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People in Glass Houses: An Insider's Story of a Life In and Out of Hillsong
The eighties were my formative years, and while other teenagers were gyrating to rock 'n' roll, we were praying for revival. We were taking communion, not cocaine. We treated virginity like a wedding present, not a cold sore.
And why wouldn't we? We were told we could be, we already were, anything we wanted to be… We were armed and dangerous. Armed with the power of God and dangerous in the eyes of Satan.
Tanya Levin grew up in the church that became Hillsong—the country’s most ambitious, entrepreneurial and influential religious corporation.
People in Glass Houses tells how a small Assemblies of God church in a suburban school hall became a multi-million dollar tax-free enterprise and a powerful force in Australia today.
Opening up the world of Christian fundamentalism, this is a powerful, personal and at times very funny exploration of an all-singing, all- swaying mega church.
And why wouldn't we? We were told we could be, we already were, anything we wanted to be… We were armed and dangerous. Armed with the power of God and dangerous in the eyes of Satan.
Tanya Levin grew up in the church that became Hillsong—the country’s most ambitious, entrepreneurial and influential religious corporation.
People in Glass Houses tells how a small Assemblies of God church in a suburban school hall became a multi-million dollar tax-free enterprise and a powerful force in Australia today.
Opening up the world of Christian fundamentalism, this is a powerful, personal and at times very funny exploration of an all-singing, all- swaying mega church.
430 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
42 people are currently reading
478 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 2, 2018
I'm glad Tanya told what happened to her. It took guts to do so. She doesn't delve too deeply into how battered, blasted, and bewildered the ex-Pentecostal feels when entering the 'real world', but she makes a stab at it. I wish Tanya all the best.
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
4 Stars = It touched my heart, and/or gave me much food for thought.
February 23, 2011
I feel like I am giving this book one more star than it actually deserves, because the issue is so important - but, honestly, this is a badly edited book that feels like it was rushed to publication for timeliness.
It promises to be an expose of the machinations of the Hillsong Church, but it is more snippets and overviews rather than any deep analysis. It doesn't help that the author jumps all over her own timeline so that as a reader you are scratching your head trying to figure out the order in which events occurred.
Somewhere out there is another book waiting to be written on this topic, and I hope that when it does it gives the issue of evangelical churches and their cynical money-making ventures the lashing it really deserves.
It promises to be an expose of the machinations of the Hillsong Church, but it is more snippets and overviews rather than any deep analysis. It doesn't help that the author jumps all over her own timeline so that as a reader you are scratching your head trying to figure out the order in which events occurred.
Somewhere out there is another book waiting to be written on this topic, and I hope that when it does it gives the issue of evangelical churches and their cynical money-making ventures the lashing it really deserves.
August 1, 2012
i read this some time ago and thought it absolutely FASCINATING...i consider it all Australia's version of Scientology (without the (physical) abuse and billion year contracts...lol)
i enjoyed Tanya's narrative and the fact that she used her own personal experiences and retrospect is brave and wonderful and ballsy, and i really respect her for that...agree or disagree with a writer's viewpoint, when they are sharing personal experiences and thoughts with the world at large, open to everyone for judgment and criticism, that's a writer who deserves respect - if only there were more like her
i enjoyed Tanya's narrative and the fact that she used her own personal experiences and retrospect is brave and wonderful and ballsy, and i really respect her for that...agree or disagree with a writer's viewpoint, when they are sharing personal experiences and thoughts with the world at large, open to everyone for judgment and criticism, that's a writer who deserves respect - if only there were more like her
November 22, 2019
Tanya Levin is bitter AF and I love it. PEOPLE IN GLASS Houses is a passionate and witty memoir of Levins experience growing up in a small, Pentecostal church in Sydney's suburbs and returning years later to find a very different church.
The Hills Christian Life Centre was founded in 1983 by Brian Houston and what started as a small congregation has become a mega church with an annual income of $100 million dollars. Its revenue is derived from soaring music sales, bible studies, educational programs, book sales, conferences, and donations from both the congregation and powerful figures. Levin delves into the early history of the church explaining the fundamentalist roots, their preaching of biblical literalism, a strict patriarchal code, and the bizarre and down right criminal behaviour which has occurred. Child and sex abuse allegations, homophobia, fraud, deceit, ostracism, and 'moral failure' are all glossed over by Hillsong, a place where you can admit your sins, say it is between you and God, ask for forgiveness and pray the sin away. Feeling unwell? They can arrange an Exorcism. Hearing voices and seeing visions? If you visit your doctor you might get pills and therapy. If you see your pastor you might get a church and a BMW. But only if you're a man. If you're a woman your place is with your husband. He will decide if you need friends and who they will be. Unhappy with your marriage? You should stay. Being abused? Stay. Focus on your husbands positives and tell him he is sexy. Stay.
Levin argues Hillsong fits US psychiatrist Robert Lifton's classic eight-point definition of a cult. Her own test: "If it's all about recruiting and fundraising, it's a cult." (Not dissimilar to Amway). Having read this book I can see her point. Hillsong is probably not that different to a lot of other organized religions, particularly those who preach the prosperity gospel. They just have shiner packaging, better music, and a bigger stage.
Religion brings peace and comfort to a lot of people but, it can also bring out the worst in some humans. The end result can be deep psychological scars and lifelong emotional trauma. Levin explores not only her own trauma at being literally ousted from what she thought was her community but also others who have left the church and those who were permanently damaged by their time at Mercy Ministries. While I didnt find the book particularly preachy Levin does talk about what a Christian should be, comparing what she was taught but never saw in her own congregation vs what she saw working in a Salvation Army NGO - kindness, compassion, non judgmental support, charity without expectations of recruitment or money. The end result is a witty but also troubling book, one which has definitely strengthened my opinion about the separation of church and state. Religion, any religion, has no place in politics and no organization should be above criticism or questioning. And one question which should be asked of everyone - especially those who give - where does all the money go?
The Hills Christian Life Centre was founded in 1983 by Brian Houston and what started as a small congregation has become a mega church with an annual income of $100 million dollars. Its revenue is derived from soaring music sales, bible studies, educational programs, book sales, conferences, and donations from both the congregation and powerful figures. Levin delves into the early history of the church explaining the fundamentalist roots, their preaching of biblical literalism, a strict patriarchal code, and the bizarre and down right criminal behaviour which has occurred. Child and sex abuse allegations, homophobia, fraud, deceit, ostracism, and 'moral failure' are all glossed over by Hillsong, a place where you can admit your sins, say it is between you and God, ask for forgiveness and pray the sin away. Feeling unwell? They can arrange an Exorcism. Hearing voices and seeing visions? If you visit your doctor you might get pills and therapy. If you see your pastor you might get a church and a BMW. But only if you're a man. If you're a woman your place is with your husband. He will decide if you need friends and who they will be. Unhappy with your marriage? You should stay. Being abused? Stay. Focus on your husbands positives and tell him he is sexy. Stay.
Levin argues Hillsong fits US psychiatrist Robert Lifton's classic eight-point definition of a cult. Her own test: "If it's all about recruiting and fundraising, it's a cult." (Not dissimilar to Amway). Having read this book I can see her point. Hillsong is probably not that different to a lot of other organized religions, particularly those who preach the prosperity gospel. They just have shiner packaging, better music, and a bigger stage.
