Bill Gothard
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| Bill Gothard | |
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| Born | William W. Gothard Jr. November 2, 1934 Illinois, United States |
| Residence | La Grange Illinois, United States |
| Occupation | Instructor, author |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Website | |
| BillGothard.com | |
William W. (Bill) Gothard (born November 2, 1934) is an American Christian minister, speaker and writer, and the founder of the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP), notable for his conservative teachings. Among the several strong distinctives of his teaching have been encouragement of Bible memorization, large families, homeschooling, aversion to debt, respect for authority and extended principles related to identity, family, education, healthcare, music and finances.
At the height of his popularity during the 1970's, the Basic Youth Conflicts seminar with Bill Gothard was regularly filling auditoriums throughout the United States and beyond with attendance figures as large as ten thousand and more for a one-week seminar. In this way, he reached many in the evangelical community from the Baby Boomer generation during their teen years and years of young adulthood. Other seminars during this time included an advanced youth conflicts seminar and as well as seminars for pastors, physicians and legislators. Bill Gothard has credited a large influence to his parents and father, William Gothard, Sr. was a speaker at many seminars during the early years. William Gothard Sr. held high positions at organizations that included the Gideons, Child Evangelism Fellowship and Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago[1].
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[edit] Biography
Bill Gothard received his B.A., in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College in 1957 and an M.A. in Christian Education in 1961 from the same institution.[2]
Gothard started an organization in 1961 called Campus Teams,[3] which in 1974 changed its name to Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts. Later, in 1989, the organization's name changed again to Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP),[4] of which Gothard is currently the president and a board member.
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[edit] Teaching
Gothard's primary teaching, his "Basic Seminar," focuses on seven Biblically based "Basic Life Principles." Some[who?] argue that Gothard's teaching is legalistic but he claims that he teaches principles rather than rules to avoid legalism. He claims that the seven principles are universal and people will suffer the consequences of violating these principles. This philosophy is similar to natural law based ethics. Just as a physicist discovers natural universal laws, the natural law ethicist believes that there are discoverable universal ethical principles. Gothard's principles are called Design, Authority, Responsibility, Suffering, Ownership, Freedom, and Success.[5]
The design principle is that people should understand their specific purpose for which God created them. This is a similar principle that launched Rick Warren's best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life. Once a person understands his/her purpose and the purpose for other people, objects, and relationships in their life, then harmony and self-acceptance are the result.
The authority principle is that inward peace results when people respect and honor the authorities (parents, government, etc.) that God has put in their lives. One controversial aspect of this teaching is that the husband is the authority figure in marriage. While this principle is clearly Biblical (Ephesians 5, for example), some modern day Christians believe that this view is outdated.
The responsibility principle is that a clear conscience results when people realize that they are responsible to God for every thought, word, action, and motive. Part of this principle is asking forgiveness from whomever has been offended. Personal responsibility begins with a person's thought life.
The suffering principle teaches people to forgive others for the pain that they have caused you. It further teaches that pain is often a tool that God uses to develop character.
The ownership principle teaches that people are stewards, not owners, of their possessions. Gothard teaches that when a person yields their rights to God, true security results.
The freedom principle is enjoying the desire and the power to do what is right. Moral purity is the result of true freedom. This is probably the most controversial principle because many of the examples of "wrong" like certain types of music and dress are not generally accepted as being "sinful" even by those claiming to be evangelical Christians.
The success principle is that when people learn to think God's thoughts by meditating on and memorizing scripture, they make wise decisions and fulfill their life purposes.
In addition to the Basic Seminar, Gothard also has an Advanced Seminar and an Anger Resolution Seminar. He also has a 49-week "Daily Success" series where he expounds on the "Commands of Christ" found in the Gospels.
Gothard's "Total Health" training seeks to bring a Biblical view of sickness. He considers that there may be spiritual aspects of illness. His "Basic CARE Bulletins" and "Total Health Seminars" are offered to those who have attended "Basic" or "Advanced" or "Anger Resolution" seminars.
Gothard encourages homeschooling. IBLP publishes its own Advanced Training Institute (homeschool) materials.
Gothard teaches that dating is morally dangerous and that courtship is the better alternative. Gothard encourages parents to be involved in their children's courtship. The father, especially, should be involved in his daughter's relationships. He should at the very least have the right to say "no" when a man asks to marry his daughter.
