Bill Gothard Resigns

Religion News Service reports that Bill Gothard has resigned from his position after being put on administrative leave following allegations of abuse.  For background info about Bill Gothard, please see this post from Cindy, written a few days before his resignation.

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Escaping Abuse

Kathryn Joyce has an article about young adults who were homeschooled by controlling, fundamentalist parents called, The Homeschool Apostates. Cindy Kunsman shares about how she came to realize that she was involved in an abusive church in, When your Religious Leader Falls Off the Pedestal. You also might be interested in Cindy’s post about Understanding the…

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The Williams Trial: Day 30 – The Sentence

Tuesday October 29, 2013, the Williams were sentenced to prison for a very long time.  Carri has been sentenced for 37 years and Larry for almost 28 years. Maureen was there and shares about it here.  You might also find this older post of interest, she wrote it the day before the sentencing. Cindy Kunsman,…

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How Could They?

Under Much Grace looks at how parents find themselves falling into abusive teachings in A Film that Helps Us Understand Why Pearl Becomes Appealing: How do parents get caught up in extreme practices? Also of interest, she reflects on the Williams Trial in Homeschooling, Hana Williams and the “Rod of Man.”  

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Reflections on the Williams Trial

As I reflect with sorrow and horror at the tragedy which was the Williams Trial, I find myself trying to make sense of what happened and why. What I see as the root problem is pride. The Bible says that God hates pride.  We know that “pride goeth before a fall and a haughty spirit…

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Some Looks At The Williams

Cindy Kunsman, from Under Much Grace, looks at the Williams Trial and compares the Williams family with the Schatz family in Awaiting the Verdicts in the Williams Trial: Another Michael Pearl/To Train Up A Child Associated Death.  She also gives a brief outline of Pearl and his teachings and a lamentation for the devastation they…

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Williams Trial – Day (-3): Jury Selection

If you are following along at home, you will want to read Maureen’s Update on the Williamses’ Trial: July 23 in which she describes in impressive detail the narrowing down of the jury pool from over 160 to about 80.  I found this account quite interesting, especially as the potential jurors were asked to discuss how they feel…

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Voddie Baucham and The Sin of Shyness

Did Voddie Baucham really say that a shy child who refuses to obey a parent and say hello to him is sinning? Cindy of Under Much Grace provides the evidence (in the form of a transcribed audio clip) so that you can decide for yourself.

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Is It Wrong To Speak Out Against Other Christians?

Cindy of Under Much Grace has posted a sermon by E.L. Bynum called, “IS IT RIGHT: To Judge, To Expose Error, and To Call Names?” I am so glad she did because I, too, have been told that it is wrong of me to speak out against other Christians. When I gently explain that I…

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Does the Bible Tell Us To Bruise Our Children?

Cindy of Under Much Grace looks at Proverbs 20:30, “The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly” and explores What Jesus Said About the “Blueness of the Wound.” And on a totally unrelated note, I liked what Bob Bixby said about teachers being held accountable for their…

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More from Under Much Grace

I would like to draw your attention to some more interesting posts from Under Much Grace. What It’s Like to Experience Only the Right Side of the Brain in the Way that Children Do (A Neuroscientist Experiences a Stroke on the Left, Analytical Side of the Brain) which debunks the Pearls’ claim that very young…

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The Science Behind Happy And Compliant Children

Cindy of Under Much Grace explains the scientific evidence that shows the damage done to children who suffer harsh punishment from a young age.  Parents who follow Pearls’ advice to punish toddlers for age appropriate behaviors may end up with seemingly happy and compliant children, but at what price?

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Another Abusive Church

Cindy of Under Much Grace reports on a Lutheran church in La Habra, California which reportedly had a man assigned to the task of disciplining teenaged boys with a metal rod. This is the first time I have heard of a church  Taking The Rod Verses Literally.  Well, maybe not exactly literally, as the rod…

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The Dangerous Mindset

Elizabeth Esther explains the mindset which causes a lot of the damage in the Pearl’s teachings in If it feels good, it’s sinful. Cindy at Under Much Grace reminds us, “Barring some other major news event that bumps the story, Michael Pearl is slated to appear on NBC’s Today Show sometime between 8 and 11…

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Responses to Pearl on Anderson

I have yet to watch Michael Pearl and Elizabeth Esther on Anderson other than a few clips.  I hope to someday find it online in its entirely at which time I will certainly link.  By the way, it will be airing in the Los Angeles Area on FOX 11 at 1pm.   Meanwhile, here are…

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An Interview with Elizabeth Esther

BlogHer Network Interviews Elizabeth Esther about her appearance with Michael Pearl on Anderson Cooper’s daytime Talk Show today (Monday for Los Angeles Viewers). Many bloggers are promoting this episode: Elizabeth Esther Faces Michael Pearl On Anderson by Free By His Grace Keeping Up with Michael Pearl: Interview on Anderson (Cooper’s) Talk Show TODAY (and Pearl’s…

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The Nicest People

What kind of people start (or join) cults? What is their motivation? Do they do it on purpose or by accident? Do they have any idea that they are involved with a cult? If these questions interest you, you will want to read this post by Cindy of Under Much Grace Hank Hanegraaff and the…

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About Cults

The Amish are in the news again and this time not for helping to inspire Michael Pearl’s teachings.  I have mentioned before how susceptible people can be to following false teachers and cult leaders.  Well, now we find an Amish cult leader.  Updated info here. Cindy of Under Much Grace explains more about how people…

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Hephzibah House on CNN

Under Much Grace reports all about CNN’s coverage of Hephzibah House complete with video and links to the transcript.  She highlights outtakes from the transcripts on her blog.

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The Schatz Story Going Mainstream

Brad Hirschfield posts in The Washington Post about the Schatz story and To Train Up A Child in a piece called, Beating children in the name of God.  He exhorts us Christians, saying: Tragically, this is going on, it must be stopped, and it is precisely those of us for whom the Bible is a…

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Transcript of Pearl on CNN including Cut Scenes

Under Much Grace features not only the CNN video about the Pearls but a link to the transcript on the CNN site.  As the transcript contains some cut scenes, she highlights those in her post.  For anyone who wants to read just the part of the transcript which contains the Pearl/Schatz story, use CTRL F…

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Pondering the Pearls’ Teachings – Part 10

Under Much Grace has published part 10 of her series Why Good People Make Dangerous Choices: The Schatz Family is Not Unique: Why People Make Dangerous Choices (Pondering Pearl and Lydia Schatz) Part X In this post she focuses on Philip Greven’s book, Spare the Child: The Religious Roots of Punishment and the Psychological Impact…

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Ernest Willis Found Guilty

Under Much Grace shares the verdict in the Ernest Willis/Tina Anderson case as well as a summary of the  case and some explaination of the teachings which are infused therein. Also, here is a  News Story in the Daily Sentinel about the testimonies in the Tina Anderson rape case. And there is a follow up…

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