Sons of Patriarchy Gothard, Wilson, and Fundamentalist America
Jul 21, 2025
Christy Lynne Wood, author and speaker, shares her journey from a decade in Bill Gothard's IBLP movement to finding her faith. She discusses the isolation and strict gender roles enforced in Gothard culture, drawing parallels between Gothard and Doug Wilson’s teachings. Christy emphasizes the appeal of high-control religions, rooted in fear and community. She advocates for a thoughtful approach to deconstructing faith, illustrating how renewed belief can emerge from this process, and encourages compassion towards those still in rigid systems.
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Growing Up Inside IBLP
- Christy Lynne Wood spent a decade in Bill Gothard's IBLP movement from age 12 to about 22 and worked at seminars.
- She taught at Basic Seminars and experienced the homeschool program's curriculum and culture firsthand.
Media Exposed IBLP To Wider Audiences
- Christy recalls public exposure of IBLP practices via documentaries like 'Shiny Happy People' that revealed inner workings.
- That media attention made Gothard's influence more recognizable to outsiders through examples like the Duggars.
Set-Apart Culture And Surface Judgments
- Gothard-trained kids were taught to judge outsiders and assume moral root problems by appearances.
- The movement emphasized being 'set apart' with rigid rules on dress, music, dating, and gender roles.
