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 against Christianity. Ron claims that Teen Mania is so thoroughly Biblical that to accuse it of any wrongdoing is an affront against God Himself (sound familiar, fellow alum?). Never mind that Doug and Wendy are members in good standing at their Episcopal church, the recovery seminar was held in that church and most of the girls that participated are still Christians.
Specifically, I’ve noticed Teen Mania defenders citing two of the elements of thought reform (AKA mind control) as intertwined with Christianity and therefore unassailable from a Scriptural perspective. This is a completely false understanding of thought reform techniques.
The first element that Ron Luce likes to attack is the “demand for purity.” Is the “demand for purity” that Lifton documented the same as the Christian’s Biblical mandate for purity?
No.
I would suggest that Lifton’s “demand for purity” would be better translated to a Christian audience as a “demand for perfection.” It is a black and white standard of right and wrong that is DEFINED BY THE LEADER. In the Christian life, our standard of right and wrong is found in the Bible and in the Holy Spirit’s witness to our conscience. There are many gray areas in which believers may disagree (as evidenced by Paul multiple times in the NT).
However, at Teen Mania, senior leadership decides what is right and what is wrong – and they go FAR beyond Biblical requirements. This is what is meant by a “demand for purity” in regards to a thought reform environment. A few examples:
- Listening to secular music is a sin
- Dating is a sin, even telling someone you have feelings for them is a sin
- Spending time alone with a member of the opposite sex (even just as friends in a public place) is treated as a sin
- Saying anything negative about Teen Mania is a sin
- Being “co-dependent” (i.e. having a close friendship) is a sin
- Being friends with the wrong people is a sin
- Drinking alcohol, even if you are of age, is a sin
- Desiring to abstain from certain group activities is a sin (i.e. you are being rebellious)
Those are just a few minor examples of how this demand for purity at Teen Mania goes far beyond Biblical requirements. It does not matter that it is supposed to be limited in duration (1 year to start with). It does not matter if people consent to it – none of that trumps Scripture.
Secondly, milieu control (control of the environment) is found at the Honor Academy in spades. No healthy church controls:
- Where you live
- Who you live with
- Who you are allowed to text message and when
- Who your friends are
- What time you get up in the morning
- How long and hard you exercise
- What job you have
- How many hours you work at that job
- What music you are allowed to consume (note that for the first few weeks of the HA, ONLY worship music is allowed, not even regular Christian music)
- What tv programs and movies you consume
- Your access to the internet (no access in the dorms)
- What books you are allowed to read
- Nearly your entire schedule
- What you eat or don’t eat (sugar only once a week for the first few weeks, etc.)
- When you fast
- What verses you should read during your quiet time
- When you have your quiet time
- Who you are allowed to date (as a graduate intern)
In fact, I can’t think of ANY type of healthy group that would control all these aspects of your life. Even in college, you are not this controlled. You have free access to all types of books, music, media and internet. Beyond your class schedule, your time is not rigidly controlled and you can even request who you want for a roommate. You are free to date whomever you choose without getting approval from your “superiors.”
Again, consent to the program does not matter. That doesn’t change the fact that these are proven techniques for thought reform – for breaking down your boundaries and individuality and forming you into a specific mold. In fact, consenting to these parameters probably makes it easier for them to take you through the process.
Both Ron Luce and Hank Hanegraaff have tried to downplay the legitimacy of this field of psychology. As someone with two psychology degrees, Ron really should know better.
The blog Arts & Commerce has a great two part rebuttal to Hanegraaff’s ignorance of the issues at hand. Part 1 is a general overview of Hanegraaff’s essay and Part 2 tackles the thought reform/mind control arguments quite well.
32 comments:
Joshsays:November 14, 2011 at 8:45 AMReply
“- Listening to secular music is a sin
– Dating is a sin, even telling someone you have feelings for them is a sin
– Spending time alone with a member of the opposite sex (even just as friends in a public place) is treated as a sin
– Saying anything negative about Teen Mania is a sin
– Being “co-dependent” (i.e. having a close friendship) is a sin
– Being friends with the wrong people is a sin
– Drinking alcohol, even if you are of age, is a sin
– Desiring to abstain from certain group activities is a sin (i.e. you are being rebellious)”
I wouldn’t call these minor things, as most a daily in our lives. However, not even once while I was at the HA in 2009 was I ever told any of these were even close to being a sin.. Not even drinking alcohol, we did, actually, have a very long debate about it in class, and I believe what it came to was that your body is the holy temple, but drinking in itself is not wrong if done in moderation. Dave even went so far as to say his drinking habits, that he would drink only wine on occasion, but not alcohol, as wine has health benefits, where alcohol has none. He left it up to us to decide, it was a good talk I thought.
– Where you live – this is quite common on many campuses.