[edit] Controversy
Gothard’s teachings discourage dating and rock music, including Christian rock. Gothard teaches that women working outside the home are putting themselves under another man's authority and conflict will arise. He has warned that some toys such as Cabbage Patch dolls may cause destructive behavior in children.[6]
Gothard teaches that some diseases have spiritual roots and to have suspicion of modern medicine.[6]
Gothard continues to be the subject of much debate, many protesting his teachings as authoritarian, and anti-woman[7][8] Some people have written books, developed websites, and formed communities which complain of psychological, emotional, abuse as a result of Gothard's teachings [9] [10] [11]. Gothard relied heavily on the philosophy of a patriarchy, going so far as to describe the father as a "hammer" which strikes the mother (chisel), to form the children into proper character[12]. Various books, websites, and communities have been formed on the basis of claims to have been psychologically, emotionally, abused as a direct result of Gothard's teachings. Ronald B. Allen, now a Senior Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary, criticized Gothard as being "basically anti-woman" [7]. Additionally, after interviewing some former Gothard devotees, Sarah Posner reported that "his unyielding theology, including 'non-optional' compliance with seven 'biblical' principles (the 'basic' life principles), compliance with 49 'character traits,' and other periodic Gothard revelations, are contrary to the Bible and have wreaked havoc on their emotional and spiritual lives of [them and their] families." [8]
Several organizations exist for the purpose of ministering to those who have left Gothard's fold and exposing what they believe to be the heresies of his teachings; notable among them are Midwest Christian Outreach and Recovering Grace.
[edit] Books
- Basic Preparation for Engagement. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1971, ASIN B00
- How to Evaluate Music. Life Change Books, 1989, ISBN Unavailable
- Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts: Research in Principles of Life. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1981, ISBN 0-916888-05-3
- Men's Manual, Vol. 1. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1979, ISBN 0-916888-04-5
- Nuestro Dios Celoso/Our Jealous God: El Amor que no me deja ir/The love that doesn't let me go. Editorial Unilit 2004, ISBN 0-7899-1215-5
- Our Jealous God. Life Change Books, 2003. ISBN 1-59052-225-7
- Rebuilder's Guide. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1982. ISBN 0-916888-06-1
- Research in Principles of Life: Advanced Seminar Textbook. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts 1986. ISBN 0-916888-11-8
- Rewards of Being Reviled. Life Change Books, 2004. ISBN 0-916888-30-4
- Self-Acceptance. Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts, 1984. ASIN B0007270AO
- The Power of Crying Out. Life Change Books, 2002, ISBN 1-59052-037-8
- The Power of Spoken Blessings. Life Change Books, 2004. ISBN 1-59052-375-X
- The Sevenfold Power of First Century Churches and Homes. Life Change Books, 2000. ISBN 0-916888-18-5
[edit] References
- ^ http://iblp.org/iblp/about/billgothard/father/ IBLP:A Tribute To William Gothard, Sr.
- ^ "Biographical Sketch". http://www.billgothard.com/about/bio. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ Cassels, Louis (June 23, 1973). "Clergyman-Novelist Links Wit, Theology". The Pittsburgh Press. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3UcdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZlQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6930,2526281&dq=bill-gothard+campus-teams&hl=en. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ Poll, Rich (March 1, 2003). "A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life". Christianity Today. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/march/35.77.html. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
- ^ http://iblp.org/iblp/seminars/basic/principles/
- ^ a b ”Shooter's lessons strict, rule-driven”, Nancy Lofholm, The Denver Post , 12/12/2007, [1]
- ^ a b "Cultish Christian Leader Teaches Women Should Submit to Husbands -- Victims of His "Submission Theology" Speak Out." [2]
- ^ a b "'Taliban Dan's' Teacher: Inside Bill Gothard's Authoritarian Subculture: Critics describe shattered lives, abuse fo spiritual authority" by Sarah Posner [3]
- ^ "Battered Sheep" [4]
- ^ "A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard & the Christian Life" by Don Veinot, Joy Veinot, & Ron Henzel. 21st Century Press, 2002.
- ^ "Independent Spirits" [5]
- ^ ”Issues of Concern — Bill Gothard and the Bible: A Report ”, Ronald B. Allen Th.D.1, Professor of Hebrew Scripture, Western Baptist Seminary, Portland, Oregon, May 30, 1984, [6]
[edit] External links
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