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TW Eston blogs with Jen at Jen’s Gems blog who has been exposing Doug Phillips of Vision Forum. It’s been pretty obvious that he is a fan of Rushdoony, but he’s also Kinist?
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This is going to be a quickie because it’s past my bedtime. My friend, R.L. Stollar, co-founder of Homeschoolers Anonymous blog was tweeting late last night and I got distracted when I should have been sleeping. Sometimes the self-control is lacking. Help me. But if you’ve been following the Doug Phillips story and Jen’s Gems, you’ll see why.
The topic is TW Eston, the person who was posting around the internet when Doug Phillips’ story broke. I featured a couple of his comments as articles on my blog, then out of the clear blue, he posted an article at Jen’s Gems blog and somehow jumped into the co-blogger/moderator seat and has remained there. Here were the tweets which beckoned me to stay up later than I should have:
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Lana responded to Stollar’s tweet (the bottom tweet in the pile) and you can see our conversation that follows:
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When TW Eston first came around, I started snooping around and had seen a Twitter account and Facebook page, under his name, but I do not remember any activity on either one.
Now I see that the Twitter profile has been filled out. Read the white print! I already knew Eston was a fan of Rushdoony from his comments on my blog, that he couldn’t stand Phillips, but he is publicly saying he’s a KINIST?!!! Here’s Wikipedia’s definition:
Kinism is the belief that the God-ordained social order for humanity is “tribal and ethnic,” and focuses on man’s duty to “love one’s own kind”. Kinists advocate the idea that extended families should live together in large groups. They believe the ideal and normative social order for families – and by extension communities, states and nations – is one defined by race and blood, not propositions or borders, and that this natural order forms the proper and lasting bonds of affection and loyalty for any legitimate society. It is considered an offshoot of Christian Reconstructionism that originated among anti-immigration traditionalists in the Southern United States.(Source)
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Isn’t that a creepy quote by Phillips that he used for the background of his Twitter profile? And here’s a screen capture from Facebook in which he is friends with one friend, Jen. I can pretty much bet that TW Eston does not really look like that kid. Nice try, Eston.
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Oh, and if that definition above wasn’t enough – – here’s a bit more from the same link:
“Kinism is a worldview embraced primary by some paleoconservatives and Christian Reconstructionists, who may subscribe to related views such as Neo-Calvinism, theonomy, postmillenialism, nationalism and protectionism, chivalry, patriarchy, courtship as a substitute for casual dating, “quiverfull” parenthood, homeschooling, agrarianism, distributism and Christian democracy, White separatism, or an exceptionally high view of Western civilization.”
Spiritual Sounding Board 
The TW Eston Twitter profile and tweston.net were only created within the past month or two. How do you know they are the same person as the blogger at jensgems.wordpress.com?
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Last time I heard a similar version of Jus Sanguinis, it came from a neo-Nazi.
“Race and Blood” — ever heard of “Blut und Boden”?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blut_und_boden
(Tip: If your philosophy/terminology sounds like it would easily fit into the nastiest form of Fascism in history, there’s probably something wrong with it. No matter how many proof texts you lift from the Bible.)
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TIA, Originally, I was skeptical, but now I am not. Check out the tweets that were sent out. He tweeted the posts he was writing for Jen’s Gems. Also, notice that Jen is “friends” with him on Facebook.
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JA TW Eston is a fake name.
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JA, Yes, but who set up those Facebook and Twitter accounts? Who sent out those tweets? I’m sure you’re not unaware of the fact that people sometime impersonate other people on the Internet.
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Yes, TIA, and it’s commonly known that Eston is a pseudonym.
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I am still confused! As a believer who has left the church for a long season, I don’t understand what is going on. I finally got tired of all of the infighting for power and the he said/she said and especially God hates gay people in church. Why are you and Jen being snarky with each other? Is this how we are suppose to act? Again I am not pointing fingers, I just don’t understand and do not want to see you both get derailed. I wish you two could either keep it private or at least “tolerate” each other. I don’t want to lose either one of you. You both give me strength to handle the “holier than thou” men in my sphere. I respect you so much, especially the grace you have shown when being persecuted by that idiot pastor. I love that you speak out for the abused. Please don’t lose this focus. Thank you for all you do. Ann
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There are some who think TW. Easton has also been known as:
Frank Vance
Harry Seebrook
Peter Kershaw
In the internet blogging world.
That is all I will say.
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The articles at tweston.net are dated 11/14/2013 and 11/19/2013, but the domain name wasn’t even registered until 12/14/2013.
I understand that T.W. Eston is a pseudonym. It appears that the website/Facebook/Twitter are attempts to impersonate Eston in order to discredit him.
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If half of what I read about Frank Vance is true he’s just as big a bully as Doug Phillips.
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JA, I see my question is in moderation. I will not be offended if you do not publish it,especially if it fuels the flames. I wouldn’t mind if you respond to me personally or gave a general comment to help with my confusion. Thanks, Ann
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Just feel the need to clarify… I, Maxwell, am the one that originally posted about the article dates & domain name registration over at Jen’s. TIA did a copy/paste to here, which I have no problem with (although an attribution would have been nice). Just don’t want anyone to think the Maxwell TIA as that is NOT the case.
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“If half of what I read about Frank Vance is true he’s just as big a bully as Doug Phillips.”
Sarah, One of the things I learned over the years of blogging is that what happens within the Patriarchl/Dominionist/Reconstructionist movement is nothing like what we see in other movements where abuse is outed.
When I first started reading blogs long ago, I came across the Ligoneir scandal. I was starting to see Sproul’s name referenced from quite a few YRR folks so I was naturally interested. Oh boy. That world is a black hole. From what I can gather they are off shoots of the OPC and things work differently and are very sinister in that world. Sorry to generalize but the issue is complex.
