Note: This is a response to a video made by an intern and aimed at interns, about how to work as a Christian in a non-Christian job. I’m hoping that those in our community who are not Christians will also contribute to this discussion, as I know there’ll be great points made. Above is a YouTube video for Honor […]
If You’re Working in “The World”, You’re Doing it Wrong. Read More »
Last month on the Honor Academy Director’s Blog, Ron Luce wrote a post called What’s the Real Cost of a Video Game? (which has since gone defunct) In it, Ron made a correlation between violent video games (aka worldly culture) and the Newtown Massacre: If we know nothing else about this 20 year old gunman,
Creating a Culture of Killing Read More »
A few weeks ago, a kerfuffle erupted in the now defunct HA/RA Discussion Group on Facebook. A former intern asserted that the Honor Academy teaches the dangerous and victim blaming idea that women are responsible for men’s inability to control their lustful thoughts. In response, Dave Hasz stated unequivocally that the Honor Academy does NOT
A Man’s Lust: Whose Fault Is It? Read More »
Teen Mania has long been accused of creating an elitist attitude in its Honor Academy interns. This complaint predates this website by a wide margin and is made by many pastors and parents across the country who have to deal with the interns once they leave Garden Valley. Interns are taught to feel superior to
Does the Honor Academy Teach Elitism? Read More »
Because Honor Academy interns are breaking their vow of silence about the abuses they endured, Teen Mania has come under significant fire. Their two main defenses are weak and easily rebutted. Ron Luce would like to characterize the participants in the MSNBC Documentary “Mind Over Mania” – and specifically Doug and Wendy Duncan – as
Mind Control is NOT Christianity Read More »
As part of their efforts to “reach” the 18-30 crowd, GUTS Church in Tulsa has been holding unsanctioned boxing matches. Last week, one of the boxers became critically ill within minutes of his match and died just after reaching the hospital. Making the story even more tragic, he leaves behind a fiance, 2 year old
Illegal Boxing Match at Tulsa Church Leaves One Dead Read More »
The World Awareness LTE is a weekend of simulated persecution. In the past, staff and graduate interns would roleplay as an anti-Christian government while interns would attempt to escape or hide from them throughout the weekend. If caught, interns were sent to jail and interrogated about their faith, forced to do physical activities and in
Conspiracies, Persecutions and Catastrophes, Oh My! Read More »
In February, we discussed a short clip from Teen Mania’s chapel service where interns were told that every single one of them is called to foreign missions. It wasn’t until recently that I took the time to listen to this entire message by Teen Mania’s head of Global Expeditions, Emmie Harper: While it is certainly
Teen Mania Wants You to be a Martyr (Preferably in the Middle East) Read More »
When I was at the Honor Academy, I went through a very spiritually dry time. No matter how much I prayed, or studied or did all the right things, I couldn’t seem to feel God’s presence or hear His voice. The longer this went on, the more desperate I got. Everyone – and I mean
Spiritual Abuse in Action Read More »
Before we look at the specifics of Ron Luce’s teachings on sex, I want to highlight this very disturbing and dangerous doctrine. In a 2001 teaching, Ron says: Sexual intimacy outside of marriage always breaks trust. If you have sex before marriage, you’ll never have full trust in your partner. You’ll be suspicious that they
Ron Luce’s Sex Teachings, Part 1 Read More »
The Honor Academy teaches an extreme version of submission that leads to an oppressive authoritarian environment. Interns are so conditioned to submit without question, that they will even commit a sin if commanded to do so by David Hasz or other Teen Mania leadership. Of course, Teen Mania would deny this accusation, but as always,
Would You Commit a Sin if David Hasz Told You To? Read More »
Teen Mania says that ESOAL is an optional, voluntary event. They claim that interns are not required to participate nor are they forced to endure the event longer than they want to. They can ring out at anytime. In my cult recovery group, we have a saying for that, “Its voluntary, if you volunteer.” In this post,
Honor Academy: ESOAL is NOT Optional Read More »
