Comments on Ambassador Watch: Survey - David Barrett replies to comments

I certainly know the problem of trying to deal wit...

2009-01-03T09:09:00.000+13:00

I certainly know the problem of trying to deal with a thesis that threatens to grow unmanageably large, and the compromises inherent in cutting it down to a more workable size. The final defense, as always, will be especially challenging -- how in the world is David going to summarize WCG theology and history in a nutshell for those on his committee who are unfamiliar with the movement? It's needed for context, yet he'll only be able to afford a few minutes if he's going to have time to describe his analysis in any detail.

In any case, best wishes to David as he sifts through the data we provided. I'd be interested in seeing his results whenever they become available, though of course that may be a few years off.

Libro

(Any chance we might get to see the slides from his final defense? -- or do Ph.D. students use PowerPoint in Her Majesty's realm?)

I have no knowledge of any familial relationships ...

2008-12-28T06:51:00.000+13:00

I have no knowledge of any familial relationships there. The last name is the same, so I coudn't resist making a wisecrack.

Hope David didn't mind. I considered it a favorable comparison.

BB

Byker Bob, is that true that David and Syd were co...

2008-12-27T20:46:00.000+13:00

Byker Bob, is that true that David and Syd were cousins?

They've sure gone down different paths in life.

Pink Floyd - now there's a band for the ages!

I must comment that I enjoyed David's cousin Syd's...

2008-12-27T17:43:00.000+13:00

I must comment that I enjoyed David's cousin Syd's creative genius while he fronted the group "Pink Floyd".

BB

I agree with Purple Hymnal in that I also found th...

2008-12-27T04:41:00.000+13:00

I agree with Purple Hymnal in that I also found the survey thought-provoking and cathartic as well.

It's so vitally important to our long-range psychological health to adequately process and work through unpleasant experiences we have in life - rather than just impulsively or lazily retreat into a self-righteous, embittered, cowardly or overly-cynical state of mind and curse all things religious – most frequently typified by the “A curse on all your houses” mentality so common to fundamentalist religions.

I've talked to MANY current as well as ex-COG members, and one thing I find quite prevalent among them ALL is the practice of evasion, that of not dealing with unpleasant issues, especially those things pertaining to their more negative COG experiences.

But this only becomes habit and eventually destroys our capacity to deal with reality if indulged in too often. Yet it seems to be the default reaction of most COGer's.

Anyway, I appreciated Barrett's survey.

I would be very interested in knowing what the "se...

2008-12-26T11:07:00.000+13:00

I would be very interested in knowing what the "seven distinct groups" are that Barrett identified.

I definitely fall under the "'a plague on all your houses' and dropped out of Christianity completely" category, so I guess my answers can't be used.

Please pass my thanks along to David Barrett, I did find the survey to be quite thought-provoking and cathartic anyway.