Another day, another post by Dr. David Tee, whose real name is Derrick Thomas Thiessen, about yours truly. Titled Answering More Questions+, Thiessen used my last five posts to say that I was wrong. Of course, his five readers will not know they are my posts. Thiessen does not link to my articles, nor does he mention me by name or initials.
In the section #5. From Evangelicalism to Atheism — Part One Thiessen writes:
It is amazing how some unbelievers, like LGBTQ, vegans, and vegetarians [vegans and vegetarians, can’t be Christians?] will always tell you information you do not want to know. The person writing that article [Bruce Gerencser] has reached part two and it is the same story he has preserved on hundreds of web pages on his website, yet he feels he has to write about it again.
This and these types of articles are stories of failures. The lesson to take from them is what not to do when you have doubts or are in a crisis. Failures are not someone you should listen to or follow their examples.
They do not have any answers and they have nothing for Christians except information on what to avoid. Quitters are not role models and while we have empathy for them and strive to see if they can be redeemed again, we do not follow their examples or listen to their words.
These types of people are just screaming for attention, similar to those aging Hollywood actresses who continue to take their clothes off like they are achieving some great goal or making a powerful statement. The only people who like seeing the actresses strip are perverts.
The quitters are embarrassing themselves as they hold their failures up for all to see and ridicule. They are not achieving anything or helping anyone.
From day one of blogging in 2007, I determined to use my real name and write openly and honestly about my life. And that’s exactly what I have done. Have I told readers EVERYTHING about my life? No, and I don’t intend to do so. That said, for the most part, I have been honest and vulnerable, knowing that doing so could lead people to view me in a negative light.
Thiessen, a disgraced Evangelical preacher who abandoned his family and fled the United States to avoid legal obligations, goes to great lengths to hide who he really is. While he is certainly free to do so, I don’t understand why he so vehemently objects to me doing otherwise. Why does my story enflame his metaphorical hemorrhoids? Why does the retelling of my story upset him so? If my writing causes him to reach for his tube of Preparation H, why not stop reading it? Why not write original content instead of repeatedly cribbing my writing and that of Ben Bewwick (Meerkat Musings)? Does Thiessen really believe he is “helping” his fellow believers? Or is he just another pissed-off Evangelical who is upset that I am talking out of school?
Thiessen has countless times over the years called me names. He loves saying that I am a quitter; a failure. Thiessen says I am like an actress who takes off her clothes on TV or in a movie. Those who watch her on the screen are, according to a man with lots of skeletons in his closet, “perverts.” Thus, my writing is akin to a naked actress, and you dear readers are perverts for reading it.
Am I a quitter? Sure. I have quit several things in my life, as all of us have. But I will tell you who I haven’t quit on. Unlike Thiessen, I have never quit on my spouse, children, or grandchildren. I suspect if the truth was ever told about the life of Derrick Thiessen, there would be plenty of quitting for all to see.
Thiessen also says I am a “failure.” Again, all of us fail at one time or another. I have had many successes and failures in my life. So has Thiessen. So what is he trying to accomplish with these slurs? Best I can tell, Thiessen is gaslighting us, projecting his failures on me, hoping to avoid careful examination of his own life and accountability for his actions. I suspect most readers see through what he is doing. Of course, Thiessen could clear all of this up by being open, honest, and forthcoming about his life, from his days in Canada to his present domicile and “ministry” in the Philippines. Of course, he will never do this. Thus the endless stream of blog posts about me will continue.
Finally, Thiessen says I am “not achieving anything or helping anyone.” He knows this isn’t true, but he keeps saying it over, and over, and over again. I will leave it to others to determine whether I have achieved anything or helped anyone. My email suggests that I have helped countless people over the years. Comments on the YouTube/podcast interviews I have done lead me to believe that many people find my story helpful and encouraging. Even Evangelicals who disagree with me find my writing engaging and informative. I have been in talks with an Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) pastor about speaking to his church school’s high school students. He asked if I would be willing to take questions from them. “Absolutely,” I replied. Two years ago, I gave a similar talk to a young men’s group at a Mennonite church in Pennsylvania. If I am not achieving anything or helping anyone, why do even Evangelicals find my story interesting?
I know nothing I say will make one bit of a difference when it comes to what Thiessen says about me. I just want him to know I see through his bullshit, as do many, if not most, of the readers of this site.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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“Aging Hollywood actresses who continue to take their clothes off..”Like whom, exactly ?
A man who abandons his family and admonishes someone as a “quitter “ is like a shark denouncing a mosquito for being bloodthirsty.
OMG has Tee Time been peeking in my windows at night?
‘Dr Tee’ says he has empathy. So how come none of it is conveyed in his writing about Bruce, Ben and the ‘perverts’ who comment here?
The delusion is strong in this one.
Narcissists can sometimes show empathy. When they do it’s usually shown in a way that benefits them. It’s about them and not the other person. However, if you point out to them they lack empathy they turn it on its head and say you are not empathetic. They think they are the best at everything.
I’ve adopted a policy of completely ignoring this particular fundie. I’m certain he will direct his ire at me over what i write, but that is his problem.
Because your story is so very interesting to Evangelicals. Whether they admit it outwardly and say damn the torpedoes, or admit it secretly and continue to attend church on Sundays, it’s a fascinating story.
What movies is Tee watching with “aging actresses” taking their clothes off? And what’s wrong with that? Just because we’re aging doesn’t mean we aren’t beautiful or confident. How old does one have to be to (a) take off their clothes or (b) stop taking off their clothes?
I’m struggling to understand one of Tee’s phrases (his grammar is absolutely terrible). He refers to LGBT, vegans, and vegetarians in a juxtaposed way with unbelievers. Does he mean that LGBT, vegans, and vegetarians are unbelievers, or does he mean that, like unbelievers, they provide surplus information?
Well, Tee He did quit the US for the Philippines, he is in the quitter category,lol.
I definitely see thru this guys BS Bruce! He wants to call those of us who question or have left Christianity “quitters”…well LMAO it’s not a bad thing to quit something that is UNHEALTHY & UNTRUE. I quit smoking cigarettes before I quit Xianity! This Tee guy is miserable & has nothing better to do w/ his life than to cut others down to make himself feel better. Too bad he has absolutely no ability to self reflect on why he is thinking & believing and doing what he does. Lots of miserable people out there who are probably envious of US who have broken free from the shackles of abusive religion. Thanks for your writings Bruce, the gods know you have helped me and others so much!! Too bad there are so many haters out there! Take CARE Bruce 🙂