During his Week of the Ring sermon this week, Heath Stoner preached about honesty and telling the truth no matter the cost. (Kind of like a lecture from Bernie Madoff about fiscal responsibility.) Any who, Heath used a clip from the movie “Les Misérables” to emphasize his point that you should “swear to your own
Ignoring Context = Sloppy (and Wrong!) Preaching Read More »
Honor Academy interns are not allowed to date during their first year at Teen Mania. You might be surprised to find that I don’t have a problem with the idea behind that guideline. The problem is how its enforced and built into the culture at the HA and equated with sin. Did you know that
Get Away You Creep Read More »
The Honor Academy recently posted this video recapping a recent chapel service preached by Emmie Harper, long time staffer at Teen Mania who now serves as Director of Operations for Global Expeditions (the missions department of Teen Mania). With regards to foreign missions, Emmie says: 00:54 – We’re not sending enough people. If you ask
You Should Probably Be on the Mission Field Read More »
Then God Hates You. Well, at least that’s what Dave Hasz teaches. And I have proof. Within their first week on campus, every new intern sits through a teaching given by David Hasz about the importance of keeping your commitment. This teaching is designed to get interns to commit to staying at the Honor Academy
If You Leave the Honor Academy Early…. Read More »
Out of one side of their mouths, Teen Mania tells women not to be responsible for causing men to lust. Yet, out of the other side of their mouths, they tell women to make sure they are being feminine and beautiful. The most infamous example of this is Dave Hasz’s “paint the barn” speech. In
Be Beautiful… Don’t Cause Lust Read More »
Predictably, some commenters on Monday’s post felt the need to specify that you know, grace isn’t cheap. We can’t get forgiven unless we really mean it, etc. God, I’m so tired of that message. Anytime someone tells you that you can only receive grace IF you do/feel/say xyz…they are feeding you bull excrement. (Sadly, well-intentioned
Don’t Piss on the Party! Read More »
Holy Freakin Crap. I can’t believe David Hasz actually wrote this on the internet for all to see. Wow. In an Open Letter to the Honor Academy January Class of 2010, he said: Remember it is when you are repentant and living whole heartedly, this is when you are forgiven your sins by God, so
Dave Hasz Said WHAT?! Read More »
I don’t get it. Have you ever noticed how many “Christian” leaders are plagued by scandal, yet STILL thrive on the support and offerings of the Christian masses? I just don’t get it. This isn’t about forgiveness and second chances – I’m all for that. But many of these people have NEVER confessed that the
Why Are Christians So Gullible? Read More »
A 2009 intern sent me a copy of the Honor Academy accountability card. Although the accountability system seems to change slightly from year to year, the basic idea is a checklist that each intern fills out weekly to assess if they have complied with the requirements of the Honor Academy. Depending on how many requirements
Honor Academy Accountability Cards Read More »
Continuing our series based on the Heresy of Mind Control. All paragraphs below are from chapter 3. Have you seen any of these behaviors at the Honor Academy? #3: The Demand for Purity This is a demand which goes to the extreme of labeling certain thoughts, feelings and actions as “sins” which really are not
8 Cult Techniques, pt. 3 Read More »
Today, we are continuing our series examining the 8 tactics of cults and other authoritarian/abusive groups from book “The Heresy of Mind Control.” (read part 1 here) The second tactic is called “Mystical Manipulation.” The paragraphs below are taken from the book and explain this technique. Have you ever seen this at the Honor Academy?
8 Cult Techniques, pt. 2 Read More »
How many of you had/have Dave Hasz living in your head? It’s amazing to me how even after leaving the Honor Academy, his influence remains so strong in our lives. For YEARS, I lived with his continual judgment and disapproval in the back of my mind. I was never good enough to meet his standards
Getting Rid of the Dave Hasz in Your Head Read More »
The only time God permits us to disobey earthly leaders is when they require us to do something morally wrong before God. True or False? The Honor Academy teaches this. So, let’s examine it. Let’s pretend for a moment that Dave Hasz tells the interns that they must wear only blue shirts on Mondays. Is
Submission to Authority? Read More »
