This week there’s been some buzz this week in the Christian blogosphere about the Pearls and their theology. I have *mostly* avoided them on account of the few things I have read or encountered from their ministry striking me wrong. Anyhow, Tulipgirl sums up some of the problems nicely with links and all here. After studying church history, its amazing to me to see how the same heresies cycle back century after century. There is nothing new under the sun, indeed.
Search This Classical Life:
categories:
in the middle of:
read in 2016:
Paterson, The Great Gilly Hopkins
Sloan, Ajax Penumbra 1969
Mandel, Station Eleven
Elliot, Shadow of the Almighty
Shakespeare, As You Like It
Bolz-Weber, Accidental Saintsarchives:
I followed the links and read up a little on the Pearls’ latest book. Strange, I’ve grown up in the church my entire life and I’ve *never* heard of the Pearls! Do they tend to be more connected with homeschooling crowds?
They’re definitely more prominent amongst the homeschooling crowd.
In my brief exposure to their child-rearing materials, I noted behaviorism, shaming and parents exercising a totalitarian, God-like authority over children that seems strange in a post-incarnation world. And they are just plain weird in general e.g. the postscript on this.
sounds so much like a homeschooling family that i know…
Rebecca – I wrote a book review on this book a couple of years ago. It’s way way way down the list, but if you go here: http://home.navigators.org/us/staff/craig_megan_dunham/index.cfm?Entity=25&Department=323&Dept_Order=4&This_TopicOrder=4&This_SubtopicOrder=1
and scroll down, you will find it. This is one of the worst books I’ve ever read and it’s scary because it sucks parents in with a few good things. There are clear examples in the book of abuse that they encourage parents to use on their own children all in the name of “training.”
It was on the shelf of a family I babysat / housesat for. Wonderful, neat, non-Pearlish family. But I read it then, and it influenced me, along with some of the examples of very controlling Christian mothers in my earlier years. So, even though we never followed the Pearl’s ideas, per se, it did set the tone for what I thought was “normal” in Christian families.
I feel like I’m in a state of rebellion against all things Christian families *should* do in childrearing. I just finished reading a book called Don’t Make Me Count to Three and the overall tone of the book (which apparently takes a lot from Ted Tripp’s Shepherding a Child’s Heart) was a major turnoff for me. I don’t understand so many people counsel Christians to be harsh, all the while quoting Scriptures, with their children — in hopes that their hearts will in turn praise the Lord — while I see so many non-Christians raising decent children without such measures. Another day, another blog post perhaps…
I read that book this spring and didn’t like it either. I wrote a bit about it here and fleshed it out more in the comments:
http://www.thisclassicallife.com/tclarchives/2005_05_01_index.php#111569052678613750
I am actually reading two REALLY good Christian books on childrearing, Andrew Murray’s Raising Your Children For Christ and Clay Clarkson’s Heartfelt Discipline. Murray is from the nineteenth century (before Skinner’s behaviorism corrupted Christian parenting ideals) and Clarkson has a really unique perspective that I enjoy…
More on them when I finish them!
I’m really interested in Andrew Murray’s book, can’t wait to read your review of it. A little old fashioned advice would be interesting.
When my kids were younger (they’re 6,10,11,12 now), I just quit reading parenting books. I got so tired of mixed messages…and with one of my sons being a drug and alcohol affected/severe ADHD kid…no formulas worked anyway. Sounds simple, but I just started praying through every little decision, reading Scripture and doing what came naturally to our family tempermant and personality. I’m not at the end of the road yet, but we sure have some nice, loving kids. :)
“When my kids were younger . . . I just quit reading parenting books. . . .Sounds simple, but I just started praying. . .”
Once burned, twice shy. . . After discarding the Ezzo crud, it was *years* before I’d read a parenting book. Occasionally an article online, but no books until about a year or so ago. I was blessed by the ones I read, but still am wary. . .
About praying. . . I remember my Mom telling me how important it was. And I have prayed–with my children, for my children. But it was only about a year ago that I *really* understood how vital it was in my daily/hourly/minutely mothering. My chief parenting strategy these days is a hug and a prayer.
Michael Pearl Quote of the Day:
“If you do not see the wisdom in what I have said, and you reject these concepts, you are not fit to be a parent. I pity your children.”
*VOMITS*
Hmmmm. . . So, Kristen. . . Are you saying your dehydration is from reading the Pearls, not the bug going around?