[www.wallofprayers.com]

Extract from article posted by DM at above site

A so-called cult expert in Australia (David Millikan) in a television report, expressed shock that The Family (formerly known as the Children of God) were encouraging people to masturbate. But he did this at the same time that he showed no concern at all about his own denomination (The Uniting Church) supporting homosexuality and adultery. He also condemned (on national television) another small Christian group (the Jesus Christians) for teaching what he called "self-mutilation" because a number of their members donated kidneys to people to save their lives.

The guy was obviously straining at gnats and swallowing camels, but the point I am making here is that openly teaching that masturbation is not sinful, or donating a kidney to save someone's life, both constitute things that are not "normally" taught by churches. The non-risk-takers are scared of anything that is different, even if a few years from now, with a bit more perspective both practices are not going to sound shocking at all. Normalcy is the no-risk believer's only hope of salvation. And so they are more or less obligated to condemn anything that is different, just as Millikan had done.

But where does such conformity and mediocrity get you? It gets you right in line behind the guy who was sent into outer darkness, where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Is that really where you want to go? If not, then determine, right now, to stop taking the "safe" way and to start listening to a few alternatives to mediocrity. You may make some mistakes, but overall you will grow spiritually. And far from being damned for doing that, you will be amongst those who are rewarded eternally for having taken a few risks.

(See also The Reno Principle.)

[www.guardian.co.uk]
Extract from guardian archives


Jon Ronson
Guardian

Saturday April 6, 2002

It is mid-February 2002. Dave tells me that he has invented a woman called Anita Foster and has created an email account for her. The fictitious Anita is writing to influential anti-cult groups in the UK, such as Reachout Trust and Catalyst. She says she's a concerned mother whose son has joined the Jesus Christians, and could they offer advice. Reachout Trust sends Anita their Jesus Christians fact-file. Dave sends it on to me. Under Obsession With Death, it quotes passages from Dave's pamphlets: "Fear of death is what gives the bosses their power! How long do you think you can survive without eating? Maybe a month or two! Okay. Would you rather have one month of freedom or a lifetime of slavery? Anything that isn't worth dying for isn't worth living for... If you'd like to be part of this army of martyrs, then please write to us today."

The emails between Anita and the anti-cult groups are getting chattier, Dave tells me. She's a likeable, concerned mother. He says that Anita will soon take on a pivotal role in this story - she will be the one to leak the kidney scandal to the anti-cult groups. This is Dave's plan: the fictitious Anita's fictitious son will donate a fictitious kidney; Anita will inform the anti-cult groups and imply that Dave is coercing his followers to sell their kidneys on the black market, and that the money will go to him. They will tell the tabloids, and the tabloids will go into a week-long frenzy about the self-mutilating kidney cult. Then - and here's my role in the grand scheme - I'll arrive on the scene with the true story of the Jesus Christians' remarkable philanthropy.

It seems a funny scheme, and one that has the capacity to backfire in myriad ways. What if the anti-cult groups don't believe "Anita"? What if the tabloids decide that mass kidney donating is a noble and heroic thing? What if I write unkindly about the group? Why does Dave want to make himself seem more sinister than he actually is?

"Your article will be like the resurrection," says Dave. "But the crucifixion is the key thing. If we have to get crucified for the message to get out, that's fine. And you'll be the resurrection."

Dave begins emailing me stern directives: "You DON'T HAVE TO BE THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE on this one. We can let the tabloids do that for us. We want them to have egg on their faces."

I email back. I tell Dave that I don't feel comfortable with his plan. I feel as if I'm being controlled.

Our relationship descends into an irascible silence. I'm sure there's something philanthropic about his intention to donate a kidney. I'm certain that Robin, Casey, Susan and the others have charitable motives. But when Dave emails me the details of his Machiavellian plot for media control - the Anita Foster leak, the ensuing tabloid frenzy, and then me cleaning it all up - I realise he's also seeking revenge for his treatment over the Bobby Kelly incident.

And, it occurs to me, Dave has scheduled the leak for mid-March, after Robin and Casey's operations, but before he, Susan and the other Jesus Christians will have time to give their kidneys. Will the tabloid frenzy - if it occurs - scupper these plans? "What if you become known as such a sinister cult that nobody wants your kidneys any more?" I ask him.

"Yeah, we've considered about that," he replies.

"I think the biggest concern, as Christians, is that we get the message out. Donating kidneys, for us,

is really a minor thing. If we can't do it, we can't."

"It's a big deal for the recipients," I snap.

There is a short silence. "Yeah," says Dave. "Um. I'm sure we could, uh, still find ways. We could go to another hospital. We could give false names ..."

Extract from [www.foolishpeople.com]


'In its latest newsletter, the cult brags about organising 12 kidney donations, including two in Australia, one in Israel and nine in the US.

"There have now been two operations done in Australia (where it was necessary to feign long-standing friendships to get them approved)," the newsletter says.

