Only Sky ✏ A review of “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets”, episode 2: “Growing Up Gothard”
 |
| Adam Lee |
In the second episode of “Shiny Happy People”, the filmmakers interview a variety of people raised in families that attended Bill Gothard’s IBLP seminars. Some of them knew the Duggars from these seminars before they were on TV. Each and every one of them testifies to the lasting harm that Gothard’s toxic theology inflicted on their lives.
IBLP wasn’t affiliated with any one denomination, although it tended to spread through Southern Baptist churches. One of its key teachings is that the world is organized into a strict hierarchy of authority and obedience. Children are meant to obey their parents, wives are meant to obey their husbands, husbands are meant to obey their churches… and, one presumes, the churches are meant to obey Bill Gothard’s teachings. This means he’s effectively made himself the pope.
Approved voices and book burnings
IBLP calls this the “umbrella of protection” and teaches that you’re safe as long as you’re under the shield of your rightful authority. To them, this isn’t just a metaphor. If you disobey the authorities set over you, or commit some other sin, it creates a “hole” in your umbrella.
IBLP wasn’t affiliated with any one denomination, although it tended to spread through Southern Baptist churches. One of its key teachings is that the world is organized into a strict hierarchy of authority and obedience. Children are meant to obey their parents, wives are meant to obey their husbands, husbands are meant to obey their churches… and, one presumes, the churches are meant to obey Bill Gothard’s teachings. This means he’s effectively made himself the pope.
Approved voices and book burnings
IBLP calls this the “umbrella of protection” and teaches that you’re safe as long as you’re under the shield of your rightful authority. To them, this isn’t just a metaphor. If you disobey the authorities set over you, or commit some other sin, it creates a “hole” in your umbrella.
Continue reading @ Only Sky.
No comments