Religion brings peace and comfort to a lot of people but, it can also bring out the worst in some humans. The end result can be deep psychological scars and lifelong emotional trauma. Levin explores not only her own trauma at being literally ousted from what she thought was her community but also others who have left the church and those who were permanently damaged by their time at Mercy Ministries. While I didnt find the book particularly preachy Levin does talk about what a Christian should be, comparing what she was taught but never saw in her own congregation vs what she saw working in a Salvation Army NGO - kindness, compassion, non judgmental support, charity without expectations of recruitment or money. The end result is a witty but also troubling book, one which has definitely strengthened my opinion about the separation of church and state. Religion, any religion, has no place in politics and no organization should be above criticism or questioning. And one question which should be asked of everyone - especially those who give - where does all the money go?
March 12, 2020
Im glad that finally someone has spoken up about Hillsong.
Though Tanya's book is full of bitterness and proper editing tis needed, at least we are in the position to know the hidden truth about this church.
May God cast the devil to hell in Jesus's mighty Name!
Though Tanya's book is full of bitterness and proper editing tis needed, at least we are in the position to know the hidden truth about this church.
May God cast the devil to hell in Jesus's mighty Name!
February 17, 2021
I found this book by accident. A random Vanity Fair article had popped up regarding Carl Lentz and Hillsong, after bumping around and reading some of rather shocking--but still unsurprising--tales, I stumbled onto this title and seeing that it was only $3, I thought "why not?"
It was not $3 well spent.
The narrative is rambling, sometimes incoherent, and jumbled, in desperate need of an editor. After about 1/4 of the book, I thought "wow...this person is awfully whiny" and was trying to discern why I cared what she was saying. There was little substance except to bash Pentecostals and others, not to mention lumping all Baptists with Westboro Baptist Church by citing "American Baptists" and giving WBC's deplorable website as proof. Authors should know better.
As a Nazarene youth pastor and theologian, I have repeated numerous times that I'm not entirely sure it's a good thing if theologians become famous in the American Idol sense, such as Carl Lentz, because we do see what the author has reported (a cult like personality) and I have broad discomfort with churches like Hillsong...but this goes far too broad brush for my tastes.
I'm not doubting the author's story, but the book is terribly written and makes conclusions that are not supported as well accusations that cannot be supported. Not recommended.
It was not $3 well spent.
The narrative is rambling, sometimes incoherent, and jumbled, in desperate need of an editor. After about 1/4 of the book, I thought "wow...this person is awfully whiny" and was trying to discern why I cared what she was saying. There was little substance except to bash Pentecostals and others, not to mention lumping all Baptists with Westboro Baptist Church by citing "American Baptists" and giving WBC's deplorable website as proof. Authors should know better.
As a Nazarene youth pastor and theologian, I have repeated numerous times that I'm not entirely sure it's a good thing if theologians become famous in the American Idol sense, such as Carl Lentz, because we do see what the author has reported (a cult like personality) and I have broad discomfort with churches like Hillsong...but this goes far too broad brush for my tastes.
I'm not doubting the author's story, but the book is terribly written and makes conclusions that are not supported as well accusations that cannot be supported. Not recommended.
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December 15, 20125 stars
January 9, 2023
This is the personal account of Tanya Levin, a member of a fundamentalist Christian religion, Assemblies of God, that grew into what we know as Hillsong. I have to say that I dislike organized religion in general, but I especially dislike the mega-church aspect. This is a multi-million dollar organization that operates under the tax-free leeway given to churches. This takes advantage of members, and I hate seeing people be fleeced for religion. In this book, she does touch on the sexual issues of the church leaders. Yes, he was unfaithful, lots of people are. When people in positions of power engage is sexual misbehavior and then use the church and nonsense to try to make themselves the victim, it is disgusting. It is manipulative and abusive. The author does take a look at American ministries, where Hillsong also operates now, which I also found slightly unfair. She sort of makes the assumption that all churches operate like Westboro Baptist Church (which I find to be the most disgusting next to the FLDS). Mega Churches and fundamentalist churches in the United States are gross and criminal. Churches operate under that tax-free thing, but they want to involve themselves in politics. I can't stand that, and it should not be allowed at all. I did like the points she made about Southern Baptists, because I live in the South and Southern Baptists are rampant and a lot of them are miscreants that engage in all types of abuses.
I hate to say that I am extremely disappointed in this book. I always like books about personal experiences, so I hate to say that I did not like this book as well as I anticipated. I do not want to negate someone's personal experience. The writing in this book was rambling at points, and hard to follow. Scenes change randomly, without any rhyme or reason. I would not recommend this book. There has to be other books out there that are better reads. I would encourage you to watch the Hillsong documentary (I think it is on Discovery Plus) for a more thorough look at this ministry. That is what motivated me to buy this book. I generally enjoy learning about cults, and while this made some good points, it was not at all what it was touted to be. It really let me down.
I hate to say that I am extremely disappointed in this book. I always like books about personal experiences, so I hate to say that I did not like this book as well as I anticipated. I do not want to negate someone's personal experience. The writing in this book was rambling at points, and hard to follow. Scenes change randomly, without any rhyme or reason. I would not recommend this book. There has to be other books out there that are better reads. I would encourage you to watch the Hillsong documentary (I think it is on Discovery Plus) for a more thorough look at this ministry. That is what motivated me to buy this book. I generally enjoy learning about cults, and while this made some good points, it was not at all what it was touted to be. It really let me down.
August 13, 2011
I read Tanya Levin's People in Glass Houses late last year. Growing up in the area near Hillsong, I admittedly do struggle to see it as more than a money-hungry cult. I found this book extremely interesting, and it really opened my eyes as to how easily people get drawn into these sort of things.
I actually worked with a girl once who struggled to make friends, and was considering joining Hillsong for the social aspect. There are family friends who have turned around and joined (and later left), not to mention one who was sent to their Mercy Ministries 'retreat' because she didn't fit in with their ideals.
There's an interesting listen at a http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/no... nd a great read at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/0... … get down to the bottom bit where they've included quotes from Bobbie Houston's Kingdom Women Love Sex DVD boxset. It's horrendous some of the crap that comes out of this woman's mouth. I'd buy it for a listen if I didn't know that the cash was going towards her next porsche.
I actually worked with a girl once who struggled to make friends, and was considering joining Hillsong for the social aspect. There are family friends who have turned around and joined (and later left), not to mention one who was sent to their Mercy Ministries 'retreat' because she didn't fit in with their ideals.
There's an interesting listen at a http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/no... nd a great read at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/0... … get down to the bottom bit where they've included quotes from Bobbie Houston's Kingdom Women Love Sex DVD boxset. It's horrendous some of the crap that comes out of this woman's mouth. I'd buy it for a listen if I didn't know that the cash was going towards her next porsche.
May 28, 2014
Wow did this become a riveting read! Initially the 'Christianese' was cringe-worthy, considering how I spent a good chunk of my life in Pentecostal churches, enough for it to warp my worldview similar to the author. I was amazed when the tone of the book quite suddenly became dark and just continued to reveal the cultic nature of these churches. I can vouch for her experience completely, it rang so very true.
Particularly recommended to Christians and ex-Christians as an enlightening read.
