Did it really harm us?

Smellin Coffee said:
RAIDER said:
Do I look back and agree with everything?  Absolutely not!  Have things that have come out in recent years put a different spin of some things?  Absolutely!  Did HAC harm me in any way during my 4 years there?  No way!   
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Girls who were seduced by staff men might think different. Boys who were victimized in the locker room might think different. Women who married a loser because they never got to see the "real" man behind the white shirts and ties might think different. People who were kicked out because they were falsely accused or demerits for stupid stuff built up, might think different. People who were bullied might think different.

You based your feelings on your experiences which were mostly positive. There is nothing wrong with you coming out with a positive spin. However, your experiences differ than others who might not be able to come out with a positive spin. Even in instances where the same events occur, some people are better equipped physically/emotionally to deal with it than others. Take for example, hostage victims from a bank robbery where a teller was killed. One person who maybe has experience in military or just a stronger emotional state might be able to overcome the horror he witnessed much better than say, a young girl who was completely terrified during the incident. She might need counseling whereas he didn't. Both witnessed the same thing but it affected them differently.

We have to give room for both supporters and detractors from HAC to share their experiences and shouldn't defend only our personal experiences as being the only right viewpoint. (RAIDER, not saying at all that you are as you don't demonstrate this - this is simply a general statement.)
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Agreed.  I shared my experience.  Every one of us has a different experience.  I may ask a follow-up question to someone such as Exell who seems to have allowed a statement made to him by the Dean of Men drive him into spiritual darkness.  I have problems following that one, but it is his real life experience.
 
Smellin Coffee said:
RAIDER said:
Do I look back and agree with everything?  Absolutely not!  Have things that have come out in recent years put a different spin of some things?  Absolutely!  Did HAC harm me in any way during my 4 years there?  No way!   
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Girls who were seduced by staff men might think different. Boys who were victimized in the locker room might think different. Women who married a loser because they never got to see the "real" man behind the white shirts and ties might think different. People who were kicked out because they were falsely accused or demerits for stupid stuff built up, might think different. People who were bullied might think different.
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I'm interested to see how many posters fall in one of these categories.
 
RAIDER said:
[quote author=Smellin Coffee]Girls who were seduced by staff men might think different. Boys who were victimized in the locker room might think different. Women who married a loser because they never got to see the "real" man behind the white shirts and ties might think different. People who were kicked out because they were falsely accused or demerits for stupid stuff built up, might think different. People who were bullied might think different.
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I'm interested to see how many posters fall in one of these categories.
[/quote]

Based on what I've read on here, everyone who went to HAC would fall into the bolded category. What's even worse is that the bullying was often from those in authority.
 
Harmed?
No.
Could things have been better in the education department?
Yes.
Were there idiots there?
Yes, I'm sure I qualified as an idiot at times as well.
 
Quick response.....

I left with the same urgent desire to serve the Lord & others as I had when I signed up to attend & extent my education at HAC. But looking back now many years later I realize that the over emphasis that was drilled into us about militant outward conformity skewed my thinking & attitudes toward those over whom I had influence. This worked for that time in my eyes but looking back now I think it burned out & discouraged a lot of good people & new converts.

I also think that the Bible education was very basic because JH slammed deeper life so much. There was a great emphasis on the practical Christian living but only within the "box" that JH had constructed. I would have been more pleased looking back, if the teachers had been in awe of Jesus & God's grace than most of them who hammered away on duty, following JH & his way of living out the Christian life.

The harm hit in thinking about all of what was emphasised there was tainted because the hypocrisy we now know was behind the public facades.
 
fishinnut said:
Quick response.....

I left with the same urgent desire to serve the Lord & others as I had when I signed up to attend & extent my education at HAC. But looking back now many years later I realize that the over emphasis that was drilled into us about militant outward conformity skewed my thinking & attitudes toward those over whom I had influence. This worked for that time in my eyes but looking back now I think it burned out & discouraged a lot of good people & new converts.

I also think that the Bible education was very basic because JH slammed deeper life so much. There was a great emphasis on the practical Christian living but only within the "box" that JH had constructed. I would have been more pleased looking back, if the teachers had been in awe of Jesus & God's grace than most of them who hammered away on duty, following JH & his way of living out the Christian life.

