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The '''Institute in Basic Life Principles''' ('''IBLP''') is a [[nondenominational Christian]] [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]] organization that serves as an umbrella organization for several ministries established by American Christian minister [[Bill Gothard]] in 1961. The stated purpose of the organization<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apps.irs.gov/app/pub78 |title=IRS, Search for Charities, Online Version of Publication 78 |access-date=February 13, 2013}}</ref> is to provide instruction on how to find success in life by following biblical principles. This involves programs that include seminars for ministry, community outreach, troubled youth mentoring, and an international ministry.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://iblp.org/about-iblp/what-we-do |title=IBLP: What We Do |date=September 5, 2012 |access-date=February 13, 2013}}</ref> <ref name="Chicago"
==History==
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{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2021}}
One of the core teachings of IBLP is this idea of umbrellas of authority. God is the largest umbrella, the father is directly under that, followed by his wife, and finally their children. The idea is that if each person stays under their umbrella
In addition to adherence to the Bible and their idea of Christian ideals, the IBLP considers men, in particular the patriarch of a family, to be
The consumption of media, such as television, movies, most music, and the internet, is
Women are
Children are typically homeschooled and are taught using the homeschool curriculum published by IBLP, but it isn't a requirement.<ref name="news.google.com">{{Cite web |title=Ocala Star-Banner - Google News Archive Search |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ihgyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0w4EAAAAIBAJ&dq=bill-gothard&pg=2953,5145077 |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=news.google.com}}</ref> [[Sex education|Sexual education]] is not part of IBLP teachings, leading some children and teens to not understand what sexual assault is, and the practice of not teaching sexual education has been criticized by adults who have since left the IBLP and struggle with relationships.
The Bible is read daily, and everyone is expected to spend time meditating on its messages. Children are taught to obey God's message and the rules of their fathers, and that violation of this leads to bad consequences, such as contracting a cold or other sickness. According to Chicago Magazine "Real-world consequences at IBLP included scolding, intense counseling, demotions, and even being kicked out altogether."<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Cult Next Door |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2016/Institute-in-Basic-Life-Principles-Hinsdale/ |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Chicago Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
IBLP endorsed the teachings of [[Michael and Debi Pearl]] on [[Corporal punishment|physical discipline]] which have come under scrutiny over the last several years for their methods.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Horton |first1=Adrian |title='Insidious organization': a reality TV family and the dangers of fundamentalism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jun/01/shiny-happy-people-duggar-family-amazon |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 2023 |access-date=12 June 2023}}</ref>
▲The consumption of media, such as television, movies, most music, and the internet, is discouraged due to concern about immoral content or content that doesn't align with their religious beliefs, though non-contemporary Christian music is accepted. All music which features [[syncopation]] such as rock, heavy metal, jazz, and pop are highly discouraged. Substances that have mentally impairing properties such as alcohol, drugs, psychedelics, etc. are also discouraged.<ref name="Chicago" />
▲Women are encouraged to wear dresses or skirts that are knee-length at a minimum, and wear loose fitting, opaque shirts and blouses and the presence of text printed onto dresses is discouraged as it is thought to bring attention to the body. Men are expected to wear dark suits and white shirts for church related services. Parents are encouraged to have their sons circumcised for religious reasons.
=== Teaching on Marriage ===
IBLP's curriculum focuses heavily on the roles and responsibilities of men and women within a marriage covenant. A husband's authority over his wife is God-given, as is his wife's non-negotiable duty to submit to him; she must respect his position regardless of his "deficiencies".<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=2011-10-10 |title=How can I help my husband take on spiritual leadership? |url=https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-help-my-husband-take-spiritual-leadership |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Institute in Basic Life Principles |language=en |author1=Admin }}</ref><ref name="news.google.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-10-21 |title=How can I make an effective appeal? |url=https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-make-effective-appeal |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Institute in Basic Life Principles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001533/https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-make-effective-appeal |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Within marriage, IBLP teaches that God "grants spouses [[Marital rape|full access]] to each other's bodies for sexual gratification" and warns against "[[Sexual consent|resistance]] or indifference to a husband's need for physical intimacy".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-10-21 |title=How can I meet my husband's basic needs? |url=https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-meet-my-husbands-basic-needs |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Institute in Basic Life Principles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001533/https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-meet-my-husbands-basic-needs |archive-date=February 2, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> Wives and children are occasionally referenced as "goods" belonging to the husband, which may be subjected to torment by Satan himself should the husband remove the home's spiritual protection by harboring unconfessed sins.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Speed |first=Paul and Jenny |date=2011-10-08 |title=Can my moral failures cause problems in my child's life? |url=https://iblp.org/questions/can-my-moral-failures-cause-problems-my-childs-life |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Institute in Basic Life Principles |language=en}}</ref> A married woman should not seek financial independence, take "matters into her own hands", resist her husband's physical affection, or ask for outside counsel without her husband's permission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IBLP Online Store: Seven Basic Needs of a Husband Booklet |url=https://store.iblp.org/seven-basic-needs-of-a-husband-booklet.html |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=store.iblp.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2011-10-21 |title=How can I meet my wife's basic needs? |url=https://iblp.org/questions/how-can-i-meet-my-wifes-basic-needs |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=Institute in Basic Life Principles |language=en}}</ref> Inwardly, married women are admonished to nurture a meek and quiet spirit, while outwardly maintaining beauty, remaining "well-groomed", and striving to dress to "please their husbands".<ref name=":0" />
=== Seminars ===
The Basic Seminar is the organization's introductory program, and in 2020 the organization reported that more than 2.5 million people had taken the Basic Seminar.<ref name="NBC 2020" /> Originally, once a person attended a Basic Seminar, they could attend it free of charge for life in the following years. The Basic Seminar was endorsed by [[Mike Huckabee]].<ref name="NBC 2020" />
The Advanced Seminar built upon the teachings in the Basic Seminar;
=== Advanced Training Institute ===
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=== ALERT ===
The Air Land Emergency Rescue Team (ALERT) is a training program for young men.<ref
*ALERT Cadet,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alertcadet.org/|title=Home - ALERT Cadet|date=December 13, 2019|website=alertcadet.org}}</ref> a program for [[nuclear family]] fathers and sons (though boys with no father can participate through other relatives or family friends) structured similarly to [[Boy Scouts of America|Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts]] (there is no similar structured program within IBLP for young ladies similar to [[Girl Scouts of the USA|Girl Scouts]])
*International ALERT Academy,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alertacademy.com/|title=Home | International ALERT Academy|date=May 7, 2019|website=alertacademy.com}}</ref> a program for young men structured similar to military boot camp, consisting of Basic Training, Intermediate Training, and Advanced Training, during which the young man can choose from several disciplines such as [[Aviation]], [[Construction]], or [[Emergency medical technician|Emergency Medical Technician]], and receive training in that area.