Particularly recommended to Christians and ex-Christians as an enlightening read.
August 10, 2009
Reminds me of the saying 'power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Frightening and sad.
July 5, 2023
This is a powerful memoir of one woman’s experience with both Hillsong and Christianity (or Evangelicalism, or faith). If you are entrenched in Pentecostalism—if you love and agree with it—then you probably won’t want to read this book. But if you are deconstructing your faith, questioning why we do church the way we do church, or why Evangelicalism is as it is, or seeking to understand more about the Christian religion, then this book may shed some light. Or it may even shatter your faith. It has certainly rattled mine.
I attended a mostly-Pentecostal Christian school as a child and have spent many adult years in Pentecostal churches. I wanted to believe the “prosperity gospel.” I saw it working for people like Brain Houston and Darlene Zschech, and, well, I wanted to be Darlene Zschech—for a while. This book is about how Hillsong may have started out quite well-meaning and positive, and for many people, Hillsong church is still a positive environment, but it exposes how “cult-ish” Hillsong and Pentecostal might actually be. There is a whole chapter delving into the tactics of cults, and the similar habits of Hillsong church. It is disconcerting, to say the least.
I enjoyed Tanya’s personal story and her struggles with God and faith in general, since I have had many of my own. I also, very much appreciated her research into Pentecostal history. She doesn’t only talk about Hillsong. Other Australian leaders are mentioned. All AOG Australian leaders seem to be male and this now seems very sexist. She talks about famous influential leaders in the USA and their influence on Hillsong and Australia. She talks about politics. She talks about sexual abuse and moral failings. And she especially talks about money.
Pentecostalism today—especially Hillsong—seems to be money driven. Everyone should tithe and also give above their tithe, because we are “blessed to be blessing.” At the height of my Pentecostal journey, I wrote a song with exactly this title: “Blessed to be a blessing.” I wanted it for myself. I wanted to believe in it. I wanted to encourage my own church to give, in order to also receive. I couldn’t even see how I was giving beyond my means. I was putting myself into debt. A single woman in her twenties, with no husband, who couldn’t even afford to pay rent in NSW (prices were and are astronomical by the way) and so, chose to live in her parents’ rumpus room, for years… I was suckered in by this message. I’m not saying it doesn’t work for some people. Clearly it does. It is quite possible that Brian and Bobbie Houston fully believe this message, because it worked for them. However, it doesn’t work for everyone. There are poor people who shouldn’t be tithing and offering, they should only be receiving at this point in their lives. The church should be looking after them, not exploiting what little they have.
I related to Tanya’s journey in many ways. I’m Australian. I’ve been to Hillsong conference. I’ve been singing Hillsong songs for 30 years. But I don’t know what to do with this information. It is not a very hopeful message—don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the book should end with hope. We are in an unusual time period where a lot of people are deconstructing and questioning everything. This book is pertinent. The question: “Where do we go from here” will take years; lifetimes; perhaps even millennia to answer (and happens to be the name of my favourite podcast).
It is also important to remember that this is one woman’s perspective. I respect her story and her journey. And I’m sure that people who love Hillsong—hook line and sinker—could write books about how the systems and teachings have benefitted their lives and made them happier, perhaps even healthier people. That is simply not the result for Tanya, or myself.
I attended a mostly-Pentecostal Christian school as a child and have spent many adult years in Pentecostal churches. I wanted to believe the “prosperity gospel.” I saw it working for people like Brain Houston and Darlene Zschech, and, well, I wanted to be Darlene Zschech—for a while. This book is about how Hillsong may have started out quite well-meaning and positive, and for many people, Hillsong church is still a positive environment, but it exposes how “cult-ish” Hillsong and Pentecostal might actually be. There is a whole chapter delving into the tactics of cults, and the similar habits of Hillsong church. It is disconcerting, to say the least.
I enjoyed Tanya’s personal story and her struggles with God and faith in general, since I have had many of my own. I also, very much appreciated her research into Pentecostal history. She doesn’t only talk about Hillsong. Other Australian leaders are mentioned. All AOG Australian leaders seem to be male and this now seems very sexist. She talks about famous influential leaders in the USA and their influence on Hillsong and Australia. She talks about politics. She talks about sexual abuse and moral failings. And she especially talks about money.
Pentecostalism today—especially Hillsong—seems to be money driven. Everyone should tithe and also give above their tithe, because we are “blessed to be blessing.” At the height of my Pentecostal journey, I wrote a song with exactly this title: “Blessed to be a blessing.” I wanted it for myself. I wanted to believe in it. I wanted to encourage my own church to give, in order to also receive. I couldn’t even see how I was giving beyond my means. I was putting myself into debt. A single woman in her twenties, with no husband, who couldn’t even afford to pay rent in NSW (prices were and are astronomical by the way) and so, chose to live in her parents’ rumpus room, for years… I was suckered in by this message. I’m not saying it doesn’t work for some people. Clearly it does. It is quite possible that Brian and Bobbie Houston fully believe this message, because it worked for them. However, it doesn’t work for everyone. There are poor people who shouldn’t be tithing and offering, they should only be receiving at this point in their lives. The church should be looking after them, not exploiting what little they have.
I related to Tanya’s journey in many ways. I’m Australian. I’ve been to Hillsong conference. I’ve been singing Hillsong songs for 30 years. But I don’t know what to do with this information. It is not a very hopeful message—don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the book should end with hope. We are in an unusual time period where a lot of people are deconstructing and questioning everything. This book is pertinent. The question: “Where do we go from here” will take years; lifetimes; perhaps even millennia to answer (and happens to be the name of my favourite podcast).
It is also important to remember that this is one woman’s perspective. I respect her story and her journey. And I’m sure that people who love Hillsong—hook line and sinker—could write books about how the systems and teachings have benefitted their lives and made them happier, perhaps even healthier people. That is simply not the result for Tanya, or myself.
November 10, 2024
I went into this book wanting a little insight into the powerhouse that is Hillsong and how it impacted those in it. I got some of this, but I found that Levin’s writing flipped between an autobiographical style and a type of investigative journalism. For this reason, I found her hard to trust - was this particular judgement on Hillsong based on her experience or on her research? I do think these things can be held in balance but this work didn’t quite achieve that. That being said, I found the background and downfall of Hillsong interesting, as well as its connections and scandals to the present day. I just wish that some of the topics had been delved into more and others left alone.
July 8, 2025
God! At the end of the day I always come back to you. I understand the point of the book, currently Tanya is an atheist, she came to a conclusion that makes her happy, but she based a lot of that conclusion on what she saw in people who were lost or maybe never were for the main reason which is genuine love.
(Español :
¡Dios! Al final del día siempre vuelvo a ti. Entiendo el punto del libro, actualmente Tanya es alguien ateista, llegó a una conclusión que la hace feliz, pero basó mucha de esa conclusión en lo que vió en personas que se perdieron o tal vez nunca estuvieron por la razón principal que es el amor genuino.)
Citas libro:
CHAPTER 3: THE JUSTICE LEAGUE
Later, when he began to prophesy over others, one girl was crying and he called me and Lucinda to pray for her. That made me feel so special. More special than anything in the natural because this man who was in charge of us all called me, and made me feel like the chosen one.
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There is nothing more cringe-worthy than Christians trying to be superstars.