It is not a situation where those outing abuses took a look at doctrine/behavior and were outing the abuses and why. It was more of a situation where they hate one another and who could ruin who fast enough. I love to see abusers ruined but I started to get confused becauses both sides used abusive tacts! It seems to be inbred or their normal. It was almost like being in that world made you more like them. Then there was the whole world of Kinism where you found both sides of an abuse issue were kinists! It was creepy. And it was not about outing abuse and giving people information/warnings.
The best thing to do with that world is run as fast away from it as you can. There is not much they won’t do to win…both sides. And they won’t ruin Doug Phillips. He is so evil he will do whatever it takes to survive. No matter who he walks over, sues, ruins, etc. The best anyone can do is warn people.
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Ann,
From my perspective J.A. is not being snarky. For goodness sakes after being fooled once by big celebrity men & their doctrines I appreciate knowing where a person is coming from. If this is true and T.W. is a KINIST then don’t you think those us who have been spiritually abused have the right to this information? I need to know who is safe, and to run quickly away from this twisted take on our Holy God.
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Thanks for this post–it’s important for people to know TW has an ulterior (racist) agenda.
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If TW Easton also used the moniker “Harry Seabrook” then he used to have a blog called Little Geneva. Once the Kinist sympathies were outed, that blog was deleted. Word on the meta street was the Seabrook’s job was in jeporady as more people found out his real name.
Turns out I had one more thing to say.
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Looks like the Twitter account is a fake.
http://jensgems.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/alone-yet-not-alone-the-tangled-web-of-the-academy-nomination/comment-page-1/#comment-32370
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Hi Ann: Sorry, I’ve been out most of the morning and then came home to the shocking condition of my kitchen floor that had been neglected (5 boys and 2 cats = ’nuff said) and a phone call. I had not read the content of your comments when I approved them – just made sure they weren’t spam when I hit the “approve” button.
Please be assured, I am not afraid of conflict, nor people questioning me on the way I do things.
Regarding your comment:
I’ve addressed this before, but I’ll try again. My first directive here at this blog is to protect survivors and make sure this is a safe place for them – and also to warn them when I see possible danger.
You can read in the comments at Jen’s Gems that Jen does respond and support to survivors pretty well; however, I have great concerns about Eston’s presence and involvement. Prior to Eston, I think Jen’s Gems was a relatively safe place to discuss spiritual abuse. After Eston, not so much. This has been brought to Jen’s attention several times on my blog and several times on her own blog. Jen’s default response has been to defend Eston. When survivors tell someone they do not feel safe and a blog owner essentially disses their concern, it is not a safe place, period.
Just the other day I saw the way he interacted with a commenter there and shut her down. She was asking very legitimate questions.
I’ve already been well aware of Eston’s support of Rushdoony/Reconstructionism. Jen is still supportive of various aspects of Patriarchy which I discussed on another thread.
Do I have facts that the FB and Twitter accounts are truly Eston’s? Nope. But why would Epstein befriend Eston? Most people who have a FB account are careful with the friends they allow access to their FB. There are a number of things that make the Twitter page seem like there is a possibility that it is him. Regardless, this is something to tuck away and think about as we try to be discerning and that is why I ended the title with a question mark. We do need to be careful and observant.
Here’s the thing that may be unknown to some. The more I have been digging into the backgrounds of key people in the Homeschool Movement, I have discovered that there have been crazy and really shady things that have occurred as these Patriarchs attempt to assume powerful positions within the movement. It’s well established that key homeschool leaders have stolen intellectual property from each other, have sued each other, have stolen mailing lists from people, etc. Whole websites have been shut down or compromised. It’s like some secret society going on and there are some big $$ spenders involved as you can see, Jim Leininger in the above tweets was probably responsible for Vision Forum originally getting established.
So, no, I don’t think it is being snarky at all, it is being wise and careful with what information that we can see present before us, making smart decisions on who we trust, and who we share our information with.
Thanks for your comment, Ann.
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TW Eston is Peter Kershaw who lives in Branson, MO. You can go to his twitter timeline to see him retweet something about branson and all of his tweets have been consistent with the ongoing DWP and JA saga over the last however many weeks. The idea that someone has been impersonating him on twitter since Nov. 15th is ridiculous. That said he could certainly chime in here to deny it if he wants to do so. He used to go by Frank Vance, and that’s why he has known Jen for oh so very long. Right cause, wrong advocate. Kinism is just as toxic as everything Phillips did that he thinks himself fit to denounce and publicly prosecute.
You can watch Peter Kershaw on Youtube here: http://bit.ly/1hFlzxe
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@ Julie Anne is your email address posted here somewhere?
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Wanting the truth –
You can reach me at spiritualsb@gmail dot com
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Never mind 🙂 I echo what Carl W. says.
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I am not the same person as Maxwell who posted here and at Jen’s Gems. I had already discovered the recent origin of tweston.net before I saw his comment there (see my first comment on this post).
T.W. Eston at Jen’s Gems has clarified some things:
Other than the very inactive Facebook account and the gmail account, my only presence on the internet is here at Jen’s Gems, and it will remain such for the foreseeable future.
Any and all announcements by me about me will only take place here on this blog.
(see full comment at http://jensgems.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/alone-yet-not-alone-the-tangled-web-of-the-academy-nomination/comment-page-1/#comment-32370)
JA wrote: “The more I have been digging into the backgrounds of key people in the Homeschool Movement, I have discovered that there have been crazy and really shady things that have occurred…”
What about R.L. Stollar? He is seeking attention for himself by serving as the “face” of Homeschoolers Anonymous. If it’s really about helping victims of abuse, why doesn’t he fade into the background instead of promoting himself at the expense of others?
http://www.homeschoolersanonymous.com/not-anonymous.html
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JA, Thank you for your thoughtful answer. I am new to so many of these names. I wasn’t raised in a fundy environment and didn’t really see it until I moved back south. Some unknown entity had stolen my family and replaced them with “Stepford” Christians. It is very difficult for me to be the black sheep because I don’t see a liberal conspiracy behind every door. I am the oldest of five and the only female.( imagine the pressure to conform) It seems a lot like politics-a power grab. If what you say is correct (and I have no reason to doubt you), it seems Jen has gone from following one game player to another one and that is sad. I think one of your posters misunderstood me, I do think people should be informed, I just didn’t understand the background dynamics of the situation. I am seeing the fallout of spiritual abuse in my family and it is hurtful. I am relatively new posting here and I hope other posters aren’t so critical of my questions . I appreciate all the feedback that clarifies this situation for me. Thank you again for all you do! Ann
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Sorry – I’m not buying your comment at all. I have seen Ryan work tirelessly to defend and protect the abused within the homeschool movement, so please cough up some proof for us all to see.
