RubyParker
JoinedHello everyone, My name is Ruby Parker. I was disfellowshipped when I was 16 years old. I have completed a Double Major in Anthropology and Religion studies. I am agnostic and a filmmaker. I am taking the next 12 months to make my first feature film, a documentary about religious shunning and disfellowshipping in particular. I will be setting up my film's website shortly, and will then update this profile with its' url. I am hoping to interview multiple individuals who have been disfellowshipped. North American sources are helpful - but I would encourage people worldwide to contact me if they are interested in participating or sharing their story. My aim is to articulate the pain and emotional suffering I have endured through other people's varied experiences, without making myself a subject in the film. In particular I am encouraging those who are: a. thinking of leaving b. who have been disfellowshipped - especially those shunned at a young age c. those who have been severely shunned by their immediate family and entire congregation/community d. those who have lost their children and/or spouses in the process e. mental health professionals who specialize or who have worked with those within this population f. those academics / grad students (of various disciplines) who have published works / completed theses / dissertations related to this topic g. information regarding individuals who have committed suicide as a result of their being disfellowshipped. h. any current members who wish to express their views regarding disfellowshipping, anonymous or otherwise i. any current members who do not associate with a family member because that member is disfellowshipped j. a representative of the WTS Any wish or desire for anonymity will be respected, except for those who fall into category j. Just like The Society, I am interested in discovering the truth. I want to know why my entire family was ordered to shun me. I want to know why this incredibly harmful and emotionally abusive policy exists. I want to communicate to the public how disfellowshipping is enforced, and what the psychological and emotional effects are for those involved. Each of us has our own truth -- what is yours? Part of my argument is that those who are disfellowshipped (along with those family members who are forced to shun them) experience a unique form of TRAUMA. It is not possible to lose your entire family, social network and worldview overnight and to then obtain closure or to carry on in my experience. The experience is carried with us each day. Likewise, it is impossible to successfully compartmentalize our emotions and memories this way. Disfellowshippiing has a long-term impact on an individuals: emotional health, mental health, self-worth, social skills, finances the list goes on. The best such individuals can do, in my view, is to cope and continue to learn about our experience and those of others. If we had all moved on none of us would have logged onto this site in the first place. Although I take issue with this policy among others, I am not interested in labelling The Society, I am merely interested in collecting the facts and presenting them as they are. The fact is that I lost my family, and I want others to know why. I wish to open a dialogue, to provoke a discussion and ultimately to politicize this issue to open up the subject of disfellowshipping (a foreign concept to most) for public debate. I think this subject will be of interest to all. The film essentially asks: what are we if our most basic human bonds are severed? Is this practice humane? If so, how is it rationalized / explained / enforced / perpetuated? Please help me to tell our story. With love, empathy and respect, Ruby. All are welcome to contact me at: [email protected]