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CHAPTER 4: FRIENDS FOREVER
‘If there’s anyone here with sin they’re struggling with right now, put your hand up,’
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am told by the godly and godless alike that I am difficult. I am intense, and I never know when it’s time to go home. I think too much. For glaze-eyed born-again Christians this can be hard to manage. They don’t like talking about stuff for too long or too deeply and where they have to use their own powers of reasoning. Jewels was different. She was never afraid of a theological challenge. Somewhere, somehow she was given a shot of Jesus and she had been immunised against anything else
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CHAPTER 5: REASON TO BELIEVE
Believing is lovely. It is gentle and warm, and strong and fearless, and exciting and hopeful. It is reassuring and healing. It is rhyme and reason. It is family and faith. Loving your neighbour is a fantastic postmodern plan for peace. It was about helping the poor because we can and generally being nice to people and not getting upset if they aren’t nice back. It was licence to do good, and if people rip you off, well, you were doing what Jesus would have you do. If they killed you for it, then so be it. It was a life worth dying for. And one to be grateful for every day
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‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.’
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There were so many kids in school around me whose problems I didn’t understand. How could I? I lived in a sheltered Christian world. But I could see their pain.
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CHAPTER 6: SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
the prettiest churches don’t talk about demons. They prefer the word ‘spirit’, because it sounds more like they’re life coaches than missionaries
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Deliberate sin can bring in demons because rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. So to disobey your husband or to rob God of his tithe is to step outside your spiritual protection. We can’t help you if you’re going to choose the road to hell
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As an aside, taking drugs will instantly open your mind as a demon playground, though only illegal drugs will do this. Valium’s fine.
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The general rule is to go back three generations, to be safe, and renounce everything those people did.
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If you’re going to come here to our nice clean white church, we don’t want your foreign gods coming with you.
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If you’ve been to one of these godless nations and brought home some totem or carving that worships one of their gods, you’re in big trouble too.
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The most popular demon for the last ten years or so is the demon of homosexuality. It is a difficult one to expel
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The demon of homosexuality takes three to four hours to leave, give or take an hour.
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CHAPTER 7: INTO TEMPTATION
We were never supposed to be serious, of course. He was supposed to be a trial boyfriend, before I got the one that God had waiting around the corner. I also knew that by not trusting God and waiting I was wrecking my chances of meeting him.
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I knew that once my virginity was gone, I was useless in my old community. Used goods. All Christian boys deserve a virgin on their wedding day. It is an essential dowry. I knew I was disqualifying myself from the competition back at Hills. Anything other than virgin is slut. And as for the idea that you chose sex willingly? Even worse. That’s about as attractive as twice-divorced with six kids
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If I was going to hell, I was going to have a good time. Or at least find out what a good time was. The pleasure of sin lasts for a season, so let’s see how long that season lasts.
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the Old Testament was a storybook, and that the New Testament was a method of social control
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NINA
she was begging for demons. She was not only refusing her salvation, she was blatantly pursuing pagan rites. And here was the hard part: she was repeatedly successful. Why, I could never understand. Why would God bless her like this, on her way to hell, worshipping idols
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CHAPTER 8: IT’S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY
Since there were 2000 years from Adam to Moses, and 2000 years from Moses to Jesus, we knew there would be 2000 years until the Rapture when, after a trumpet call from the skies, all Christians get caught up in a cloud in the twinkling of an eye. Two men will be working in the field and one will disappear. Which is why evangelical Christians should not be given driver’s licences.
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Status and wealth means nothing to a true believer.
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Jesus say we should help people, not just bring them to church
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CHAPTER 9: MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING
Maybe somebody realised that no one was ever going to successfully preach the ‘be pure like me’ sermon any more if Jimmy couldn’t. So the preachers changed the tune halfway through the song. ‘Be rich like me’ was the new clanging of church bells.
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CHAPTER 11: FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE’RE FREE AT LAST
The rumours were that Frank Houston had been involved in paedophilia.
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CHAPTER 12: WALK THIS WAY
Don’t give up your education, your hopes and ambitions to follow a rainbow.
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CHAPTER 14: WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN YOU’RE SOBER?
The Western world first heard the term ‘brainwashing’ in 1951 from American journalist Edward Hunter. He had learned, via people coming to Hong Kong from China, that the communist process of ridding people of the vestiges of their old belief system was called colloquially hse nao, meaning literally ‘wash brain’ or ‘cleansing the mind’.
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More than life or money itself, Pentecostals love gossip.
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The Pentecostal ideal is that once you are saved, you disappear into an abyss of joy. You’re saved, what else do you need?
You’re forgiven and your problems are solved. The end.
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CHAPTER 16: SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU
kosher
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‘A Celebration Of Sex’ by Dr Douglas E. Rosenau.
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CHAPTER 17: LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY
you have to get better, not bitter. There’s no perfect church, he told me. If this one was ninety per cent good and ten per cent bad, then what more could he hope for
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CHAPTER 19: THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS
God wants you to be rich. He called you to live in abundance. Why shouldn’t Brian ride a Harley? It’s the best way of demonstrating the blessing of God in his life.
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They have to give in order to receive. They have to tithe and be faithful. And then they too will get their harvest.
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IF I WAS A RICH GIRL
I could be grateful and say at least they’re being honest now, about money being the real answer and Jesus being some kind of distraction for a good night out.
-=-=-=-=-=-
‘don’t ask why I am wearing a Rolex, ask why you’re not’.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Of course God wants you to be rich. He loves you, doesn’t he?
It didn’t really matter in the nineties what version of this you heard. It was all about giving to the church in order to get back.
-=-=-=-=-=-
whatever you give to the ministry/God would be returned 100-fold.
It was an offer that a lot of people couldn’t refuse. And a lot of people lost a lot of money
-=-=-=-=-=-
‘My personal vision is to fund and finance the salvation of the earth.’
Don’t you miss the days when salvation was free?
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 21: WHEN THE GENERALS TALK
The punch-line with Amway is that no money is made selling cleaning products. It’s only when you are important enough to teach other people how to be like you that you can make tapes and DVDs, merchandising and royalties.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 22: IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY
We believe all the bible, even the bits that contradict the other bits
-=-=-=-=-=-
The rich kids always get the best presents. Even if you are good all year, not everyone can be a millionaire.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 23: CONSIDER ME GONE
you should write about what you know, and this topic was all I knew. Sad, but true. Christianity is what had consumed my thoughts for most of my life
-=-=-=-=-=-
Isaiah 52:7 says: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’)
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 24: BLANK SPACE
the magic of Hillsong is in the marketing.
-=-=-=-=-=-
(Español :
¡Dios! Al final del día siempre vuelvo a ti. Entiendo el punto del libro, actualmente Tanya es alguien ateista, llegó a una conclusión que la hace feliz, pero basó mucha de esa conclusión en lo que vió en personas que se perdieron o tal vez nunca estuvieron por la razón principal que es el amor genuino.)
Citas libro:
CHAPTER 3: THE JUSTICE LEAGUE
Later, when he began to prophesy over others, one girl was crying and he called me and Lucinda to pray for her. That made me feel so special. More special than anything in the natural because this man who was in charge of us all called me, and made me feel like the chosen one.
