Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Divisiveness in GKGW and Babywise

Divisiveness in Babywise and GKGW

Critics say Ezzo's presentation in Babywise and Growing Kids God's Way can cause divisions in churches, friendships and families.

Summary of Concerns

  • False picture of choices. Babywise and GKGW present a false choice between a method which produces ease for parents and obedient, godly, respectful children, or a descent into family "chaos" and disobedient, ungodly offspring. Evidence is missing to prove the outcomes aside from the comparison of two imaginary children, one who flourishes because her parents wisely chose the Ezzos' material, while the other grows up to be a selfish person since her parents didn't.  The false dilemma sows misunderstanding and disrespect between parents.

  • Insults parents who don't follow his teachings. Ezzo claims that those who don't follow his methods are "in their thinking, [only] Christian up to a point," naive, frequently fail to notice when their babies are sick, respond to their babies' cries without rational consideration, and become pushovers whose children can't accept delayed gratification, are unruly and academically disadvantaged.

  • Insults health care professionals. Babywise teaches parents that health care providers who don't support the book's methods are not up-to-date enough to grasp Babywise's breastfeeding benefits, or else are biased by their professional training (2001, p. 100).

  • Rhetoric that plays on fear, shame and guilt. The material plays on fears of unmanageable children, shaming parents for not seeking "God's way," and creating guilt when parents face challenges most would recognize as normal stages of child development and parenting. As followers reflect these messages to their friends and church community, it alienates them.

  • Double messages and shifting definitions make for confusion over the basic principles and how they are intended to be implemented. These double messages make it possible to refute any criticism simply by quoting whichever side of the double message will serve the purpose. Communication that might resolve divisions comes to a stand-off.

  • An us/them world. The false choices mentioned above are sometimes taken to a higher level where one is either an insider who is safely part of the "GFI community" or an ignorant, distrusted outsider.

  • Questioning the information is not encouraged. To disagree with or openly question Ezzo's material arouses suspicion that one is disloyal and not properly committed to "God's way" of parenting. Class leaders are told not to allow open disagreement with what is taught during class time. This leaves participants who have questions isolated and prevents peers from hearing their concerns about the material.

Essential Reading:

"Growing Kids God's Way?: A Critique of Growing Families International"
by Dr. Barbara Francis

"More Than A Parenting Ministry" | PDF version
by Kathleen Terner and Elliott Miller, Christian Research Journal, Christian Research Institute

On Becoming Childwise: A Critique
by Laurie Moody

Conflicting Messages--A Review of Babywise 2001
by Kathy Thile

It's One or the Other--And Other Myths that Hooked Us
A Parent's Insights

For Further Information:

More Critiques, Reviews and Analyses

  • Health Care Professionals on Babywise +

    Rosemary Shy, MD , FAAP
    Director, Children's Choice of Michigan Ambulatory Pediatrics
    Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, Mich

    "It is dangerous to do it the way he describes," Pediatrician Dr. Rosemary Shy says of Ezzo's technique. "It puts these babies at risk for jaundice, at risk for dehydration, and at risk for failing to thrive, all of which we’ve seen."

    Wilson, Steve, "Baby Care Controversy," WXYZ-Detroit, November 14, 2004

    Arnold Tanis, MD, FAAP
    1999 recipient, John H. Whitcomb Outstanding Pediatrician Award, presented by the

    … Read More

  • Ezzo.info Notes With Sorrow... +

    Ezzo.info notes with sorrow the passing of Michael Mahurin, aka "Metochoi," a pastor who became concerned about the Ezzos' teachings on parenting when he encountered parents, even in his own flock, who believed that following the Ezzos' teachings was the only faithful approach to Christian parenting. Pastor Mike responded by vigorously teaching biblical hermeneutics, logic, and core Christian doctrines like grace and law, both in his congregation and in online discussions. A gifted teacher with an irrepressible sense of humor, Metochoi equipped many Christian parents to use basic biblical hermeneutics

    … Read More

  • An Open Letter about the EzzoTruth Site +

    Summary of This Open Letter

    A site called Ezzotruth.com portrays authors Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo as victims of attacks on their parenting programs and personal character by unprincipled people. Because many of the accusations at the site have been discussed in the past, Ezzo.info simply suggests two things to consider: whether the Ezzos’ claims of victimhood at the hands of numerous reputable Christian leaders are believable and whether the results in the Ezzos’ own family support their teaching. The debate is wearying, but it is crucial to the Christian

    … Read More
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