Kevin Shepherd Murder?

Kevin Shepherd Murder?
Kevin R.D. Shepherd (exhibiting the symptoms of a person afflicted with paranoia) accused Joe Moreno of being part of some sort of covert internet plot and conspiracy to influence “uncritical devotees” that he was involved in some sort of “murder”, basing his argument on a wordpress tag that he erroneously accused Moreno of creating. Kevin Shepherd said:

“His more recent attempt to undermine my Google Search name listing includes tagged entries of no effective content, using my name and publishing imprints as tags calculated to draw hostile attention. One entry that has aroused strong comment is the item on my Google Search name listing which tags my name with ‘Kevin Shepherd murder.’ This refers to an actual murder which has nothing to do with me. See the very misleading ‘Kevin Shepherd murder 8/11/07 Copperton, UT... Kevin Shepherd and Robert Priddy... Find other items tagged with kevin-shepherd’ at wordpress.com/tag/kevin-shepherd/ Observers have deduced that the multiple blog and tag tactic intruding upon my Google Search name listing amounts to a form of internet harassment. Joe Moreno is clearly attempting to influence uncritical devotees via his websites and blogs and tagging system. The strong conclusion follows that he is an obsessive internet ‘hit man’ as ex-devotees have been urging.”

Obviously, Kevin Shepherd does not know how to use the internet, does not know how wordpress tags work and thinks he is the only ‘Kevin Shepherd’ on the planet (there are actually around 600,000 Google results for the name Kevin Shepherd).

Notable “Kevin Shepherd’s” not associated with Kevin R.D. Shepherd:

1. Kevin W. Shepherd, lawyers in Maryville, TN, Tennessee


2. Kevin Shepherd, Lawyer in Topeka Kansas (numerous listings)


3. Kevin Shepherd Comedian (numerous listings)


4. Kevin Shepherd - Plumbing And Tiling Services


5. Kevin L. Shepherd - Co-chair of the Real Estate Group of Venable LLP


6. Dr. Kevin P. Shepherd


7. Kevin Shepherd - Original Vegemite Boy


8. Kevin Shepherd - Radio Technical Officer Who Served In The Antartic Region


9. Kevin P. Shepherd - NASA Researcher


10. Sergeant Kevin ‘Condor’ Shepherd - “Detroit SWAT”

At the time of this article’s publication, there was only one article resolving to the "murder" listing under the wordpress tag for “Kevin Shepherd” (Ref). This wordpress tag lists an article entitled “Kevin Shepherd murder 8/11/07 Copperton, UT” (Ref). Click on the link and it resolves to this wordpress webpage. The original article is located on this ksl.com webpage. Ksl.com reported a story about a man named “Steven Lovendahl” who had an argument with a man named “Kevin Shepherd”. Lovendahl shot Shepherd in the arm and he died as a result. This incident occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Needless to say, Moreno did not write the wordpress article in question, the relevant wordpress blog does not belong to Moreno and Moreno did not create the wordpress tag that resolved to the “Kevin Shepherd Murder” article. Since Mr. Kevin Shepherd does not know how to conduct even the most elementary of research, he jumped to his extreme and irrational conclusion that Moreno was somehow involved with the wordpress tag for “Kevin Shepherd Murder”. Consequently, Mr. Shepherd’s asinine arguments against Moreno are without credible or factual basis (as are most of his arguments against Moreno and Sathya Sai Baba).

These types of conspiratorial and puerile accusations argue more that Kevin Shepherd is an “internet hit man” who assaults others with his formidable ignorance about the internet.

Kevin Shepherd Cites Anonymous Scholars

Kevin R. D. Shepherd’s Comical Citations To Anonymous Scholars
Kevin Shepherd displayed amazing naiveté and gullibility when he claimed matter-of-factly that an anonymous Wikipedia editor named Jedermann was an editor with “Ph.D status”. Kevin Shepherd cannot back up this claim with any sort of verifiable sources. As a matter of fact, “Jedermann” (who is no longer a Wikipedia editor) never made any comment about himself being of “Ph.D status” on his userpage (Jedermann Reference).

Kevin Shepherd again displayed amazing naiveté and gullibility when he claimed matter-of-factly that an anonymous Wikipedia editor named The Communicator (IP 203.59.51.58) was “An academic assessor in an Australian University”. Once again, Kevin Shepherd cannot back up this claim with any sort of verifiable sources. Even on his userpage, “The Communicator” never claimed he worked at an Australian University. The quote that Kevin Shepherd cited from “The Communicator” stated:

“Shepherd’s case is unusual. He is an atypical writer, a non-academic who has researched in Cambridge University Library and published a number of scholarly books. His Mind and Sociocultures Vol. One is over 1000 pages long, has maps, appendices, notes and an index. There are 461 notes to the main text (with a further 280 notes to the introduction), and the index alone is 43 pages long. His other books are similar with respect to the quality of scholarly apparatus. It is unlikely in the extreme that any publisher would have taken on such a book, especially from a non-academic. Shepherd is realistic about his abilities, and prefers to be regarded as a scholarly amateur. He is scrupulous in his use of (citations of) specialist scholars, though he is occasionally critical of academics (and academic publishers) when they endorse what he regards as dubious persons and practices. By self-publishing, he maintains his authorial independence, although he suffers from the lack of resources provided by commercial and academic publishing houses. His books have high production values (I speak here as a professional bookseller) and are presumably expensive to produce. He does not seem to gain financially from their sale, nor in any other way as far as I can see. He does not promote any organisation or religious persuasion.” (Reference)

It is apparent that Kevin Shepherd is unaware of the Essjay Wikipedia Controversy in which a well-known Wikipedia Administrator blatantly lied about his credentials on Wikipedia. Essjay claimed he was a tenured Professor of religion at a private University with expertise in canon law. As it turned out, Essjay was really a 24-year-old college drop out named Ryan Jordan. So when Kevin Shepherd attempted to cite anonymous Wikipedia editors (“Jedermann” and “The Communicator”) on his behalf, he attempted to con the general public with anonymous and alleged “scholarly” references (whose credentials he exaggerated and embellished) that cannot be verified whatsoever. Anyone can anonymously claim to be a “scholar” under a pseudonym on a website.

