Please watch my interview about the goal and purpose of Free Minds, Inc. by clicking picture We are people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights. We expose spiritual abuse from high control religious groups, particularly Jehovah's Witnesses, whatever their claims to higher authority may be. Our purpose is educate the public about such movements, provide an online support network where everyone is welcome to contribute and to enable a safe non-judgmental place for people to find healing and comfort and the community of their fellows. We are a global online network with independence from government, corporate, national and organised religious interests. Our vision is of a world in which every person - regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality or ethnicity - enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards, specifically with regard to freedom of religion.
The people now working with us are volunteers, with a common goal in mind, and that is to create a heterogeneous "congregation." That being an online community comprised of former cult members and current Jehovah's Witnesses covering the full spectrum of religiosity and spirituality. This is a cooperative effort of equals and any departure will not be viewed personally. It will feature all things important to helping the Witness exit the Watchtower Society as painlessly as possible, if that is their wish, and to provide them with a supermarket of future options. There is somewhere else to go! It is a loose-knit cooperative, begun initially through a small circle of friends. Friendship alone binds us all together. On everything else, we may disagree, without being disagreeable. Join freeminds.org now! Please consider us in your budgeting and your prayers and your giving to Free Minds,
UPDATE 5/4/2010 in response to the above, wherein a reader objects:
Dear [Reader], In the context of the statement of "Our Vision" on the Free Minds site: Our vision is of a world in which every person - regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality or ethnicity - enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights standards, specifically with regard to freedom of religion. ...you say, “I understand race, religion, gender, ethnicity but what do you mean about “sexuality?” Although I personally did not pen the above Statement of Purpose, I fully agree with it. Your questioning of the word "sexuality" in your letter can be answered by my saying that I or others who work with Free Minds are not opposed to working with and aiding homosexuals or Lesbians or transgendered persons, as they have the same needs as the rest of us, whether they choose Christ or not. What else would you expect from an organization that calls itself “Free Minds”? This does not represent the slightest change of my opinion in 30 years, though some appear to have believed I was of a different, more bigoted mindset. Yet you will find nothing I ever wrote that even suggested otherwise. I have not changed. Even as a strict Jehovah’s Witness for eight years, I NEVER ONCE shunned or failed to speak to a disfellowshipped person. It is simply cruel. Would Jesus do that? I also believe in Darwinian evolution and that the earth is millions of years old as well as our human ancestors, which shocks some Christians. But I have always believed in evolution in all its forms - those Christians just never asked! Free Minds is not a church or a religious institution and never has been. It is a non-profit educational organization. What the beliefs or lack thereof of people’s personal faith is not our immediate concern. We are concerned with ABUSE, not intellectual posturing. We are a secular institution that just happens to have many evangelical Christians on board, a Greek Orthodox and a Catholic, as well as one "gay" blogger and four or five atheist or agnostic bloggers. With the exception of our Treasurer, they are not members of our Board of Directors. Freeminds.org is a PORTAL. Think of it as a secular online newspaper that addresses many types of people and allows for dissent of thought on many issues. Our concern is helping abused people out of the Watchtower, not "saving souls." I trust God does his own work in that regard, and always see the Holy Spirit at work when I hold to that conviction. Personally I have no problem with people's sexual orientation as long as they are not criminals in the eyes of the civil law. If you work for a business, say a grocery store or a hospital, I am sure you would serve all kinds of people (I would hope). To do anything less is, in my opinion, un-Christlike and cruel. Sincerely yours, Randall Watters Hits: 7843 Trackback(0)
Comments (3)
  written by mike , May 26, 2010 im not sure how this website came to me! i deprogram j.w's. that have been brainwashed and lost rights and freedoms ! from children to elderly! brainwashing into a religion is more easy then you think, and living in a hub of their area, i am necessary ! if i can be of help my services are here and they are free! yours michael jameson report abuse
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 written by Rick , May 31, 2010 I have received literature from the Jehovah’s Witnesses including a copy of the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. I have compared countless scriptures to the ones in my King James Version only to find that the Bible given to me by the Witnesses is a fine representation of God’s Word. The literature and study aids have used the bible extensively and it has always been explained to me how any Bible verse pertains to the topic of discussion. These people come to my home on time and prepared for our discussion and they are always dressed nice. I have never heard any of these people use foul language or show anything nut respect towards anyone. The studies and literature has always been offered totally free of any charges. I haven't even been solicited to give any donation for their efforts or fine books. I am however being told how they profit "selling" their literature by your website which has a link to your "store" on every page. Just what are you selling? And why should I believe or follow your negative ideas about the Witnesses when you won't even show your face at all? I have been earnestly seeking God for quite some time. These Witnesses live in my community, come to my home with preaching about the Kingdom of God with my every question answered respectfully. They haven't lied to me once. You hide behind your website being sure to have links to your items for sale and no actual positive Biblical message what so ever. Just why should I listen to your ranting against the Jehovah’s Witnesses? report abuse
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 written by wasblind , June 28, 2010 Rick, in the age of the internet, it is a big help to me to be able to do research on anything of interest and even get the reviews before i buy into whatever it is. im sure you have done the same thing if you have bought a car or home or appliance. there's no excuse to go into anything blindly anymore or to just take someone's word. Please use this same method when going into something that's is as important as your faith report abuse
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