I’ve gotta say, it sure seems like you are trying to divert the discussion of this conversation away from the topic. I’m watching you carefully.
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Ann – -As I said earlier, I am not afraid of conflict or questions, so please don’t worry about it. I’m also very aware that some people who visit may have been through difficult church experiences and may be in different stages of recovery. Take your time to see if this place earns your trust. You are wise to look at the dynamics and ask questions.
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Does anyone know of any resources other than Jen’s Gems that provide in-depth information about Doug Phillips’ abuse? Having followed him for many years, I’m looking for any information that would be helpful to share with others. Thanks.
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I have heard from several sources over the years that Jen’s site was originally set up by kinists. Generally I don’t believe something until proven so I just filed it away, but only so much can be ignored. Also my personal experience with Jen and T.W. both on this blog, Jen’s blog and now in email has been revealing.
JA, Thank you for having the courage to out Jen’s Gems. She may have been hurt by Phillips but it would seem that she, or some involved with her site, see nothing wrong with racism. If you are interested in knowing what kinists believe and how they view other races take a look at this. http://archive.is/DAVO
Also remember the kinists hate Doug Phillips, they considered him one of their own and felt that he sold out to make money and befriended the likes of Voddie Baucham and R.C. Sproul, Jr., who though he was white had the audacity to adopt a black child. These things and a few statements made by Doug over the years angered the kinists and they have been out to get him for a while. His trip to Haiti where he was photographed hugging black children also angered them.
More information on kinism here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinism
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JA, I’m an outsider in all of this, and it’s very difficult knowing who to believe. I don’t know any of the people personally (although I’ve been at a conference where Doug Phillips was a speaker).
As for my previous comment about Stollar, I don’t know him, never met him. What little I do know is what I have read at HA and the other website I linked to.
As for the Eston website and Twitter account, they seem obviously fake in order to discredit him.
Yes, there is obviously a lot of crazy stuff going on, as both you and Lydia mention. I’m just trying to sort it all out.
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In a comment on this blog: http://whynottrainachild.com/articles/vision-forum/ comment on Jan. 30, 2013 Jen defends Peter Kershaw and seems to know him well. A comment just above by a Rick James states that Mr. Kershaw has close ties to kinism and the kinist site Spirit, Water, Blood. Interesting!
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TIA: Have you checked out Cindy’s site: Under Much Grace? (http://undermuchgrace.blogspot.com/) She covers abuse groups and her information is very good.
Taunya: When I start thinking of discriminating a segment of our population because the color of their skin is darker than ours, I get livid. I have no idea what that must feel like. The closest I can get to understanding what it must be like is this: there are some men who feel very inferior when they stand by me because of my height. Some will actually keep their distance from me and avoid me at all costs (I’m over 6 feet tall). I find that shocking and thankfully it’s rare.
I just don’t get this racial thing. One time someone had to remind me that the young adult who we have “adopted” in our family is African American because I just don’t see that color. I see him. Shame on those who call themselves Christian and exclude people because their skin is a different color. How can one be a Christian and discredit what God has created?
I posted this article for a number of reasons – – because if this Kinism crap is really going on in homeschooling circles, you better believe JA is going to call it out. This is E.V.I.L.
TIA: I just saw another comment come in from you: It is commonly known that the name T.W. Eston mysteriously appeared on the internet right around the time of Phillips’/Vision Forum demise. It’s pretty easy to put 2 and 2 together. He admitted in a comment on my own blog that he disclosed to me his name was a pseudonym on a phone call. He was furious that I mentioned “pseudonym” in reference to TW Eston on my blog. To that I say he needs to put his big boy panties on. I’m not hiding behind anything. I’m a woman, one he would say is a weaker vessel. He needs to grow some and act like a man and quit the hiding behind a pseudonym. I’m not afraid of him.
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Thanks, Taunya – – Here are the key comments:
It’s interesting that Jen comments on this article nearly TWO years later to defend Kershaw:
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AAR, he could not deny that the FB was his because he is FB friends with Jen. It. was easy to deny the twitter, and so I remain inconvenienced. I would not assume Jen is a kinist though. But she would be wise to cut off ties with Tweston.
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That’s an important point, Lana. I think some people are connecting primarily because they were hurt by Phillips and want to see him brought to justice.
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Anyone see his tweet today. Very suspicious.
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Here is an description of who Peter Kershaw is. It is from the freejinger site a comment made on March 2, 2011 @11:21 by a person called “thescorpio” it is very interesting. If Peter Kershaw is TW Eston this would explain a lot.
Here is the link: http://freejinger.yuku.com/topic/5700/Dougie-and-Beall-share-their-wisdom?page=8#.Uua-2EUo6po
“Howard Phillips, Doug’s father, wrote the forward to Peter Kershaw’s “In Caesar’s Grip”, about how the IRS “muzzles” churches through 501c3 tax-exemption. Interesting as well, Kershaw was also friend’s with Jeannie Chancey’s father, Ovid Need. Need even wrote an article for Kershaw’s “hushmoney” site.
As you can see here, Kershaw spoke at a Christian Identity, “Songs for His People” gathering, which sold Reconstructionist and Identity literature.