It is also important to point out that “The Communicator” has very close ties to Kevin Shepherd. This opinion is supported by the fact that “The Communicator” mostly edited articles (view contributions) that Kevin Shepherd is deeply involved with (i.e., Stanislav Grof, Holotropic Breathwork and the Findhorn Foundation). “The Communicator” added links to Kevin Shepherd’s Citizen Initiative website (Refs: 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05) and continually cited Kevin Shepherd, Stephen Castro and Kate Thomas (all affiliated with each other and the Citizen Initiative website) as sources on articles and on talk pages (Refs: 01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 - 08 - 09 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21). Kevin Shepherd is also intimately aware of “The Communicator’s” activity on Wikipedia and even discussed him on his Citizen Initiative website (Ref). Kevin Shepherd’s references to “The Communicator” (and vice-versa) indicate some sort of collaborated scheming on Wikipedia against Stanislav Grof, Holotropic Breathwork and the Findhorn Foundation. Therefore, The Communicator’s comments about Kevin Shepherd are inherently slanted, subjective and defensive and cannot be considered neutral or unbiased.

Update: October 6th 2007: After publishing this webpage, Kevin Shepherd attempted to do damage control and had “The Communicator” update his Wikipedia page. “The Communicator” now claims (when formerly he did not) he works at an Australian University (Ref). Since “The Communicator” did not divulge this information on Wikipedia prior to October 6th 2007, one is left to wonder how Kevin Shepherd knew this information about him if they are not collaborators. Just because “The Communicator” claimed he works at an Australian University does not make his comment factual. He is still anonymous and his alleged credentials cannot be verified whatsoever.

Kevin Shepherd (who can often been seen advocating against Stanislav Grof, Holotropic Breathwork and the Findhorn Foundation) publishes the writings of Stephen J. Castro and Kate Thomas through Citizen Initiative Publishing. Stephen Castro and his ex-housemate “Kate Thomas” (real name ‘Jean Shepherd’, Kevin Shepherd’s mother) lived down the road from the Findhorn Foundation’s Cluny Hill College and were in constant conflict with the Foundation for many years. This would explain why Kevin Shepherd is involved in these controversial issues and why he constantly cites Stephen J. Castro and his mother Kate Thomas (aka “Jean Shepherd”) in his writings.

Kevin Shepherd And The Wikipedia ArbCom Bans

Kevin Shepherd And The Wikipedia ArbCom Bans
In another Wikipedia related issue, Kevin Shepherd correctly stated that Joe Moreno (aka “SSS108”) and
Andries Krugers Dagneaux were banned from editing the Sathya Sai Baba-related Wikipedia articles (as were “freelanceresearcher” and “wikisunn”: Ref). Of course, Kevin Shepherd praised the arbitration committee when it came to Moreno's ban but was “disconcerted” with (and made excuses for) the same arbitration committee that banned Andries. It is also important to point out that that Andries was formerly banned on the Robert Priddy Wikipedia Article (Ref) due to violating the ArbCom ruling and two warnings from Wikipedia Administrators (Refs: 01 - 02). Moreno was never banned from editing the Robert Priddy Wikipedia Article. Enough said.

In his typically inaccurate ways, Kevin Shepherd had the audacity to say that Andries “had originally established the Sathya Sai Baba entry in Wikipedia on the basis of both pro- and contra- views being represented”. This is an absurd and total untruth. Andries included voluminous amounts of non-reputable and non-reliable sources in violation of NPOV, WP:BLP, WP:V and WP:RS and it was all removed in accordance with the First Mediation With BostonMA. For once, get your facts right, Mr. Kevin Shepherd.

Andries is a known POV pusher (Refs: 01 - 02 - 03 - 04) and other Wikipedia editors have accused him of the same bias and POV pushing that Moreno has. Andries was uncooperative and his failure to accept a second mediation attempt (Ref) pushed the issue into an ArbCom case (which he tried to escape). As a matter of fact, the First ArbCom Case fully acknowledged the problems with the Sathya Sai Baba Wikipedia Article and ruled (due to Moreno's thorough documentation about Andries Anti-Sai agenda):

“Negative information in an article or on a talk page regarding Sathya Sai Baba or organizations affiliated with him which is poorly sourced may be removed without discussion. The three revert rule shall not apply to such removal. This includes links to critical websites which contain original research or which consist of personal accounts of negative experiences with Sathya Sai Baba or organizations affiliated with him. It is inappropriate for a user to insert a link to a website maintained by the user (or in which the user plays an important role).”

