By now most Americans are aware of the “Shiny, Happy People” documentary posted on Amazon Prime for the last several months, attacking the Duggars, IBLP, and Bill specifically. The 4 part series is the most watched Prime documentary ever and has generated an unimaginable deluge of hatred toward all of the entities cited.
We are, as best and as objectively as we can be, furiously committed to the truth as it relates to Bill Gothard and his ministries. It is, however, crystal clear that the producers – Chick Entertainment, lead by Olivia Crist – came into this with an agenda to destroy or at least damage conservative Christians. They are particularly focused on those that homeschool, seeking to protect their children from the godless soul crushing woke mindset that has worked its way into all corners of our society. To that end this is an open propaganda piece, stretching, twisting the truth mixed with an astonishing number of lies.
The purpose of this OP is in part to open a platform for this consideration for those that actually care about the truth. We will, as always, provide the facts as we know them or can discover them. It has, however, been amazing that, given the fury of animosity seen on Bill’s social media sites in response to the documentary, there has been an corresponding lack of interest in getting a second perspective. We expected this blog to be buzzing, but it has most definitely been not. Elsewhere the fury came, the fury went.
But serious, slanderous accusations have been made. Accusations of Bill’s unimaginable wealth to overt racism to rape and serial molestation of young women and children, even to secret plans to overthrow the government. We have been heartened to see an independent group – independent to us, to Bill, IBLP or Duggars – that discerned a larger agenda in this attack and is organizing to counter it. Holly McLean put out a video called “Was I in a Cult?” expressing her initial concerns. We found it extremely balanced. Shortly thereafter a larger group formed spinning around Sacred Honor Media, intent o
n deploying a professional produced documentary in response. The working title is “Shiny Slander” and research and production efforts are already underway. We will assist them with facts and access as they ask, but have been told repeatedly that they are committed to complete independence.
Fundraising has commenced as well. For those that would like to encourage and support them, the link is https://www.givesendgo.com/shinyslander. We wholeheartedly endorse this effort and hope that likeminded individuals will support them. The truth is the truth and we will support it wherever it leads. But cancel culture and godless hatred of Jesus and His Word and servants are what they are as well and this boldfaced attempt to destroy us all must be answered, one way or another. May the Lord bless Holly and the others at “Shiny Slander” and allow them to succeed.
Holly McLean is a trip. I tortured myself just listening to her. She is wrong and false on many accounts. Jinger did not appear in Shiny Happy People until the very last episode here Jinger appeared in a video clip of her from one of her numerous book interviews. Jill is the one that was interviewed in the series, not Jinger. Holly also states that “most Christians would agree with Bill Gothard”. Where does she get her sweeping statement from because this is not true. She brushes aside all the firsthand testimonies from people raised in the stuff about how it damaged them. What an arrogant snob of a woman. This is the best you got? No one has heard of Sacred Honor. They obviously are looking for money. Amazon series is made of up firsthand testimony from Jim Bob’s family and friends as well as firsthand testimonies from those that were raised in ATI. There is nothing slanderous about firsthand testimonies.
Back to Holly, I went to the seminars too. I was fortunate to marry someone that didn’t believe in this junk, so I didn’t go down that road. So just attending IBYC which is what it was when I went didn’t qualify for “being in a cult” but going down the path of ATI and all the rest and I do plan to never watch another torturous video by you again. Maybe you ought to study what humility is because you certainly lack it. You don’t have all the answers Holly and your short hair is just too much.
I’m sorry you did not find the videos I provide helpful and you were “tortured”. Not sure I’ve heard that one before, but ok. I hope you have a full recovery. LOL
If you read the description of the video, the mistake about Jinger vs Jill was already addressed.
If you look at the basic principles of
Design
Authority
Responsibility
Suffering
Ownership
Freedom
Success
Most Christians agree that God designed the world in a certain way and He has a purpose in that design.
Most Christians do agree that God has placed authorities in our world for a reason. Just read Roman chapter 13 to start with. Maybe all Christians do not agree with the application Gothard teaches, true. But that’s not what I said.
We could go through each one of these principles and say the same sort of thing.
The character qualities taught in the IBLP materials… generally Christian agree with being prudent, modest, kind, generous, organized, honest… etc, etc, etc. Again, the application is the question and that will be explored.
The first hand testimonies you are referring to vary in many ways. Some were accounts of people who had family problems, personal problems, and problems with the way their parents treated them. That’s sad. I agree.
Certainly anyone who was in a family that was abusive is a problem. The question is, was that abuse due to the IBLP teachings or the failures of the parents? We will explore this further. But if you listen to their testimonies, there are lots of clues about the answer even with the heavy editing in SHP. My heart goes out to those who feel they were hurt in those ways.
