In Satan's Name

[dudalb]

I presume that Riggs is one of these "indepedent Pastors" who do not have to answer to a major denomination and therefore can do whatever the hell they want?

 

[JoeyDonuts]

I presume that Riggs is one of these "indepedent Pastors" who do not have to answer to a major denomination and therefore can do whatever the hell they want?

Correct, he doesn't belong to any denomination.

 

[David Henson]

This is an extremely difficult subject for me to bring up.

When I was a kid, my parents got involved with a church in the Tulsa area called Morningstar Church. I'd been involved in churches since I was very little, and they were all what you'd expect. Nice people, Sunday School programs, services over in time for football.

Not this one.

This one was led by a charismatic man by the name of Pastor Doug Riggs. The services typically took up about 4-5 hours on a Sunday afternoon, and several times throughout the week as well. The sermons, from what I recall, delved heavily into "spiritual warfare." This was at the height of the "Satanic Panic" some of you might recall, and this church/cult may as well have been ground zero. Despite having no formal psychological practice training, this man "diagnosed" the afflictions of his flock as being entirely the hand of Satan.

His sermons were little more than conspiracy-laden diatribes. I remember what I felt when my parents were attending this weekly marathons. A combination of boredom and fear when I was paying attention. I didn't understand most of what he said, but I too was rather mesmerized by him. And I was scared as hell. I didn't get to read Marvel Comics, or secular literature. I didn't get to listen to Depeche Mode like the friends I wasn't supposed to associate with. I couldn't even listen to *********** jazz. One time, my parents found a stack of Marvel superhero trading cards on me.

That earned me a counseling session with this man. I don't remember what happened, and I don't think I want to.

Pastor Doug Riggs was the subject of a documentary film some years ago called "In Satan's Name." My little brother found these clips. I almost threw up when I watched them. There isn't any "extreme" content, just some NSFW language from a person supposedly in the throes of demonic possession.

I'd like to hear the community's take on this guy. I don't know why, but seeing this videos again has got me depressed as all hell.

Let me know what you think. I guess I've never really "dealt" with all of this. The portion germane to my old church starts at 03:05 into the first video and continues through the next two.

Wow!

I'm scrolling down the messages looking for a topic that interests me and I stop here. For no reason other than I have to eventually stop somewhere. My original thought was that you were a person who didn't like a particular snake oil salesman and you wanted others of a like mind's diatribe. Common spiritual fare, so I looked at your post number and am surprised to see 8,000 plus.

I didn't look at the videos. I didn't read responses to the OP.

But I get the sense you are not telling everything in the OP itself.

Just from your post I can see that there is some pretty heavy stuff. But you could be exaggerating it for effect.

It is a shame. Stupid people get screwed up in religious abominations (everything religious is an abomination) and drag their kids into it. Looking for what? Redemption?

Idiots.

 

[David Henson]

You do know that Lucifer is the morning star right?

Oh, really? I thought it was Nebuchadnezzar. Silly me.

People like you who screw up religious tradition, which is nonsense from the start, don't really fix anything, you know?

 

[David Henson]

Being a Tulsa native, and a former Pentecostal Fundie, I know too damned well how deeply this can mess a person up.

Joey, you have my sympathetic shoulder and my support. Those sicko bastards make me so angry. Sorry, hon.

You're kidding, right?

I mean, these guys are a joke! Their children are the ones who you gotta watch out for. They know what is going on. They know what side of the tracks reality abounds!

I mean! ◊◊◊◊! Their kids are not typically very bright and y'all didn't see this coming?

C'mon!

 

[JoeyDonuts]

I'm scrolling down the messages looking for a topic that interests me and I stop here. For no reason other than I have to eventually stop somewhere. My original thought was that you were a person who didn't like a particular snake oil salesman and you wanted others of a like mind's diatribe. Common spiritual fare, so I looked at your post number and am surprised to see 8,000 plus.

My post count is relevant why?

I didn't look at the videos. I didn't read responses to the OP.

Then you're in a great place to throw out comments.

But I get the sense you are not telling everything in the OP itself.

