Raymond Victor Franz
(May 8, 1922 – June 2, 2010)
Over the years, Ray Franz relied on a number of close associates to help disseminate his works through his publishing concern, Commentary Press. After his death, Ray’s legacy was left fallow for some time. Now, however, this site is dedicated to making works originally published by Commentary Press, including Ray’s writings, available for free online.
Who Was Ray Franz?
Raymond Franz served in several capacities within the ranks of Jehovah’s Witnesses, including nine years as a member of the Governing Body. During his 40-year span with the religion and its corporate overseer, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Franz gained intimate knowledge into the inner workings of the organization.
After his resignation and subsequent disfellowshipping in 1980, he was compelled to share his story and reveal the inner workings of an organization he had become disillusioned with. Thus, in 1983, he published Crisis of Conscience, followed by In Search of Christian Freedom (1991) as well as other insightful works by other contributing writers.
Because his efforts were made for those seeking spiritual truth and freedom, we offer these works freely to anyone looking to benefit from those unique insights. Further, we encourage you to share this archive with others.
“I could not accept that the [Watchtower] organizational interpretations, based on shifting human reasoning, could ever be made equal in authority to the actual statements found in God’s unchangeable Word.”
—Raymond Franz, Crisis of Conscience
The works are organized into three sections below by type of format. Some books and essays were written by other authors and edited by Raymond Franz.
