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31 Comments:
Wow - is this for real? This is way over the top.
"Worse, young ladies are allowed to sing sensual music at church services, actually breathing into the microphone."
Might as well just do a striptease, right in church. We are so furtunate that ATI exists to raise the bar of christianity, above and beyond your average imperfect, slacker believer.
"The only refrain I hear more often than "It Will be Worth It All" (sung beautifully by the Knoxville choir) is the common accusation: 'ATI families are so judgmental.'"
I have to wonder what exactly your understanding of that song title, "it will be worth it all" is. I think ATI manages to sing like birds because their undies are so tight. Gothard has those adolescents so consumed with what they CAN'T do that they can no longer process constructive criticism.
"Well, you would be judgmental too if you tried to be an exemplary Christian."
Interesting. Why are you focused on what everybody else is doing wrong? I see naught but opportunity to change my community for the better, yet at the same time I have no interest in wholesale conformity. Instead, I hope to contribute individually as much as others help me.
"Some Christians are content with a quick prayer before meals."
I strongly suspect that you would be more fearful of a Christian family who never prayed at the dinner table yet worked for charity and healed the sick than you would be of a family who prayed at the dinner table and then didn't do shit afterwards.
"ATI families have learned to 'cry out.' As Dr. Gothard has explained many times, some Christians are happy to be plain old enlisted military, while others are called to be Marines. Semper Fi!"
ATI Marines for Gothard -- I like that. However, I wasn't aware that Christianity had a ranking system. Apparently busybodies who move more boulders from point A to B are favored more by God than the rest. That's great because you know God needs help moving boulders. The condition of your heart, well, pff.
"You would be judgmental too if you sought to raise high standards for yourself and your family, only to be confront by worldly Christians who would rather listen to sappy CCM than enjoy a good hour in the Word."
Are you people sick of organized religion telling us that we can just never ever get enough bible reading and praying? I'm going to go out on a limb here so you might want to brace yourselves: how about striking a balance between reading scriptures & praying and testing, verifying, implementing, and experiencing those scriptures? See these bozos never practice what they preach. They tell US that we should keep our noses into the bible and pray endlessly like a monk (who knows this may be where such sentiments descended from) but they're driving about town taking care of their business. I say do your praying, get it off your chest, and get on with experiencing a life with Christ.
"You'd be judgmental too if your children demonstrated spiritual maturity. Other kids are into Pokemon and South Park...my children play the Character Qualities game."
I find more reminders of the truth in the unpretentious vulgarities of south park than I do in many environments claimed to be Christian. I bet Jesus spent so much time with the castaways just because he got so sick of listening to the pharisees' sophistry.
"You would be judgmental too if you exercised the spiritual disciplines: fasting, early rising, meditation, and moral purity."
PFFT! PFFFT! PFFT! You think fasting and early rising makes you something special? Your daily rituals do not impress me in the slightest.
"It grieves mature Christians to see the defrauding dress that is permitted in our own churches. Worse, young ladies are allowed to sing sensual music at church services, actually breathing into the microphone."
They're moaning into the microphone because they've only been told how sexuality is wrong rather than how it is right. There is little wonder that the young radiate their sexual energies in all directions under these circumstances. Gothard's solution is for women to wear skirts that drop to the ankles and long-sleeved blouses in the winter, but I wonder why he stops there. He should just give saudi arabia a ringle jingle and place an order for some of those burka garbage bags.
"While the world is becoming more depraved, and the church seems to be following right on the world's heels, thank God for the vision of IBLP/ATII and all the committed staff who work for Dr. Gothard."
Incidentally, I have to wonder why men and women are required and even forced to maintain their certain roles in society. I personally find most assembly line christian women to be mere baby factories -- dead weights, just a means of filling a quiver of arrows. 'Big snore. I want a woman to be my friend. Instead of forcing people to fit into certain roles and generating more nervous disorder, we as a society ought to put the options on the table and let couples determine those roles of their own accord. At least then their relationships will be genuine instead of manipulated.
"Thank God for the families who have decided to raise the standard."
What exactly do you mean by standard? I mean if there's right and wrong, then how can some behavior be more right than right? What does super duper right mean as opposed to more right?
"Yes, we ATI families are judgmental. With good reason."
None of what I've said is to imply that we should be do-nothing hippies. Rather, the aforementioned is meant to explain that ATI is merely substituting one set of pathologies for another.
That's so true! Although...I'm not sure it's satire, as ATI parents have all but said that.
Nevertheless people this IS satire...
Obviously not for real, but it may as well be... it's just sooo frustrating because you can't even argue with them, because they KNOW they're right, even if they aren't. So there is just no reasoning with them. My friend is still trying to convert me back to ATI... or at least to their mindset.
Amazing read! Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately) this is a mere contrivance written to provoke people, and it worked!
Why do people get so angry over nonsense is beyond me. Quite frankly, the real issue is this: What would Christ have you to do? How does He want you to live for Him?