The Winter Music Fest and Gospel Gathering held Feb 27-March 1, 1998 at the Dogwood Inn in Branson, Missouri was attended by approximately 200 people, ranging from infants to senior citizens, from all over the country. Most participants came from Missouri, Arkansas, with several from Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas. Scheduled to be an annual event, this was the first such festival sponsored by the Branson-based “Songs for His People.”
The event was a blend of singing groups and Identity preachers. String bands like the Masat Family, the children’s music of Chad and Terri Sigafus, and informal hymn singing captivated and involved the audience. Between musical performances, Identity figures James Bruggeman, Ted Weiland and Jonathan David Brown delivered sermons. “Legal theorist and historian” Peter Kershaw instructed the audience on America’s history as a Christian nation, and urged churches to stop obeying our current governmental system so the nation could return to its Christian roots. Around the room were display tables for each of the musicians, several Identity organizations, and three “health products” sales booths. All of the displays had various publications of Reconstructionist and Identity concerns, even the notorious “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
Source: Midwest Action Report, February 1998
Kershaw was also responsible for splitting several churches in the tri-cities area in East Tennessee/Southwest Virginia, including Abingdon Presbyterian Church (Pastor Bill Leuzinger was dubbed an “Arminian” and a “heretic” by Kershaw in a letter he wrote -ironic because Peter ended up taking his family to Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, where his mother Pat Kershaw goes). Kershaw’s mere presence at Christ Church (a now defunct Reformed Episcopal parish, formerly pastored by Fr. Chori Jonathin Seraiah”) was enough to cause all the families there to cease going, resulting in Fr. Seraiah being out of a job, and having to sell his house and move to Des Moines, Iowa.
It seems his name has come up in relation to a lot of stuff surrounding the Ligonier/Vision Forum/Highland Studies Center crowd. What’s apparent is that he’s even further to the Right than your average Constitution Party adherent! I don’t think R.C. Sproul or Doug Phillips are even Christian Identity. Perhaps they are sympathetic with some of the ideology, but Kershaw is a somewhat well-known adherent.
He was also good friends with Michael Anthony Peroutka, who appeared on the white nationalist radio broadcast, “The Political Cesspool”, which has close ties to kinists. Kershaw even took his family to Maryland to visit Peroutka back in 2007. Both are closely connected to the Phillips clan, and both are connected to kinism.”
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BTW, I don’t think I knew until today that this site even existed: http://tweston.net
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“I just don’t get this racial thing. One time someone had to remind me that the young adult who we have “adopted” in our family is African American because I just don’t see that color. I see him. Shame on those who call themselves Christian and exclude people because their skin is a different color. How can one be a Christian and discredit what God has created? ”
Thanks JA! Unfortunately racism is alive and well among way too many who claim to be “Christian” homeschoolers. Usually it is much more subtle than kinism and it is found in many places, including among those who claim to be “anti- patriarchy,” Shining light on this is a good thing, racism and Christianity are not compatible, Kinism is not Christian.
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“All of the displays had various publications of Reconstructionist and Identity concerns, even the notorious “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.”
Considering T.W. Eston’s well-documented anti-Semitism on display at Jen’s Gems, this makes it click for me. Peter Kershaw, would you like to explain why you’re supporting this highly discredited anti-Semitic work?
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JA, The racist aspect of what I call Radical Homeschoolers is appalling to me. I remember the first time Obama ran for president, some people I knew worried he could be the anti-Christ. They also called him a Muslim and non-citizen. Anyone who is “different”=evil. These people see a conspiracy behind every bush. Yet these same individuals say “God is in control”. Now which is it? I think most of the top players want to obtain or maintain control. The main tool is fear! Y2K is a great example. How many Christians bought and sold 3 year rations for the coming apocalypse? I know many. One man in my former church even bought a gun to ward off the starving masses who might take food out of his children’s mouths. There are so many heart-breaking catastrophes around the world, but instead of feeding the poor right in their own backyard, they hoard! Now I’m really worked up! 🙂 Ann
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“Does anyone know of any resources other than Jen’s Gems that provide in-depth information about Doug Phillips’ abuse? Having followed him for many years, I’m looking for any information that would be helpful to share with others. Thanks.”
I agree with JA that Cindy’s site is great for those who want to figure out what abuse is, how it plays out and resources for moving on.
This is just my opinion so keep that in mind: I would not visit Jens Gems unless I was using a proxy server.
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Re: The latest tweet from “T.W. Eston” posted above by Lana
TW Eston @ Twitter claims to not be the same as TW Eston @ Jen’s Gems
and as mentioned earlier
TW Eston @ Jen’s Gems claim to not be the same as TW Eston @ Twitter
The little bit I’ve read about Kinism is bizarre! Where do people come up with this stuff?
Regarding racism, Walter Williams has some great articles. See for example http://www.lewrockwell.com/2013/03/walter-e-williams/are-we-equal/.
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@Lana,
Or, as the SNL Church Lady would say, “How Conveeeeeenient!!!”
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I have been following Jen’s blog since it started and I have never seen any thing that would cause me to believe she is racist, a kinistism supporter or anything of the sort. The “well documented anti-semitism on display at Jen’s Gems” ? Where might that be ? I’m pretty sensitive about anti-semitism. My grandmother’s maden name was Adler, much of her family was gassed at Treblinka Sobibor. Long before my time and I didn’t know any of these distant relatives but anti-semitism is still very offensive to me. It is also a very nasty charge to level at a fellow believer without concrete FACTS to support the charge. Guilt by association is not evidence of similar beliefs.
