Posts by RubyParker

24

Secrets of Pedophilia in an American Religion

i am interested in getting a copy of the cd.

has anyone downloaded it anywhere for mass distribution?

RubyParker

Aside from the money that Barbara Anderson has poured into this project -- as nothing more than a labor of love -- I hope that all of us will stop for a moment and consider the personal risk she has taken. Aside from the thousands that it would have taken for her to put this project together out of pocket, she has taken a huge personal risk on behalf of all of us by knowingly taking on a set of billion dollar corporations with 1st rate legal teams. Think of the *potential* legal implications. What guts. She's an absolute hero to me.

22

Filming for disfellowshipping documentary has begun

by RubyParker in

hello jwd it has been a few months now since i initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the wts disfellowshipping practice.

i am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 a common bond conference in chicago.

i was welcomed to acbs conference with open arms.

RubyParker

GoingGoingGone,

Ha!!! Academy award...I'm far too grounded to hope for that kind of audience...but let's hope both films get good festival circuit runs... thanks for your encouragement, really. It helps keep me on track :).

R.

22

Filming for disfellowshipping documentary has begun

by RubyParker in

hello jwd it has been a few months now since i initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the wts disfellowshipping practice.

i am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 a common bond conference in chicago.

i was welcomed to acbs conference with open arms.

RubyParker

cabasilas,

I've tried to contact Nancy through YouTube...does anyone know if she is on JWD.

It's so weird watching another young person sit and talk about what it is like to leave around the same age that I did...I feel so much for her.

Yes, I'd be happy to talk to Nancy if she were willing.

R.

22

Filming for disfellowshipping documentary has begun

by RubyParker in

hello jwd it has been a few months now since i initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the wts disfellowshipping practice.

i am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 a common bond conference in chicago.

i was welcomed to acbs conference with open arms.

RubyParker

Hi avengers,

As far as the short is concerned, it should hit the 'festival circuit' within the New Year. I will be sure to update JWD as to which festivals have accepted it, when and where it can be previewed etc...

Since I will be spending the better portion of 2008 shooting the feature length doc, it is difficult to say for certain when or where it will premiere. Hopefully within early 2009 (gosh, that sounds like a long way off, doesn't it?). As with the short, I'll update this board with the progress!

Ruby.

22

Filming for disfellowshipping documentary has begun

by RubyParker in

hello jwd it has been a few months now since i initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the wts disfellowshipping practice.

i am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 a common bond conference in chicago.

i was welcomed to acbs conference with open arms.

RubyParker

Hi M.J.

This is a good question. The problem with making a film like this is that there is simply SO MUCH to cover. It is impossible to cover every aspect of disfellowshipping properly within a 90 minute film, much less a 15 minute short!

I haven't yet set out to argue the WTS' disfellowshipping policy from a biblical standpoint, most likely because I am now agnostic and am more focused on the traumatic impact of the practice.

However, I DO aim to interview people who have left and who remain Christians. It is quite possible that such a refutation could come out in one of my interviews with DF'd current Christians. I should state, however, that the film is not intended as a theological debate.

thanks for your interest!

Ruby.

22

Filming for disfellowshipping documentary has begun

by RubyParker in

hello jwd it has been a few months now since i initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the wts disfellowshipping practice.

i am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 a common bond conference in chicago.

i was welcomed to acbs conference with open arms.

RubyParker

Hi Open Mind,

There isn't one particular audience I'm trying to reach. As I've stated before, I think that the idea of a church-slash-corporation encouraging and enforcing its' laypeople to shun family members is of interest to everybody on this planet. The subject is one that every human should find interesting. It simply begs the question: is this practice humane?

The answer of course, is obvious.

My hope is that it will first and foremost comfort former members. Secondly, that some current members will have a peek and that it may actually spark some 'independent thinking'. Thirdly that it will be picked up by the media and considered alongside the blood tranfusion and molestation issues. Finally I hope that some members of the general public will be educated regarding what is involved and expected of those who decide to convert.

Ruby.

22

Filming for disfellowshipping documentary has begun

by RubyParker in

hello jwd it has been a few months now since i initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the wts disfellowshipping practice.

i am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 a common bond conference in chicago.

i was welcomed to acbs conference with open arms.

RubyParker

Hello JWD – it has been a few months now since I initially posted an announcement regarding my intention to create a feature length documentary about the emotional and psychological effects of the WTS disfellowshipping practice. I am happy to announce that filming began the weekend before last at the 2007 A Common Bond conference in Chicago. I was welcomed to ACB’s conference with open arms. Being my first time physically surrounded by a group of former Witnesses I was overwhelmed with emotion. Although I do not fit their specific demographic, the members of A Common Bond accepted me and my crew members with open arms.

