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I am troubled by the increasing hostility of evangelicals towards those who hold opinions and
beliefs different from theirs. It seems that every issue, no matter how insignificant, is a hill to
die on. Thus, my recent letter about LifeWise Academy was seen as a personal attack. This was
not my intent. Unlike some folks, I understand the difference between critique and personal
attack. When people don’t understand the difference, they attack the person, not the idea.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve had countless evangelicals personally attack me for something I’ve
written or said. Most often, I am threatened with hellfire and brimstone, though I have received
death threats too. Worse, I have had evangelicals attack my partner, children and
grandchildren. One fine Christian even suggested that our daughter with Down Syndrome
deserved to be assaulted.

I know more than a few local school administrators and teachers read my letters to the
newspaper. I know this because my grandchildren tell me that administrators and teachers call
on them, both privately and in class, to defend what I have written. My children have
experienced similar behavior at Northwest State Community College and their places of
employment.

In what world is it proper to question and berate grandchildren over something their
grandfather said or did? I stand on my own two feet. My words are my own. My family knows I
don’t expect them to defend me. In fact, I have let them know it is okay for them to disown me
if it makes life easier for them. So far, none of them has done so.

I told my children and grandchildren to tell their interlocutors to contact me directly if they
have questions or want to challenge something I have said. I am a public figure; well-known,
and easy to find. If school administrators and teachers want to put me in my place, I suggest
they not use children to passive-aggressively make a point.

I am more than happy to respond to any questions people have. I told my one granddaughter to
tell her high school teacher that I would be more than happy to speak to his class or engage him
in a formal debate. He, of course, refused to engage. It’s easy to berate kids lacking theological,
philosophical and historical foundations. Not so with someone like me, and I suspect that’s why
he ignored my challenge.

Bruce Gerencser
Ney