And where did you acquire this sense? You didn't watch the videos. You didn't read the responses to my OP. This gift of yours seems like a real time-saver.

Just from your post I can see that there is some pretty heavy stuff. But you could be exaggerating it for effect.

What "effect" do you think I'm going for?

It is a shame. Stupid people get screwed up in religious abominations (everything religious is an abomination) and drag their kids into it. Looking for what? Redemption?

For someone who, by their own admission, did not watch the videos you seem awfully quick to pass judgement on an issue you're admittedly ignorant of.

Idiots.

Thanks for your input. You've really done some good work here.

 

[DC]

Oh, really? I thought it was Nebuchadnezzar. Silly me.

People like you who screw up religious tradition, which is nonsense from the start, don't really fix anything, you know?

religious tradition is nonsence from the start? true that

 

[Outrigger]

Thanks for your reply. The fact that after all this time your response to Doug's call was fear shows the extent of the damage done during your time at morningstar. I want to encourage you not to be afraid," For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." ne thing I have come to see is that there are alot of people out there who are willing to stand with you,
If you think you might have my phone number give me a call. I'd like to hear from you.

 

[JoeyDonuts]

Thanks for your reply. The fact that after all this time your response to Doug's call was fear shows the extent of the damage done during your time at morningstar. I want to encourage you not to be afraid," For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." ne thing I have come to see is that there are alot of people out there who are willing to stand with you,
If you think you might have my phone number give me a call. I'd like to hear from you.

I think you might have a few things confused.

I was not contacted by Doug Riggs. This whole thing started when I stumbled onto YouTube videos of the old HBO documentary "In Satan's Name" that was shot at Morningstar Testimonial when I was about 12 or so.

And my reaction then was about like it was now. Not fear, but disgust and genuine anger at his manipulation of those people. I didn't truly appreciate what was happening back then. I was young, and didn't really have context to understand what was going on. I do now, and my poking around has revealed that he is most certainly "still at it." Doug holds no power over me, just like he holds no true power over anyone else that they themselves have not given him.

I don't know who you are personally, and with respect - I am not interested in conversing via telephone at this time, as I'd like to keep some degree of standoff between my identity and my research into this issue.

I'd actually prefer that this kind of correspondence went to the stopdougriggs@gmail.com address, if you wouldn't mind.

 

[JustMe]

I think you might have a few things confused.

I was not contacted by Doug Riggs. This whole thing started when I stumbled onto YouTube videos of the old HBO documentary "In Satan's Name" that was shot at Morningstar Testimonial when I was about 12 or so.

And my reaction then was about like it was now. Not fear, but disgust and genuine anger at his manipulation of those people. I didn't truly appreciate what was happening back then. I was young, and didn't really have context to understand what was going on. I do now, and my poking around has revealed that he is most certainly "still at it." Doug holds no power over me, just like he holds no true power over anyone else that they themselves have not given him.

I don't know who you are personally, and with respect - I am not interested in conversing via telephone at this time, as I'd like to keep some degree of standoff between my identity and my research into this issue.

I'd actually prefer that this kind of correspondence went to the stopdougriggs@gmail.com address, if you wouldn't mind.

Sounds like you found another contact in Tulsa. I am sure I have spoken to you on the phone. I don't know how the Riggs group found out it was me but I heard from him after that. Maybe your son-in-law, daughter told him? I didn't feel quite so safe after that. Hope things are better in your church setting since they are gone but I pray that they get out. The Holy Spirit is the One that broke into my delusion. Praise God! This is reply to Outrigger's comments.

Sorry Joey I believe this post was probably meant for me and my response to Outrigger regarding DR. He would be addressing my comments.

 

[JustMe]

To Outrigger: I probably had your phone number as I do believe we had a lengthy conversation over the phone. One other thing, DR emailed not phoned. I don't think he would have the nerve to call. I will check my old email files to see if I have your phone number there. I hope I cleared up that you were probably addressing me and not Joey Donuts.

 

[JustMe]

Quote:
Just from your post I can see that there is some pretty heavy stuff. But you could be exaggerating it for effect.


