I have a long personal history of disliking Hillsong, partially for what I’ve read about them in newspaper articles and whatnot, but also from the few stories I hear from a family member who attends as often as possible. I put them in the same basket of nutbags as Scientologists and shudder every time I learn something new about them, because it usually isn’t good.
I was listening to AM radio (again) on the way home tonight and heard talk of the Shine Program, which is part of Hillsong. It’s taught at schools as an extra-curricular subject ( I assume, since it wouldn’t contribute to your end-of-year results… surely?) for girls only, and from what someone said when they called in on the radio this arve, it teaches girls “how to order a meal at a restaurant” and “how to get the attention of the waiter” - so stuff that your parents could probably teach you, or you just pick it up when you’re, you know, existing in the world. I sure as shit wasn’t taught this stuff. One girl who’s finished the program said that they’d taught the girls how to apply the type of makeup she wouldn’t normally want to wear anyway.
Huh? Makeup classes? How to look like a tart 101.
I think it was this same girl who said she went to these Shine classes once a fortnight during her science lesson. SCIENCE LESSON?! Bells have gone off in my head - why is this program, run and taught by an evangelical Christian organisation (I dare not call them a “church”) DURING A FREAKING SCIENCE LESSON? I couldn’t help but think how the Hillsongers would be rubbing their hands with glee, thinking they’re getting away with girls missing out on lessons about EVOLUTION and DARWIN and BIG BANG THEORY. Y’know, things that’re against Teh Bible.
And I’m sorry, but for any organisation to get its foot in the door in any educational institution, shouldn’t it be investigated why they are so interested in teaching their ideals at schools? I don’t know why it hasn’t been brought up but wouldn’t a religious organisation want to at least subliminally promote themselves during the program? While schools are paying them to deliver these programs in their school? Hey, here’s how you put on eyeshadow, by the way come to church on Sunday, it really rocks, kthnxbai.
From what I’ve read since getting home tonight, it would seem that:
Hillsong has a bit of a history of dodgy requests for government funding, amongst other things. I read an article years ago where Bobbie and Brian, the founders of Hillsong said that overweight people are frowned upon at Hillsong. Sweet jeebus.
Learning these things about what I believe is a cult just leaves me lost for words. And you know how hard it is to do that.
Anyone got any Hillsong or Shine experiences to share?