Needless to say, this was a huge blow to Andries and Anti-Sai Activists (and they whined and hissed about it on their own Anti-Sai Websites). Don’t expect Kevin Shepherd to mention any any of these pertinent facts, which he lamentably failed to obtain despite his alleged in-depth research into this topic.

The Kevin Shepherd Citation On Wikipedia

The Kevin Shepherd Citation On Wikipedia
In Kevin Shepherd's article against Joe Moreno, he repeatedly whined and sniveled about Moreno's objection on Wikipedia to the inclusion of a quote from his self-published book, "Investigating the Sai Baba Movement: A Clarification of Misrepresented Saints and Opportunism".

Andries Krugers Dagneaux (an ex-devotee and Anti-Sai Activist) was the only person arguing for the inclusion of the Shepherd citation in the Sathya Sai Baba Wikipedia Article. Jossie, Alecmconroy (a non-involved party who answered Andries Request For Comment) and Moreno (SSS108) all disagreed with Andries.

Wikipedia generally does not allow self-published material to be used as sources in Biographies of Living People (Refs: Self Published Sources - Verifiable Sources - BLP - Reliable Sources). Even more so when the self-published work in question makes derogatory and highly questionable hearsay allegations that have never been referenced in reliable or reputable sources (Ref: Reliable Sources). Kevin Shepherd’s book and citation fell into this category of self-published material.

After Moreno revealed the truth about Kevin Shepherd’s self-published book, Andries Krugers Dagneaux reconsidered his opinion (because he was under the impression that Shepherd’s book was not self-published) and he promptly dropped his complaint and consensus was obtained (Reference).

Although Kevin Shepherd would like to make it appear that Moreno was alone in his grievance, he was not. As a matter of fact, after Andries Krugers Dagneaux realized that Kevin Shepherd’s book was self-published and the citation did not comply with Wikipedia policy, he no longer sought its inclusion. These are the facts of the matter. Don’t expect Kevin Shepherd to accurately relate these facts without his typical spin, paranoia and “cult” accusations.

Kevin Shepherd And V.K. Narasimhan

Kevin Shepherd And V.K. Narasimhan
Kevin Shepherd (registrant for the citizeninitiative.com website) displayed remedial researching abilities when he claimed that Joe Moreno gave “inadequate information” about the Sai Devotee V.K. Narasimhan on his blog.

Needless to say, Moreno wrote a detailed article about V.K. Narasimhan on his official website. Apparently Mr. K. Shepherd did not care to research Moreno's official website and failed to locate the search function clearly visible on the main-index and side-menu pages. View The Results For “V.K. Narasimhan” Using Moreno's Search Function. All Kevin Shepherd had to do was type in V.K. Narasimhan’s name into the search box and click on “Go” or “Search This Site”. The search function is so easy, even a child can use it.

Although it is true that V.K. Narasimhan was a friend to Robert Priddy when he was a Sai Devotee, there is little doubt that VKN would have severed his friendship with Robert Priddy when he became an ex-devotee. It is entirely possible that Robert Priddy fabricated or embellished information about VK Narasimhan to further his venomous campaigns against Sai Baba. This is not far-fetched considering Robert Priddy’s fully documented lies about Moreno and others. The Vishvarupa.com Webpage Profiling Robert Priddy provides concise and damning information about him that proves he is not credible and that he blatantly lies about others unapologetically. Kevin Shepherd ignores these fully documented articles (which are even recorded on Wikipedia) and instead links to Anti-Sai websites while ignoring any information that counters his Anti-Sai rhetoric.

Click Here to view an article that VK Narasimhan wrote in praise of Sathya Sai Baba in Sanathana Sarathi, Special Issue - November 1999 (about 3 months before his death) proving that VKN was devoted to Sathya Sai Baba to his death. The first paragraph reads:

“There are certain periods in the history of mankind when the mortal beings of this earth witness epoch-making divine events with their own eyes. By far the most astounding event of this century is the Advent of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.”

VKN also referred to Sathya Sai Baba throughout his article as “Bhagavan” (i.e., “God”), an “Avatar” (i.e., “Incarnation of God”) and being “divine” or possessing “divinity”. These published comments are objective and verifiable and wholly refute Robert Priddy’s highly questionable claims about V.K. Narasimhan. Robert Priddy’s attributions to V.K. Narasimhan are subjective and non-verifiable hearsay. Although Kevin Shepherd attempts to portray himself as a serious researcher in the Sai Controversy, he readily discarded objective facts with unverifiable hearsay and then had the audacity to claim that Robert Priddy’s hearsay trumped VK Narasimhan’s own words! Moreno claimed he would rather rely on V.K. Narasimhan’s verifiable words than on Robert Priddy’s unverifiable hearsay.

Kevin Shepherd also stated without proof that V.K. Narasimhan (a Sai Devotee he never knew, met or saw) was “known to have entertained extensive doubts, his habitual cynicism tempered by his dependence upon ashram amenities”. Moreno personally observed V.K. Narasimhan interact with Sathya Sai Baba (as have many thousands of other people) and VKN always exhibited great reverence and devotion to Sathya Sai Baba. V.K. Narasimhan’s reputation was such that (had he chosen) he could have easily lived in any of India’s numerous ashrams. He chose to stay with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for 30 years to his death. V.K. Narasimhan also had the opportunity to live with his son in Madras, but he chose to live at Puttaparthi instead. These are facts, whereas Shepherd and Priddy’s hearsay and speculations are not. Kevin Shepherd’s position about V.K. Narasimhan (a Sai Devotee he never knew, met or saw) undermines his self-professed integrity and highlights his bias and unsupported viewpoints.

