In this episode, we begin examining Bill Gothard’s “Early Signs of Rebellion” checklist from the IBLP Men’s Manual. While he claims to identify warning signs of defiance, many of the behaviors he describes—like feeling tension with parents or expressing concern about favoritism—are actually part of normal childhood development. Gothard’s phrasing…
In this episode, we explore the surprising theological roots of Bill Gothard’s interpretation of a woman’s desire. First, we uncover the quiet influence of Susan Foh—a scholar whose work Gothard quietly borrowed to justify silencing women. Then we turn to his parenting teachings, where a strange list of cause-and-effect claims…
In this follow-up episode, we continue our analysis of Gothard’s “Why Do Children Rebel?” page from the IBLP Men’s Manual. While some of the parenting advice may initially seem helpful, Gothard’s wording twists reasonable ideas into rigid rules and reinforces a harmful pattern of blame. We’ll explore how even good…
Reading Growing up IFB by Jonathan Grisham 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4520900855857152
In this episode, we take a close look at Bill Gothard’s “Why Do Children Rebel?” page from the IBLP Men’s Manual. Gothard lays out a cause-and-effect list, assigning specific types of rebellion in children to particular failures of their fathers. While some underlying principles might seem like sound parenting advice,…
In this episode, we conclude our examination of Bill Gothard’s teachings on marriage and authority—focusing on a surprising source he quietly draws from: theologian Susan Foh. Though Gothard teaches that women should remain silent and not instruct men, he leans on Foh’s interpretation of Genesis 3:16 to justify the claim…
In this episode, we examine the damaging legacy of Bill Gothard’s teachings on marriage—teachings that placed heavy burdens on wives while offering little guidance for husbands. From his interpretation of the term 'helpmeet' to his unbalanced emphasis on female submission, Gothard’s doctrine has shaped generations of evangelical families. But behind…
We continue examining the IBLP Men’s Manual and Gothard’s claims about why wives “react.” This time, we focus on his interpretation of Genesis 3:16, specifically, his use of a lesser-known theory by scholar Susan Foh. Gothard cites her 1970s article to support the idea that a wife’s “desire” in the…
Join us for culty book club. I read you a book related to IBLP or IFB cults, or from cult survivors. We started "Growing Up IFB" last week and will continue this week. Come join in the fun and hang out while we read a survivor's story. 🎙️ New to…
In this episode, we examine Bill Gothard’s teachings on marriage, where he heavily emphasizes wives’ submission while giving little attention to a husband’s call to love. We’ll explore how this imbalance may lead to unhealthy dynamics in Christian marriages, with wives burdened by unrealistic expectations and husbands left with little…
In this episode, we take a closer look at Bill Gothard’s flawed interpretation of the word “helpmeet” and how he uses it to justify a wife’s submission to her husband. Gothard claims that because Eve was created as a helper for Adam, she was meant to be in submission to…
Bill Gothard’s teachings in the IBLP Men’s Manual are filled with unrealistic expectations and puzzling tactics. In this episode, we examine his flawed and idealistic view of wives’ emotional responses, despite never being married himself, and how his perspective creates damaging expectations within marriages. We also take a closer look…
In this follow-up episode, we continue our examination of Bill Gothard’s ‘Why Wives React’ teaching from the IBLP Men's Manual. While Gothard’s first set of claims about wives' reactions has already been shown to be flawed, this portion of his teaching takes things further into unrealistic territory. Does Gothard’s view…
Come join us for a culty book reading and discussion. We have a few survivor books to choose from, we'll decide tonight which one to read.
Despite never being married, Bill Gothard had plenty to say about how wives react to their husbands’ actions. In this episode, we examine his 'Why Wives React' teaching from the IBLP Men's Manual and break down why his cause-and-effect claims don’t hold up. Does a husband’s inconsistent manners really cause…
Why does Bill Gothard have readers jump ahead instead of following his material in order? In this episode, we examine a page that Gothard directs us to from the introduction—one that will be covered in depth later. He instructs fathers to motivate their families to build godly character and to…
IBLP teaches that a father’s authority extends into every aspect of a child’s faith, shaping their spiritual journey through strict oversight, ‘faith checks,’ and high-pressure expectations. In this episode, we examine how these teachings manipulate personal convictions, enforce submission through spiritual control, and create an environment where faith becomes less…
Bill Gothard claims that every man must teach his family 10 'spiritual convictions'—but who truly decides what convictions a Christian should hold? In this episode, we examine how Gothard dictates beliefs instead of allowing God or the Holy Spirit to guide personal faith. By turning convictions into rigid rules, does…
In this episode, we examine how Bill Gothard instructs fathers to conduct ‘faith checks’ on their children—framing them as simple guidance but ultimately enforcing spiritual control. Gothard teaches that a father should regularly question each child’s salvation, commitment to God, and spiritual ‘worthiness.’ While this may seem like encouragement, it…
Bill Gothard’s teachings place a heavy burden on fathers—not just to lead their families but to personally oversee their children’s faith. In this episode, we break down the “Be Strong in Faith” section of IBLP’s Men’s Manual, where Gothard instructs fathers to detect and eliminate their children’s doubts about salvation.…
Bill Gothard’s teachings on fatherhood are full of contradictions. He tells fathers to be kind and loving, yet excuses their failures by blaming Adam’s sin. He encourages fathers to make parenting a competition while insisting they must earn the right to be heard. And most concerning of all, he teaches…
Bill Gothard teaches that a father’s authority never ends—not when his children grow up, not when they marry, and not even when they have children of their own. In this episode, we break down how Gothard expands a father’s control to include sons, daughters, in-laws, grandchildren, and even grandchildren-in-law. Using…
Bill Gothard tells fathers they must be kind, loving, and humble—while also excusing their failures by blaming Adam’s sin. In this episode, we break down the contradictions in IBLP’s teachings on fatherhood. While Gothard demands that fathers control their tempers, accept their children unconditionally, and earn the right to be…