The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming

Rethinking Parenting Advice from Bill Gothard to Douglas Wilson. Author Marissa Burt, Part 1.

Sep 14, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Marissa Burt, an author with a rich background in theological studies and parenting, dives into the impact of distorted evangelical parenting teachings. She shares how her research and personal experiences unearthed the detrimental effects of advice from figures like Bill Gothard and Douglas Wilson. Burt emphasizes the misuse of Ephesians 6 in enforcing obedience, urging a shift towards mutuality in parenting. Her insights aim to redefine what 'good Christian parenting' truly means, promising to challenge conventional beliefs.

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INSIGHT

Theology's Real-World Consequences

Marissa Burt noticed distorted theology producing harmful fruit in people's lives, especially in family teaching.
She began to investigate how beliefs enabled harm both directly and indirectly.

ANECDOTE

Move To South Carolina Shaped Her Path

Marissa and her husband moved from Colorado to Columbia, South Carolina, in June and lived there seven years.
The cultural and climate shock shaped her early adult life and ministry formation.

ANECDOTE

Parenting Through Seminary And Beyond

Marissa had no children when she moved to Columbia and welcomed three children while there.
After returning northwest in 2010 she had three more and continued ministry and church-planting involvement.

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PART ONE (S17Ep10) Author Marissa Burt focuses on how distorted theology has affected the raising of children over the past decades. Her book is titled, "The Myth of 'Good Christian Parenting' - How false promises betrayed a generation of Evangelical families." She and her co-author did extensive surveys and researched more than 100 publications as they thought again about parenting advice from Bill Gothard to Douglas Wilson and more. Their book comes out October 14, 2025.

Here are relevant links:

The Book of Eden, Genesis 2-3 by Bruce C. E.Fleming https://a.co/d/e5QBJvH

The Myth of "Good Christian Parenting" by Marissa Burt and Kelsey McGinnis https://a.co/d/eTx9Ygo

Other links:

Instagram: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnis
Facebook: @mburtwrites | @kelsey.kramermcginnis
TikTok: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcg
YouTube: @mburtwrites
Link to pre-order bonuses
Link to download of the introduction and first chapter Find the book on Amazon
Order from Baker for guaranteed release day delivery
Marissa Franks Burt (MA in Theological Studies, Columbia International University) is a novelist, editor, teacher, and cohost of the At Home with the Lectionary and In the Church Library podcasts. She lives in a small town in Washington's Snoqualmie Valley with her husband, six children, and heaps of books.
Kelsey Kramer McGinnis (PhD, University of Iowa) is a musicologist, educator, and correspondent for Christianity Today, writing on worship practices and Christian subculture. She is an adjunct professor at Grand View University in Des Moines and previously worked at the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.

The Tru316 Foundation (www.Tru316.com) is the home of The Eden Podcast with Bruce C. E. Fleming where we “true” the verse of Genesis 3:16. The Tru316 Message is that “God didn’t curse Eve (or Adam) or limit woman in any way.” Once Genesis 3:16 is made clear the other passages on women and men become clear too. You are encouraged to access the episodes of Seasons 1-11 of The Eden Podcast for teaching on the seven key passages on women and men. Are you a reader? We invite you to get from Amazon the four books by Bruce C. E. Fleming in The Eden Book Series (Tru316.com/trubooks). Would you like to support the work of the Tru316 Foundation? You can become a Tru Partner here: www.Tru316.com/partner