-=-=-=-=-=-
There is nothing more cringe-worthy than Christians trying to be superstars.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 4: FRIENDS FOREVER
‘If there’s anyone here with sin they’re struggling with right now, put your hand up,’
-=-=-=-=-=-
am told by the godly and godless alike that I am difficult. I am intense, and I never know when it’s time to go home. I think too much. For glaze-eyed born-again Christians this can be hard to manage. They don’t like talking about stuff for too long or too deeply and where they have to use their own powers of reasoning. Jewels was different. She was never afraid of a theological challenge. Somewhere, somehow she was given a shot of Jesus and she had been immunised against anything else
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 5: REASON TO BELIEVE
Believing is lovely. It is gentle and warm, and strong and fearless, and exciting and hopeful. It is reassuring and healing. It is rhyme and reason. It is family and faith. Loving your neighbour is a fantastic postmodern plan for peace. It was about helping the poor because we can and generally being nice to people and not getting upset if they aren’t nice back. It was licence to do good, and if people rip you off, well, you were doing what Jesus would have you do. If they killed you for it, then so be it. It was a life worth dying for. And one to be grateful for every day
-=-=-=-=-=-
‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.’
-=-=-=-=-=-
There were so many kids in school around me whose problems I didn’t understand. How could I? I lived in a sheltered Christian world. But I could see their pain.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 6: SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
the prettiest churches don’t talk about demons. They prefer the word ‘spirit’, because it sounds more like they’re life coaches than missionaries
-=-=-=-=-=-
Deliberate sin can bring in demons because rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft. So to disobey your husband or to rob God of his tithe is to step outside your spiritual protection. We can’t help you if you’re going to choose the road to hell
-=-=-=-=-=-
As an aside, taking drugs will instantly open your mind as a demon playground, though only illegal drugs will do this. Valium’s fine.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The general rule is to go back three generations, to be safe, and renounce everything those people did.
-=-=-=-=-=-
If you’re going to come here to our nice clean white church, we don’t want your foreign gods coming with you.
-=-=-=-=-=-
If you’ve been to one of these godless nations and brought home some totem or carving that worships one of their gods, you’re in big trouble too.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The most popular demon for the last ten years or so is the demon of homosexuality. It is a difficult one to expel
-=-=-=-=-=-
The demon of homosexuality takes three to four hours to leave, give or take an hour.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 7: INTO TEMPTATION
We were never supposed to be serious, of course. He was supposed to be a trial boyfriend, before I got the one that God had waiting around the corner. I also knew that by not trusting God and waiting I was wrecking my chances of meeting him.
-=-=-=-=-=-
I knew that once my virginity was gone, I was useless in my old community. Used goods. All Christian boys deserve a virgin on their wedding day. It is an essential dowry. I knew I was disqualifying myself from the competition back at Hills. Anything other than virgin is slut. And as for the idea that you chose sex willingly? Even worse. That’s about as attractive as twice-divorced with six kids
-=-=-=-=-=-
If I was going to hell, I was going to have a good time. Or at least find out what a good time was. The pleasure of sin lasts for a season, so let’s see how long that season lasts.
-=-=-=-=-=-
the Old Testament was a storybook, and that the New Testament was a method of social control
-=-=-=-=-=-
NINA
she was begging for demons. She was not only refusing her salvation, she was blatantly pursuing pagan rites. And here was the hard part: she was repeatedly successful. Why, I could never understand. Why would God bless her like this, on her way to hell, worshipping idols
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 8: IT’S HARD TO BE A SAINT IN THE CITY
Since there were 2000 years from Adam to Moses, and 2000 years from Moses to Jesus, we knew there would be 2000 years until the Rapture when, after a trumpet call from the skies, all Christians get caught up in a cloud in the twinkling of an eye. Two men will be working in the field and one will disappear. Which is why evangelical Christians should not be given driver’s licences.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Status and wealth means nothing to a true believer.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Jesus say we should help people, not just bring them to church
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 9: MONEY CHANGES EVERYTHING
Maybe somebody realised that no one was ever going to successfully preach the ‘be pure like me’ sermon any more if Jimmy couldn’t. So the preachers changed the tune halfway through the song. ‘Be rich like me’ was the new clanging of church bells.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 11: FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, WE’RE FREE AT LAST
The rumours were that Frank Houston had been involved in paedophilia.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 12: WALK THIS WAY
Don’t give up your education, your hopes and ambitions to follow a rainbow.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 14: WILL YOU MISS ME WHEN YOU’RE SOBER?
The Western world first heard the term ‘brainwashing’ in 1951 from American journalist Edward Hunter. He had learned, via people coming to Hong Kong from China, that the communist process of ridding people of the vestiges of their old belief system was called colloquially hse nao, meaning literally ‘wash brain’ or ‘cleansing the mind’.
-=-=-=-=-=-
More than life or money itself, Pentecostals love gossip.
-=-=-=-=-=-
The Pentecostal ideal is that once you are saved, you disappear into an abyss of joy. You’re saved, what else do you need?
You’re forgiven and your problems are solved. The end.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 16: SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU
kosher
-=-=-=-=-=-
‘A Celebration Of Sex’ by Dr Douglas E. Rosenau.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 17: LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BOY
you have to get better, not bitter. There’s no perfect church, he told me. If this one was ninety per cent good and ten per cent bad, then what more could he hope for
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 19: THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS
God wants you to be rich. He called you to live in abundance. Why shouldn’t Brian ride a Harley? It’s the best way of demonstrating the blessing of God in his life.
-=-=-=-=-=-
They have to give in order to receive. They have to tithe and be faithful. And then they too will get their harvest.
-=-=-=-=-=-
IF I WAS A RICH GIRL
I could be grateful and say at least they’re being honest now, about money being the real answer and Jesus being some kind of distraction for a good night out.
-=-=-=-=-=-
‘don’t ask why I am wearing a Rolex, ask why you’re not’.
-=-=-=-=-=-
Of course God wants you to be rich. He loves you, doesn’t he?
It didn’t really matter in the nineties what version of this you heard. It was all about giving to the church in order to get back.
-=-=-=-=-=-
whatever you give to the ministry/God would be returned 100-fold.
It was an offer that a lot of people couldn’t refuse. And a lot of people lost a lot of money
-=-=-=-=-=-
‘My personal vision is to fund and finance the salvation of the earth.’
Don’t you miss the days when salvation was free?
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 21: WHEN THE GENERALS TALK
The punch-line with Amway is that no money is made selling cleaning products. It’s only when you are important enough to teach other people how to be like you that you can make tapes and DVDs, merchandising and royalties.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 22: IF IT MAKES YOU HAPPY
We believe all the bible, even the bits that contradict the other bits
-=-=-=-=-=-
The rich kids always get the best presents. Even if you are good all year, not everyone can be a millionaire.
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 23: CONSIDER ME GONE
you should write about what you know, and this topic was all I knew. Sad, but true. Christianity is what had consumed my thoughts for most of my life
-=-=-=-=-=-
Isaiah 52:7 says: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’)
-=-=-=-=-=-
CHAPTER 24: BLANK SPACE
the magic of Hillsong is in the marketing.
-=-=-=-=-=-
October 26, 2008
I keep trying to be nice about this book, and yet I keep failing. It isn't just that I experienced severe genre-clash with the previous book I'd read ( Behind the Exclusive Brethren); it wasn't just that I'd expected an entirely different book.