"(But) none have been done in the UK, where anonymous donations are still outlawed, more or less on the ludicrous grounds that anyone willing to donate a kidney to a stranger must be mentally unstable."

Jesus Christians also preach that poor people should be able to sell their kidneys to hospitals, after cult members witnessed desperate villagers in India undergoing the procedure for cash.

"There are hundreds of thousands of people in the Third World who would LOVE to sell their kidneys for the kind of prices that are presently being offered on the black market - something like $US10,000 ($14,000) plus all expenses," the website says.

AMA Victorian president Dr Sam Lees said he was concerned Jesus Christians cult members were not only putting themselves at risk, but also organ recipients.

Dr Lees said people who were willing to lie about their relationship with the donor could also be lying about diseases that could be passed on.

He added that organ donors need to be aware of the health and emotional sacrifices they would be making.

Dr Lees said kidney donors would no longer be able to safely play contact sports and could face difficulties in obtaining health insurance.

The Jesus Christians cult, founded in Melbourne in 1982, hit world headlines in 2000 when British police accused cult members of kidnapping and brainwashing a 16-year-old boy.

It uses the internet to preach bizarre teachings, such as asking members to join the Virgin Army and masturbate rather than marry. If they are married, it pressures them into not having children. '

These articles provide evidence of how much of a control freak David McKay is.

[adelaide.indymedia.org]

'......is free to have his own opinions, but we have asked him to apologise publicly for stating as fact something which was only hearsay," Dave McKay said. "If he does not do so, we will sue for defamation."

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apostate
These articles provide evidence of how much of a control freak David McKay is.

I agree Apostate and it was ctystal clear from the Fox film that he was manipulating those young people. He also lies.

His claims about group members being pacifists is laughable. Aggression and animosity takes many forms. Physical aggression is one form but inducing mental anguish is another. So whilst the JC guys may refuse to go to war, they will do whatever it takes to to induce a youngster away from their family and life. Public humiliation (McKays intention) is a form of aggression. Hitting someone is wrong. So is provocation.

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zeuszor
It just seemed like an insensitive thing to write. I mean, people all over the world are reading this. Have some respect for Joe's family.

G'day Zeuszor,

It did [b:8247791711]seem [/b:8247791711]like an insensitive thing to write, but that was not my intention.

I am fully aware that what I write here is available to a world readership.

Respect for Joe's family? I made no mention of this family. I don't know them and, anyway, I believe respect needs to be earned.

Besides, many writers seem to have anger issues, which I won't publically condemn unless their anger is totally unwarranted (and you seem to be directing yours toward me).

Jack.

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Jack Oskar Larm

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zeuszor
It just seemed like an insensitive thing to write. I mean, people all over the world are reading this. Have some respect for Joe's family.

G'day Zeuszor,

It did [b:7fb8e87f35]seem [/b:7fb8e87f35]like an insensitive thing to write, but that was not my intention.

I am fully aware that what I write here is available to a world readership.

Respect for Joe's family? I made no mention of this family. I don't know them and, anyway, I believe respect needs to be earned.

Besides, many writers seem to have anger issues, which I won't publically condemn unless their anger is totally unwarranted (and you seem to be directing yours toward me).

Jack.

G'Day yourself, cobber. All I mean by bringing up Joe's family is this: imagine Joe's Mom were reading this. And she probably is. Don't laugh at her son and what he's been suckered into. There is nothing funny at all about it. No hard feelings, Jack? I never was angry with you, but I was distressed at your lack of sensitivity in addressing this situation.

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muppet
Dave has shown , yet again, the depth of his hatred for his members and for their families. He enjoys this power trip, even as he cried out in pain. I agree Apostate, that he remains angry but it is more than that, there is actual hatred. He enjoyed the pain and anguish that he caused to others there. That sudden angry glint in his eye that is so familiar to ex members.

Interesting that he got a Police escort out of the building. Were his wings not working?

People still ask 'is he dangerous?' The report answers the question quite
clearly.

As for Joe's comments to his family. Yes, Joe would have been primed to say this, just as Bobby K was primed to say ' they dont eat babies' McKay expects his followers to demonstrate their commitment to 'God the Father' (Dave the father) and that they really have forsaken all, hence the statement.

It looks to me like, after having alienated his own kids and splintered his own family (the only one left who'll still associate with him is his wife), McKay is now focusing his attentions on messing up other people's families. These publicity stunts can be seen as his "lashing out" at the whole world; he's trying to prove that he IS in control. That's the common denominator with guys like him, control.

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cultmalleus

The "grievance system" is the way to ensure conformity by Dave enlisting everyone else to peer pressure the odd one out and to enforce starvation ("fasting and prayer") as punishment if they do not conform. Unity and loyalty are absolute imperatives. Intelligent and independant thinking members have eventually left in disgust. Of Dave's 4 children, 3 are completely alienated from him and want nothing to do with him.

His fruit is rotten.

And so now he has to go after other people's kids and use them as pawns in his private fantasy world. Dave, if you're reading this know that your days as a dictator of other people's children's lives are coming to an end.