People 
| The Evolution of Randall |
| Written by Randall Watters |
| Tuesday, 09 June 2009 10:36 |
 As most of you know already, I believe I am in the third and final stage of my ministry. For the next 15 years I will be reaching out in a new way, which will complete my full circle of training experience, teaching, and helping people. I'm not faulting any other approach, but this is MY approach and I will stand by it. I stand by it because it is the culmination of 29 years of working in a specialty field (cults). I know from experience that it will work better than the older techniques that others have used. Having written extensively on theology in the early years, I'm exhausted from discussing it. When I run into Christians or go to church, there's always a long discussion on theology or doctrine, especially since they know I'm a former Jehovah's Witness. Or, it becomes a inquiry or some kind of a test to see if I fit their concept of "orthodoxy." Yet I really don't care for spending a lot of time on abstracts or theological concepts. Those studies were fascinating for quite a few years, and I'm very glad that I took part in them. I wrote and still sell several books on theological subjects. All of this material is also on my website, since I have not changed my viewpoint of how to interpret the Bible. I just want to move on with another approach that a much larger number of people can use to help people out of cults. The difference: my new approach does not have to involve religion or theology for it to be understood. This is not really a big change in my life in the long term. I was a hippie in my last three years of high school. I hated watching TV, I loved the outdoors, and we often lived on acreage. I had horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a raccoon. Most of my time was spent in learning about animals, and how much they are like us humans. When I became a Jehovah's Witness I spent a lot of time studying people, and I still do. Now I can synthesize a new approach based on my experience. It's time to combine the little gems of wisdom I have learned over the years. I do not think that the church is making much of an effort to reach out to those in cults, because they're too concerned with their lifestyle, with church growth, and whether or not they fit into each other's "clubs." Perhaps it takes persecution for real Christians to come out of the woodwork, because it seems that in a materialistic society like ours, they're often just as uninterested in unselfish acts towards others as nonbelievers. Discussing theology is often a waste of time. I believe in my own personal experience of salvation through Jesus Christ, I believe that I gave my life to Christ at the Billy Graham Crusade when I was nine years old long before becoming a Jehovah's Witness and while going to a Baptist church. I have never doubted my salvation even as a Jehovah's Witness, so maybe I'm not so paranoid about little differences of doctrine that people have. I've always thought that people so often spend their time discussing the most ridiculous of things that have no bearing on their current happiness in life. I apologize if you found one or two of the articles in the last Free Minds Journal offensive. Perhaps including them was my overreaction to a lot of pressure from Christians to act and talk a certain way. Well sorry, I have always been a rebel of sorts. My idea is to go out there and help people who need help, and in teaching others how to help other people. Think about what you can do for them now instead of in the hereafter. Life is short, and I don't want to regret not using the talents I have. Getting older helps you to understand that more. A few of you wrote and were quite concerned about my believing in evolution in the last Journal. The truth of the matter is that life is made up of genes and cells and these things evolve and morph and get more complex. That is pretty obvious to most people. Beyond that, though, there is also social evolution - which to me is even more fascinating, and that is really the reason I brought it up. I am not interested in writing or publishing anything about the Bible versus evolution. To me it is just as irrelevant as discussing theology. An atheist or an agnostic would consider me inconsistent in my approach, but perhaps in time they will understand. In reality I have to deal with an area of scientific observation that involves an understanding of tendencies and traits - genetic traits and peculiarities - things that are passed on, not only from generation to generation of men and animals, but over tens and hundreds of thousands of years. I want to focus in on a very narrow aspect of animal and human behavior without challenging the rest of the evolutionary issues. Not my job. Sometimes the reason things are the way they are is not due to supernatural reasons, it's not due to demons, and it's not even due to the devil. Most often it's due to things that should be much more obvious to us but aren't, because as Christians we may have our head in the clouds and see a supernatural meaning behind everything. That is not a healthy approach. I am really just a good-natured person and have a fairly good sense of humor. Don't take everything I say too seriously but try to get a feel for how I write and speak and talk. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Hopefully you'll find some of it humorous, especially if you like Armageddon Okies. In any case, we will continue to have many wonderful articles in the Free Minds Journal in the days ahead; more of what you have already been used to for the last 27 years. I want to thank the many of you who have been with me so long as you bring great joy to my life and meaning to my humble existence. I am blessed. yours, Randy Hits: 641 Trackback(0)
Comments (6)
  written by Gina , June 09, 2009 I think what you're intending to do will fill a large need in that area from what I can see. There are thousands of cults doing damage to people's lives, and mainstream Christianity is too busy picking itself apart and moaning about the lack of interest in God to notice, it seems. And they are the very ones who can put a stop to it. It's their house that is being infested with this vermin. I've always thought that people are both the most delightful and the must frustrating things in the world. We're capable of so much goodness, and also, of failing to meet our potential. When I see someone who only wants to help others reach their potential, I think I have met someone who is truly emulating Christ. That's all he wants for us. Keep on doing what you're doing. It's Gods work and he has clearly called you to it. report abuse
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 written by Randy , June 10, 2009 Might I recommend a book that might shake you up but is very significant in an easy-to-read synopsis of how life can be seen more objectively, and the intertwining of man's animal legacy with religion, is "Straw Dogs" by John Gray. Look it up on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Straw-Do...402&sr=1-1 I would love your opinion on it, or maybe even a review here. Randy report abuse
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 written by Carl Hernz , June 10, 2009 In my opinion, and from the short time I’ve known you, probably the best and most honest description of yourself and your convictions. Perhaps I read too much into what you’ve said about yourself in the past, or maybe you just explained yourself well to me, but what I read in this post was what I gathered from you. If you are like me, however, then you don’t realize what others see about you until much later. And it’s just a sign of spiritual maturity to step beyond the scholastic into the realm of what religion/worship/spirituality is all about. It comes from the heart and in the end is a love story. Yeah, we end up having to discuss it in theological terms until we’re blue in the face until we realize it isn’t what we say that is going to convince anybody…as if we could anyway. report abuse
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 written by Jeffrey Byrge , June 10, 2009 Randy, the longer I am away from JW's, the more theological debates tire me. What I tend to rail against is intellectual dishonesty.... At least admit the limitations of what you believe... What I believe has limitations, and I will not argue for them.. (I likely won't be revealing those beliefs either.  wink I appreciate where you are coming from, and frankly, couldn't agree more. All of us are on our own "spiritual" journeys... The key for each of us to do that as individuals is to be free to think, questions, and doubt. I am happy that you have reached the conclusions you have regarding your faith and beliefs. At the end of the day, we all must answer to ourselves, for ourselves.... For my part, I am still working things out on this score.... Happy to be a small part of the journey, and happier (hopefully) to help those within Jehovah's Witnesses to begin to think for themselves, so that they can finally own themselves... PEACE! Jeff report abuse
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 written by Duke Nukem , June 19, 2009 It's funny how the writer uses 'I' quite a bit...isn't Christianity supposed to be about 'Others'? Unless he's self-aggrandizing (soooo un-JW, no wonder he's on his own)...no one man can get anyone closer to God, it's every person for themselves, so if anyone follows this rhetoric you're no better than a man-following JW (or whatever religion he/she may profess)...might as well make up your own church and have them follow you! Talk about a vicious circle, lol! report abuse
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 written by Bill , July 16, 2009 Alo ha, It is fine to help people think for themselves. But if you really want to do something important- help those in, or thinking about becoming a member of the most violent, intolerant, controlled, unreasonable, sexually discriminatory, demonic, repressed, religion I know of- Islam/Muslim. Bill report abuse
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