Others gave testimony about the Duggars and about Bill that will be addressed in the docuseries to come. Basically, there was a lot that was not true and a lot of misrepresentation in the piece.
Keep in mind there is a lot more information in the court documents that SHP producers purposefully did not reveal. Once that is put on the table, it is possible you might change your mind about some of it. Of course, that is if you have an open mind to take in more information. If you do not, no amount of factual information that was hidden will matter to you once it is revealed.
And, if my hair is offensive to you, I guess you believe women should have long hair? Not sure what your point is about that, but my goal isn’t to please the audience with my looks. It’s to be a normal looking as I can muster. I doubt I could pull off being super pleasant looking anyway – so we have to do with what we’ve got! LOL
Thank you for your reply. I do realize that I was rather tough but again, JInger was not featured, Jill was. Jinger did state publicly that she turned down being interviewed by them. I don’t know how you can determine what is factual or not by the people that were featured on Shiny. Their testimonies match the countless of other testimonies that have been featured in places like Recovering Grace and now many many others in blogs, videos, Tic Toc etc. You simple cannot brush all of this off as just misunderstandings, bad families and mental illness. Whatever good you think there is in Bill’s teachings. I finally did listen to your whole video. The kook family you described as knowing should have been a red flag that their is something really off about the teachings of Bill Gothard and should not be passed off as these people were kooks. I honestly don’t care how one wears their hair but you started your video was being rather smug about wearing long hair because you felt feminine or that it made you more feminine and that Bill Gothard didn’t tell you to do this. Well, a lot of people did not only wear long hair because of Bill, but curled it as well because of Bill. Just look at the early pictures of the Duggar girls. In the beginning of their shows, all of them were curing their hair. That is directly from Bill himself.
Honestly, I don’t care about how women choose to wear their hair or why. I was just making clear that my choices didn’t have anything to do with IBLP. If you don’t like my hair style… ok then, that doesn’t matter to me and seems a bit silly to talk about imv. LOL
I already stated that the mistake with Jill/Jinger was addressed in the video description. I actually didn’t expect this video to go anywhere, so who said what wasn’t the point anyway. I didn’t think taking the time to correct it before release was necessary. In the end, the point of the video is still intact, so these details are actually irrelevant to that.
I think Jill Duggar was used by SHP producers and in her emotional state, I think she made a mistake to agree to it. But, it could be because she is looking for opportunities to promote her book coming out next month. That would be understandable because anytime a book is being released, stirring up the pot of interest is necessary to sell it. Did she realize her interview would take the direction it did? Idk.
The “kook” family you are referring to has other issues that are completely unrelated to their involvement in IBLP teachings which caused some of their beliefs to go as they did. But, at the same time, I acknowledged in the video how I believe an overactive conscience is created when Gothard’s teachings are taken in without balance. That is what I said in the video. From my research after that, I think Bill himself has an overactive conscience which has caused some of the problems he is facing now.
But, because some teachings are not the same as mine or yours, does that mean ALL the things taught are evil? Does that mean the concepts are all wrong and nothing good is in them? Or, could it be that we should examine any teachings from any source with a critical eye and determine what in them can be of benefit and what should be disregarded?
The fact that so many people don’t have any discernment about SHP is an indication of how people don’t seem to be able to do this… with anything! They swallow the whole without thinking about the details.
It doesn’t seem to matter all the contradictions or things that just don’t make sense or don’t ring true. For example, in one part of the series, Bill Gothard is described as a cult leader with no checks and balances, basically a dictatorial leader who answers to nobody. Yet, in another part of the series, the board of directors tells him NO and he has to comply. And does so. And then again later he is removed from the ministry. No checks and balances??
I’ve since learned of other incidents where BGothard was corrected by the board or told he shouldn’t do this or that. And he complied. Does that sound like a cult leader with no one to check him? Does it sound like he had complete reign over his “cult” as those kinds of leaders do? It doesn’t to me.
Another example, it is stated that IBLP families do not educate their children except with wisdom booklets that don’t teach math. And that families who homeschooled have raised children that are struggling because they are uneducated and have no way to earn a decent living.
Yet, in another part of the series, it talks about how these same students are infiltrating the highest places in government and law enforcement. The FBI, CIA, Congress, etc. Yet they are uneducated with no skills? Does that make sense?
There are SO many examples like that throughout the SHP series. Things that don’t add up and don’t make sense. But, people seem to just completely miss them. They seem to blindly accept whatever is presented.