Even in VK Narasimhan's Private Correspondence With Robert Priddy, VKN never said one word opposing Sathya Sai Baba. To the contrary, VKN praised and eulogized Sathya Sai Baba as "Bhagavan" (i.e., "God") and typically ended his letters with "Yours in Sai Seva".

To Date: Robert Priddy cannot produce a single hand-written or signed letter from VKN that expressed the slightest criticism of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. This is in irrefutable fact that strongly argues that Robert Priddy's attributions to VKN are fraudulent and dishonest.

Futhermore, it is amusing that despite Robert Priddy and Kevin Shepherd's constant bashing of Sai Devotees as liars, belonging to a cult, being brainwashed, etc., they constantly praise and cite VKN (an ardent Sai Devotee to his death) as a credible, intelligent and honest man on their behalf.

Pathetic!

Kevin Shepherd's Friendship With LSD Advocate

Kevin Shepherd's Friendship With LSD Advocate
About Robert Priddy’s LSD-induced hallucinations, Kevin Shepherd said that Joe Moreno attempted:

“to depict Priddy unfavourably on the basis of his taking LSD in 1963 as a university student volunteer in an official investigation project...Priddy produced documents describing his LSD experiences, and which he deleted from his website at the end of his devotee phase, needing space for more pressing issues. Moreno has reproduced two of those documents without permission and has added inappropriate comments.”

Kevin Shepherd essentially repeated Robert Priddy’s comments as narrated on Alan Kazlev’s website:

“One typical example is his attempt to slur Priddy as a ‘drug user’ through his having taken LDS-25 back in 1963 when he was a student - LSD provided to a group of psychology students including Priddy by a neurologist/psychiatrist, following a request from the Norwegian Minister of Health, Karl Evang, who supplied the LSD for the purpose of volunteer testing its effects and reporting back! This was done for investigating psychotic states and other unusual mental conditions which the authorities then believed LSD-25 could induce temporarily [and well before LSD became controversial in the media]. Moreno makes much of this ancient news and other out-dated incidents...”

Needless to say, Robert Priddy never said that his LSD experimentation was part of an “official investigation project through his University”. Robert Priddy specifically stated he first experimented with cannabis then later experimented with LSD when he was 26 years old in 1963 with his friend Eric Steadman (with whom he shared a “perfect unspoken telepathic awareness”) and the entire episode was preserved on a tape-recorder that he turned on. Although Robert Priddy wrote about his experiences in depth, he never mentioned anything about any University officials, volunteer testing, Karl Evang or that he was a “university student volunteer in an official investigation project”. Furthermore, Robert Priddy admitted he experimented with “strong bio-chemicals” and LSD-25 years after his initial experimentation and even wrote about another LSD-induced hallucination in 1965. Therefore, Robert Priddy fully acknowledged he experimented with drugs prior to and after his initial LSD trip in 1963. Although Robert Priddy whined that his druggy years are “outdated” and “ancient”, it is amusing to note the he eulogized his “outdated” and “ancient” druggy years in 1994 (31 years later) in his book “Source Of The Dream”.

As a matter of fact, Robert Priddy said:

Robert Priddy (1988): “I try here to give as truthful an account as I can of what befell me in 1963. In the intervening 25 years I have continually been returning to that experience as as source of inspiration and in the hope that the fullest possible light may be shed on it for me.” (Reference)

Robert Priddy (1994): “A totally mind-shattering and subsequently most wonderful and intensely ecstatic experience befell me one day, as if from out of the blue. Much could be said on the subject, as it is an almost entirely misunderstood one and thus very controversial, but I do not believe doing so would appreciably enlighten anyone who has not actually had the very same experience. I am certain that no words can capture the vital nature and truth of such an experience of transcendental consciousness. I mention it because, without its having befallen me, I cannot guess how I might otherwise have been able to realize the value of pursuing spiritual development and exerting any measure of the determination, and one-pointedness that such a course eventually requires. The experience probably did not improve me much outwardly, if at all, but inwardly it altered my life in various quite crucial ways. I could simply no longer manage to regard normal worldly experience as the be-all and end-all of life. Having been forced to see my usual self and the mind literally from outside, with merciless clarity, through knowing and temporarily becoming the sheer all-pervasiveness of a sanctified joy, peace, and unrestricted awareness that underlies everything, I later came to know how that experience both consoled me and yet set me apart. Like a two-edged sword, it strengthened my insight, yet isolated me for many years in lonliness, for I had the burden of both incommunicable experience and a certain spiritual pride.” (“Source Of The Dream”; pg: 16-7, Chapter 2: ‘When the Soil is Ready’)

Do these positive descriptions sound like Robert Priddy considered his LSD-hallucinations to be “plastic grapes”?

