Thursday, May 27, 2010

Joe's (Unholy) Jihad Against Atheists

SECOND NOTE TO READERS OF "HOW GOOD IS THAT" WORDPRESS BLOG:


Originally there was another blog post here, as you can see from the title. I'm not sure what's occurring on Twitter or why people have been hitting this particular blog entry in droves since yesterday (April 4). But I can tell you one thing:

I am no longer using Twitter. At all.

I am not seeking drama. At all.

I am minding my own business.

If Jim Gardner is now waging a new character assassination vendetta, please tell him to get a real life and that I'm praying for him.

And if you want to know what happened ... read the first note I posted to all of you in November (below).

Whatever is going on, I don't care. You shouldn't, either. But feel free to peruse my blog if you want to read more about Jesus.

Thank you, and God bless you. Even Jim.
Heidi Rafferty




FIRST NOTE TO READERS OF "HOW GOOD IS THAT" WORDPRESS BLOG: (This was posted in November 2011)


It's come to my attention that a lot of you are now visiting Christian Safehouse because of a blog entitled, "How Good is That" on Wordpress.

I have not read the blog entry, because it has been written by a person who is angry with me for backing out of a book deal with him.

He is unemployed. I met him on Twitter and shared with him an idea I had for a book. He asked if he could co-write it with me. I received his first draft and saw he was going in a direction that was opposite of what I'd intended. I tried to back out. He persisted and suggested that I do two books, one with him and the other on my own with my original idea.

At the same time, I was working on his behalf to find him magazine freelance work with my editors. I write for eight magazines. I thought this guy deserved a break and wrote letters on his behalf to people in the industry.

At first it seemed to be like an okay arrangement. But then my co-author decided to smear me on his blog because he disagreed with a matter taking place on the social network Twitter. This matter had nothing to do with my professional life or the book we were supposed to be co-writing. I also was uncomfortable with the chapters he was submitting to me, as he seemed to be trying to determine the sole direction of the book content.

I decided it was in my best interest to back out of the book project. He'd only written 2 chapters, and not much work had gone into it. We did not have a contract. We always had the agreement that if we decided it wasn't going to work relationally, one of us could back out.

In retaliation for my decision, rather than accept it as a professional would and move on, he has chosen to write about me on his blog.

As I said earlier, I have no idea what the content is -- only that he is promoting this on Twitter and doing what he can to discredit my reputation.

You can believe what you want, but I just wanted to let everyone know that I tried to help this individual, and this was his repayment for my professional kindness and courtesy.


Thanks.

Heidi Rafferty

14 comments:

  1. Just about as holy as the criminals in the Vatican, though.

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  2. As Muslims, we love and respect Jesus too, and this is Definately NOT what Jesus would do. I think Joe just lost all credibilility.

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  3. Wow. As an atheist (and one of the people Joe declared "war" against) I have to say it is refreshing to hear from an actual Christian with a level head and a kind heart. Thank you for your post. If real, caring, moderate Christians would be more vocal at squashing the extremists that make your entire effort look bad, the world would be a much better place. Again, I thank you.

    Golmer

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  4. Golmer, thank you.

    Always remember that if anyone treats you like that, point them to those verses in 1st John. If they are a true believer, they will immediately recognize where they have been wrong and ask you for forgiveness. It is a litmus test that proves itself over and over again.

    I hope this unfortunate incident on Twitter will not alienate too many people. I am so sad about it. Thank you again for your comment.

    @Anonymous/Muslim: Thank you so much for your comment, too. It means a lot to me.

    And @Anonymous/Vatican: Well-said.

    --Heidi

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  5. Hey Heidi. You know me from twitter as MovingToMontana and as Jim from my howgoodisthat.wordpress.com blog.

    Readers should know that myself and Heidi have a good understanding of each other's position and a respect for the principal of interlocking opposites when it comes to debating our very different opinions on religious issues.

    However, I wanted to just say a massive thank you to Heidi and other Christians on twitter for helping us expose the blatant charlatanism of people like Joe Cienkowski and Juanita Berguson.

    I genuinely believe atheist and religious alike can put aside some of our wider concerns in the interest of weeding out the liars who would speak on both of our behalf, without understanding either of our positions.

    If you would like to help, please see the below link. Thanks again!

    http://howgoodisthat.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/not-all-christians-are-lunatics-joe-cienkowski-wants-to-squirt-juice-on-your-hot-ass/

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  6. Heidi. You know exactly how much you and I disagree from our dicusssions on Twitter, and not just on mere points of fact or belief but often on the (perhaps) more serious matters of right and wrong.


    But you have real integrity, treating those with whom you disagree with respect (even, sometimes, when it is not deserved) and for that I admire the heck out of you.

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  7. Absolutely brilliant post. Heidi, you have hit the nail directly on the head that is Joe and I thank you for it!

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  8. All atheists want is to be left alone by the religious. Do not bring those beliefs into our lives. And it is the one thing you guys will not do. So yeah, we get a bit aggressive in our own defense. The minute you don't like it simply back off. We don't come to your homes preaching atheism, we don't accost you on streets and at gas stations, we don't come into your religious schools with our heathen ways- so why not simply return the favor? It's that simple. Treat others as they treat you- yet theists can't seem to do it. And I live in Mississippi so don't even begin to tell me that you do, I live ya'lls interference in the lives of others every day and it's obnoxious and sucky.

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  9. Heidi, thank you for pointing out what some of us knew from the start - Joe Cienkowski is not a Christian. He is a charlatan, a "money changer", a fraud. Joe cares not for Christ or for Christians, his focus is his own self serving viterole and the $5 books he is schlocking. As an atheist I am always open to rational discourse, dialogue and exchange with people of faith. Such exchange with Joe is impossible. Thankfully, his true colors were raised to full mast and his false flag of faithfulness is now visible for all to see.

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  10. Thanks for the encouragement, Kikki. You know, Christians are not always quick to recognize the false people among them. It saddens me, and I hope that a blog entry like this will wake some of them up.

    Thanks again for your note.

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  11. Heidi, what a joy to find you! Thoughtful, intelligent, loving. My impression of what the Christ figure is supposed to represent.

    As an opinionated broadcaster, I struggle to find some quick, clean way to distinguish verbally between Christians such as yourself and "Christians" (scare quotes necessary!) like Joe, and even more so to the angrier, more dangerous fringe. I get lazy about it sometimes, but you've renewed my commitment. I don't want to be one of those treating "Christian" as a dirty word, because of people like you. Thanks.

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  12. Thank you so much, Angie! BTW, we are in the same profession (almost). I am a freelance magazine writer and formerly was an AP staffer. It's always nice to make the acquaintance of a fellow journalist!

    Thank you again for your kind comments.

    Heidi

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  13. I have been watching Joe for a few days and his attitude and those cheering him on make me sick. It's all just smoke and mirrors to sell his nonsense book...

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