The harm hit in thinking about all of what was emphasised there was tainted because the hypocrisy we now know was behind the public facades.
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Can't disagree with you Fishy.
 
fishinnut said:
Quick response.....

I left with the same urgent desire to serve the Lord & others as I had when I signed up to attend & extent my education at HAC. But looking back now many years later I realize that the over emphasis that was drilled into us about militant outward conformity skewed my thinking & attitudes toward those over whom I had influence. This worked for that time in my eyes but looking back now I think it burned out & discouraged a lot of good people & new converts.

I also think that the Bible education was very basic because JH slammed deeper life so much. There was a great emphasis on the practical Christian living but only within the "box" that JH had constructed. I would have been more pleased looking back, if the teachers had been in awe of Jesus & God's grace than most of them who hammered away on duty, following JH & his way of living out the Christian life.

The harm hit in thinking about all of what was emphasised there was tainted because the hypocrisy we now know was behind the public facades.
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Nicely done.
 
RAIDER said:
I am approaching this thread from the angle of a young person attending HAC for four years and graduating.  Regardless of our current level of criticism, did the time there really harm us?  Did it lessen our walk with Christ?  Did it make us a bad testimony?  Did it instill in us heresy?  Did we leave HAC with a closer walk with God or further from Him?

What say ye, Hacker Nation?
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No, it didn't harm me. It helped me very much in a variety of ways. And it is good to remember that.
 
HAC most definitely helped me...but with a caveat.  I was mature enough to "eat the meat and spit out the bones."  I had enough good sense to not be led by the nonsense coming from the worst people there.  I chose good spiritual "leaders" but never allowed myself to be controlled.  I guess the "dumb" stuff doesn't bother me much, because I rejected it and expected everyone else to do the same.  I have discovered that many people towed the "company line" even after graduation and it did hurt their marriages, finances, and spiritual life.

If I took everything I heard and saw at HAC and weighed them on a balance bean between good and bad, the good would far out weigh the bad.  Not excusing the bad, but as Marc Antony said "The evil men do live after them, the good is oft interred with their bones...so let it be with Caesar."
 
cpizzle said:
HAC most definitely helped me...but with a caveat.  I was mature enough to "eat the meat and spit out the bones."  I had enough good sense to not be led by the nonsense coming from the worst people there.  I chose good spiritual "leaders" but never allowed myself to be controlled.  I guess the "dumb" stuff doesn't bother me much, because I rejected it and expected everyone else to do the same.  I have discovered that many people towed the "company line" even after graduation and it did hurt their marriages, finances, and spiritual life.

If I took everything I heard and saw at HAC and weighed them on a balance bean between good and bad, the good would far out weigh the bad.  Not excusing the bad, but as Marc Antony said "The evil men do live after them, the good is oft interred with their bones...so let it be with Caesar."
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BINGO!!
 
cpizzle said:
HAC most definitely helped me...but with a caveat.  I was mature enough to "eat the meat and spit out the bones."  I had enough good sense to not be led by the nonsense coming from the worst people there.  I chose good spiritual "leaders" but never allowed myself to be controlled.  I guess the "dumb" stuff doesn't bother me much, because I rejected it and expected everyone else to do the same.  I have discovered that many people towed the "company line" even after graduation and it did hurt their marriages, finances, and spiritual life.

If I took everything I heard and saw at HAC and weighed them on a balance bean between good and bad, the good would far out weigh the bad.  Not excusing the bad, but as Marc Antony said "The evil men do live after them, the good is oft interred with their bones...so let it be with Caesar."
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I thought the same thing for a long time.....but then I started studying the Bible for myself without the HAC/JH issued eyeglasses. It was amazing how much of that deluge of legalism stuff had kind of clogged up my arteries. I found out that I wasn't such the end-all & be-all Christian I thought I was after all.
 
There are two ditches on either side of the Straight and Narrow path....Liberalism and Legalism.  The path in between is Liberty.

