I guess by now the report by Raymond Moore and all of the stuff re:the (suppossed) 4 Pillars is old news to a lot of you. Well, it's news to me!I was up till very early this morning reading through the posts on this forum. Like Eve said, "hold onto your hat!" I was amazed, but at the same time, I wasn't completely shocked. We had thought about joining HSLDA several times, but every time I read through the application, and also other stuff written by Mr. Farris or others associated with HSLDA, I just didn't feel like we fit with them, somehow. The terminology they'd use, I don't know. I couldn't put my finger on it. Now having read the White Paper and other things, I am so glad we didn't give them our money!
We've been Moore Foundation associates (MFA) for most of our homeschooling years. I've read several of their books, and of course their philosophy is just so different from the mainstream homeschooling community(if that's the right way to put it).
It's interesting---I had been wanting to write to all of you guys in the GS forum, looking for advice. Sometimes I feel like our homeschooling is a JOKE, because we rarely if ever live up to the schedules and all that the big homeschooling publishers say that we should, and so often I"ve felt guilty about that. Even with having read Dr. Moore's books, I still felt I had to measure up to what these "experts" said I should be doing.
Now, having learned what I did last night, it seems that a lot of my doubts and questions are beginning to be answered. THANK YOU CHERYL AND OTHERS who have contributed to letting us all know these important facts about the real motives that the "4 Pillars" seem to really have. It is so sad---I at least hope for their sakes that they at least honestly believe they are doing what's right, not that it makes it right of course. But someone like Mr. Harris, being so blatant---it makes you kinda fear for him, if you know what I mean.
Cheryl, I am truly getting an education through so much of what you make available through your work on Gentle Spirit. For a little while I kind of shied away from GS, not sure what to make of all the changes, but I always have loved you, and respected you for your honesty.
A couple of my friends no longer subscribe because of ---your divorce and also the changes in the magazine. I understand their point of view but cannot really agree with it in my heart. A few years ago, I was severely tempted to seek at least a separation from my husband due to long term struggles we had been having, and when I was at my weakest, I met someone who wasn't a Christian, who seemed to be all I'd ever wanted. He didn't pursue me at all, knowing I was married and had a fairly big family. Oh, I can't put it into words without going into a very long story, but my point is, I live in a glass house and I'm not about to throw stones. God brought us through and blessed us with a beautiful baby girl who I think of as, such a precious sign of Jesus' grace, mercy and love to me.
I only shared what I went through with 2 friends.And one of them I didn't tell until the worst was over. I cannot imagine if I'd gone through what I did with the whole world knowing about it and condemning me. God bless you for having the integrity to fulfill your obligations to your subscribers, etc., etc.!
People who out of hand just write off anyone who's gone through what you did (or what I did, and almost-did) have never experienced the depths of pain that are involved when marriage problems take place. It makes me sad for people who call themselves Christians to so coldly judge with no compassion or concern for the person they are condemning.
I read something recently, a prophetic word God gave to a man whose name I can't currently remember-but what he said God spoke to him was,
Jesus is about to remove everything that bears His Name but not His charater. Sobering words.
