Our Response to the NEIRR Analysis

During the summer and fall of 1994, Bob Pardon and Judy Barba, of the New England Institute for Religious Research (NEIRR) visited several of our communities in New England, saying that they genuinely wanted to get to know us so that they could communicate accurately and fairly with those who look to them for information about unconventional religious groups. We welcomed them into our households, had many meals with them, answering their many questions as clearly as we were able. They said they were writing an extensive analysis of our communities based on their research. They agreed to give us the opportunity to review a semi-final draft of this analysis, and that they would seriously consider whatever comments or corrections we might offer in response. We took them at their word — that their intention was to portray clearly and accurately how we live and what we believe.

We were shocked by the contents of the 90-page document we received in December, 1995. It was so far from portraying the life we actually live and what we actually believe! Several of us got together and went over the NEIRR's analysis with a fine-tooth comb and prepared a 104-page response that addresses and corrects the most glaring of its errors, distortions, misunderstandings, and misjudgments. Unfortunately, Mr. Pardon and Ms. Barba gave heed to very little of our response, and ultimately published their slanderous "analysis" in spite of the accurate information we labored so hard to provide for them.

So here is our response to the NEIRR's analysis. It is referenced to the page and paragraph numbers of the draft they originally gave us, which are different from those of the published analysis. However, as we have included brief excerpts from their analysis for every point that we take issue with, we trust you will be able to follow the thread of our argument. We publish it here in the hope that you will be able to understand the truth and not be taken in by the NEIRR's deceptions.

[Excerpts from the Analysis are referenced by page and paragraph number. For example, "41-3" is page 41, paragraph 3. Paragraph 0 means the remainder of a paragraph carried over from the previous page. The subheadings correspond to the sections of the NEIRR analysis.]

Our response is organized into 6 parts and is also available in entirety as a 505Kb PDF.

• Part 1 : Introduction, Short History, Yoneq's Position and Use of Scripture (pp.i-28)
  
  
• Part 2 : Theological Analysis - Doctrine of Man, Doctrine of God, Doctrine of Jesus Christ and His Work (pp.29-41)
  
  
• Part 3 : Messianic Communities, the Nations, and End Times; Signs of the Sabbath (pp.42-60)
  
  
• Part 4 : Sociological Analysis (pp.61-74)
  
  
• Part 5 : Sociological Analysis (pp.)
  
  
• Part 6 : Conclusion (pp.)