Bullying, Discrimination & Ostracizing
Bullying
In addition to the personal stories shared on our Personal Experiences page, we want to show that LifeWise can encourage exclusion and bullying of students who are not Christian. This often happens when their incentives and programs do not influence participation as intended.
LBGTQIA+ Issues
Some evangelical Christian teachings have historically marginalized many people. This includes LGBTQIA+ individuals and people who do not follow purity culture beliefs. These teachings often reject gender-affirming care, dismiss the use of chosen names and pronouns, and promote narratives that exclude transgender and gender-diverse people.
LifeWise Academy incorporates these beliefs into its programming. The organization teaches that divorce is a sin and that sexual activity is only acceptable within marriage. This messaging can be especially harmful to people experiencing domestic abuse. Survivors may be told that leaving a marriage is a sin against God, even when their safety is at risk.
LifeWise teachers and volunteers receive guidance on how to respond to “difficult questions from students.” These materials reinforce these beliefs, even when a child or young person is seeking support or guidance from a trusted adult.
Divorce & Sexual Purity
All of the documents cited here and many more can be found in full at our Documentation page.