The Strange Reverend Jim Sutter

A few years ago, (back when I wasted a lot of time talking to people via Yahoo Clubs, which are now called “Groups) I encountered a man on the Internet who goes by the name and title of "The Reverend Jim Sutter." It did not take long to learn that this was not a reasonable man and that he was a very imaginative person and a pathological liar. (Personally, I don’t understand why people lie at all, but I guess a lot of people do for many reasons.)

Jim Sutter apparently lies first about his credentials and background in an effort to set himself up as some kind of authority on what ever subject he is on at the time. I guess he believes that a man of God is an authority figure and I suppose that is why he decided to make himself a minister. I wasn't impressed, as I am not impressed by any ministers anyway, least of all one who uses this title to bully and intimidate others.

I happened to join a club which he had created, and like many others who have crossed his Internet path, we came to a point of disagreement, and I lightly challenged him, suggesting that he might be a fraud. Rather than prove he was not a fraud, or even discuss the matter, he simply banned me from his club with no further communication. I took this to be the response of a person who feels that he cannot stand up to any kind of reasonable challenge or scrutiny.

I discovered later that he had a little group of people (or fictitious identities) who hung out with him in his Internet activities. His activities consisted (and still consist of) trolling clubs, laying traps, posting invitations to his clubs, and starting groups etc. He fancies himself as some kind of crusader who wants to intimidate people (into loving one another?) and he points fingers at anyone who does not fall in line with his personal philosophy, calling them hate mongers and attempting to get their clubs or sites closed down by calling them "Hate sites." He states that his mission is to expose hate speech and terrorists.

His targets are generally typical right-wing fundamentalists (who call themselves conservatives) and who have strong opinions one way or another for one reason or another. He proceeds to inflame them with his accusations and/or naming them and their web sites (on his web site) as hate mongers.

Out of curiosity I wanted to find out more about him, so I did some investigation and then I built a web page with what I discovered. It was picked up by the search engines and in no time people who were doing a search for “The reverend Jim Sutter” would find my page. It was entitled “In Search of the Real Reverend Jim Sutter.” That page simply had the information that I had found out about him from my research on the Internet and the Usenet. This was information that anyone could have access to and I had links to this information. I also expressed my opinion of the man and told of my personal experience with him. This web page did a lot towards breaking up his operation at the time, but he is still at it.

Jim Sutter got his alleged lawyer to send me letters threatening to sue me if I did not take down the web site. After giving it some thought, I took down the sight because I decided this was not my battle anyway; and I did not want to be bothered with it or with him in the event he or his lawyer actually did file a frivolous law suit. Jim Sutter did not file any suits against me and I did not pay him any money as he has since claimed. (I see he does continue to lie.) Lies are his weapon of choice.

On the flip side, he attacks people with strong beliefs and strong feelings and strong opinions that differ from his, and anyone who does not embrace his philosophy who engages him in conversation soon learns this. Most of these people are very conservative, perhaps very right wing, or fundamentalists who have strong opinions about moral issues which he finds disagreeable. He then accuses them of using hate speech or having a hate web site or other such nonsense.

I don't take sides in this ridiculous squabble simply because it is a waste of time and because the people he attacks are usually the same people (" conservative fundamentalists") some of who would condemn me for being a Tarot Card Reader. They are nice, even wonderful loving people who simply have strange superstitious notions which make no logical sense to me, so I see no sense in joining their side against the likes of Jim Sutter who just enjoys stirring up their particular pot.

What you should do if you are engaged with or being attacked by Jim Sutter:

Personally I think engaging Jim Sutter at all is a waste of time and energy. So what if he lies? He has been exposed for his lying many times and he will continue to lie and be exposed. Intelligent people will not believe him, and intelligent people will not waste their valuable time engaging in flame wars with him. If people were to just ignore him he would certainly loose his power. So ignore him.

Why are you engaging him? Did he lie about you? Did he hurt your feelings? Did he make you angry? Do you know what kind of person you are? Do you believe what you preach? Are you secure in what you believe and in who you are? If you are, then you should pay him no mind. Go about your life without this conflict.

Here is my advice to anyone who has a problem with The Reverend Jim Sutter. Don’t engage him. Don’t join his groups. Bar him from your groups. And above all, don’t believe a word Sutter utters about you or anyone else. Ignore him and get a life. Don’t spend your creative energy flaming him on some group or blog. Smarten up. The more rhetoric you feed him, the fatter he gets and the more bull shit he puts out back at ya.

FAQ about Jim Sutter:

Q: Is he really an ordained minister?
Answer: Yes. He is ordained by the Universal Life Church and, by law, is just as much a minister as the one who preaches at your church. Anyone who wants to can get ordained by the Universal Life Church on the Internet free of charge with the click of the mouse. (I am also an ordained minister of the Universal Life church. I have a congregation of one. Me.)

Q: Did he receive awards he claims to have received?
Answer: There is no proof that he did, so probably not.

Q: Why does he do what he does?
Answer: That question would call for my opinion. I think he needs to feel important. I think he needs to feel that he does important work. I think he is tired of intolerance and extremists. I think he needs to feel loved, accepted and respected. I think he is angry and frustrated. Failing that, I think his activities makes him feel powerful. Don't fall into the traps he lays. Don't let him suck you into his games, unless you enjoy it like he does.

 

Gloria jean