One of my suppliers was a made member of an organized crime group back in the 50s-70s . Grew up around the life and just got sucked in at age 17. Does that make me a gangster ? A member of one of the trade groups I’m also a member of was removed from his mother’s care when she went to prison. He was plucked off the Span ranch at age three when his father, Charles Manson was arrested. He reportedly has over 30 siblings which he has never met as an adult. Today he is a vibrant follower of Christ, married to an amazing woman and dealing with the difficult family situation he was born into. His mother is now out of prison and a new convert. Guilt by association or assumed CONNECTION is totally unfair. He is a fine young man despite looking exactly like his father who is has never talked to.
Taunya, Fact check: Orid Need is not Jeannie Chancey’s father. Jeannie’s father was killed in a plane crash. Her mother married Mr. Need long after Jeannie had grown up. She doesn’t call him, Dad.
Speaking of Chancey, I believe you will find that all this talk of Kinistism started when Doug Phillips had Jeannie’s husband throwing up all sorts of sites to discredit Jen when she started challenging him. Her hubby (who I call Old Spice man after Jeannie asked everyone to vote him Old Spice man of the year) is essentially a political hack that specializes in destroying opposing candidate’s reputations. Very much a ends justifies the means sort of fellow that worships Doug Phillips.
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Thanks everyone for the links.
stirringsofconsciousness wrote:
“Considering T.W. Eston’s well-documented anti-Semitism on display at Jen’s Gems”
I certainly haven’t read everything there, but I don’t recall anything anti-Semitic from anyone. Could you please point out where this is?
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Good grief, this implication by Jen that TW Eston is in the computer dark ages is a bunch of malarkey. I had a 2-hour conversation with Eston in which he discussed advanced computer skills used in his business endeavors.
Comment from Jen at Jen’s Gems:
http://jensgems.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/alone-yet-not-alone-the-tangled-web-of-the-academy-nomination/#comment-32345
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Julie Anne, When I read that I don’t see that as her trying to deceptively say he has low skill sets with regard to technology , but rather his phone is an old fashioned flip like mine. My 3 year old niece even calls it a grandpa phone. Since I carry an ipad on the road, I have zero interest In “smartphones”. Texting from a flip is ridiculous and a waste of time. Men pretty much text when they are pushed by women. There, I said it TEXTING is a woman thing, LOL
Sometimes things can be said online and taken much differently than intended.
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What’s interesting is he denies the twitter account but does not deny being a kinist. Unless I missed a comment somewhere.
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Ha, you’re funny, Scott. I am one woman who does not like to text. I end up having to send twice as many texts as intended because of all the typos.
I guess I see how you could interpret her comment like that, but here’s another comment on the same thread which seems to paint him as someone who just does not get basic computer:
“Sarah, I am only saying that I walked him through using Facebook and how to friend me, but he doesn’t see the value in using Facebook, so he’s done nothing with it. If I only had one friend on Facebook, I probably wouldn’t like it much either!”
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Hmm, Lana. I wonder why no one has asked that question.
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@ Scott, she also implied that he would not be capable of using twitter.
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It is quite telling that he hasn’t denied being a kinist.
Also, for the record, Harry Seabrook is not a pseudonym, he’s a real person with real public records in his name. He’s the man behind the now defunct kinist blog LittleGeneva.com. T.W. Eston’s writing style does not at all match Seabrook’s, as evidenced by the Wayback Machine archives of Little Geneva.
Peter Kershaw is also a real person, not a pseudonym, has ties to Little Geneva, and a history of using pseudonyms, as he was the man behind the “Frank Vance” pseudonym.
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JA, “…walk[ing] him through using Facebook” and “… doesn’t see the value in Facebook” does not mean he’s a technophobe. I’m a very techinical guy… very… but I have never used Twitter, Instagram, WordPress, etc and would welcome a walk through should I decide to get started but… I see no value in using them (for me) and so, I don’t. In the past I’ve been intregued with sites/fads and *have* set up accounts with various services that I’ve long since abandoned because, again, I really didn’t see the value.
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@ I wish to remain anonymous You are dead on!
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He also does not appear to have denied being Peter Kershaw. Also has Jen denied that kinists have been involved with her website in the past? She has stated she is not a racist but I don’t know whether she has denied kinist involvement. Also I don’t think kinists see themselves as racists, they would not use that term I don’t believe. In fact I find that often the most racist people speak the loudest about not being racist. It would seem that when the topic of kinism or racism is raised the person raising it is shamed and quickly quieted. It is not a topic that either Jen or TW appear to be comfortable speaking of, I wonder why?
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Peter Kershaw owns Heal Our Land ministry and was involved in the RC Sproul Jr. defrocking.
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I’m not sure I understand why this infighting is helpful or necessary.
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Readers,
Leslie raises a good point. Is this “infighting” helpful or necessary? What is the purpose of this?
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Reading about these movements & the backstabbing, jockeying for position, “ends justify the means” type actions remind me of another organization: the mafia.
It’s seems to be all about power & power-grabs, IMO.
Not to mention kinism, a new word I’ve learned recently that seems to mean Christian racism. What an oxymoron.
JA, Keep up the good work. And stand tall. 🙂
“My first directive here at this blog is to protect survivors and make sure this is a safe place for them – and also to warn them when I see possible danger.” Julie Anne
And concerned folks will watch for a time to make sure, and then their voices will join in with yours to warn & protect. We need to raise our voices & speak up for survivors.
And the day after a blog (ANY spiritual abuse blog) stops protecting, it has already become a blog that people need to be warned about. We all would do good to remember that.
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“I’m not sure I understand why this infighting is helpful or necessary.”
I am assuming you mean between “Christians”?
Leslie, How do you decide to get along or go along? And how & when do you decide it’s time to NOT go along? Where is that line?
We want peace when there is no peace. What do we do? Remain silent? Get out the broom & start sweeping away?
I think silence when there is no real peace is one way of aiding & abetting wrong.
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“Leslie raises a good point. Is this “infighting” helpful or necessary? What is the purpose of this?”
