....”Gothardism is nothing but super-repressive legalism which Gothard devised .....
Well Catherine I finally took some time to investigate the teachings and seminars Gothard produces.
It’s a cult and a dangerous one because their teachings redefine words and those words are taught in their indoctrination process..... That’s why outsiders could read his stuff and not understand why it was so twisted....
Redefining words = doublespeak.
This is also a technique which is being used with the seeker-sensitive/purpose-driven movement and in hyper-charismatic groups.......People join the group, thinking you are in agreement, but over time your definition changes to match the group’s definition.
The focus of teaching the “Umbrella of Authority” central to Gathard’s seminars and teachings spoke volumes... It effectively takes away your own responsibility for your behavior and places it in the hands of those who “God had placed in authority” over you..........so you’re taught if my authority tells me to sin, it was my spiritual authority who would be held accountable for that sin..... But if I disobeyed, then I would be held accountable for my disobedience.....additionally... “A church culture that promotes seeking mystical experience from God makes naive believers ripe for deception”....and Gothard’s teachings included much of that.
Duggard’s appear to parent for external/image...”Your family should “look like this”....so that the children seem to shine .... in effect performance based kids....which is legalism...and what we see in the interviews and in their programs.
Gottard’s manner of manipulation and teachings reflect much of the “Word of Faith” movement... which subliminally brings ‘cult oppression’ while masquerading ecumenical ‘religious posturing’. Again what we are seeing with and throughout their programs and interviews.
Further...During seminars Gottard tells people not to lend out the materials to people who wouldn’t “understand.”
As to the children....Parents are taught any questioning from children is ‘rebellion’...and presented as the sin of witchcraft. And the children are taught never to “give a bad report” to parents, so this prevents letting parents know problems that the kids might otherwise share. ..and because the teachings themselves require member families to fall in line with his teachings, this consistently conditions them to isolate themselves, both spiritually and physically, from the rest of the world.
No wonder they ended up with a kid messed up enough to fondle his sisters.
Thank you for all of that research, caww. Now it should be obvious to anyone that the Duggars are neck-deep not only in false teaching, but a controlling cult.