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Articles about how Bill Gothard mishandles the Bible to support his legalistic viewpoint.

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Stories and accounts of the destruction caused by the teachings of Bill Gothard.

Tag Archives: college

The Art of Manipulation

5 March 2012, 06:00

Moderator

23

“Joseph, I wouldn’t be surprised if God caused the plane to crash in order to punish you for not honoring your mother.”  That’s what my mother said to me in the summer of 2002. I was 25 years old and it was the night before 4 of my friends and myself were to board a […]

The Aftermath of ATI and its Aversion to Higher Education: Part 2

29 February 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

16

This article continues a two-part series as students share the long-term effects of ATI’s teaching against college.         College was evil in my family. My parents have changed their views on this now, but still don’t put a huge emphasis on the importance of a degree. So now, I have 3 siblings […]

The Aftermath of ATI and its Aversion to Higher Education: Part 1

27 February 2012, 06:00

Carolynn

38

In the early days of ATI (Advanced Training Institute), families with a student in college were denied enrollment. While the official policy changed early on in the program, the philosophy of discouraging higher education continues to this day. The reasons given are varied, but the bottom line is clear: Students frequently were not encouraged or […]

My Life in ATI, part three

13 December 2011, 06:00

DavidA

19

Courtship? After ALERT, our family moved to North Carolina. I had a crush on a girl back in Texas and told my Dad about it. My Dad thought that our personalities were not compatible, but I was insistent, so he told her father about it. The girl’s father said that they would be attending a […]

The Disease Catalogue

7 December 2011, 05:00

BrianD

35

Have a migraine? You may be struggling with guilt. Did you just develop a sinus infection? There is a good chance fear and anxiety are plaguing you. Does your grandfather have Osteoporosis? You may want to tell him that he is struggling with envy and jealousy. It’s hard to believe, perhaps, but these kinds of […]

Life Unexpected

5 December 2011, 06:00

Cyndi

12

Having been raised for 13 years in the Advanced Training Institute (ATI) home school program I was confident of a successful marriage. I followed the formula. I waited for God’s Best. I saved my first kiss until after engagement (though I’m sure I should have saved it for the wedding day). I had my parents’ […]

Keeping Up Appearances.

21 November 2011, 06:00

Moderator

19

I am a survivor of Gothardism. I fully believe ATI is a twisted system of unrealistic rules and regulations. Even more, it gives abusive parents the tools and justification they need to rationalize their behavior. Let me start at the beginning. I went to public school from preschool through first grade. After that, my family […]

Once a Child Always a Child???

31 October 2011, 06:00

Moderator

40

When I was 15, a lifelong dream was fulfilled–I finally got to go to a Bill Gothard seminar.  My parents had been going annually for years and I was ecstatic that I was old enough to attend.  When my parents first went, they were astonished at the practical nature of Gothard’s teachings.  He had a […]

A Letter From My Heart

5 October 2011, 06:00

Ed B

5

“My view of myself was so big when I felt I had to keep all the codes that my Savior was small in my thinking.”

Dear Friends, I’m 32 years old and married to my beautiful wife of 3 years. We have a 2-year-old boy and a 10-month-old girl and I love being their dad. In fact, baby #3 is in the oven and we are excited about our growing family! We don’t feel an obligation to fulfill God’s command […]

Taking the Bait

12 September 2011, 06:00

RickH

11

Hooked on Principles  My story is unique in that I first heard about Bill Gothard when I was an adult. As a college student, I joined a small church in a community in north Austin, Texas. I’d thought about going to seminary much over the previous year but I wasn’t certain that I wanted to […]