Any Christian should want to know if they were following a blog/person that claimed to be Christian but in reality advocated for hate and prejudice. A person can not claim to be a follower of Christ and ignore something like that. JA is doing what any Christian should, she is warning other Christ followers. Most of us are reading here because no one warned us in a previous situation or we chose to ignore the warning we did receive. How sad if JA kept her mouth shut and allowed that to happen again.
Also I think it should be stated that JA has not definitely stated that TW is a kinist she is asking questions based on her own observations and experiences.
I really don’t understand the silence at all cost school of thought. That is exactly how all cults get started.
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“I really don’t understand the silence at all cost school of thought.” Taunya
Sit down & be silent for a united “Christian” front? Not if it means I must change my understanding of what is good and right. I will stand up. Good & right NEVER take a back seat. EVER.
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The funny thing is Jesus did not sit down and remain silent. Jesus caused all kind of “infighting” among the religious of His day. Sitting down and being quiet in the face of any wrong is not of God. I really don’t understand how so many miss this. The result of that type of behavior is a moving away from Christ and toward an idol. Is peace your idol? Where has that idolatry led in the past, often the answer is straight into a cult or cult-like situation.
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OK!! The whole purpose of this blog and Jen’s is to uncover spiritual abuse, right? A Godly and noble goal. What is happening now is divide and conquer. Junior High mean girl stuff. Let’s get over it and stick to the purpose that binds us all.
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Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend.
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If TW Eston is Peter Kershaw this is hardly junior high stuff.
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I was unclear in my post. Point #1: Define the goal ( DP and spiritual abuse within BCA and VF and ATI). Point #2 : Focus on goal #1. Everything else can be hashed out later if needed.
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Leslie, You have a right to your opinion. Your right is not offensive. But expect to answer for it & defend it.
Likewise, I have a right to my opinion & will defend it.
Why is this such a huge problem that we could have two differing opinions & each be expected to answer & explain our own opinions?
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Leslie I think your Point #1 is off. Someone correct me if I am wrong but from my short time here I have been able to ascertain that JA’s goal is not merely spiritual abuse within BCA, VF and ATI but spiritual abuse within Christianity as a whole. If I am correct than a kinist, who does not believe other races are equal to his own, would be seen as a potential abuser not someone uncovering abuse. Therefore by raising shedding light on TW JA is accomplishing Point #2 focusing on the goal.
I agree with Wanting the Truth, this is hardly junior high stuff.
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Okay. I see the problem, Leslie. The agenda is DP & only DP. Everything else & everybody else gets a pass in Christiandom. God help us, that is myopic thinking.
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Basically, you want to swim among the sharks, but don’t like one shark in particular & want everyone else in the water to ignore all sharks but that one?
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Isn’t that how the mafia thinks?
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I hope Julie Anne values her limbs & the limbs of her readers enough to warn about ALL sharks.
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Good grief. Goodnight!
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Until I read today’s post from JA I was unaware of what a Kinist was. I was in Bible study classes for 20 years and that term never came up. Maybe it’s because I am a Californian, but race doesn’t matter much here. My own family is Irish-American.. In our extended family we have African-American, Vietnamese , Polish and Filipino. We are truly blessed to be a multi -cultural family. The mixed race kids are gorgeous.
My main reason for being on this blog is because one of my daughters and 8 of my grandchildren are heavily involved in VF and ATI. So that is where my focus is.
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Leslie, Thanks for the explanation. Would it be at all possible to broaden your focus? Does that make sense?
Okay. Now goodnight.
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This is why I have given up on the Christian Community. Talk about sharks!!!
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You know, I can see where Leslie is coming from. If you were to put both blogs side by side you can see that we both are identifying problems with Phillips. But now I, the blogger, seem to be sidestepping the Phillips issue and focusing on Eston, so it might seem that this is a blog war.
I’ve been watching this unfold for a while. At first when I posted Eston’s comments here as an article (I think there were two – I’m too lazy to look them up), Eston had a lot of knowledge and information that seemed to be reputable. I still think those articles were/are reputable. Then I started watching behavior in his interactions with commenters at Jen’s Gems – especially with those who challenged him. My former pastor responded similarly – you don’t question authority.
So, now we have a multi-faceted issue here: First was DP AND and now Eston. And today’s post is questioning whether Eston (or Kershaw or whomever he is) is a Kinist. These are legitimate questions to ask – especially as there are readers who frequent both blogs.
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True – there are lots of sharks. Watch out!
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Nice touch, JA! Hahaha!
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Here’s another comment about Peter’s relationships your readers might want to read if it’s not linked here already.
http://ontoberlin.blogspot.ca/2010/11/review-quiverfull-inside-christian.html?showComment=1297723553508#c1649714505748297749
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Funny thing, I just read that article, Lana. If that is true, it is very revealing.
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Leslie, I am so sorry about your daughter and grandchildren! It is a narrow path you walk, because it is so easy to want to point out all the bad. However, you become just another person they think want to control them. Just be consistent with you interaction and wait for your daughter to wake up. Then you will be there to help her get back into life. I pray for you to have peace and patience-though it is hard!!! I hear your heart. I am in therapy for a similar situation. Take care. Ann
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“Frank Vance” was sued by the very small greedy men of Ligoneir Ministries. It was in the Orlando Sentinel and USA today because it was one of the first blogger cases. Even Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit wrote about it.
The problem was that the lawyers could not find “Frank Vance”.
So this brings me to Leslies question. She calls it “infighting”. I do not consider myself aligned with Kershaw, Ligoneir, Doug Phillips, etc, etc. I don’t think I am in any way or shape on their team. Including their “Christian” team. I do not recognize their brand of Christianity as looking like Christ. (They are not alone)
With that said, I have much empathy for Leslie’s view. And was there once myself not realizing there is a much larger problem,
But A mom got it right about sharks. The thinking is to team up with one shark to go after another one. I thought of Winston Churchill when I read her comment. He said:
“An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.”