Kevin Shepherd selectively cited a few lukewarm anti-drug comments made by Robert Priddy (which were added to the original LSD articles after a Pro-Sai Activist found them) and failed to cite or link to the articles in question. Kevin Shepherd wholly dismissed Priddy’s numerous three-decades-long comments praising his drug-induced hallucinations. Read Robert Priddy’s three (not two) articles for yourself (which were published for years on the internet as public domain) and my alleged “caricatured” and “inappropriate comments” about them:

• Robert Priddy’s “The Psychedelic Experience” (or View Archive)


• Robert Priddy’s “Truth, Being And Bliss” (or View Archive)


• Robert Priddy’s “A Vision Of Cosmic Energy” (or View Archive)

Regarding Kevin Shepherd’s comment about Priddy deleting his drug articles from his website “at the end of his devotee phase, needing space for more pressing issues”, it is to be noted that Robert Priddy’s primary website contains over 400 webpages (many webpages from his “devotee phase”, including numerous articles from Sanathana Sarathi) and it is extremely difficult to believe Shepherd’s asinine comment that Priddy deleted three webpages because he needed more space on his website. Robert Priddy posts his Anti-Sai material on five different domains (plus one blog) and has plenty of webspace to include the articles in question. It is clear that Robert Priddy attempted to cover-up the fact that he praised drugs and his LSD-Induced hallucinations and foresaw that these articles would compromise the pristine persona he attempts to deceive others with. Kevin Shepherd is poorly attempting to defend Robert Priddy’s views about drug policies although his opinions about drugs severely clash with Priddy’s.

Amusingly, Kevin Shepherd said:

“A recent official report has stressed that regular cannabis use can more than double the risk of mental illness, and that a single joint of cannabis raises the risk of schizophrenia by more than forty per cent.”

Needless to say, Robert Priddy experimented with cannabis, raising his risk of schizophrenia by more than forty percent (thank you, Mr. Shepherd). Robert Priddy likened his LSD-induced experience as what “may well be what schizoprenics experience with intesity” and said “my mind was speeded, torn, ‘deranged’ and seemed to be left behind me and lost”. Although Kevin Shepherd holds a very strong anti-drug position, he is willing to compromise his anti-drug views by defending Robert Priddy’s Pro-Drug articles and three-decades-long eulogies of his LSD-induced hallucinations. Kevin Shepherd wholly ignored the bulk of Priddy’s articles and focused instead on a few equivocal and tongue-in-cheek anti-drug comments.

MAJOR UPDATE: Robert Priddy Cites Pro-Drug Forum For Drug Users!

Kevin Shepherd's 'Hit Man' and 'Terrorist' Claims

Kevin Shepherd’s 'Hitman' and 'Terrorist' Claims
Fortunately, readers can assess Kevin Shepherd’s conspiracy mentality and extremist views when he alleged (several times) without proof that Sathya Sai Baba is a “strongly alleged paedophile guru who is closely associated with terrorism”. Amusingly, Kevin Shepherd said “Readers now have a clear choice: the partisan evasion of sexual molestation and allied terrorism or the Priddy-Shepherd output of sober analysis.” What a bunch of delusional rubbish! Kevin Shepherd, Robert Priddy, Basava Premananda and Indian Rationalists cannot provide a scintilla of verifiable evidence that Sathya Sai Baba is allied with terrorists. Kevin Shepherd blindly believes the claims, stories and conspiracy theories of Anti-Sai Activists (making no demand for proof and verifiable evidence from them) yet acts contrary when it comes to Pro-Sai Activists (making every conceivable demand that can never meet his expectations).

To Date: Sathya Sai Baba and the Sai Organization have never (ever) been charged with any crime, sexual or otherwise. This is an objective statement of fact and Kevin Shepherd cannot refute it with any court records or official documents. All of the allegations against Sai Baba are based on hearsay, rumor, gossip, conspiracy theories, anonymous accounts and stories from six non-anonymous and alleged victims who have never followed the rule of law (as would be required of the rest of us). Despite Kevin Shepherd’s obvious and abysmal lack of evidence, he had the audacity to claim that his terrorist accusations are “sober” and somehow well supported. They most certainly are not.

It is also interesting to note that Kevin Shepherd not only accused Moreno of being an “internet hit man”, he also accused Moreno of “internet terrorism” as well! Kevin Shepherd said “The internet terrorism is now causing outrage in British sectors, especially as Moreno is visible on Google ratings.” These comments clearly indicate that Kevin Shepherd loosely and erroneously accuses others of being “internet hit men” and being involved with “internet terrorism” like a fanatic who is anything but “sober”. Kevin Shepherd is apparently unaware of the extensive Anti-Sai propaganda that litters the internet. Readers can judge for him/her self who is truly guilty of “internet terrorism”.

Regarding Kevin Shepherd’s claim that Sathya Sai Baba is a “strongly alleged pedophile guru”, no one has been able to confirm even one single case of “pedophilia” against him (Pedophilia Reference).

When it comes to verifiable facts, Kevin Shepherd can’t provide any. He relies on assumption, blind belief and conjecture. Kevin Shepherd makes the case for Moreno that he (Shepherd) is a thoroughly biased and shabby researcher who lacks genuine critical thinking skills. He clearly has an agenda to push and readily attempts to deceive readers with Anti-Sai propaganda. These opinions are supported by the fact that Kevin R.D. Shepherd wrote a rambling diatribe (composed of 16,408 words) against Moreno (citing numerous defamations) yet never once attempted to contact him.

Kevin Shepherd And BBC Secret Swami Documentary

Kevin Shepherd And BBC Secret Swami Documentary
Kevin Shepherd referenced the BBC Secret Swami program and called the stories of Mark Roche and Alaya Rahm “salient testimonies”. Kevin Shepherd also claimed that Sai proponents “evade” and “continually screen out all the contrary evidence” as related in the BBC Secret Swami program.

