There’s a new Amazon documentary on the Duggar Family called “Shiny Happy People,” which exposes the messed-up theology of Bill Gothard and IBLP. I ought to watch it, but I haven’t. For one thing, I literally wrote a novel about life in a high-control group. For another thing, I haven’t heard Bill’s voice for over twenty years and see no reason to alter that trend. And for a third thing, I dislike doing things just because I “ought” to do them (a natural tendency that turned vaguely pathological after years under Bill’s teachings).

Whatever my opinion of the documentary (I suspect it leans into melodrama, but that’s a completely unfounded accusation), my opinion of IBLP/ATI and other similar groups is easy to find. I’ve filled this blog with my thoughts for the past decade.* Groups like this promise security, train their followers to present a smiling successful facade, and then chew you up and spit you out. The details vary, but the script is always the same. That’s what I have to say.

*I ought to link several posts here, but…. you know…. anyway, search the blog for “bill gothard,” “fear,” “teachings,” or “legalism” to find some of what I’ve already said.