Customer Reviews

People in Glass Houses: An insider's story of a life in and out of Hillsong

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a bloody awesome book, very similar to my experiences although that was in a different church, but pentecostal too. It just goes to show that power corrupts, and no matter how genuine the Hillsong leaders were at the start, when all the power is put on a few people at the top, it so easily goes bad. It also shows that when you have a church based on poor theology, the twisted guilt-making legalism somehow then becomes the norm and it can be hard to break out of when you've been in it for so long (I can identify with that).

My only problem was how Tanya Levin herself found it too much stay a Christian. Sad for me, but completely understandable. I think any true Christian would admit going in and out of faith with doubt, but if only she knew that Christianity can be different to what she experienced: that its about relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; that Jesus has done it all for us in the past tense; and that true Christianity is becoming more true to yourself - not faking everything as is apparent at churches like Hillsong. That the aim is not to save souls for Christ (quite pagan actually), but that it is to live in participation with what God is already doing, which means bringing about a new world of mercy and justice.

But oh well - that's my rant. AMAZINGLY INSIGHTFUL BOOK!

Having been "saved" and thank goodness, returned to sanity after becoming "unsaved", I can relate to the weird and wacky world of fundamentalist Christianity that Tanya Levin writes about here. She exposes the cult like fortress mentality of these churches, and the way they incorporate elements of the popular culture into their belief system-eg pop-psychology, insipid "Christian" rock that's about as exciting as shopping mall music, and Dr Phil/Oprah style self-help nonsense that only differs from the secular kind in that it has "Jesus" added onto it. We find out about the "love bombing" common to many cults, as well as the darker, creepier underbelly of sexual repression. Acerbic commentary about holy rollers, and the comparison made between the greed based ethic of churches like this and the more genuine, but less glamorous world of the Sallies is thought provoking and Levin's arguments are well put across. Whilst her book may come across as just another disgruntled ex-member slagging off her old mates, the recent exposure of psychologically harmful practices at Mercy Ministries proves that she's got a point. Hopefully, Levin can now listen to rock n roll and realise that some of the best "Christian" music is not found on the shelves of the bookstores with the glossy exterior

I have just finished Tanya Levin's book. I found it readable but confusing. I wondered what her motivation for writing this book was. Is it simply a memoir? (very narrow) Is it to dissuade or warn people about Hillsong? (probably preaching to the already skeptical) A swipe at Fundamentalism per se?(confirming of its existing image so nothing new there) A morality tale? It's not really clear. It was readable as I read it in one sitting.

This year I have read William Lobdell's more engaging but still disturbing move away from faith to atheism, Franky Shaeffer's latest book which annoyed me no end and now Tanya's. No doubt there will be a spate of such books. The atheists who have a movement of their own must love them. I think a person could write a similar book about any large organisation they were part of and find all the inconsistencies, lack of love and parade of people who fail to walk their talk. Unfortunately that's what people are like. The Gospel of grace is the two way thing. " Be kind to one another forgiving one another as Christ in God forgave you." I love Eugene Petersen's quip that the church is a mess but God is in the mess. I have been a Christian for 50 plus years and am fascinated with reasons for loss of faith in Jesus. I am sad for Tanya because I think she has thrown the baby out with the bathwater unnecessarily but I am glad she still has Jewel, her parents and other Christian friends who can still be Jesus to her.

I had heard of this book for some time before having read it, but never gave it much thought. i was dealing with my own isolation, by myself. But when i decided to look it up and give it a read, it was like i had stepped back in time. I was at Hillsong at the same time as Tanya, but never met her. reading the book made me feel not so alone anymore.
This book is not an expose on corruption etc within Hillsong....its more to do with the personal impact the atmosphere designed in pentecostal churches like Hillsong have upon individuals that truly seek to please. It exposes the religious psychological inability to handle questions in a suttle manner, even from those who truly and sincerely believe yet thirst for more.
Tanya exposes the greatest scandal in such churches, fake emphathy.

Lend your support to Tanya, and buy this book.

I felt that the book was very well written. However, I think that she could have added an insider's view. What I mean is get information from former Hillsong staffers. She did this partially by interviwing Geoff Bullock, former Music Director. I personally think that it was uncalled for how Hillsong removed her from one of their services.

Having known about Hillsong and being quite familiar with Willowcreek and Bill Hybels, I was drawn to this book because of my own experiences in evangelical churches and fundamental churches. I thought it would be interesting to see if I shared some of Tanya's thoughts and feelings. This young woman has obviously been wounded deeply. I can empathize with that. This young woman too, is still for some reason, drawn to this place of hurt. I know that feeling as well. What is hard to understand is why she doesn't just close the door and let it go. Tanya seems to long for someone to run after her and apologize for all the things that caused her pain. I know that feeling too. But Tanya needs to grow up, get out, and leave Hillsong alone. Why on earth go back and force yourself into a service where you know there will be issues? And why on earth would you take your child and subject him or her to a church you think deceived you and lied to you? Walk away. Move on. Get a life. Technically, I thought the book was poorly written. For an expose, I felt that the book contained very little real documentation. What the book did contain are a lot of sour grapes from a troubled young woman. She seems to be longing for something that just isn't going to happen. People are continually hurting her. It is sad that so many individuals including Tanya have been hurt by the very churches that are supposed to be there for them. But God isn't the One who hurt her. Let Him be the judge for this congregation and others who so woefully have mistreated and ostracized Tanya and other believers. The Bible says that "[their] sin will find [them] out" (Numbers 32:23). My hope is that this young woman finds hope again in a God who loves her and is able to forgive these people. Perhaps through this book, Tanya has been able to let her grievances die. Therein lies the only redeeming quality of this book.