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Julie Anne, I haven’t read Jen’s blog in awhile but went back to it today out of curiosity. T.W. Eston is a fraud. In a blog about Doug Phillips and clergy sexual abuse, he said, “Lastly, and most importantly here, an “affair” can only happen where the two parties have relatively equal “power” in the relationship.” He went on to share the Texas law about criminal clergy sexual abuse and made a big deal of it, as he should have. Yet in the most recent blog (http://jensgems.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/alone-yet-not-alone-the-tangled-web-of-the-academy-nomination/), in response to Amy (January 23, 2014 at 8:43 am) he tells a story of clergy sexual abuse but says the wife cheated. “Years ago I had a friend by the name of Rod, who told me what he’d done when he’d found out his wife was cheating with their pastor. It started while she was getting ‘marriage counseling’ from the pastor. She was emotionally vulnerable and the pastor took advantage of her emotional vulnerability, right there in his office.” (I don’t know how to make a link that goes directly to the comment.) The husband forgave the wife – how nice to point that out – then beat the minister.
I replied and noted the terminology discrepancy but my comment is awaiting moderation as of this post. You cannot claim to be a proponent of stopping clergy sexual abuse and then use terms like “cheating” to describe abuse. He even admits the woman was emotionally vulnerable. When a person uses the term one time to prove a point then changes back so causally, he is a fraud. You cannot be so passionate then dump it. He’s totally destroyed all credibility the original posts had about Doug Phillips and clergy sexual abuse.
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For what it’s worth, TW Eston @ Jen’s Gems specifically claims to not be a kinist (http://jensgems.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/alone-yet-not-alone-the-tangled-web-of-the-academy-nomination/comment-page-1/#comment-32384).
I’m coming from a similar perspective as what Leslie mentions above. I don’t think Jen’s Gems is in the same category as SSB. From what I understand, JG is not a general spiritual abuse blog. Its stated purpose is to expose and discredit Doug Phillips. Anything else is a side issue. From what I can see, those who expect JG to be a spiritual abuse survivors blog similar to SSB will be disappointed. That is not its stated or intended purpose. It is simply a clearing house of information to expose Doug Phillips and warn people so that he cannot get another large audience and repeat his abuse.
Personally, I have found the information there very helpful. That doesn’t mean I believe everything that’s written there. As others have already mentioned, some of T.W. Eston’s responses seem sharp and critical. And yes, that’s a turn off. If others don’t want to listen to him, that’s there prerogative. I’m still interested to listen. I have felt the same way about some of Julie Anne’s comments (and no doubt some people have felt that way about some of my comments), but I still come here and read.
Having been on the periphery of some of this stuff, the past few months have been very enlightening. I’m still trying to sort everything out.
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@ Lydia, I couldn’t agree more. This is not infighting in the least. These are men who have spent their lives going great lengths to try and destroy others. This is not the school playground here. I do not consider anyone who acts the way these men do a follower of Christ.
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While you’re looking up Kinism, check out Full / Hyper Preterism also, because that’s what Jen is into.
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“TW Eston, Co-Blogger at Jen’s Gems blog is a Rushdoony Fan and a Kinist?”
TIA, apparently you don’t want this post or discussion to happen.
Leslie says no because her focus is only on DW because of what’s happening to her daughters & grandkids in this movement. She says it’s personal. Well… doesn’t she care about the other members in her family? “In our extended family we have African-American, Vietnamese , Polish and Filipino.”
If TW Eston is a Kinist, that’s a problem that needs to be called out.
Sorry, I don’t buy it. The more you know the more you stand up against. Not the other way around. Right is right. Wrong is wrong. Wrong never switches to right because of a personal agenda.
Right is right. Wrong is wrong. I’ve repeated this so many times here. Apparently, Christians have a hard time understanding this simple concept. Doctrine gets in the way.
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My comment to T.W. was posted and he replied to me. He claims it was an affair because the wife said it was and because it was obviously mutual. The man has no understanding of clergy sexual abuse. If you are a victim of clergy sexual abuse, then it would be well to stay away from Jen’s blog. A sexual encounter, or encounters, with a minister of the church you attend, especially when he or she is counseling you, is not an affair. It is abuse. Even without the counseling relationship, it is abuse. When there is a power difference in any relationship, it is abuse. That’s why teachers can’t have “affairs” with 18-year-old high school students. That’s abuse too, even if the 18 year old was thrilled to have sex with the 25-year-old teacher. It’s why therapists can’t have sex with clients. It’s the same with clergy. So as long as T.W. is the voice behind Jen’s blog, stay away for that reason alone. He’s not educated enough on religious issues to be worth reading. And that makes him capable of causing more harm to those hurt by the church.
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I wouldn’t be surprised if T. W. Eston is in fact Jen herself, as she does play multiple parts at her blog. I think many years ago she got her fingers whacked with a “ruler,” and now has to be a little more discrete in how she presents her “facts.” Folks, do be very skeptical when you are over there. There is VERY LITTLE TRUTH presented.
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Moderation note: Several comments have been flagged for moderation solely because of keywords used. If you are a regular here and notice your comment is put in moderation, that is why – it’s nothing personal. No worries 🙂
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That’s right, Jackie. I just read your comments (beginning here: http://jensgems.wordpress.com/2014/01/22/alone-yet-not-alone-the-tangled-web-of-the-academy-nomination/comment-page-1/#comment-32400).
Your comments are excellent and needed to be said. Eston is 100% wrong.
And I’m so sick and tired of him saying that he has protected DP’s victim. He has not. Even secular media wouldn’t have disclosed what he has done and Christians of all people should be protecting the abused/oppressed.
People, look at the fruit – it is evident. Someone who follows Christ is concerned about the things that Christ is concerned about: the weak and vulnerable.
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Jackie C.,
Excellent observation. Thank you for the wise comment regarding clergy sex abuse. 100% agree.
Thank God for voices of reason & common sense who comment here. God gave us brains & God wants us to use them.