HAC was in the ditch of Legalism.  I have seen so many graduates swerve out of the ditch, but overcorrect, and end up in the ditch of Liberalism (definitions vary.)  I corrected my course, found Liberty (not to be used as an occasion for the flesh, but for love) and am living happily ever after  :D
 
Phil. 2:5-9

There were a few humble FBCH members who, looking back, were not only admired by many of us but also by JH.

But to me, thinking of JH & most of those in real leadership of students at the college, if you put their combined humility in a thimble in liquid form, it wouldn't have covered the bottom.

That kind of behavior exported from HAC to ministries wherever HAC grads went has caused much harm. EX: Davey-boy & JS............no more examples need be mentioned.


 
cpizzle said:
There are two ditches on either side of the Straight and Narrow path....Liberalism and Legalism.  The path in between is Liberty.

HAC was in the ditch of Legalism.  I have seen so many graduates swerve out of the ditch, but overcorrect, and end up in the ditch of Liberalism (definitions vary.)  I corrected my course, found Liberty (not to be used as an occasion for the flesh, but for love) and am living happily ever after  :D
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In a previous thread I called it throwing out the baby with the bath water.
 
One of the first sermons I heard Dr. Hyles preach in chapel my freshman year kind of opened my eyes and provided some clarity.  I remember a couple illustrations (involving food of course) with regards to a new students life at HAC.  The first illustration involved a buffet and how we would need to pick and choose teachings that we felt that we could apply to make us better Christians and succeed in the ministry. He went in about how a glutton could do more harm for the cause of Christ because he is trying to take every teaching, every principle and apply it to their life and to others.  There may be something that we may not agree with, and that is fine, we would just find something else out of the many things to choose from. I remember him specifically saying that we would hear things in class, in chapel, and in church that we may not agree with, but there would be others that we would.

The second illustration was in regards to tolerance for those who may not be from IFB backgrounds but have found their way to HAC (I knew of some AOG students during my freshman year).  Although there may be philosophical differences, we are not trying to change your core beliefs. He likened it to a restaurant and we own the restaurant and have provided a menu outlining what we provide.  You are free to choose from that menu and there may be some things you like, things you do not like.  We are not going to force you to eat the food we serve, in fact there may be  another restaurant that serves something more to your liking. We also expect that you would respect our establishment and abide by our rules even if you do not agree while you are here. If you have a different dress code in your church, we ask that you adhere to ours while a student. I remember something like please do not bring your Burger King food into our restaurant.

A couple simple illustrations that kind of guided me to understand the operation a little better.  There were many things I found to be helpful, and many things I found to be a hindrance.  I thank God that I and many, many others were able to discern appropriately and follow His leading more than the words of a teacher, staff member, etc. 

I believe the most harm was done by individuals in their actions with students and each-other.  Unfortunately, the atmosphere and organization itself kind of lent itself to this kind of mistreatment, and when you have a person that thinks "so-and-so" is a respected spiritual leader and says or does something stupid, it causes a lot of hurt and disappointment, even resentment...not just against the person, but against the organization they represent.

EDIT: Looking at posts after this, a lot most likely had to do with my parents. They raised me to be able to make intelligent decisions without having to ask preacher whether wheat or white bread is acceptable. 
 
Quick response:  HURT.  Lots and lots of hurt.

I always felt bad for the poor kid whose parents moved to HAC just to get their kids in eutopia,  only to find a cesspool that can be worsened by very few institutions in America. 
 
I took things in with the light of God's Word-as instilled by my parents through Bible training. Just as in any area of life, if something does not line up with God's Word, then God's Word won out. I do not believe it harmed me, but nor do I believe attending a secular college first harmed me.

Biggest reason why not? I chose not to let it.

Except not being listed as an "approved girl". I shall forever suffer the effects of its harm.

 
I always wanted to teach Sunday School and I was told I was not approved. I remember asking Mrs Evans years later when she came to speak at my church "It was an over sight"....I thought to myself that's a lie....tell me the truth. I would go on to teach SS for over 20 years.

I was never a approved girl either LOL!
 
Thats funny Sherry. I actually was a Sunday School teacher for the bus teen girls. Had to substitute for Pam one time. I was a horrible teacher---I know I was!!!
 
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