TRUST ME there is no exaggeration whatsoever in JD's post for any kind of effect. I applaud him for his courage to stand up against this criminal! He obviously moved to another state and is continuing his role as a divider of families per Outrigger's comments. He did it in one state and has moved on to another.

 

[Gaspode]

Some posts moved to AAH.

Keep on topic please.

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: Gaspode

 

[MikeSun5]

I didn't look at the videos. I didn't read responses to the OP.

Then you're in a great place to throw out comments.

good stuff.

This Riggs guy reminds me a lot of David Koresh.

 

[JoeyDonuts]

To Outrigger: I probably had your phone number as I do believe we had a lengthy conversation over the phone. One other thing, DR emailed not phoned. I don't think he would have the nerve to call. I will check my old email files to see if I have your phone number there. I hope I cleared up that you were probably addressing me and not Joey Donuts.

No problem. Communication can be sketchy on threads at times.

I'll be putting the first posts up this weekend, and most likely focusing on debunking the notion of an "international Satanic conspiracy." Seems relevant since it's at the very crux of what Riggs pushes on people.

 

[JoeyDonuts]

Wow. Looks like I caught the attention of at least one proponent of SRA phenomena, who bombarded me with links to a Pastor Russ Dizdar.

I haven't yet gone through his writings in detail, but my first impressions of him is that he's sort of a fundie Christian version of Alex Jones.

Through this door be lunacy, methinks.

 

[JustMe]

Wow. Looks like I caught the attention of at least one proponent of SRA phenomena, who bombarded me with links to a Pastor Russ Dizdar.

I haven't yet gone through his writings in detail, but my first impressions of him is that he's sort of a fundie Christian version of Alex Jones.

Through this door be lunacy, methinks.

Sounds like something Doug Riggs or one of his followers would send to you.

 

[JoeyDonuts]

Sounds like something Doug Riggs or one of his followers would send to you.

It was. I know which one, too.

I checked out some of their links to this Dizdar guy. WOW.

It's not often you get so many varied kooky beliefs crammed into one person.

Well, actually, I take that back. Once you start believing in one conspiracy, you're pretty much game for all others. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to learn that Riggs and others in the SRA therapy crowd believe in 9/11 conspiracy theories, JFK assassination, moon landing, black helicopters, and all that other nonsense - they just attribute them to their chosen boogeymen.

You know, I was watching that CW series "Supernatural" the other day, about the two brothers who go around fighting demons that posess humans, controlled by secret societies, yada yada yada. The whole thing is pretty campy in a slightly-more-serious "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" kind of way. I was stricken with the epiphany that if Doug Riggs ever watched this show, he'd think he was watching a reality series.

 

[Kopji]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer

In English, "Lucifer" generally refers to Satan,
although the name is not applied to him in the New Testament.
The use of the name "Lucifer" in reference to a fallen angel stems from an interpretation of Isaiah 14:3–20, a passage that speaks of a particular Babylonian King, to whom it gives the title of "Day Star", "Morning Star" (in Latin, lucifer), as fallen or destined to fall from the heavens or sky. In 2 Peter 1:19 and elsewhere, the same Latin word lucifer is used to refer to the Morning Star, with no relation to the devil. However, in post-New Testament times the Latin word Lucifer has often been used as a name for the devil, both in religious writing and in fiction.

so enigma was correct
(sorry wiki, religious writing is fiction)
the videos are sad

Normal, intelligent people can compartmentalize their lives; it seems unfair to place vulnerable people in the category of idiots, but they are not innocent victims either. Instead of an STD they have an RTD (religion transmitted disease).

A challenge to believers is to come up with a religious version of a condom... :|

 

[Outrigger]

One day I'll figure out how to use this website, until then I'll just say this is for JoeyD.
I ran into Russ Dizdar as one of the many people DR recommended. Needless to say Russ is big into the whole SRA storyline.My biggest challange in all this is to separate fact from fiction.I,m beginning to see there"s alot more fiction than fact.
I'll send some stuff about DR's recent activity here in central NY via the websites email. Thanks again for setting that up.