Kevin Shepherd (again failing to conduct basic research) is apparently unaware that Alexandra Nagel (an ex-devotee) claimed that Alaya Rahm personally told her (first-hand) that Sathya Sai Baba literally and miraculously transformed his penis into a vagina (and vice versa) on two separate occasions (Ref)! As in the case of Ullrich Zimmermann, Kevin Shepherd believes and endorses alleged victims who are so credible and honest, that they credibly and honestly attributed genital-switch miracles and paranormal phenomena to Sathya Sai Baba.

Not only does it appear that Kevin Shepherd failed to research this issue enough to discover these facts, he failed to mention one word about Alaya Rahm’s Self Dismissed Lawsuit (which has been prominently displayed on my official website since May 4th 2006) and my scathing response to critics about Alaya Rahm’s failed lawsuit.

In “Response To Form Interrogatories” in Alaya Rahm’s self-dismissed lawsuit against the Sathya Sai Baba Society (Form Interrogatory No. 6.3, Set One) Alaya Rahm fully admitted that he had been a daily user of illegal street drugs and alcohol from 1995 - 2005. Consequently, during Alaya Rahm’s “Divine Downfall” and India Today Anti-Sai interviews and during the filming of the BBC Documentary “Secret Swami” and the “Seduced By Sai Baba” Danish Documentary, Alaya Rahm was under the influence of illegal street drugs and alcohol while relating his alleged sexual encounters with Sathya Sai Baba. This crucial information wholly undermines Alaya Rahm’s credibility and irreparably compromises the integrity of his claims. Needless to say, Alaya Rahm’s alcoholism and drug addiction have been purposely suppressed from the general public by Anti-Sai Activists, the Rahm Family and the media (Ref).

Despite Kevin Shepherd’s puritanical anti-drug advocacy, he apparently believes and endorses the testimony of a then decade-long daily-user of illegal street drugs and alcohol. Kevin Shepherd also blatantly lied and distorted the truth when he erroneously claimed “the American Sathya Sai Society blocked the lawsuit of Alaya Rahm in 2006”. The Sai Society did not “block” Alaya Rahm’s lawsuit whatsoever. Alaya Rahm self-dismissed his lawsuit on the advice of his lawyer.

Andries Kruger-Dagneaux (former webmaster and “Main Representative, Supervisor and Contact” for the largest Anti-Sai Site on the internet, hetnet.nl/~exbaba) made several very disturbing claims that Michelle Goldberg (from salon.com), the Danish Radio (which produced the Seduced documentary), Tanya Datta (correspondent for the BBC in the production of the Secret Swami programme) and the BBC itself accepted and promoted the views of, and were sympathetic with, Anti-Sai Activists (Reference).

It is true that Tanya Datta wrote an article promoting the Secret Swami programme in exclusive association with Basava Premanand (an atheist and long term critic & skeptic of Sathya Sai Baba since 1968). Tanya Datta also worked in close association with Premanand prior to the making of the Secret Swami programme. Even Khushwant Singh, an Indian journalist who was interviewed in the Secret Swami programme, admitted (in the GuruBusters documentary) that he holds anti-guru and rationalist views (Reference). Mr Singh’s anti-guru and rationalist views were not divulged on the Secret Swami programme. This same type of hidden bias was discovered on Michelle Goldberg’s article, on Salon.com, entitled “Untouchable” (Reference). It is exactly this type of hidden bias that is responsible for misleading so many people. Consequently, all of the major broadcasts and articles written against Sathya Sai Baba were published by people who were biased and sympathetic with critics and ex-followers.

Consequently, the only people who “evade” and “continually screen out all the contrary evidence” are Anti-Sai Activists, including Kevin RD Shepherd. No one “evaded” the information presented in the BBC Secret Swami program (certainly not I). Why didn’t Kevin Shepherd (the self-professed “researcher” who claims he follows “academic rules in citing sources”) know about this very public and easily verifiable information?

Kevin Shepherd And PhD Timothy Conway

Kevin Shepherd And PhD Timothy Conway
Although Kevin Shepherd is a staunch Anti-New Age advocate and Anti-Guru advocate, he devoted a lengthy section (on his page discussing the Sai Controversy) to Dr. Timothy Conway, citing him as a credible and intelligent reference against Sathya Sai Baba. Some relevant quotes:

“However, the counter of Dr. Timothy Conway is more convincing to non-sectarian analysts...Even the American ex-devotee Dr. Timothy Conway has been on the edged receiving end of sectarian disapproval...A relevant report comes from Dr. Timothy Conway (an American ex-devotee, not a medic but a scholar of Indian religion). He has contributed a recent lengthy webpage that substantially contradicts the sectarian evasion of alleged sexual abuse by the guru...The total list of these three categories involves ‘nearly 50 named and unnamed individuals. Dr. Conway adds that sectarian denials are contradicted by the (obvious) fact that ‘there are simply far too many allegations corroborating each other on similar crucial details.’...Dr. Conway informs that ‘numerous students have allegedly expressed fear to researchers about saying anything of Sathya Sai Baba’s sexual improprieties with them for reasons of shame and family situation (e.g., their parents and grandparents are devotees).’...Dr. Timothy Conway exited from the sect in 2001. He was subsequently asked to submit questions for Dr. Michael Goldstein as part of the BBC research preparations for their 2004 documentary The Secret Swami...”