If you haven’t seen the video about Balloon Boy, I suggest you do. There are MANY examples in history of this same kind of thing happening where a narrative is created, promoted without balance, and then there is no stopping it. https://youtu.be/QWhUvm8SunY
I do know there are people who find a person they admire and then seem to hang on their every word. And I also believe there are many people who did that with BGothard. The question is, was that what Mr. Gothard expected and reveled in? Was IBLP actually a cult or were there people who treated it like one in their own families?
This will be explored. And so will the testimonies of those who accused IBLP and Gothard of being the culprit for all their woes as adults. Just a note: you might want to research repressed memories. They play a huge role in the lawsuit and SHP didn’t say a word about that because it didn’t fit their narrative.
The claims about Christians and homeschoolers will be set straight as well.
And, the narrative that the Duggars are evil or unfit parents is absolutely ridiculous. Did they make some mistakes? Sure. But unfit parents? Abusive or neglectful? Obviously this was a narrative completely out of context and slanderous without any balance or context applied.
And for those who swallow this whole SHP thing without any critical thinking applied to it, I say, wait for the docuseries to come and try to add a little balance to your thought processes.
He did revel in it I believe. The ten minute standing ovations. The flurry of activity to get the the reception area of wherever he was arriving perfectly ready for him. He enjoyed it I’m sure. It’s heady stuff after all, and difficult to resist.
Above, that’s a funny point about balloon boy. The old proverb still applies. “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt!” How often are we rendered foolish when we speak too soon?
Do Gothard’s enemies appear on social media? What does that betoken? For decades, Bill Gothard made friends and enemies. Like Roosevelt’s man in the arena, Gothard spent himself in a worthy cause, “so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
What about the red herring of hair? Does curly hair show approval of Bill Gothard? Does Bill Gothard have many fans among negroes? If curly hair affirms Bill Gothard, whom does baldness affirm? Or gray hair?
What about “cold and timid souls” like us? Is keyboard gossip our best way to follow Christ?
Above, brother Nathan said that Bill Gothard probably reveled in the praise and attention he received. What does this signify? C.S. Lewis addressed this when he wrote about pride:
“Pleasure in being praised is not pride. The child who is patted on the back for doing a lesson well, the woman whose beauty is praised by her lover, the saved soul to whom Christ says, ‘Well done,’ are pleased and ought to be. For here the pleasure lies not in what you are but in the fact that you have pleased someone you wanted (and rightly wanted) to please.” Is it virtue or vice to appreciate appreciation? It all depends.
I watched the series with an open mind. I was disappointed in the lack of credible people involved in the series. There were many other people they could have picked to be a voice that would have been truthful and believable. When they started the series out by saying the ultimate goal of Gothard and IBLP was world domination, instantly my eyes rolled! I was there for 12 years, world domination is laughable. But to be honest the most shocking to me was the lack of substance in several of the stories. For instance the one girl, Emily gave this detailed story about eating dinner with Bill… he tells her he loves her say’s to her, “let’s’ go up to my office”. She leads you to believe that something very bad was about to happen! She is a good storyteller, I was on the edge of my seat!! But then she says he walked into his office and there was a male worker…. and that was pretty much the end of the story, so nothing happened?! She said he began grooming her, but failed to tell us what he was grooming her for? I can only imagine her “grooming” was her training to become a secretary? She never actually came out and blamed Bill for anything, other than holding her hand and telling her he loved her. I was shocked they left her story in the documentary. The sad part to me, is that the girl acts as if she was sexually abused by Bill, but of course she never accused him of such.
It makes me think these people are looking for an identity and have found one in telling their story, really sad. I honestly felt sorry for all the people on the documentary because their past has become what has defined them. So many people hurt by IBLP and Bill are not able to move on. If it hadn’t been IBLP or Bill, it would have been somebody else. Unless you can heal from your past, it will always dictate your future, and you are, and will continue to be a victim. Such a prison to live in.
I am not excusing Bill’s wrong doings… I have written before on here where I feel like he was wrong, and moderators here disagree with me. However I feel I have an honest and balanced perspective because of personal experience, yet even I would say that shiny happy people failed to give anywhere close to a true story of actual events.
We know Emily Jaeger Anderson well. She was Doe 3 in the lawsuit where she asked $500K for these events. She could not get her stories past depositions before she dropped out without a settlement. Could have sued again within a year but declined to do so. The Lord is judge between her and Bill.
She is telling similar stories as a speaker coast to coast accusing her own father of “sexual abuse”. We have her unguarded testimony in discovery documents about exactly what her father did to her. From her own words it is clear that this is another example of therapy and “repressed memories” inventing a “truth” that is simply false. Jesus said, “For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.” (Matthew 15:4)
We read a good point on 8/23 above. When people fling accusations of grooming, they keep their words vague and mysterious.
