RubyParker

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Posts by RubyParker

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  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

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  RubyParker

  A valid point gymbob,
  God, the nature of the WTS is just so incredibly complicated - how to explain things such as this to non-members! Yes, disassociating and the distinction between the two has to be referenced in my film. Thank you for mentioning this.
  Ruby.
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  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Hi Gopher,
  Nice alias! Thanks for providing this link...very useful. I am truly sorry to hear that you've also been shunned by your family. Aren't you grateful for forums like this?! The internet has completely changed things for peoplel like us. As little as 10, 11 years ago former members had almost no way of making contact. I'm so glad this didn't happen to me in the 50's. Please feel free to forward any related insights to me at: [email protected]
  best,
  Ruby
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  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Hi AlanF,
  I was not aware of this production! Thanks very very much for telling me. Now to figure out how I can view it....
  many thanks,
  Ruby
• 
  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Hi megsmomma,
  I would love to hear more about your experience -- it sounds as though you've been through an awful lot to say the least. If you feel comfortable doing so, please e-mail me at: [email protected].
  Looking forward to hearing from you,
  Ruby
• 
  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Hello greendawn,

  Thank you for your support. Actually, as someone pointed out below there have been others who have created similar films. I know that at least two individuals are currently working on documentaries, one called 'Loosing My Religion'. I am hoping to be able to contact each of these filmmakers to offer support and make sure that we are not stepping on each others' toes.

  There are SO many angles to approach this from: gender, internal policies regarding molestation reports, blood transfusions, sexuality - in particular homosexuality. I honestly believe that hundreds of films could (and I'm sure, will) be made about Jehovah's Witnesses - there is simply too much territory to cover. I am focusing specifically on the mental/emotional trauma that results for both parties as a result of disfellowshipping.

  Thanks again,

  Ruby.
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  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Hello Crumpet,

  Thank you for your response. I would be delighted to speak with you. Would you mind contacting me at the following e-mail:

  [email protected]

  The website should be up and running within the next few weeks which will provide you with more information, I'll be sure to forward it to you. keep in touch, Ruby.
• 
  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Thanks for your well wishes Rabbit. I have to admit, I have geared my entire education...every single paper...toward trying to understand this experience. Surprisingly, I entered as an undergrad very very bitter and a complete atheist with no tolerance for other people's religious views, regardless of which tradition they followed. It is because of my studies that I feel that I am now able to rationally maneuver around this topic, even though it is extremely personal. Thanks for your expression of support. Ruby.
• 
  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  Hello Hoping4Change,
  
  I completely agree - please refer to my response to Paralipmenon (which I am having trouble viewing for some reason - can you see/read it?). Not referencing the opinions of current members was an oversight on my part -- it has always been my intention to interview active members, and to attempt to speak with WTS representatives. Otherwise it would be horrendously unbalanced. I suppose since this is really a former JW forum, I had framed my little message toward the audience, but I suppose there are current members on here also.
  Naturally, I want desperately to be able to quote their own publications, and to use their own imagery but this has many legal implications. We'll see what happens...
  
  Thanks very much for your input!
  
  Ruby
• 
  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  You’re quite right Paralipomenon – thank you for pointing out my error. In my excitement I had forgotten to add:
  
  g) any current members who wish to express their views regarding disfellowshipping, anonymous or otherwise
  h) any current members who are currently not associating with a family member because that member is disfellowshipped
  i) any current WTS representatives including Elders or members of the Governing Body J To interview an Elder would be ideal.
  
  Any wish or desire for anonymity will be respected, except for those who fall into category i.
  
  I am, of course, aware of the need to be reflexive and aware of one’s own bias. However, I contend that all filmmakers, particularly documentary filmmakers are biased to begin with. It is impossible to be entirely impartial. Whoever edits really shapes the story. However, I completely agree that in order for the film to be progressive there has to be an effort to strike a balance between believers’ perspectives and those who have been DF’d. Unfortunately, the entire issue of course, is that I want to talk to active Witnesses (including my family) – but will they talk to me?
  
  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.
  
  Part of my argument is that those who are disfellowshipping 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 - - it is not possible to compartmentalize our emotions and memories this way. Disfellowshippiing has a long term impact on an individual’s: emotions, self-worth, mental health, social skills, finances…the list goes on. The best these 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 into this site in the first place.
  
  Ah yes, the budget. My film does have a budget. I am fortunate to have friends who work in the industry who have been able to point me in the right direction. This will NOT be shot on a camcorder and uploaded to YouTube.
  
  In terms of the audience, I am not aiming specifically toward current members – I think this issue is of interest to all human beings. It essentially asks us what it means to be human? What are we if our most basic human bonds are severed? Is this practice humane? If so, how do we rationalize / explain it?
  
  Thank you for bringing up this very important point.
• 
  74

  new documentary film about Disfellowshipping - the anti - Knocking

  by RubyParker in

  1. forum
  2. announcements

  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.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  RubyParker

  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. I am agnostic and I am 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 provide the appropriate links. I am hoping to interview multiple individuals who have been disfellowshipped - North American sources are helpful - but I would encourage people from all over the world to contact me if they are interested in participating or sharing their story.

  I am hoping 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 - particularly those at a young age like myself
  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 few grad students from different disciplines who have completed theses / dissertations related to this topic
  g. information regarding individuals who have committed suicide as a result of their being disfellowshipped.

  Just like The Society, I am only 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, and I want to communicate to the public why and how it is enforced, and what the psychological and emotional effects are for those involved. Each of us has our own truth -- what is yours?

  I am not interested in labelling The Society any which way, I am merely interested in collecting the facts regarding disfellowshipping and presenting them as they are. The fact is that I lost my family, and I want others to know why and how.

  Please help me to tell our story. With love, empathy and respect, Ruby.

  contact me at: [email protected]