Salon.Com: Godly Discipline Turned Deadly
Posted by TulipGirl | Under Christianity and the Church, Pearls / TTUAC / NGJ Monday Feb 22, 2010Lynn Harris wrote about the tragedy of Sean Paddock for Salon.Com four years ago. She’s followed that up with a recent article, spurred by the death of Lydia Schatz.
Her focus for the article is interesting, and I especially encourage those within Evangelical circles and homeschool families to take the time to read her insightful article.
It’s one thing for those of us outside the fundamentalist Christian/Christian home-schooling world to point fingers at the Pearls and voice outrage at their methods. What really matters, and what stands to have actual impact, is the outrage inside the Pearls’ world. And right now, more than ever, an anti-Pearl movement within the conservative Christian community is rising up in heated, if sometimes whispered, fury. Some say — even pray — that Lydia Schatz’s death will bring Michael and Debi Pearl exactly the kind of attention they deserve.
I appreciated the wisdom of her focus, and her even-handed treatment – no sensationalism, but a level-headed look at the problem along with good insight into what it will take to remedy it.
I also thought the article was really well-written. I hope it gets passed around in the right circles, and I am putting myself into the fray by doing my part in spreading the word.
Thanks for the link, TulipGirl.
[...] my readers to you – I know we’re talking oil & water here.) There’s also the amazing TulipGirl, who has been dogging these monsters for [...]
I was relieved that the article was respectful to Christians. Hopefully it will be read by those who are considering the Pearls’ books and steer them far, far away.
Thanks for the series you have written on this tragedy. It is heartbreaking. And angering.
Why is it that people don’t stand up and speak out loudly until something tragic happens? :O( I have begged my local community for help to take a stand about something happening our town and I get shunned and called out as a heretic and a gossip because the few I shout about have a religious titles. When I read about incidents like this I have to take a break and cry, because if I get angry I’ll lose my temper. I don’t want to get in the flesh, but we ALL really need to take a stand about such things more often. Especially the Christian and homeschooling communities. We are a part of those communities and we should be putting our foot down harder than the secular community is.
My apologies, Tulip. I’m not coming down on you, just the situation. :O(