I simply think this book wasn't ready to be published. It's incoherent; riddled with internal inconsistencies, and what I came to refer to (reluctantly) as "authorial schizophrenia". By which I don't mean that the author suffers from schizophrenia, but that... she changes her position (particularly on who/what is the target of her ire) every five pages or so; which exacerbates the incoherency of the book. Like the book "Justice Delayed", which simply didn't work, as it was sloppily structured and would have been better read from back to front, it didn't have the editing it needed. (An interesting quibble is that in the final chapter she mentions - in an email - that the publishers are Allen & Unwin. The book was actually published by Black Inc, an independent publisher that I usually have high respect for.)
I'm going to try to write more on this later today, but had to get this initial reaction down here.
I simply think this book wasn't ready to be published. It's incoherent; riddled with internal inconsistencies, and what I came to refer to (reluctantly) as "authorial schizophrenia". By which I don't mean that the author suffers from schizophrenia, but that... she changes her position (particularly on who/what is the target of her ire) every five pages or so; which exacerbates the incoherency of the book. Like the book "Justice Delayed", which simply didn't work, as it was sloppily structured and would have been better read from back to front, it didn't have the editing it needed. (An interesting quibble is that in the final chapter she mentions - in an email - that the publishers are Allen & Unwin. The book was actually published by Black Inc, an independent publisher that I usually have high respect for.)
I'm going to try to write more on this later today, but had to get this initial reaction down here.
March 16, 2023
Written in a very sophomoric and sarcastic style, this book is less of an expose and more of a tabloid type read.
It contains nothing that cannot be found in a 15 minute Google search. It is like someone who visits a McDonald's drive-thru once a week, writing a book about the inner workings of the McDonald's corporation.
Even the non-HS info is completely incorrect. She says the Apostle John was crucified upside down. John was the only apostle who died a natural death. She also claimed that Johnathan Edwards whipped up the people into a frenzy through his fiery preaching, when Edwards was known for reading his sermons verbatim in a monotone voice. She said Finney was a much calmer preacher. This was the opposite view of history. Edwards believed God, not man, brought Revival and Fenney believed man whipped up Revival.
If you want the inside story of Hillsong, this is not the book you are looking for.
It contains nothing that cannot be found in a 15 minute Google search. It is like someone who visits a McDonald's drive-thru once a week, writing a book about the inner workings of the McDonald's corporation.
Even the non-HS info is completely incorrect. She says the Apostle John was crucified upside down. John was the only apostle who died a natural death. She also claimed that Johnathan Edwards whipped up the people into a frenzy through his fiery preaching, when Edwards was known for reading his sermons verbatim in a monotone voice. She said Finney was a much calmer preacher. This was the opposite view of history. Edwards believed God, not man, brought Revival and Fenney believed man whipped up Revival.
If you want the inside story of Hillsong, this is not the book you are looking for.
May 7, 2017
Hard to decide what to give this book. The author shouldn't give up her day job to write, but it is a very important topic and she should certainly frighten the dickens out of anyone who is inclined to join Hill$ong.
Sure she is angry as a hornet and that colours the writing, but so she should be. The author has just won an appeal against a police charge for standing in a non-ticketed area, on a public concourse, outside a publicly owned convention venue being used by Hill$ong. She was arrested for accidentally stepping into a restricted area, nothing else. The Police Commissioner was attending the conference as a member of Hill$ong at the time, coincidentally. The judge found Levin "could not, reasonably, have known she was committing a crime" but it has taken 2 years out of her life to prove her innocence. Christians?
Sure she is angry as a hornet and that colours the writing, but so she should be. The author has just won an appeal against a police charge for standing in a non-ticketed area, on a public concourse, outside a publicly owned convention venue being used by Hill$ong. She was arrested for accidentally stepping into a restricted area, nothing else. The Police Commissioner was attending the conference as a member of Hill$ong at the time, coincidentally. The judge found Levin "could not, reasonably, have known she was committing a crime" but it has taken 2 years out of her life to prove her innocence. Christians?
December 3, 2012
Great book - an expose on Hillsong, the Pentacostal fundamental church in Sydney that is growing quite alarmingly in NSW. For most of us, we always knew that Hillsong is dodgy - always asking for more and more money from the faithfull, enjoying tax free status within the system and yet the priesthood is wealthy with multi million dollar mansions on the Manly waterfront. Very similar to the American evangelical churches. Tanya tells of her Christian upbring and eventual expulsion from Hillsong - to the extent of being escorted off the premises by security guards. This in itself says loads about Hillsong. The book was quite autobiographical as we learn a lot about Tanya herself, not just as Hillsong - or Hellsong as my sister likes to call it!
March 16, 2013
personal journey out of a cult, meanders a bit but heartfelt , some gems of insight at times.a bunch of great lines I Woild have underlined or highlighted if I have the book as paper of ebook ( got it from the library ), reads like a biography so don't expect a story structure etc. snippets from a life out of superstition, rather brave in places
November 3, 2018
The editing of this book is beyond poor, so many spelling mistakes! However, I've been torn between wanting to read this book and not for a very long time. She hits the nail on the head with this book and I can almost forgive her for jumping from one person or concept to the next and often repeating an earlier point. A must read for anyone who ever attended one of their services!
June 28, 2009
An extremely bias book, it was difficult to even muster sympathy for Levin when she was so clearly angry at the church, its people and its leaders. If she had have been less confrontational, it would have perhaps been easier to sympathise and empathise with the author.
October 2, 2012
hill$ong
January 24, 2014
Regardless of what you think about Fundamentalism, I don't think it's such a revelation that people sin.
April 9, 2020
Not perfectly written but still an important book that exposes the evils of the prosperity teaching mega churches.
December 29, 2024
This is a powerful memoir of one woman’s experience with both Hillsong and Christianity (or Evangelicalism, or faith). If you are entrenched in Pentecostalism—if you love and agree with it—then you probably won’t want to read this book. But if you are deconstructing your faith, questioning why we do church the way we do church, or why Evangelicalism is as it is, or seeking to understand more about the Christian religion, then this book may shed some light. Or it may even shatter your faith. It has certainly rattled mine.
I attended a mostly-Pentecostal Christian school as a child and have spent many adult years in Pentecostal churches. I wanted to believe the “prosperity gospel.” I saw it working for people like Brain Houston and Darlene Zschech, and, well, I wanted to be Darlene Zschech—for a while. This book is about how Hillsong may have started out quite well-meaning and positive, and for many people, Hillsong church is still a positive environment, but it exposes how “cult-ish” Hillsong and Pentecostal might actually be. There is a whole chapter delving into the tactics of cults, and the similar habits of Hillsong church. It is disconcerting, to say the least.
I enjoyed Tanya’s personal story and her struggles with God and faith in general, since I have had many of my own. I also, very much appreciated her research into Pentecostal history. She doesn’t only talk about Hillsong. Other Australian leaders are mentioned. All AOG Australian leaders seem to be male and this now seems very sexist. She talks about famous influential leaders in the USA and their influence on Hillsong and Australia. She talks about politics. She talks about sexual abuse and moral failings. And she especially talks about money.
