Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation

[tulc]

Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation

A four-month investigation found the late Ravi Zacharias leveraged his reputation as a world-famous Christian apologist to abuse massage therapists in the United States and abroad over more than a decade while the ministry led by his family members and loyal allies failed to hold him accountable.

tulc(is going to fetch more coffee soon)

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation

tulc(is going to fetch more coffee soon)

Wow, must've really been scared to speak up while he was still alive.

Litigators are no joke.

 

[SkyWriting]

Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation

tulc(is going to fetch more coffee soon)

Men at the top always need supervision. The more popular, the more likely they abuse their charm and charisma. I've seen it happen for decades.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

WOW this is disappointing to learn.

I always liked Ravi Zacharias.

The skeptic in me has a hard time accepting accusations against a person after they've died.

They're not here to defend themselves and I have to question why did they wait til he was dead and gone to come out with the accusations ?

I'm not saying they're false accusations, but anonymous sources always have me question the credibiity.

 

[Magnanimity]

Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation

Wow, I read that whole CT article, and it's fairly damning. The ministry at least seems to have fully accepted the independent findings. When I was a young Christian, I admired Ravi. I still appreciate that he introduced me to the writings of WL Craig and Norman Geisler. But, it would seem that he began his ministry as an apologist and ended as more of a charlatan.

That is a lot of victims spread out over a broad period of time. As a life-long Evangelical, I doubt that Ravi believed in purgatory. Wonder what he thinks now.. I hope that he eventually rests in the peace and love of God, as I hope for all people. But, this behavior is utterly abysmal. I know the ministry will be forced to restructure and probably break up its global outreach. I hope they redirect incoming ministry-support funds to go toward finding all the victims and attempting some type of reparational assistance. Glad to see that RZIM is (belatedly) accepting the reality of this pattern of abuse after publicly sticking to their guns and persisting in denial. Now, to reach out to the victims, RZIM...and change the name of your ministry.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I'm reading the investigation report by Miller & Martin, which RZIM requested the investigation by this independent source.

I'm having some problems with the investigation itself and so far, only one witness was willing to speak with them.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Here's an article back in 2020 about how Ravi Zacharias sued the only witness who was willing to speak with the Miller& Martin investigation, for extortion.

This was in Ravi's own words;


“The C&MA recently completed a thorough inquiry of these accusations, including interviews with those involved and a review of all available documentation and records. While it is not appropriate to publicly discuss the nuances of these allegations, the available evidence does not provide a basis for formal discipline under the C&MA policy.”

Zacharias admitted that he “should not have been engaged in ‘extended communication’ with the woman,” but otherwise defended himself from the allegations, saying the photographs were “unwanted” and “offensive.”

“I have learned a difficult and painful lesson through this ordeal,” Zacharias wrote in the statement. “I failed to exercise wise caution and to protect myself from even the appearance of impropriety, and for that I am profoundly sorry. I have acknowledged this to my Lord, my wife, my children, our ministry board and my colleagues.”

The Woman Who Was Sued by Ravi Zacharias Is Asking the Family to Release Her From Her NDA | RELEVANT

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Finally, this is from RZIM

Open Letter from the International Board of Directors of RZIM on the Investigation of Ravi Zacharias

 

[ForHimbyHim]

WOW this is disappointing to learn.

I always liked Ravi Zacharias.

The skeptic in me has a hard time accepting accusations against a person after they've died.

They're not here to defend themselves and I have to question why did they wait til he was dead and gone to come out with the accusations ?

I'm not saying they're false accusations, but anonymous sources always have me question the credibiity.

But it was the ministry that released the report. They initially hired attorneys to prove the ladies were lying, but it turned out that it was more likely true. The evidence was piled against him.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

But it was the ministry that released the report. They initially hired attorneys to prove the ladies were lying, but it turned out that it was more likely true. The evidence was piled against him.

Yeah I know that it was RZIM who obtained and released the independent investigation report. They didn't hire lawyers to try and stop witnesses from coming forward, but hired the firm themselves. There was only one witness, Lori Anne Thompson, whom Ravi Zacharias sued for defamation and she settled out of court and is bound legally not to comment on the settlement. The other accusations are merely stated to have credibility. That doesn't mean they're necessarily true. I've seen the same "credibility" used against priests and Bishops only to learn the accused was completely innocent.

My question is, who sits on the board of RZIM ? Is it a person who has an ax to grind against RZIM ? We don't know, but it's not the family members.

Also, I read through the report itself rather than the CT report.

I have some problems with it and have questions about the investigators findings, which aren't always clear. The only witness to come forward was Lori Anne Thompson, and she requested that the family release her from her settlement agreement to remain quiet.

The other witnesses aren't identified nor did they say anything at the time the alleged events took place.

I guess time will bring out the truth in time.

Right now it doesn't look good, but Ravi Zacharias isn't here to defend himself and the investigation report makes this fact clear in the beginning.

 

[Magnanimity]

My question is, who sits on the board of RZIM ? Is it a person who has an ax to grind against RZIM ? We don't know, but it's not the family members.

Also, I read through the report itself rather than the CT report.

According to the CT article, "Even before the report’s release on Thursday evening, RZIM leadership had shifted to reduce the involvement of the Zacharias family. Margie Zacharias, Ravi’s widow, resigned from the board and the ministry in January, while her daughter Sarah Davis stepped down as board chair but remains CEO."

That's family. No obvious axes to grind. Seems like whereas they tried to "stand by their man" last year, they want to just be open to the truth wherever it leads at this point.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

According to the CT article, "Even before the report’s release on Thursday evening, RZIM leadership had shifted to reduce the involvement of the Zacharias family. Margie Zacharias, Ravi’s widow, resigned from the board and the ministry in January, while her daughter Sarah Davis stepped down as board chair but remains CEO."

That's family. No obvious axes to grind. Seems like whereas they tried to "stand by their man" last year, they want to just be open to the truth wherever it leads at this point.

No obvious axes to grind, but the resignation of the family members and the RZIM leadership shift away from family involvement smells fishy in of itself.

Note, I'm not saying the accusations are false, but I'm skeptical about them being only one person was willing to identify themselves, but she was sued when Ravi was still alive.