Webworm answers a very long list of questions from a megachurch about ethics, standards, accountability, impartiality, bias, prejudice, intolerance and bigotry.
Thank you for sharing this. Your patience is incredible and I enjoyed having that level of insight into the websworm processes and community. Super cool.
Their fixation with the words intolerance and bigotry are so ironic. And also the implication that you are somehow being influenced by people who have agendas through financing is hilarious. Being fixated on the power dynamic that occurs when money changes hands really speaks volumes to how they must operate relative to the "donations" from their own congregation. The paranoia is telling.
Mar 8, 2023·edited Mar 8, 2023Liked by David Farrier
Venting time: It infuriates me that these people demand microscopic adherence to a vast system of ethics when they see themselves as being "persecuted", but those same ethics somehow don't apply to them before attention comes their way. This is the playbook perfected by the orange quid-pro-comb-over guy and it completely sucks.
Ummm ... so the first thing that sprang to mind reading the blogger vs journalist line of thinking was the subtle put down about being a “real” journalist. As you mentioned in response, you are trained in this field, have worked in the field and do follow the appropriate code of ethics. My thoughts went to training. Are the ministers “real” ministers? What theology training do they have? What accreditation? What professional code of ethics do they follow (is there one for ministers?). What Independent organisation are they accountable too if people have issues?
Its always amusing to see a church and religion that are intolerant and bigoted in their own right asking for people to be open minded with them. If they really want to feel 'persecuted' they could start paying tax like the rest of us and then claim back any charitable donations...you know to make sure they're actually doing them. I'm an Atheist and if people want to believe in a god, any god, that's perfectly fine and up to them. I simply have an issue with them claiming the moral high ground while being absolute rat bastards or worse to those in their belief group.
"Can you please also disclose how many of Webworm’s financial backers are linked to groups with religious intolerance and bigotry" - surely the answer is, '...to the best if my knowledge, none of my backers are evangelical churches'.
I guess I am one of those intolerant bigots. I admit it, I have an intolerance of large powerful organisations who abuse their members in the name of religion.
Another Christian here applauding your work. Thank you. I'm m so glad that my teenage self recogised the exploitative and predatory behavior of some of the more "exciting" and "hip" churches I was exposed to, and I was led more towards challenging and thought provoking theology, without the exploitation.
“Considering I am carefully addressing all your questions very specifically, I look forward to hearing more about how you will address your culture, processes and treatment of current interns, staff and church members.”
I can’t get over the fact that Life claims to be a “religious minority,” when they’re actually huge, predominantly white, and wealthy. You can’t have it both ways.
I went to life church in 2006. They would send their youth leaders to do bread runs every Thursday to the students at the AUT student hostel. This is where I met my abuser and ex husband who was also a member of life church. I even got baptised under them. It was and always will be toxic and money hungry. And as a subscriber, David and the team here on Webworm keep doing the awesome mahi!
And Fuck’em 😂 they can all stick it! Minority my bloody arse!!
Thank you for sharing this. Your patience is incredible and I enjoyed having that level of insight into the websworm processes and community. Super cool.
Their fixation with the words intolerance and bigotry are so ironic. And also the implication that you are somehow being influenced by people who have agendas through financing is hilarious. Being fixated on the power dynamic that occurs when money changes hands really speaks volumes to how they must operate relative to the "donations" from their own congregation. The paranoia is telling.
Venting time: It infuriates me that these people demand microscopic adherence to a vast system of ethics when they see themselves as being "persecuted", but those same ethics somehow don't apply to them before attention comes their way. This is the playbook perfected by the orange quid-pro-comb-over guy and it completely sucks.
Ummm ... so the first thing that sprang to mind reading the blogger vs journalist line of thinking was the subtle put down about being a “real” journalist. As you mentioned in response, you are trained in this field, have worked in the field and do follow the appropriate code of ethics. My thoughts went to training. Are the ministers “real” ministers? What theology training do they have? What accreditation? What professional code of ethics do they follow (is there one for ministers?). What Independent organisation are they accountable too if people have issues?
Its always amusing to see a church and religion that are intolerant and bigoted in their own right asking for people to be open minded with them. If they really want to feel 'persecuted' they could start paying tax like the rest of us and then claim back any charitable donations...you know to make sure they're actually doing them. I'm an Atheist and if people want to believe in a god, any god, that's perfectly fine and up to them. I simply have an issue with them claiming the moral high ground while being absolute rat bastards or worse to those in their belief group.
You deserve a pool, David.
"Can you please also disclose how many of Webworm’s financial backers are linked to groups with religious intolerance and bigotry" - surely the answer is, '...to the best if my knowledge, none of my backers are evangelical churches'.
Your responses to these questions are amazing.
I particularly enjoy the questionnaire for people to fill out affirming that they "are/are not intolerant or a religious bigot."
Also thanks for the reminder.. that Patti Smith song is great.
I guess I am one of those intolerant bigots. I admit it, I have an intolerance of large powerful organisations who abuse their members in the name of religion.
I can't believe they tried to claim minority status
Another Christian here applauding your work. Thank you. I'm m so glad that my teenage self recogised the exploitative and predatory behavior of some of the more "exciting" and "hip" churches I was exposed to, and I was led more towards challenging and thought provoking theology, without the exploitation.
I’m glad you called them out on the religious bigotry and intolerance comment. Yuck!
“Considering I am carefully addressing all your questions very specifically, I look forward to hearing more about how you will address your culture, processes and treatment of current interns, staff and church members.”
Gold 🤌
Bless you, David and Hayden. Bless you to bits
I can’t get over the fact that Life claims to be a “religious minority,” when they’re actually huge, predominantly white, and wealthy. You can’t have it both ways.
This feels like a Monday morning at school, with a friend (David) reading us all the juicy texts from their frenemy over the weekend.
I went to life church in 2006. They would send their youth leaders to do bread runs every Thursday to the students at the AUT student hostel. This is where I met my abuser and ex husband who was also a member of life church. I even got baptised under them. It was and always will be toxic and money hungry. And as a subscriber, David and the team here on Webworm keep doing the awesome mahi!
And Fuck’em 😂 they can all stick it! Minority my bloody arse!!
Great response, David. I really appreciate you taking this on.