Pentecostalism today—especially Hillsong—seems to be money driven. Everyone should tithe and also give above their tithe, because we are “blessed to be blessing.” At the height of my Pentecostal journey, I wrote a song with exactly this title: “Blessed to be a blessing.” I wanted it for myself. I wanted to believe in it. I wanted to encourage my own church to give, in order to also receive. I couldn’t even see how I was giving beyond my means. I was putting myself into debt. A single woman in her twenties, with no husband, who couldn’t even afford to pay rent in NSW (prices were and are astronomical by the way) and so, chose to live in her parents’ rumpus room, for years… I was suckered in by this message. I’m not saying it doesn’t work for some people. Clearly it does. It is quite possible that Brian and Bobbie Houston fully believe this message, because it worked for them. However, it doesn’t work for everyone. There are poor people who shouldn’t be tithing and offering, they should only be receiving at this point in their lives. The church should be looking after them, not exploiting what little they have.
I related to Tanya’s journey in many ways. I’m Australian. I’ve been to Hillsong conference. I’ve been singing Hillsong songs for 30 years. But I don’t know what to do with this information. It is not a very hopeful message—don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the book should end with hope. We are in an unusual time period where a lot of people are deconstructing and questioning everything. This book is pertinent. The question: “Where do we go from here” will take years; lifetimes; perhaps even millennia to answer (and happens to be the name of my favourite podcast).
It is also important to remember that this is one woman’s perspective. I respect her story and her journey. And I’m sure that people who love Hillsong—hook, line and sinker—could write books about how the systems and teachings have benefitted their lives and made them happier, perhaps even healthier people. That is simply not the result for Tanya, or myself.
I attended a mostly-Pentecostal Christian school as a child and have spent many adult years in Pentecostal churches. I wanted to believe the “prosperity gospel.” I saw it working for people like Brain Houston and Darlene Zschech, and, well, I wanted to be Darlene Zschech—for a while. This book is about how Hillsong may have started out quite well-meaning and positive, and for many people, Hillsong church is still a positive environment, but it exposes how “cult-ish” Hillsong and Pentecostal might actually be. There is a whole chapter delving into the tactics of cults, and the similar habits of Hillsong church. It is disconcerting, to say the least.
I enjoyed Tanya’s personal story and her struggles with God and faith in general, since I have had many of my own. I also, very much appreciated her research into Pentecostal history. She doesn’t only talk about Hillsong. Other Australian leaders are mentioned. All AOG Australian leaders seem to be male and this now seems very sexist. She talks about famous influential leaders in the USA and their influence on Hillsong and Australia. She talks about politics. She talks about sexual abuse and moral failings. And she especially talks about money.
Pentecostalism today—especially Hillsong—seems to be money driven. Everyone should tithe and also give above their tithe, because we are “blessed to be blessing.” At the height of my Pentecostal journey, I wrote a song with exactly this title: “Blessed to be a blessing.” I wanted it for myself. I wanted to believe in it. I wanted to encourage my own church to give, in order to also receive. I couldn’t even see how I was giving beyond my means. I was putting myself into debt. A single woman in her twenties, with no husband, who couldn’t even afford to pay rent in NSW (prices were and are astronomical by the way) and so, chose to live in her parents’ rumpus room, for years… I was suckered in by this message. I’m not saying it doesn’t work for some people. Clearly it does. It is quite possible that Brian and Bobbie Houston fully believe this message, because it worked for them. However, it doesn’t work for everyone. There are poor people who shouldn’t be tithing and offering, they should only be receiving at this point in their lives. The church should be looking after them, not exploiting what little they have.
I related to Tanya’s journey in many ways. I’m Australian. I’ve been to Hillsong conference. I’ve been singing Hillsong songs for 30 years. But I don’t know what to do with this information. It is not a very hopeful message—don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the book should end with hope. We are in an unusual time period where a lot of people are deconstructing and questioning everything. This book is pertinent. The question: “Where do we go from here” will take years; lifetimes; perhaps even millennia to answer (and happens to be the name of my favourite podcast).
It is also important to remember that this is one woman’s perspective. I respect her story and her journey. And I’m sure that people who love Hillsong—hook, line and sinker—could write books about how the systems and teachings have benefitted their lives and made them happier, perhaps even healthier people. That is simply not the result for Tanya, or myself.
August 31, 2025
People in Glass Houses by Tanya Levin was such a powerful and validating read for me. I grew up in the AOG world from ages 6–16, with Hillsong as the “soundtrack to my faith.” Later, I even worked for one of the major organizations Tanya discusses (at a US location), which she highlights for its lack of professionalism and the harm it caused. Having been fluent in Christianese my whole life (especially within Word of Faith and prosperity gospel circles), I found this book relatable, eye-opening, and deeply affirming.
Over the past seven years, I’ve been untangling the harm from the good in my own spiritual upbringing, and Tanya’s perspective helped me put words to things I’ve long been navigating. One part that especially stood out was her exploration of the mechanics of Hillsong’s worship music with the repetitive beats (45–72 bpm, close to the rhythm of the human heart) and how they can bring people into an altered state of consciousness where thought slows down and suggestibility increases.
Don’t get me wrong - I can still enjoy my nostalgic Hillsong music, yet, with all that’s come out about the harm over the decades, it’s been so insightful and important to separate the manipulative aspects from true faith. Reading this book reminded me of the difference between being subjected to these environments as a child, when choice and agency were limited, versus approaching my faith as an adult, where I can engage thoughtfully and intentionally. This resource has been incredibly helpful on that journey.
It made me realize how powerful (and often unconscious) these tools of persuasion can be, especially when people (and children) have no awareness or consent in the process.
This book isn’t just about Hillsong and the deceptive, hidden realities behind their decades of growth—it’s about power and control dynamics, and the way faith communities can blur the line between devotion and manipulation. Tanya writes with honesty, clarity, and courage. I’m deeply grateful for this resource and would recommend it to anyone who has been part of high-control religious spaces, or who simply wants to understand more about the inner workings of a movement that has shaped so much of modern Christianity.
Over the past seven years, I’ve been untangling the harm from the good in my own spiritual upbringing, and Tanya’s perspective helped me put words to things I’ve long been navigating. One part that especially stood out was her exploration of the mechanics of Hillsong’s worship music with the repetitive beats (45–72 bpm, close to the rhythm of the human heart) and how they can bring people into an altered state of consciousness where thought slows down and suggestibility increases.
Don’t get me wrong - I can still enjoy my nostalgic Hillsong music, yet, with all that’s come out about the harm over the decades, it’s been so insightful and important to separate the manipulative aspects from true faith. Reading this book reminded me of the difference between being subjected to these environments as a child, when choice and agency were limited, versus approaching my faith as an adult, where I can engage thoughtfully and intentionally. This resource has been incredibly helpful on that journey.
It made me realize how powerful (and often unconscious) these tools of persuasion can be, especially when people (and children) have no awareness or consent in the process.
This book isn’t just about Hillsong and the deceptive, hidden realities behind their decades of growth—it’s about power and control dynamics, and the way faith communities can blur the line between devotion and manipulation. Tanya writes with honesty, clarity, and courage. I’m deeply grateful for this resource and would recommend it to anyone who has been part of high-control religious spaces, or who simply wants to understand more about the inner workings of a movement that has shaped so much of modern Christianity.