– Who you live with – what is wrong with living with the students you are going to school with?
– Who your friends are – this isn’t controlled unless something bad has happened, or sometimes if there is a history.
– What time you get up in the morning – There is nothing wrong with developing some self discipline on when you rise, I know its helped me..
– What music you are allowed to consume (note that for the first few weeks of the HA, ONLY worship music is allowed, not even regular Christian music) – I actually understand the heart behind it, and I still listen to primarily worship music.
– What books you are allowed to read – I was never told I couldn’t read certain books, though I don’t think they want me reading sex and drug stories.
Anonymoussays:November 14, 2011 at 8:54 AMReply
My teenagers thanks to me because I never sended them to the “honor academy”
educatorsays:November 14, 2011 at 9:02 AMReply
Hey Josh… wine is alcohol…
Renaesays:November 14, 2011 at 9:45 AMReply
Josh–I was on campus when the 6th Harry Potter book came out. There was definitely pressure to not read that book. I’m pretty sure I would have gotten in trouble if I had been discovered reading it on campus.
Also, the fact that there were “good intentions” behind any of the milleu control restrictions (i.e. your rebuttal for the “worship music only” restriction) doesn’t make it right. You choose of your own will to listen to mostly worship music–that’s great for you! But that doesn’t mean that others who want to listen to regular music are less Christian than you. If they aren’t convicted by the Holy Spirit to listen to only worship music then there is no reason for them to listen to only worship music. And there is no reason for HA to make people feel less Christian for listening to regular music.
Ojos Asísays:November 14, 2011 at 9:54 AMReply
The word of the day is “expose”.
a. to make known : bring to light (as something shameful)
b. to disclose the faults or crimes of
c. to cause to be visible or open to view
%%%%%%% we will defend the glory! %%%%%%%
Ojos Así
Joshsays:November 14, 2011 at 10:19 AMReply
educator, let me be a little more clear, sorry for not being the first time around. When I said alcohol, I was speaking in terms of beer. Where I’m from, its assumed that’t what you are talking about when you say alcohol, my apologies.
Renae, I can see why though, its a book about witchcraft. Albeit a story, I never did read any of them myself.
“the fact that there were “good intentions” behind any of the milleu control restrictions (i.e. your rebuttal for the “worship music only” restriction) doesn’t make it right.
It doesn’t make it wrong either though, does it? The HA, in my experience for the past few years, has never made someone to feel less Christian for not listening to Christian Music, and/or worship music. That being said, A LOT of todays music is garbage, so whats wrong with the rule when you are going to a Christian Internship, whose goal is to bring you into a more intimate relationship with God?
Joisays:November 14, 2011 at 10:26 AMReply
“Renae, I can see why though, its a book about witchcraft. Albeit a story, I never did read any of them myself.”
Except that they’re actually stories about bravery, courage, and sacrificial love, set in a school of “wizardry” which is not even remotely close to actual witchcraft, seeing as all the “spells” are simply the jumbled-up Latin for the effect the spell produces. Oooooh, so terrifying!
Joshsays:November 14, 2011 at 10:41 AMReply
Joi: Its still a book about witchcraft…having other elements such as bravery, courage, etc, doesn’t change the fact, and I’m sure the movie wouldn’t had been very good without other elements. The school itself is called “Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”
Maurice Mosssays:November 14, 2011 at 11:35 AMReply
The thing about that list of “sins” is that it’s never explicitly taught that listening to secular music or dating is a sin, but people get that idea when others are punished and judged for breaking those rules. A culture is developed where these extra-biblical standards suddenly become Law, even though no-one has said outright they are sins. Perhaps they start out as sins of “rebellion” since they are against the rules, and suddenly morph into “something that anyone who wants to be a real Christian would never do”. I have a lot of thoughts on this issue, but can’t hash them out right now… :S
If you don’t want to read Harry Potter because the witchcraft aspect concerns you, then don’t. But if you’re insinuating that reading the book is a sin, then that’s another issue. If not, then what do you care if people read it?
Carrie Dicksonsays:November 14, 2011 at 11:52 AMReply
Josh,
I’m just curious…what points do you DISAGREE with TM and DH? I’m being totally sincere here.
Johna Michelle Wiesesays:November 14, 2011 at 11:57 AMReply
I think the word “Sin” is used very loosely here and is thus an overarching term for a wrong-doing which is thus a Sin because is a Sin not a wrong-doing towards God?
SO when she is saying that dating is a Sin or Secular music is a sin means more so that it is treated as if it is wholly wrong until you reach a certain level of approved maturity, however i have met some GI’s who were less mature then interns.. It changed my whole perspective on judgment.