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Well, I was thinking the same thing, JA…..
Jackie, Your comment was important. Thanks for speaking up.
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Kinism is Evil with a capital E. We don’t need hypocrites prosecuting other hypocrites. Eston thinks himself as morally superior to Phillips even though his kinism is just as toxic as Phillips hypocrisy. That’s why this matters. We don’t give a racial abuser a platform so that he can denounce a spiritual/sexual one.
The idea that a fake twitter account was created recently to defame TW Eston (Peter Kershaw) is a joke. TW Eston’s first article on jensgems was on Nov. 19th, several days AFTER the first tweet on TW Estons twitter account (Nov. 15th) and possibly weeks after the twitter account was first created (someone should screen shot this before he deletes it). Any defenders of his conspiracy theory that it’s a fake account meant to smear him want to explain that? And btw, the second tweet is in reference to his hometown of Branson, MO., which must just be a one in a million coincidence given Eston had not been outed as Kershaw who lives in Branson.
Here are other links on Eston (i.e. Kershaw) and his background:
http://bit.ly/1f8Ue4I
http://bit.ly/L63oWt
http://bit.ly/1mRSxvt
Kershaw is involved in local politics in spite of his kinist background:
http://bit.ly/1hIT5mo (read the comments)
http://bit.ly/1bvnVdP
http://bit.ly/1d60qI4
When JA had a call with “TW Eston”, I’m going to guess was at a 417 area code per Kershaw’s other contact info on his website hushmoney.org and listed here: http://bit.ly/Lk4IFR
Other links on Eston/Kershaw for those researching:
Facebook profile for Peter Kershaw – http://on.fb.me/1iH1SZL
Google+ profile associated with pkershaw.email@gmail.com – http://bit.ly/1f7W4EL
Youtube account associated with pkershaw.email@gmail.com – http://bit.ly/1b4LvhK
LinkedIn profile associated with mr.tweston@gmail.com – http://linkd.in/MpT4Ky
Google+ profile associated with mr.tweston@gmail.com – http://bit.ly/1b0UzY4
You can do your own research on Kershaw’s background with Phillips using a simple Google search like this one: http://bit.ly/1b4GWnG
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A Mom wrote:
“TIA, apparently you don’t want this post or discussion to happen.”
I do want this post and discussion to happen. Like I said, I have been on the periphery of some of these things, and I am still trying to figure everything out. If people have evidence that support the title of this blog post, then I would like to know about it.
I understand that many people commenting here have been victims of abuse. I appreciate Jackie C’s comments and her warning to people who have been victims of abuse to stay away from Jen’s Gems.
“The more you know the more you stand up against.”
Yes, that’s why I’m here. As someone who has not experienced abuse myself, I can’t claim to understand or relate to everything that is discussed. But I’m willing to listen and learn. I may say things that are hurtful out of ignorance, and I apologize for that. But honestly, I have felt at times like I am being attacked here. I’ve got pretty thick skin, but sometimes it makes me want to just give up trying to learn more about these issues.
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JA, I don’t see how you can manage this blog and keep your wits! You definitely have thicker skin than I do! I would like to know your policy on “personal” remarks. Again I am new to posting and still feel unsure. I totally agree that this is a great place to debate, argue, etc. all with the purpose of exposing the abuse of power. It is also important to be able to articulate your stance in a clear precise way. (Which you are very good at). On the other hand criticizing how another deals with their own pain seems counterproductive to creating a safe space for all survivors. I hurt when I read about Leslie’s family situation. Again, I feel another poster was quite dismissive and told her to widen her scope. JA I agree that we are all at different stages of recovery. I just hope all your readers (including me), are careful about keeping the discussion open and authentic, without being condescending to those who disagree or are confused about a topic. I would hate to see someone triggered by another’s careless words (including my own words). Thank you JA for balancing all of this with such grace. Now I feel like I am reading a mystery! Who is that masked man on the other blog.? 🙂 Ann
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“Now I feel like I am reading a mystery! Who is that masked man on the other blog.?”
Ann, Wish it were just a tall tale mystery story with all the excitement that goes along. But it’s not.
Christian racism AKA Kinism is just as harmful as Leslie’s family situation. Why is it not?
Why is widening one’s scope of compassion & standing up for others (not just ourselves) instead of remaining silent a bad thing? Is that unchristian?
You can’t claim to not know but be in the learning process AND…
1. Be upset it WILL widen your scope to stand up
2. Be silent while staying seated.
I wasn’t familiar with the word Kinism until it was brought up on this blog. Why am I having such a different reaction to it than others who were in the same boat of ignorance that I was in? I just don’t get this level of push-back from Christians….
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Ann – Thank you for understanding the difficult reality I have in moderating. I was sued for speaking out against abuse and value our right to free speech. Yet as you said, some things can come across as condescending. This situation is unique in that while at first we were discussing Phillips and the abuses that came out of his teachings and how it has directly affected many families, there is another bigger level of abuse that has been known about by many, but generally hidden from the masses. In fact, it is this other “level” that probably has been the fuel for Phillips and his antics.
I am going to continue to discuss this and try to add more pieces to the puzzle so people can understand. I am getting a lot of people giving me bits of information and although I may not ever be able to have an understanding of what really has happened, there are key patterns that we can label and really must identify.
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“But I’m willing to listen and learn. I may say things that are hurtful out of ignorance, and I apologize for that. But honestly, I have felt at times like I am being attacked here. I’ve got pretty thick skin, but sometimes it makes me want to just give up trying to learn more about these issues.” TIA
Really, TIA? You have been the one pushing back. I’m not so sure you are willing to learn. You end it with, “sometimes it makes me want to just give up trying to learn more about these issues.”
That statement is quite telling. You’re possibly not interested in issues like racism in groups calling themselves Christians? Yet you continuously take the time to comment on this topic here & on other posts here of similar topic. Another red flag.
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