The Problematic Patriarchal Paradigm for Women

Fidelity: Biblical Faith in Family, Church and Culture

Ethics in Unethical Times

P. Andrew Sandlin, Editor

Center for Cultural Leadership

Summer 2010

Rejoicing in God’s Lordship 

While Rejecting the 

Problematic Patriarchal Paradigm for Women
(pp. 127 -137)

 An article by Cynthia Kunsman

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An Index to Posts Concerning Vision Forum at Under Much Grace

For posts through 30Nov11

Approaching for years of posts here at Under Much Grace, I thought that it was about time for an index of particularly pertinent posts concerning Vision Forum (VF), my primary reason for blogging. I very likely will not keep updating it, but this will at least help people navigate through the number of posts that already appear here.  (I've also included a list of important offsite links with additional info at the end of the list of posts.)

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Gothic Gothard: An Index of All Things Gothard At Under Much Grace

Original draft 30Nov11.

Though I was never involved with ATI, I have a great deal to say about Bill Gothard's teachings.

When an elder at our new church in a new state after a cross-country move to a new town invited my husband and me to attend a Bill Gothard Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP) conference, we had never heard of the man. In fact, we did not learn a single thing about the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement until after we left it. We were probably more interested in developing social ties with those who invited us, and we didn't realize that we were being groomed for leadership in their cultic tradition. The church required all leadership to attend IBLP, and it just so happened that at training session was scheduled just a month or so after we showed up for their midweek home meetings. This couple offered to take us along with them on the 40 minute drive for the first four sessions. In hindsight, I believe it was part of the love bombing they used to pull us in. I don't think that couple would have gone out of their way had they not wanted us to take over their cell group meeting.

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An Index to the Posts Concerning Vision Forum's Stance on Ectopic and Tubal Pregnancy: Intervention is Tantamount to Abortion and Murder

 

In the summer of 2008, Vision Form started a campaign to advance their idea that pre-emptive surgery for a woman with a tubal pregnancy constitutes murder of the unborn as an elective abortion.  Individuals who were outspoken or quoted in that discussion have been included as invited speakers at VF’s July Baby Conference (which will also host the famed Duggars of the TLC/Discovery Channel).  VF used this conference to further advance what I find to be their very dangerous and distorted position concerning tubal pregnancy.

THE ECTOPIC PREGNANCY ISSUE INDEX

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Getting Free of Gothard and the Condemnation of his Umbrella of Authority Doctrine

 30Nov11 edit for sinus infection induced grammar issues.  ;)

On this site, I tend to focus on the process of spiritual abuse and how one gets caught up in aberrant or misguided Christianity. Part of my own journey involved the Shepherding/Discipleship Movement.   The church I attended for four years followed Bill Gothard as well as Christian Growth Ministries, and then I had  an experience at an unhealthy Presbyterian church where Doug Phillips of Vision Forum attended for a time. (Phillips teaches an extension of Gothard's core doctrine.) Needless to say, for those looking for specific information about Bill Gothard's teachings, you have to sift through a great deal of material to find it here.

Concerning Bill Gothard, I believe that the most helpful and telling piece I've written to date can be read HERE.

But for some time, the site Recovering Grace has focused on the Gothard-specific issues that one faces when affected by his Bible-distorting teachings. I've graciously been granted permission to repost some of the articles found at Recovering Grace here. One of the most troubling foundational concepts of Gothard's perspective can be found in his doctrine concerning what he calls “the umbrella of authority.”    Midwest Christian Outreach addressed this doctrine in their book and in online articles, however, those works do not focus only upon the umbrella doctrine but include it an overall discussion of problems with all of Gothard's problematic teachings. Though I've written about aspects of this doctrine and others have discussed the concept of spiritual “covering,” there are few single online articles concerning the umbrella doctrine specifically. 

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IFB Pastor, Ron Williams, and One of His Sermons About the "Strange Woman"

Ron Williams, the founder of Hephzibah House, the private boarding home for troubled girls has a few interesting ideas about young women who are molested or raped.