(heard Cameron Luce listening to Disturbed’s Down with the sickness in the EPI during my intern year got quite a big kick out of that)
Ericsays:November 14, 2011 at 12:04 PMReply
Josh said:
That being said, A LOT of todays music is garbage, so whats wrong with the rule when you are going to a Christian Internship, whose goal is to bring you into a more intimate relationship with God?
The idea that “a more intimate relationship with God” can be attained through keeping rules is exactly what’s wrong with it. That’s legalism.
Also, you say that the HA “has never made someone to feel less Christian” for listening to secular music, but then you say that the HA’s rule against it is meant to foster “a more intimate relationship with God.” Which is it?
Notice some of your other phrases: “this isn’t controlled unless…” “I was never told I couldn’t read certain books, though…” In other words, they were controlling you while telling you they weren’t controlling you. It looks to me like they’re using doublethink to deceive you into missing their legalistic doctrine.
Anonymoussays:November 14, 2011 at 12:26 PMReply
My Twilight book was confiscated during Gauntlet week. When I asked if would get it back at the end of the year, they said, “You won’t want it back.”
Nunquam Honorablussays:November 14, 2011 at 12:33 PMReply
“My Twilight book was confiscated during Gauntlet week. When I asked if would get it back at the end of the year, they said, “You won’t want it back.””
If that doesn’t bold and highlight the mechanics of thought reform at the HA, I don’t know what does.
laynesays:November 14, 2011 at 12:45 PMReply
Josh, please go read more. Just. Go read something. Read everything. Read read read and don’t stop at “christian” books. You will be better for it.
Lisa Mariesays:November 14, 2011 at 2:01 PMReplyThis comment has been removed by the author.
Recovering Alumnisays:November 14, 2011 at 2:02 PMReply
LisaMarie – Can you be more specific? The only schools I know of that exhibit similar levels of control would be Pensacola Christian College and Bob Jones – both of which are extermely unhealthy environments.
laynesays:November 14, 2011 at 2:08 PMReply
I have to do it…
Take away books? What, are they like some kinda nazis or something?!
< /godwin’s law >
Lisa Mariesays:November 14, 2011 at 2:08 PMReply
Haha RA, you beat me to it- I honestly didn’t finish reading your post when I commented (lunch break rush again!) and saw how you posted about colleges at the end, so I was going to change my original question.
But to answer your q- my alma mater (Wheaton College in IL) does control where you live (you have to live on campus unless you live with your parents or are married,) and does not allow students to drink alcohol or use tobacco products when enrolled in classes (even if they’re of age.) A summer camp owned by my college (HoneyRock) has even stricter rules- you can only use your cell phone in the parking lot, otherwise it stays in a locker in the common area, there is no use of iPods or other electronic devices, etc. Most of these rules are to foster the “wilderness” environment that this camp is about.
So just curious about your take on that stuff
Recovering Alumnisays:November 14, 2011 at 2:21 PMReply
Lisa Marie – My alma mater also had those restrictions as well as a rule against dancing (which I broke at a friend’s wedding). Having been to a Christian college with these rules – I have to say that there is hardly any similarities to Teen Mania in terms of enforcement and guilt associated with rule violations. Plus, the Christian college lacks the rest on the list – rigid control of media consumption, control over romantic relationships, etc.
As far as the wilderness camp goes, I’m guessing that is only for a week or month – its a place you visit not a place you live and those guidelines don’t seem to have anything to do with your personal worth as a Christian. Just my thoughts off the top of my head.
shannon-ashley aka shannikittysays:November 14, 2011 at 3:21 PMReply
Some of this is so funny. I’m pretty sure I turned out to enjoy the Twilight books MUCH MORE due to my experience with the internship. Like I became a person who very strongly identifies with characters who feel not on the same brainwave as everyone else. Ohhh Twilight… you are among the cleanest, most moral, most “good message” young adult books out there. Of course TM would restrict it!
Anyway, there’s no way I can say that TM is on the same level as Christian colleges. Nuh uh. My college had a conduct code we filled out regarding things like alcohol and it was a dry town. But that didn’t by any means truly stop people from drinking if they wanted to. We were also free to roam at any hour of the night, had no restrictions on entertainment or media. no relationship restrictions, etc.
