Posted by:
Nightingale
(
)
Date: February 01, 2024 04:47PM
kentish Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> until your post I had never heard the name Bill
> Gothard and I doubt anyone I know has either but
> your post seems to me to suggest he is a
> mainstream representatve of all evangelicals when
> he simply is not.
>
> This Sunday I am filling in as a SS teacher to a
> class that can run 25 to 40 people, I will ask
> the class how many know the name. No many, if
> any, I would expect.
A doctor I used to work with loved Bill Gothard and attended his seminars. Gothard's organization was called Institute in Basic Life Principles. He and it are on the very conservative end of the spectrum.
Here's an NBC news article from 2022 about Gothard and the Duggars who apparently embraced his teachings:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ministry-nourished-duggar-familys-faith-falls-grace-rcna14024Excerpts:
“My actions of holding of hands, hugs, and touching of feet or hair with young ladies crossed the boundaries of discretion and were wrong,” Gothard said in 2014 in a now-deleted statement on his website that is still linked on his Twitter profile.
"Twelve women alleged in a civil suit that they had been sexually, physically or psychologically abused by Gothard as minors and that the IBLP had covered it up.
"The IBLP said in a statement that it had “no comment with respect to the claims alleged,” because of a confidentiality order. Gothard has since denied any wrongdoing. He declined to comment when reached by phone."
-----
I can't say I'm shocked. It's all-too-common isn't it. Very disappointing and upsetting, and worse though, for people caught up in it, especially those who feel betrayed by the "gospel" they enthusiastically embraced and tried to follow to the letter.
The article also states:
"In marriage, a man’s role is to provide “servant leadership” while “the woman responds with reverent submission and assistance,” preached Gothard, who has never married."
I have to say that shocks me to hear - I had no clue he's a lifelong singleton. Funny to think that millions have taken his advice on marriage and sex for decades and he has no direct personal experience in the institution himself.
The article uses the term "conservative Protestantism". That descriptor could perhaps help to delineate the different segments of the Christian world. Many Protestant groups are decidedly mainstream and it's inaccurate to lump them in with the extreme offshoot groups.
Plenty of bad stuff happens, most unfortunately. It's easy to write off entire groups based on questionable teachings and/or bad actions of leaders and/or members. But because Gothard fell off his pedestal, deservedly so, that doesn't make me want to harshly judge everybody who identifies as Protestant.
Although I get the impulse felt by many to do so.
Some days we might feel we need to resign from the human race because of bad acts by fellow people. It's a bit impossible though.
I used to ID as EV and think that meant everybody would realize I was considering myself mainstream. EV is decidedly mainstream given where I've been in my wanderings: first with the JWs and then with the Mormons.
You definitely have to define your terms.
PS to comment on the following statement in the article linked above:
"...touching of feet or hair with young ladies crossed the boundaries of discretion and were wrong,” Gothard said in 2014..."
Good heavens. In what universe is it anywhere near reasonable, necessary or advisable for a spiritual adviser to touch a young woman's hair or feet? Seriously unbelievable to me that it happened, by him in particular as he was so highly esteemed by millions, and that nobody spoke up or his organization or other preachers and members didn't call it out. Obviously finally somebody did but ewwwwwwwwww that is decidedly creepy.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2024 04:52PM by Nightingale.