Although strong counter-arguments have been made against Dr Timothy Conway, Kevin Shepherd blindly referenced him although Timothy Conway is a true believer and promoter of Gurus [3], Mystics [3], Enlightened Masters [3], psychics [1] [2] [4], levitation [5], bi-location [5], miracles [5], remote-viewing [4], elementals, meditation [2] [6], paranormal powers [5], aliens [4] [10], rebirth [1] [7], reincarnation [1] [7], karma [8], oracles [2], I-Ching [2], sensitives [1] [2], channelers [1] [2], astrology [2], astrologists [2], palm-reading [2], non-duality [9], etc. (the list goes on and on).

For example, if you are looking for an answer to a difficult problem, PhD Timothy Conway suggested the following solutions:

“Ask God (Spirit, the one God-Self) for guidance and for some kind of ‘omen’ or ‘sign,’ if needed, to proceed in a certain direction (i.e., making choice A, B, C or whatever). Be willing to wait several days or weeks (or, in some cases, months or even years for this guidance to manifest)...Use an oracle, such as the I Ching (Book of Changes). More simply, you can ask for Divine Guidance and then flip a coin--with heads meaning one choice, tails meaning the other choice. If you like, flip it 10 times and see if a clear pattern emerges. You might say, ‘Well, how the coin flips is simply due to chance.’ Perhaps. But one can also trust that there is a deeper Principle behind everything that happens, and you can ask this Divine Guiding Intelligence to show you an answer via the coin-tossing process. Alternatively, you can create a slightly more sophisticated oracle of your own by getting out 3 or 4 pieces of paper. Then write ‘yes’ on one, ‘no’ on another, ‘wait’ on a third piece of paper, and, if you like, ‘wrong question’ on the fourth piece of paper. Then turn them face down, scramble them up, and pick one of the 3 or 4 pieces of paper to get guidance this way...You can also consult a psychic ‘sensitive’ and/or an astrologer or a palmist (Indian jyotish astrology followed by Western astrology seem to be the most accurate astrology systems. And, curiously, palmistry and astrology seem to complement each other as different methods for getting to the same ‘karmic’ information on the soul’s mission, destiny, strengths and vulnerabilities).” (Reference)

Timothy Conway is also set to release two books praising over 40 Gurus, “Wonder-Workers”, Sages, Saints and Tantriks in 2009. What is so amusing about this is that Kevin Shepherd often attacks New Age believers and Guru promoters as being brainwashed and mentally sick. However, when it comes to Sathya Sai Baba, Kevin Shepherd discards his “scholarly”, “academic” and scientific posturing and cites New Age believers and Guru promoters as reliable and reputable references against him. Since Kevin Shepherd heavily cited Timothy Conway on his domains, he apparently researched Timothy Conway’s beliefs and approved of them.

Timothy Conway cannot take a consistent position for or against Sathya Sai Baba. For example, Timothy Conway had the following to say about Sathya Sai Baba and his alleged paranormal powers:

• Timothy Conway: “ I remain convinced that there are paranormal miracles (wondrous anomalies), and ‘deep, mysterious energies,’ perhaps involving multi-dimensional physics and paranormal or supra-normal power, that are occurring around and through the personality of Sathya Sai Baba.”


• Timothy Conway: “Sathya Sai could be an amazingly accomplished but fallen yogi (yogabhrashta)...”


• Timothy Conway: “We should also be aware that these energies and powers could be coming from Sai Baba of Shirdi and/or the Divine Absolute...”


• Timothy Conway: “Perhaps he is just a highly adept but fallen yogi or an inter-dimensionally powerful but contaminated ‘channel’ for the former Sai Baba of Shirdi (d.1918).”


• Timothy Conway: “the powers of someone who has some ‘elemental spirits’ or other entities helping him from interdimensional planes? (–no joke: it’s a very old, worldwide knowledge that one can derive certain powers by contacting such entities).” Ref: Conway Email No. 8.


• Timothy Conway: “Now, a purna avatar would, it seems, incarnate the totality of God, including the polarity play of light-dark, purity-mischief, unattachment-lust, and so on. This is a disturbing concept, but perhaps quite applicable to Baba’s controversial activity. Moreover, the sexual activity, which we now know to apparently involve considerable lust, might be Baba’s way of transmuting the very heavy sexual energy among humanity at this time on the planet.”


• Timothy Conway: “I have sometimes thought that Sai is lustfully ‘taking on’ (on a psychic level) the lust of humanity to clear our sexual karma.”


• Timothy Conway: “I grant that much or most of Baba’s spectacular mission has been about teaching and demonstrating Love.”


• Timothy Conway: “I do believe that there has been an astonishing amount of genuine goodness, compassion and spiritual upliftment in and around Baba.”

Does Kevin Shepherd agree with these statements by Timothy Conway as well, or are his agreements selective and self-serving?

Timothy Conway also believed and endorsed (Ref) the alleged experiences of Shirlи Klein-Carsh, a so-called “Indigo” (an alleged extraterrestrial alien that voluntarily incarnates in human form on Earth). Shirlи Klein-Carsh claimed she was psychologically, spiritually and artistically guided by a cleverly disguised alien from Sirius (the star in the constellation of Canis Major) who worked as an electronics repairman in a second-hand shop. Timothy Conway said:

“This is a fascinating study of someone with sensitivities hardly dreamed of by most persons. Other books present the carefully presented and reasoned case for the existence of inter-dimensional aliens interacting with humans. This book goes straight into the mystery and wonder of the human-alien contact.” - Timothy Conway, PhD., author of ‘Women of Power and Grace’

Furthering his alien and UFO beliefs, Timothy Conway attempted to argue that if Sai Baba possesses paranormal powers, he could easily “warp spacetime” by creating an “insular interdimensional environment” where he could engage in abuse without easy detection. Attempting to bolster this asinine argument, Timothy Conway argued that people who are abducted by aliens and who experience the “missing time” phenomenon, have been lifted, transported and relocated to other areas without their spouses being aware of anything amiss. That’s right, Timothy Conway believes that it is possible that Sai Baba molested alleged victims on another dimension, which is why it is so difficult for them to prove their allegations and why there is an abysmal lack of witnesses supporting their claims (Ref: Conway Email No. 10).

