Houston’s offences were committed under the guise of anti-gay counselling. One of his victims described it thus: “My counselling sessions… were nothing more than sexual abuse disguised in the form of the need of a father’s love and discipline. Through my naivety, I endured the naked beatings, the eternal bum caresses and masturbating into bottles, among other things. I look [back] at it now and think, ‘God, I was really naive to fall for that.’ ”

Levin’s book is not simply the account of one person who had a bad experience at Hillsong. It is an expose (falling far short of what there is to uncover) of immorality and manipulation rife in a supposedly moral organisation. Right-thinking non-churchgoers have no doubt about how paedophiles should be dealt with – promptly, openly, and severely. The church’s failure to do the same simply shows that, for all their hype, they neither grasp nor practise the morality they preach.

[...] since I posted about Tanya Levin’s People In Glass Houses, I’ve been getting visits from people with various [...]

[...] was originally a comment on the post “Book Review: People In Glass Houses – Tanya Levin“. Its divagatory scope, complexity and audacious reinterpretation of the norms of punctuation [...]

[...] of all, let me bid a cordial welcome to my new reader, Seiki Mukwa, whose comment on a previous post has given me much cause for [...]

Editor Note By Ryno: This was a long comment, so I moved it into a post of its own.

Comments by the comment mechanism, please. I charge extra for the correspondence course.

Later: Patience, Reader Mukwa. I have received your long reply, and am prepared to release it along with my commentary soon.
Meanwhile, I have prepared some light reading for you.

I trust you are well, and that the Borough Of Ealing is treating you kindly.

The “happy-clap thing” in Hillsong may just happen to be a purely human form of excitement, like many another party or concert. Your wishing it otherwise will make you sure it’s otherwise, but then you may not have been given classes in building the excitement to bring this “holy” experience about. (I have.)

The bible also mentions slaughtering a large number of animals in very bloody ways and burning lumps of meat in the place of worship, as well as funny ritual clothing, things not to eat or do, and many other rules. Are you going to pick and choose?

Tanya Levin either tells the truth and relates her experiences as they happened, or she is a liar: are you bearing false witness against her? The bible says that is not a good thing to do.

You defend Hillsong with guesses and conjecture, hoping with a childlike faith that none of the bad reports are true, yet you are not able to even guess accurately about the staff numbers and personnel structure.

The fact that the music sells around the wolrd[sic] means many christians like it. – and by this standard, toothbrushes, McDonald burgers and underwear are also sanctified?

Tanya has said in the book (you did read it, at least as well as you can, didn’t you?) that she was and is a Christian. Of course, you may have some holy revelation to the contrary: if you prophesy falsely, though, you will be expected to stone yourself, so be careful.

I give offerings freely without being forced and i believe in church [very sic indeed]. That’s nice, dear, but by revealing this charity, you have gone against Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

You have inspired me to post about some of my yet-untold past experiences with dodgy churches.

In the meantime you may wish to regale yourself with these recollections:
http://rynosseros.com/2007/10/14/the-truth-shall-set-you-free-rtfm/
http://rynosseros.com/2007/08/30/fathers-little-helpers/
http://rynosseros.com/2007/08/15/stretch-of-the-imagination/
http://rynosseros.com/2007/08/11/no-damn-way/
http://rynosseros.com/2007/07/29/dust-in-the-mighty-wind/

Thank you for your interest.

I do not know exactly if Tanya’s account is accurate as there was nothing with her. The happy clap thing she talks about is worship and biblical. The fact that the music sells around the wolrd means many christians like it. If you love God you love worship and its not about being hooked to it. Tanya may have heard bad experiences with people she dealth with but this may be an isolated issues that she cannot generalise. And baout the money churches fund upkeep of their ministries day to day. With possibly 19 000 plus people at Hillsong there maybe a few hundred staff employed as pastors and other admin tasks. Am not sure if Tanya is and was ever a chrictian otehr than just attending this Hillsong church. i ma a christian but do not work at church. I give offerings freely without being forced and i believe in church

Dear Sir/ Madam, I am writing after being curious as to ask why no one has mentioned the 59 million plus that HILLSONG makes EVERY YEAR and where it all goes to? Someone is making a killing and it certainly isn’t the kingdom of God or the common /or garden hillsong attender that’s for sure! lol Yours Mr Matthew S

Ryno says:
Perhaps your questions would be better directed to people like this, this, or this.

For my part, I have abandoned the idea of churches. See here and especially here.

Thanks for writing,
Ryno
(Still trying to have a small holiday from his blog)