Survivors of Hephzibah House (HH) will tell you about the cruel things that Ron Williams had to say, many of which are not captured in this sermon.

He spoke openly about the options available to young women who no longer had sexual purity, whether it was forcibly taken from them or whether they were too young to understand what was happening to them as they were being molested by an adult. These women have little value because they have poor character, otherwise they would have never been violated.

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Redeeming Dinah: The Errors of Ron Williams, the IFB, and Gothard's Esteem of Rabbinical Writing as Holy Writ

[Original post:  21Apr11;  Updated and reposted 28Nov11]

On April 8^th, only twelve days ago, ABC's 20/20 aired an episode entitled, Shattered Faith, which focused on the physical and sexual abuse of young women within the Independent Fundamental Baptist affiliated churches (IFB). It also mentioned the powers attributed to the use of the rod of discipline found in Proverbs and the literal translation about the power of bruising to drive away evil. The episode pointed out that their churches held these young women responsible for their own sexual molestation that took place while they were children. Two of the three featured women were violated sexually by other men and pastors in their IFB churches in whom they confided about their abuse to seek out help.

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Fast-Talking Phelps, Bob Jones U's Reward to Phelps for Resisting “Strange Women,” and the “Do Right BJU” Protest: What color will you wear on December 12th?

If you've forgotten the name and identity of Pastor Chuck Phelps, don't be too concerned. Bob Jones University remembers who he is.

Given some of the particular doctrines concerning women and sex held by those within the Independent Fundamental Baptist denomination (IFB) which they claim is not a denomination, I believe that the university actually rewarded Phelps after the events of 2011 concerning Tina Anderson. Phelps defended Ernie Willis who was found guilty by a jury of his peers for assaulting Tina Anderson at the age of 15. They recently appointed Chuck to the Board of Bob Jones University, despite his problematic testimony and the fact that, from the stand itself, Chuck claims to be a victim of the court and the press.

Strange Women

Many ministers within the IFB teach a doctrine concerning the “strange woman” (the expression used in the Book of Proverbs to describe prostitutes).

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Rethinking the Madness of Vision Forum

Spiritually abusive groups keep their followers malleable and suggestible by always keeping them a bit off balance. A group member can never quite become a master of all the demands of the group because the group is always in flux, inventing new demands, new doctrines, or twists on new doctrines. In order to remain acceptable to group leadership and maintain one's status, a follower must constantly strive to stay current with the latest musings of the leader which are usually accompanied by a unique code of language as well as a particular focus of content. The follower can never rest on their laurels, for they must continually work to remain connected to the group and acceptable to the group.

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Hank Hanegraaff and the “Nicest People You Could Ever Hope to Meet” (Understanding Unbalanced and Cultic Christianity and Those Attracted to It)

Ron Luce

One of the most common misconceptions that people hold about cultic groups or aberrant Christianity surrounds the motives and character of those who get involved with them. The negative connotation of term of “cult,” especially concerning Bible-based groups, tends to suggest that such groups and their leadership are unpleasant people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Quite often, people get involved with groups and ministries because the leaders are often very charming and idealistic. They are impassioned individuals that seek to make a great difference in the world for the better and for God's purposes. They are usually inspiring and highly charismatic. Good, considerate, and thoughtful people who wish to make a difference in the world are attracted to these leaders, and they become the workers and followers of the organizations founded by such leaders.

I found myself thinking about this aspect of Hank Hanegraaff's comment about the Teen Mania documentary on MSNBC. He concludes his statement with the following disclaimer:

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From A Teen Mania Mom

2000 Yard Stare:  The face of PTSD

I received a note from a friend today to alert me to a blog post written by a mother of four children who went on a combined total of 12 different missions trips with Teen Mania. It just happens to be Carol Boltz, the wife of Ray Boltz, the contemporary Christian singer that I remember well from my high school days when I used to sing with a band and “music was my life,” (mostly). ;)

When I went to pull excerpts from her post to direct readers here over to her blog, I couldn't figure out which essentials to include since everything about the post seemed entirely essential. Carol was gracious enough to let me republish it in its entirety here, but I do encourage you go visit her blog named "My heart goes out"... to read more and to also link to the personal accounts of her son and daughter. The comments following the post also add depth of understanding.

