Detailed article about John de Ruiter, his very messy life and what his first wife and disciples say about it.
For the rest of the article, read here:
The Lust of John de Ruiter
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Quote
he following story appeared in Canada's National Post on Wednesday, May
16, 2000:
"I WAS GOD'S WIFE"
Joyce de Ruiter had accepted the fact that her husband saw himself as
the Messiah. Then he introduced his two new 'wives'
Scott McKeen
The Edmonton Journal
A silent John de Ruiter sat on the stage that December evening,
surrounded by scores of his worshippers, as his wife took the microphone
to speak. Joyce, mother of John's three children, unfolded the letter
she'd prepared for the meeting.
"Dear John, my dear John," she began. "I am the only one who loves John
the man. Everyone else loves John the god."
For almost two decades, Joyce de Ruiter had watched her husband take a
magic carpet ride from humble shoemaker to this -- a god figure in a
burgeoning new religion, worshipped by hundreds in Edmonton and around
the world.
A book carries his byline; videos and cassettes his voice and image.
There's a Web site -- www.johnderuiter.com -- and a schedule of where
he's speaking each week, be it in Toronto or India. Upwards of 300 flock
to weekly Edmonton meetings, many of them newcomers who moved to Alberta
from other parts of the country or the world to be near John.
But late last year, Joyce discovered a side to her husband she'd never
suspected. It had prompted her to intervene, in front of his followers,
with this written plea.
"My sweetie. You are not god, you are not deity," Joyce said that
evening. "You are a normal man who has been seduced by power and adoring
women."
Devotees shifted quietly in their chairs as John stared gently at his
wife.
"You are sleeping with two of your disciples," said Joyce, "and you
can't recognize how far off you've gone. Sex with Benita and Katrina is
not truth."
John's face betrayed nothing, Joyce says. The audience was like
flat-calm water.
When Joyce finished her plea, John spoke a few soft words about truth
and ended the meeting. Inside, Joyce mourned, as a few of her husband's
disciples came up to hug her and tell her they admired her honesty. She
watched him leave, without her.
"I was God's wife," Joyce says sardonically, looking back on that day.
"The Messiah Chick."
For the rest of the article, read here:
The Lust of John de Ruiter
[groups.google.com]