These are the amusing beliefs held by a PhD who attempts to take a sober and rational position against Sathya Sai Baba. Timothy Conway, Ex-Devotees and Kevin Shepherd are hypocrites who immediately jump to the worse case conspiratorial view and adamantly refuse to coherently and legitimately provide factual and verifiable information to support their smear campaigns against Sathya Sai Baba.

Kevin R.D. Shepherd not only endorsed and cited Guru Advocate & New Age Promoter Timothy Conway, he also endorsed and cited Psychic Trance Medium Conny Larsson, New Age Practitioner & Reincarnator Alan Kazlev and New Age Ramtha Adherent Ullrich Zimmermann. What does this say about Kevin Shepherd? Kevin Shepherd is obviously a very gullible and naive person who is willing to give credence to New Age beliefs by claiming that New Age followers are intelligent, honest, credible and reliable individuals who are worthy of being referenced by him (an alleged “scholarly” and “academic” author not given to superstition or superstitious beliefs).

Tsk.

New Age Promoter Kevin Shepherd

New Age Promoter Kevin Shepherd
Kevin R.D. Shepherd is a vanity self-publisher and author whose writings mostly revolve around (or include numerous references to) the Findhorn Foundation, Stanislav Grof and Holotropic Breathing. Kevin Shepherd typically references Kate Thomas (aka “Jean Shepherd”, his mother) and Stephen J. Castro in his writings. Kevin Shepherd is a staunch Anti-Guru, Anti-Cult and Anti-New Age advocate who has cited Conny Larsson on his personal domains as a person of credibility against Sathya Sai Baba. See: kevinrdshepherd.net/html/23___sathya_sai_baba__problems.html.

Kevin Shepherd publicly endorsed, promoted and solicited the integrity and credibility of Conny Larsson, a man who happens to be a cult-like leader and guru who claims he is a psychic trance medium for the spirit of Vyasa and boasts having over 10,000 followers.

Maharshi Vyasa (who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) is considered an immortal sage who wrote the sacred texts to the Vedas, the Brahma Sutras, the Mahabharata, the Eighteen Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam. For Conny Larsson to claim that he is channeling the spirit of Vyasa, he is presenting himself as a self-proclaimed prophet, guru and cult-leader whose words carry the authority of God and are to be considered on par with divinely inspired scriptures that are revered by hundreds of millions of Hindus around the globe!

However, Conny Larsson not only claims he is trance medium for the spirit of Vyasa, he also claims to be a spirit channeler, a pet psychic, a meditation guru, a yoga guru, a Vedic mantra guru, a devotee of Shankaracharya Swami Brahmananda Saraswati and a psychic therapist who can diagnose disease and illness by using a crystal pendulum (Ref)! Conny Larsson also runs the Vedic Master Website and publicly solicits himself with other psychics, mediums, spirit channelers and New Age practitioners (Ref).

It is nothing less than shameful and hypocritical that Kevin Shepherd (a staunch anti-cult and anti-guru advocate) endorses and defends Conny Larsson and vouches for his integrity and credibility although he is a self-professed prophet, an alleged “internationally renowned” psychic trance medium and a New Age guru using crystal pendulums and reading auras.

Did Anti-Sai Activists con Kevin Shepherd by purposely suppressing the fact that Conny Larsson is a psychic medium, trance channel for the spirit of Vyasa, Vedic mantra guru and meditation master? It would appear so. Conny Larsson conned the Anti-Cult expert Rigmor Robert into writing the preface to his Anti-Baba book, conned the Anti-Cult organization FECRIS into publicizing him and conned the Indian rationalist, skeptic and atheist Basava Premanand into publishing his Anti-Baba book in English. Basava Premanand happens to believe that psychics like Conny Larsson are frauds, liars and cheats and is willing to pay anyone who can demonstrate alleged psychic abilities 100,000 Rs (Ref). Why are all these Anti-Cult, Anti-Guru and Anti-Sect people and organizations endorsing, publishing and promoting Conny Larsson? Did self-professed “multi-millionaire” Conny Larsson pay for these endorsements?

Kevin R.D. Shepherd not only endorsed and cited Psychic Trance Medium Conny Larsson, he also endorsed and cited Guru Advocate & New Age Promoter Timothy Conway, New Age Practitioner & Reincarnator Alan Kazlev and New Age Ramtha Adherent Ullrich Zimmermann. What does this say about Kevin Shepherd? Kevin Shepherd is obviously a very gullible and naive person who is willing to give credence to New Age beliefs by claiming that New Age followers are intelligent, honest, credible and reliable individuals who are worthy of being referenced by him (an alleged “scholarly” and “academic” author not given to superstition or superstitious beliefs). Needless to say, these verifiable facts leave Kevin Shepherd looking rather pathetic and foolish and reeking of hypocrisy.

Reference