I've focused on the emotional, psychological, and spiritual elements of thought reform, but this loving mom points out the physical suffering of her beloved children.

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Is Hanegraaff Too Heavenly Minded? Objective Evidence Supporting Thought Reform and Post-Cult Syndrome

Having nothing to do with Hank Hanegraaff's rejection of the effects of thought reform, I found myself in a discussion this weekend regarding the observable and often quantifiable physical and psychological effects of the altered states of consciousness induced in individuals who are subjected to religious manipulation and abuse. It can be a great deal of work to keep up on the new research pertaining to this topic, and if a person already holds a bias against a particular position, they certainly are not going to look into that new data, much of which was not available a decade or two ago. For example, what impetus does a Bible college professor have to investigate such information, particularly if that professor completed his own training before objective data about thought reform became available? If that professor is already biased on the subject, they have an impetus to avoid this data, and they certainly wont find time to instruct their students about it. Is this ignorance and bias in the best interest of the Church?

Altered States of Consciousness

In previous posts, I've mentioned many times how various factors change an individual's state of consciousness, as we all shift in and out of different states throughout the day which can be observed by Quantitative EEG. When thinking analytically/critically, the pre-frontal cortex in the brain activates and generates beta waves. The body undergoes physiologic changes along with this state of consciousness. An individual's posture and even their digestion will change in response, and their hands become cool while in a beta state. When those affected by migraines, ADHD, or scotopic sensitivity syndrome encounter florescent lighting, the wavelength of light stimulates the brain in negative ways (speeding it up too much) by producing a fast and frenetic beta while also stimulating another part of the brain to drop down into theta, the state associated with “fight or flight,” which actually inhibits critical thinking.

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Acting on Pity Against Justice

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The Counter-Cult Bias Against the Anti-Cult Perspective: Hank Hanegraaff's Re-Victimization of Teen Mania Protestors and All Those Who Overcome Spiritual Abuse

One might believe that all of the groups that oppose cults might get along quite well, seeking the same end of encouraging individuals to make well-informed and reasoned choices about their religious faith. Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of controversy and conflict between the counter-cult apologetics effort within Christianity and the anti-cult effort, two related but often very different worlds. For the benefit of my secular friends who read here, the term “apologetics” (“to give an answer”) was adopted from Biblical Greek to describe the rational defense of the Christian faith. Modern day counter-cult apologists work to expose doctrinal error within the plethora of Christian belief systems, comparing any aberrant teachings to sound, sure, and clear doctrine.

Many Christians and counter-cult apologists believe that development of a strong knowledge of Scripture and doctrine provide an impervious defense against unbalanced cultic teachings and the problematic lifestyles that tend to follow them. I agree that it certainly helps. In other words, they believe that good Christians who have studied adequately are impervious to surreptitious manipulation. I was once one such person, and apparently, Hank Hanegraaff remains one. He has chosen to protest the Teen Mania documentary which aired on MSNBC on November 6, 2011 as well as the Duncans who assisted in its production. Hanegraaff's longstanding and often aggressive opposition to the anti-cult perspective dates back even further, at least until 1998 when I first heard him discuss the matter on his radio show, The Bible Answer Man.

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Cult Exit and Cult Recovery on MSNBC Tonight at 10PM Eastern (Teen Mania and Children of God)

Doug and Wendy Duncan have been working with MSNBC to produce a series of shows concerning cult recruitment and recovery, and the first program will air tonight on MSNBC. (Wendy, a social worker and a seminary graduate of SWBTS, is the author of I Can't Hear God Anymore, a book about her experience in a Bible-based cult.)

This pilot episode premiering tonight focuses on the Teen Mania program and features several former participants, one of which attends the monthly cult recovery support group hosted by Doug and Wendy Duncan in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. After counseling with them, a couple of these former members set up a Teen Mania recovery support website, www.RecoveringAlumni.com.

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