Comments on: ‘Behind the Exclusive Brethren’ by Michael Bachelard

By: len eaton

len eaton — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:57:22 +0000

I worked for an EB company for four years in Brisbane. I found some good people among them (who were taken advantage of). The major family was intrusive, inconsiderate, untrustworthy to the point of dishonesty. With 2000 school pupils in Australia, how did they garner $70million from K Rudd for schooling.

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 07 May 2009 01:43:57 +0000

In reply to Iris Ashton.

Actually the hillsong mob did not really come from the US, they just follow the US assemblies of god church structure.

The guy who started the hillsong church was in fact from NZ and was accused of molesting young boys. His son Brian Houston found out and took control of the church and made it what it is today.

Hillsong was the music publishing arm of the church which used to be called either christian life centre (CLC) OR christian city church (CCC), i for get which it was, they are just as bad as each other.

One of the church elders of hillsong owns 50% of the gloria jeans coffee chain in australia.
A few years ago in the late 90′s hillsong made around 40 million dollars, all of it tax free, they are much larger now so what they make could be so much bigger.

They bought the old RTA site at rosebery for 28 million dollars and are planning to build a super church with a very large auditorium.

By: Judith Worland

Judith Worland — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:18:01 +0000

I would like to voice my thanks to Michael Bachelard for his book – even though I am yet to read it, from the comments I have read and heard I believe it will be cathartic in its content.
I too have a story to tell regarding the cruel and inhumane way in which I was treated by these so-called Christians! My older sister, younger brother and I were raised by my grandmother who belonged to the Exclusive Brethren. Her son, my father, was driven away after my mother died, because he would not ‘join’ the Sect – I have not seen my father since 1961 in spite of many attempts to find him. I left the sect in 1972 and consequently relinquished all rights to see my brother and sister again and also to any known information regarding my parents. I too feel cheated and yes I was also mentally abused by these hypocrites. John Hales stated in an article in the media just recently that those who had left the sect were “sad, disaffected people” – it is they who are the “sad, disaffected people”!
Thanks again to Michael for this “eye-opening account of power and cruelty” that will no doubt encourage more ex members to tell their story.

By: Ian McKay

Ian McKay — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:21:05 +0000

Behind The Exclusive Brethren is the only book of Brethren history that gives a comprehensive picture of the Taylor/Symington/Hales branch of Exclusive Brethren from 1960 to 2008. Readers should be prepared for some gut-churning, harrowing, personal stories.

It appears to be meticulously researched, checked and documented. In the main, the author has been scrupulously careful and fair.

The book is essential reading for students of Brethren history and for lawyers acting in law-suits between Brethren and non-Brethren, especially in child custody cases. It will be useful for academic researchers investigating how high-demand organisations work, and for healthcare professionals caring for their victims.

The final chapter gives guidance for legislators and public authorities, who have to tread a fine line between encroaching on religious freedom and condoning the more extreme abuses of religion.

By: Iris Ashton

Iris Ashton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:50:33 +0000

Thank heavens this is all coming out to the public. There is the Exclusive Brethren, the Hillsong mob and quite a few others who migrated here from America to make money out of the gullable. They are disgusting the way they take advantage of timid people who need to feel safe. They look to religion to help them and fall into the hands of these bandits.
My cousin had her life and the lives of her three children ruined by them. It took her years to come to terms with the fact that she had not only been cheated, but mentally abused by them.
I had a friend who feels his life is ruined. Neither his wife or his three children will speak to him as he has seen the falicy of their immoral controls and has left the sect to work against them.
There is nothing wrong with having a spiritual awareness, but when it is used as a control over people’s lives and purses it is utterly wicked. So, thank you Michael.

By: priscilla alderton

priscilla alderton — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 03:20:11 +0000

a thorough and compelling book…. very carefully researched, Michael’s voice is balanced and has perspective. I always felt the brethren were frauds, i naturally rejected them, now it is fascinating to see just how they operated, and what i intuitively and intelligently rejected. It has been hard to get these kinds of details from ex-brethren, impossible from family (brethren) because of the overlay of emotion and judgement that blurs all facts – here i can see what i left dispassionately and clearly, i can see what my siblings are living in clearly and probably for the first time. i am totally immersed in the book, and quite amazed at the parallels with communist dictatorships at the time i was in the brethren, in both china and eastern europe. thankyou Michael!