We were able to shoot over 8 hours worth of conference footage including personal interviews as well as a group session moderated by former elder, registered nurse and therapist Frank Maitoza. Please take a peek at the ‘conference report’ page on ACB’s site, where you will see a tiny pixellated clip of myself addressing the attendees in the top right corner, as well as a pic of members of my crew setting up to interview a former Witness at the bottom right.

http://www.gayxjw.org/confrep07.html

It was thrilling to be surrounded by so many survivors, many of whom have lost all of their family members, friends and entire world as a result of the WTS’ policy. Not only that, but they have endured years of overtly homophobic, ignorant and intolerant preaching -- which of course leads to internalized self-hatred. I was privileged to be accepted there as a guest, and to be among such a loving and accepting group of individuals. Their courage, resilience and strength should be an inspiration to all of us who are struggling.

I will be using much of the footage in my feature length film, but have decided in the interim to create a 15 minute short about my visiting the ACB conference. The short film will be submitted for consideration at short film festivals throughout North America.

I will be posting here on JWD sporadically during the next several months, encouraging former and current Witnesses -- young, old, Christian, atheist, pagan, gay, straight, transgendered and otherwise – to contact me who fit specific demographic categories and who are at particular points in their journey.

In particular, I am hoping to speak with CURRENT WITNESSES – who may need to remain anonymous and disguised – who are thinking of leaving.

I particularly wish to speak to YOUNG PERSONS(teenagers) who have left and who are being shunned by their families.

I especially wish to speak to recently DF’d young persons who are STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY AS A RESULT.

I ask JWD for your support in this project. Please anticipate further posts requesting contact from individuals who may be willing to participate, anonymously or otherwise. I must stress that individuals who wish to remain anonymous can and will be protected through various means.

With love,

Ruby Parker.

74

new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

by RubyParker in

my name is ruby parker.

i am 29 years old.

i was disfellowshipped when i was 16, i have completed a double major in anthropology and religion studies.

RubyParker

Poppers - also the blog is a good idea. Perhaps I can incorporate that into my new webpage...good idea. I am somewhat concerned about WTS surveillance to be honest. I'm sure, for example that they've already been alerted to this one particular thread. I would hate to have any potential filming opportunities / interviews sabotaged -- so I would need to be careful, I think. r.

74

new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

by RubyParker in

my name is ruby parker.

i am 29 years old.

i was disfellowshipped when i was 16, i have completed a double major in anthropology and religion studies.

RubyParker

Hi Poppers,

Of course I will keep the forum updated!!! I will have the website up shortly and will have a page where supporters (and nay-sayers) can leave their comments. I also plan to have a banner/link directly to Forum if not also directly to this particular link. This will be important for the film -- I need distributors and potential producers to see how much support there is behind a film like this, to understand how widespread this issue is.

I am going to try to also take a more active part in the daily discussions, but as a newbie my first kneejerk reaction is simply to indulge myself by revealing excerpts from my own little sob story. It is really so tempting...

R.

53

JWs and Love towards their families

by R.F. in

this is something that just popped in my mind suddenly.. but i was thinking about over the years the many comments of jws about loved ones.

for instance, one sister was speaking of her disgust with her children not accepting the "truth".

she gladly tells anyone of what she told them; that if they don't accept it before armageddon that it's too bad.

RubyParker

I know that with more experience on this forum that I will eventually ease off telling overly personal stories, but this reminds me of the last conversation I had with my mother. We had always had a fairly good, joking relationship and were reasonably close until I left at 16. I used to phone home about once every year, just hoping that they might show some interest in my life. This never happened, of course.
The last time I spoke with my mother was probably 7 or 8 years ago. I was in my early twenties and had already been through so much. I started to break down crying telling her how much I needed them. My mother said to me with a smile in her voice that I could actually hear, "Ruby, your father and I are over you. It's been (however many) years, we just don't cry about you anymore. We've moved on and so have your brother and sister".
She then told me that the only home my father and she have for me is that I might die in an accident before Armageddon so that I have a chance of being resurrected. Having your mother tell her that she is "over" you, and that she hopes you might die soon - no matter what the context - is very painful to carry around.
I feel almost guilty for indulging myself here, airing my dirty laundry with this memory, but I realized that I've almost never mentioned it since and how often I think of it. Painful stuff.