July 29, 2021
I recently watched the BBC Storyville documentary about Hillsong, which was pretty damning stuff, and featured interviews with Tanya, which reminded me that her book was sitting waiting for me on my e-reader. It was obviously time to get stuck into it.
While I'm very glad that someone has tackled this important subject - the extremely dubious nature of supposedly "progressive" megachurches, how they're effectively fundamentalist underneath the cool veneer, and how they're corrupt money-making machines - the book isn't, unfortunately, the best-written in the world. Hence three stars (which is still very good as far as I'm concerned) rather than four. As others have said, in places it's rambling, disorganised and not very clear, and I almost got a bit lost in the middle of the book, where it felt like things didn't hold together very well.
However, it more than redeemed itself towards the end, where the author did an excellent job on discussing cult theory, and how churches like Hillsong become incredibly cult-like in their techniques and operations. There's also an excellent analysis on the key characteristics of fundamentalist organisations, and again how Hillsong qualifies as one. There's also a lot of information on the somewhat dubious business practices and exploitation of volunteer labour, the cheesy media, the very dodgy charity activities that have caused a great deal of harm, the very sexist thinking that still runs deeply through all the church does, the social and sexual conservatism...it lifts the lid on an organisation that very cynically exploits its members while making the founders very rich. No end of trendy youth pastors or club-style music and visuals is going to sort that out.
Very interesting read because of my own experiences in a smaller but similar church in the 1990s, which unfortunately left me very badly damaged. This book deserves to be read widely, and it's an important text for anyone looking at deconstructing modern Christian belief. Unfortunately, it could do with a lot of editing, as in its current form it's quite a hard slog to get through, but it's worth it if you take an interest in the subject.
While I'm very glad that someone has tackled this important subject - the extremely dubious nature of supposedly "progressive" megachurches, how they're effectively fundamentalist underneath the cool veneer, and how they're corrupt money-making machines - the book isn't, unfortunately, the best-written in the world. Hence three stars (which is still very good as far as I'm concerned) rather than four. As others have said, in places it's rambling, disorganised and not very clear, and I almost got a bit lost in the middle of the book, where it felt like things didn't hold together very well.
However, it more than redeemed itself towards the end, where the author did an excellent job on discussing cult theory, and how churches like Hillsong become incredibly cult-like in their techniques and operations. There's also an excellent analysis on the key characteristics of fundamentalist organisations, and again how Hillsong qualifies as one. There's also a lot of information on the somewhat dubious business practices and exploitation of volunteer labour, the cheesy media, the very dodgy charity activities that have caused a great deal of harm, the very sexist thinking that still runs deeply through all the church does, the social and sexual conservatism...it lifts the lid on an organisation that very cynically exploits its members while making the founders very rich. No end of trendy youth pastors or club-style music and visuals is going to sort that out.
Very interesting read because of my own experiences in a smaller but similar church in the 1990s, which unfortunately left me very badly damaged. This book deserves to be read widely, and it's an important text for anyone looking at deconstructing modern Christian belief. Unfortunately, it could do with a lot of editing, as in its current form it's quite a hard slog to get through, but it's worth it if you take an interest in the subject.
February 1, 2024
quedé sin palabras jajaja
1. hay cosas que entiendo que son de culto, pero que a veces hacen click en mi cabeza, como la doctrina de la prosperidad, porque al final, esa fue la doctrina con la que crecí
2. pffffff que fuerte todo
3. a veces me conflictúa el leer que todo el falso porque he visto hablar en lenguas, me he reído horas tras servicios y en su momento, profecía; se que he visto y sentido cosas, pero no lo entiendo. hasta hora, lo mas parecido que he sentido fue en un concierto de silvana estrada jajajaja
4. me sorprende leer todas las cosas que pasan en las conferencias de mujeres y jóvenes porque en mi vida fui a fácil 15 conferencias cristianas, donde muy probablemente escuché todo esto, pero nunca me brincó
5. wow que hillsong la banneo
6. a veces no creo que yo he estado en hills de hillsong, que fui a una conferencia de las que habla
7. mi gran sesgo es chris caine, tiene un soft spot pero ALAMADRE
8. mercy ministries??
9. que estará pasando en las iglesias en méxico, por ejemplo?
10, la parte donde dice que Brian alucina todo si está medio exagerada probablemente (o ya no se si es mi sesgo)
11. es que es increíble lo mucho que me se de memoria la gran mayoría de las canciones de hillsong
1. hay cosas que entiendo que son de culto, pero que a veces hacen click en mi cabeza, como la doctrina de la prosperidad, porque al final, esa fue la doctrina con la que crecí
2. pffffff que fuerte todo
3. a veces me conflictúa el leer que todo el falso porque he visto hablar en lenguas, me he reído horas tras servicios y en su momento, profecía; se que he visto y sentido cosas, pero no lo entiendo. hasta hora, lo mas parecido que he sentido fue en un concierto de silvana estrada jajajaja
4. me sorprende leer todas las cosas que pasan en las conferencias de mujeres y jóvenes porque en mi vida fui a fácil 15 conferencias cristianas, donde muy probablemente escuché todo esto, pero nunca me brincó
5. wow que hillsong la banneo
6. a veces no creo que yo he estado en hills de hillsong, que fui a una conferencia de las que habla
7. mi gran sesgo es chris caine, tiene un soft spot pero ALAMADRE
8. mercy ministries??
9. que estará pasando en las iglesias en méxico, por ejemplo?
10, la parte donde dice que Brian alucina todo si está medio exagerada probablemente (o ya no se si es mi sesgo)
11. es que es increíble lo mucho que me se de memoria la gran mayoría de las canciones de hillsong
July 13, 2020
"People in Glass Houses" has got to be the most raw, painfully honest book I have ever read about organised religion. While it cannot be denied that Ms Levin writes with an overdose of subjectivity, the themes and issues she raises are worth having meaningful conversations about.
If we choose to ignore the downsides, Ms Levin's knowledge of Christian doctrine and scripture and how she uses that to structure her arguments is admirable. The anecdotal format the book takes, together with confessions of personal struggles, endears Ms Levin to the readers. Last but not least, Ms Levin's thigh-slapping sense of humor and intelligently satirical flow makes up for the multitude of faults that may be found in this book.
I consider her something of a heroine. She asks the questions we have been to God-fearing to ask, and suffered a ban so that we don't have to.
If we choose to ignore the downsides, Ms Levin's knowledge of Christian doctrine and scripture and how she uses that to structure her arguments is admirable. The anecdotal format the book takes, together with confessions of personal struggles, endears Ms Levin to the readers. Last but not least, Ms Levin's thigh-slapping sense of humor and intelligently satirical flow makes up for the multitude of faults that may be found in this book.
I consider her something of a heroine. She asks the questions we have been to God-fearing to ask, and suffered a ban so that we don't have to.
January 22, 2025
This book is more about the start of the Hillsong church than Hillsong at its height. The personal account was her own, yet the writing was so disjointed it was difficult to read at times. The timeline meanders and is difficult to follow. I was hoping to read more about the music of Hillsong and the people behind the music. Levin does share a bit about the founders of the Hillsong music program and some of its pitfalls, but that was not the focus of her memoir/insider view.
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