Before you ever get there, however, ask yourself this question: If you were to die today, do you know for sure you would be with Christ? Is Christ your savior? (Not are your standards high?)
So many writer hiding behind the cloak of "satire." This isn't satire; it is just bitter venting.
You don't like Bill Gothard, IBLP, or ATI? Get over it! Do something for Christ!
Actually, Mr. Judgemental, this writer IS doing something for Christ, by confronting attitudes that are very prevalent in today's church. Satire is a legitimate way to get a point across. I seem to recall Elijah using sarcasm against the prophets of Baal and Jeremiah speaking satirically of the heathen gods. Why don't you do something for the rest of us and leave your comments on a different site. Geeez!
Elijah's sarcasm to the prophets, yeah, hadn't thought of that.
Satire is an old literary technique used for social commentary. It's been effective in the past and, judging by the response here, continues to be effective now. Satire, when done well, has the ability to expose truth in a way that nothing else can. And I believe it was Christ who said truth sets us free.
I like Character Clues. I used to play it with non-ATI(A) friends and would win consistantly, which is why I liked it.
this is good stuff!! yeah, i did all that, i sang IN the knoxville choir, i fasted, i did all that.. but i was NOT judgemental.. come on guys? chances are youre kids will become what God has planned for them, with or without you dictating it... i spent years in the military after leaving the grips of atia, some of the WORST people i met were atia people, far more corrupt, programmed robots. ati-father, please read your Bible and tell me where it gives you permission to be judgemental once you have achieved such a lofty "self-proclaimed" perfect stance... been there, done that and seen it fall apart... however, im shocked you are allowed on the internet and a computer... good for you! and i laugh that you have time to read the blogs of such wayword souls... well all, im off to listen to some "fallout boy".. LOVE YA ALL!
atia inmate, 1234 headquarter class of 97
"i did the time, never did a crime."
Aren't we due another entry or two, X-er? It's been a month.
Yeah, c'mon. We enjoy the entertainment! For some of us adult children of ATI parents, we still have to deal with this crap on a regular basis. This is a nice stress release for us. Thanks for making our life just a little bit more light hearted.
x-er, i still love this site. your satire ranks right up there with stewart and colbert. keep on rockin.
anonymous (with the real long post),
if you started a church plant, i'd go to it.
When will you post again?
Hi, my name is Suzy and I'm looking for a nice husband. I came here because I used to be in ATI but am not anymore. If you think Mr. G had some things wrong but still like wholewheat bread and hymns, let's talk.
word is getting around
http://www.xanga.com/benjart/583249868/dear-mr-gothard.html
http://www.xanga.com/benjart
Haha, found your site through a 'survivors' group on facebook. Awesome stuff I must say. ATI was a nice contributer to making my childhood/teen years a living hell. I'm now living in sin, I mean, recovering.
You're awesome though.
It's been two and a half months, X-er. We need our dose of healing.
Hey, Nic, I thought Suzi's comment was spot on! It was filled with satire, going to the heart of the ATI belief system. She is looking in the right spot, or is she? I suggest looking in a reformed presbyterian crowd, who looks at Scripture alone for how to live our lives, not "princlples"...LONG pause....fostered by some guy who NEVER even married! And stay away from the Auburn Street theologian's, Suzi. Don't think Nic gave such great advice. That is empty living, too. Just stumbled across your site, ex-ATI guy, and I love it. BTW, ex ATI-er myself, mother of 7 (not 12), and love Jesus more than man.
http://mattmillsap.blogspot.com/2007/07/breaking-news-bill-gothard-reverses.html
x-er, you're killing us, man. We need some new material, ya dig? At the very least invite your loyal followers to be contributors. I'm mean, you're our idol, we've learned your ways, we can be bright and sassy and ironic, too! Whadyathink?
wow- that father's comment made me feel a little light headed and ill. i wonder what will happen when one of his children stops enjoying the character qualities game. will he/she get beaten into submission? and why can't we praise God with all we are? we are to be integrated people and thank God we have Jesus to understand. ther reality is this man's sphere of control is very, very, very small. may God give His children the strength to see Him through the wires and chains he uses to bound them.
I had a lot to say, but after reading over the comments, I see that it's already been said more than once.
So I'll just say "hear, hear" instead.
Oh, X-er, we need more satire!
I KNOW THOSE PEOPLE! I mean... I know no less than 5 families whose sentiments are exactly as the 'letter' reads.
Just an FYI Bill Gothard is NOT Dr. Gothard....What are you smoking crack!! Gosh, some people are just way to gullible these days.
grown ups these days...yeesh
HA all of your rediculous comments are flying back at you! You think ATI people are judgemental? please take a look at yourselves, and what do you call that? You are the ones jumping to conclusions, and judging people. You are becoming exactly what you are "so called" fighting against.
Of course you'd be judgmental if your goal in life is to be better than everyone else.
Jesus asked us to be "perfect" not "better than".
He let us know that part of "perfect" is "judge not."
Mr. Semper Fi Dad, hoorah on your pursuit of a better life. Just don't you dare call it Christian.
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