To what end was the grooming supposedly happening? We are not told. We are left to assume it is dark and scary. Are vague accusations easy to make, but difficult to prove? In slang, we call that a cheap shot.
Are we being groomed to impute dark motives without just cause? But what about the famous words in 1 Corinthians 13? Charity “thinketh no evil,” while vague accusers impute nothing but evil!
Did a short-haired woman criticize the Gothard critics? Above, we are told that her criticism is like torture. Why, the critic even brushed aside unproven gossip. Worse still, the critic has short hair. Supposedly, people who criticize Gothard-critics are only “looking for money,” but the Gothard-critics themselves are never looking for money.
“You must show that a man is wrong before you start explaining why he is wrong. The modern method is to assume without discussion that he is wrong and then distract his attention from this (the only real issue) by busily explaining how he became so silly. In the course of the last fifteen years I have found this vice so common that I have had to invent a name for it. I call it Bulverism.”
—C.S. Lewis, Bulverism
As Rob helpfully notes, slander can be useful when looking for money. Does this explain some recent anti-Gothard productions?
I would like to go on record to predict that the rebuttal documentary never sees the light of day. 17 donors so far? Out of the alleged millions who went through his program? That should tell you something.
You can’t muzzle the avalanche of people who have come forward and continue to do so. I do not find your efforts to discredit them all convincing.
Sure, let’s take that challenge 🙂 Having gotten to know the folks driving it forward I am impressed with their zeal. Even more important, if the Lord is in it, He will take it by the hand and bring it through.
As to the “avalanche of people” coming forward – where are they, brother? The documentary took every accusation – most of which already clearly and thoroughly debunked – and gave them a shiny new coat of paint. The exceptions are a few “me too” folks, anxious to cash in and with even less beef than the others.
Others have predicted the avalanche. Coming from the repressed silent masses that have borne their shame and hurt in silence for decades. Lawsuits galore.
It . . . Hasn’t happened! We are aware of one (1) lawsuit that was filed that alleges that Bill is personally responsible for a father and sons molesting daughters/sisters as young as 2 years old. They cite SHP as proof. We shall see, but I have a feeling that some folks will be paying to return legal fees in short order.
The full court press back in the 2015 time frame was to be that avalanche. Out of the thousands of women Bill personally counseled they were only able to find 19 who stood up for that. 1 dropped out before the final submission, 1 was a man (still not sure what that was all about as he did not claim Bill hurt him), and 2 were suing people other than Bill. They were all in a group, heavily collaborating over social media night and day for 2 years, hoping that a mass of accusations – 180 counts – would spook IBLP into settling. In the end there was NO BEEF. Nothing that could carry though a trial. The personal injury firm employed basically dropped them all and ate what had to have been a quarter of a million $ in costs. NO, it wasn’t the “statutes of limitations”, because Judge Popejoy ruled that if what they claimed in their pleas were true, they did not apply. It wasn’t publicity as 7 were “Jane Does”, and the others didn’t care. They left a $500K per person payday. THAT was the avalanche, my friend, and it turned out to be a trickle that quickly petered out.
We have good legal counsel that defamation suits would prevail in the current situation. Question remains how much damage this has actually done and what Bill is up for. So, let’s see. I suspect you have no idea of how things really are.
Brother James, shall we increase the avalanche of people mentioned above? Would you please supply some evidence of harm which Bill Gothard did to you personally? Otherwise, are we referring only to an avalanche of gossip? Indeed, gossip is one of the sins which most grieved Jesus and his apostles. Whom will the avalanche sweep into Hell? Let’s not find out the hard way!
As for seventeen donors out of millions, what indeed should that tell us? We give up. What is the most probable answer?
“Sure, let’s take that challenge 🙂 Having gotten to know the folks driving it forward I am impressed with their zeal.”
Interesting. Ok, game on! We should probably define some terms. To me, success in a documentary would mean it gets picked up by a major platform, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon etc. If that happens, you win, hands down. Smaller Christian platforms would count too, as long as they are truly a significant platform with at least 10,000 or so subscribers. A guy walking around with his iPhone video taping, then uploading to YouTube, well, anyone can do that, so would have to say that would not count. Unless, iPhone guy uploads the documentary and gets 100,000+ views on YouTube. I’ll go ahead and say that counts as success.
Lunch at Chick-fil-A?
🙂 I am going to start with “never sees the light of day”. Those were your words and I am going to work with that. The production house putting this together knows how to work with the major platforms. No, this is not a guy with an iPhone, we have seen them at work.
Regardless, Chick-Fil-A sounds delightful.