As far as the ruies=sin (or not) argument, TM made it pretty clear that if we broken any of those rules (at my time no secular music was allowed) it was sinly, not just because they were the rules, but because the rules were to make us holy and be edifying, etc. Even if TM did not explicitly state those rules themselves were sins, it was clearly in the message implicitly. They often tied those rules into the whole “one year committment argument” that it’s only a year, God wants us to honor our committments, TM leadership was here to help us hear God, Mormons give 2 years so we could at the VERY LEAST afford one year for God…… oh, it was a whole guilt thing to keep people in line. Or lying.
kolchaksays:November 14, 2011 at 6:43 PMReply
i once asked a staff about the ‘rules’ and how they exceeded what i felt a christian should be since their rules couldn’t really be called bibical as they said. as a big music fan, i asked the staff why non-worship music wasn’t allowed and the answer was because it didn’t glorify God. when asked if listening to non-worship music would hurt my faith, the answer was ‘yes’ because i would be breaking the rules and rebelling against the leadership God has put in my life. and i asked about after leaving TM, when i would no longer be breaking the rules if it would hurt my faith and they gave an answer similar to the twilight book situation (if there was a ‘like’ button, i’d have liked that comment).
this is a great post, RA. you made a lot of good points, especially how it doesn’t matter if the interns give consent to live at TM or not.
educatorsays:November 14, 2011 at 8:28 PMReply
Josh,
Some would argue that beer does have health benefits.
Anonymoussays:November 15, 2011 at 1:38 AMReply
Josh,
Do you realize beer was invented by monks for during their Lenten fast? Kinda shoots that in the foot, huh?
lucas_rocheleausays:November 15, 2011 at 12:38 PMReply
I was going to say the same about the beer…monks. they’re way more holy than ron or dave could ever hope to be.
Æsays:November 18, 2011 at 4:36 PMReply
could someone with more knowledge than me show me the difference between the honour academy teaching these standards and the Romans 12 mandate to be transformed by the renewing of your mind?
i am just curious as to where you think the line is drawn between this and mind control.
Recovering Alumnisays:November 18, 2011 at 8:58 PMReply
AE – Paul was talking about the work of God in our lives – not the rules of man that we must submit to. Paul never told the people in his care what to do or tried to control every aspect of their lives. Leaders aren’t supposed to take the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Shilohsays:November 18, 2011 at 11:09 PMReply
I just wanted to respond to Josh, though he probably won’t read it. I think we were actually there at the same time though i was a gi, and potentially worked together? If not he got there right after I left. Dave totally told our class that he wasn’t going to drink until Jesus came back and we should do the same. Glad to see he’s taken up drink wine for health reasons now. Dave’s a hypocrite.
Ericsays:November 19, 2011 at 1:20 AMReply
AE: Renewing your mind is something you and the Holy Spirit do. Mind control is something other people do to you.
On the subject of HA-type standards, the best Scripture to read is Colossians 2. These kinds of man-made religious rules “have the appearance of wisdom but are of no value in overcoming the flesh.”
Shannon-ashleysays:November 20, 2011 at 8:35 PMReply
I love this post.
Jesus talks about how He didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it; that the Law brings Death while He brings Life… The NT is full of references to Christ doing the work, not us. Religious leaders were chastised for essentially keeping their people in the dark and teaching the Law that condemns.
I see this repeated in modern times when we as Christians claim to have the salvation that Jewsish faith lacks, yet we get caught up in the same man-made doctrinal issues as the Jewish leaders of Biblical times. I strongly believe Christ did not bring a new religion, yet He gave us a new way to live. And that new life means we walk with God in freedom and intimacy.
Like I’ve said before, the TM codes/rules are more in line with Halakkah than Jesus. That’s the Laws you live by as a Jew, both Biblical and Rabbinical (or man-made). Obviously it depends on the actual community you’re in, but it frequently becomes a manipulative thing where leadership uses your position within the gradient of halakkah to prove where you are with God, how much you love Him, etc.
Conviction is personal, between you and the Holy Spirit. For TM to make sweeping laws which are not mandated by God and equate them to spiritual maturity–that is manipulation. Abuse. Mind control. Another way to describe what TM is teaching? Cleaning the outside of the cup! Again, we don’t create holiness, we don’t save souls, we don’t change hearts or minds. God and His Spirit does those things. What can we do? Love God, love people, and be open to let Him work through us.
Anonymoussays:December 1, 2011 at 9:14 PMReply
Thanks, RA, for clarifying what those points meant. I did feel they were a bit broad on the broadcast. And the couple did come off…like they were trying to manipulate you all themselves. Though that could easily have been MSNBC’s editing techniques.
But, I don’t want to let those things make me discount what you ladies said. I am truly, deeply, sorry that you went through those horrible things.
wanderersays:January 28, 2012 at 11:03 PMReply
I believe on the milieu control list you forgot to mention (and this is just from the Dave Hasz clean room video alone):
~controls how you ORGANIZE PERSONAL ITEMS inside your drawers.
~videorecords the director of the HA going through your personal effects in your drawers while you are away on outreach and broadcasts that video to EVERYONE.
~controls where your SHOES should be placed inside your room
~controls how you make your bed
need I go on?
That video alone proved that interns are brainwashed into believing it’s fine to not be ALLOWED to have any personal boundaries whatsoever. And we wonder why abuse is so rampant …. everyone has a “choice” to stay, right?…
grrrr.