to go that route, let me recommend that, before verifying your identity, you use a magnet to erase the hard drive on your computer (if you are using a computer at Bethel to do your postings). Otherwise, the Society may be able to use sophisticated software to retrieve your postings. Merely erasing your "history" and clearing your cache will not be sufficient. After that, do all of your postings somewhere off Watchtower property.
On the other hand, if you don't verify that you are a GB member, I don't think you will have enough credibility any longer on this site to do any good.
You obviously know that even if you verify your identity, you can do absolutely nothing about the wrongs in the Society unless eventually the majority of the GB feel the same way you do about things. Personally, I think it might be worth waiting for that day to come, but you can wait for that day without posting on the Internet and risking getting caught.
One last thing, if you do decide to verify your status as a GB member, I recommend that you do it in private through Ray. The rest of us will accept Ray's word without asking any further questions. In contrast, if you post something that would remove all doubt that there is a dissident member sitting on the GB, then the other GB members will likewise know this beyond any doubt. On the other hand, if you reveal such information to Ray alone, then the rest of the GB will have to decide whether to believe Ray or not. The ideal situation would be for us to be certain about your status, but for the GB to have to still wonder. After all, in their minds, Ray could be simply playing a trick on them.
If you are whom you claim to be, may Jehovah be with you and give you wisdom in this situation!