===Former Programs===
IBLP previously provided "medical advice" through the '''Medical Training Institute of America (MTIA)'''. MTIA issued numerous pamphlets, called "Basic Care Bulletins" (similar to ATI's Wisdom Booklets) which were heavy on spiritual advice but virtually non-existent on actual medical advice. In his very first pamphlet, Gothard
One of the more interesting aspects of MTIA was Gothard's heavy emphasis on the issue of "constipation", leading Don Veniot (leader of [[Midwest Christian Outreach]]) to ask "[w]ill God's judgment be thwarted by a regular helping of shredded wheat every morning?"<ref>Don Veniot, Joy Veniot and Ron Henzel, ''A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life'', ISBN 0-9717009-2-3, p. 289</ref>
IBLP discontinued MTIA and it is no longer shown on their website, nor are the "Basic Care Bulletins" offered for sale.▼
▲Sometime subsequent to 2002 (when Veniot's book was published), IBLP discontinued MTIA and it is no longer shown on their website, nor are the "Basic Care Bulletins" offered for sale.
== Leadership ==
[[Bill Gothard]] was the founder and developer of IBLP up until his
== Facilities ==
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== Allegations and investigations==
A number of former adherents of IBLP programs have described the organization and/or associated circles as a [[cult]].<ref name=Chicago>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Bryan |title=The Cult Next Door |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/July-2016/Institute-in-Basic-Life-Principles-Hinsdale/ |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=[[Chicago (magazine)|Chicago]] |date=June 20, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='I broke away from a strict homeschooling community cult' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42701297 |access-date=September 11, 2020 |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=February 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tracy |first1=Jenna |title=My childhood in a cult is hard to imagine - but my survival is truly unbelievable |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/01/childhood-in-cult-hard-imagine-survival-truly-unbelievable |access-date=September 11, 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 1, 2015}}</ref> Don Veinot, president of [[Midwest Christian Outreach]], says that the charismatic leader, authoritarian control, isolation of members, severe punishments, and demand for absolute and blind loyalty add up to IBLP being "cult-like".<ref name=Chicago />
In the 1980s, the organization faced "a major sex scandal" when Gothard's brother, Steve Gothard, resigned as administrative director after having affairs with several secretaries of the institute.<ref name="newrepublic.com">{{Cite magazine |last=Pease|first=Joshua|url=https://newrepublic.com/amp/article/151787/bill-gothard-fundamentalist-trap |title=The Fundamentalist Trap |magazine=[[The New Republic]] |date=22 October 2018|access-date=22 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601163818/https://newrepublic.com/article/151787/bill-gothard-fundamentalist-trap|archive-date=1 June 2023}}</ref> According to accounts reported by [[Midwest Christian Outreach]] founders Ron and Joy Veinot (in their book ''A Matter of Basic Principles''), the board recommended that Bill (who also admitted to sexual misconduct) resign from the board, which he did, only to take advantage of an ensuing power struggle to regain his position and control of IBLP, thereafter filling board positions with people absolutely loyal to him.
In 2014, Gothard resigned as President of IBLP after reports that he had once again sexually harassed multiple women and failed to report allegations of child abuse in the organization. Gothard allegedly selected young women for administrative positions within the organization, then manipulated and harassed them while in his employment.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/bill-gothard-quits-institute-he-founded-after-allegations-of-rampant-sexual-harassment-cites-bible-passage-on-reconciliation-115795/ |title=Bill Gothard Quits Institute He Founded After Allegations of Rampant Sexual Harassment; Cites Bible Passage on 'Reconciliation' |last=Menzie |first=Nicola |website=The Christian Post |date=March 7, 2014 |access-date=March 19, 2014}}</ref> An investigation into the allegations by the IBLP board concluded he did not act "criminally" but did act "inappropriately", and (notwithstanding their loyalty to Gothard) notified him that he was permanently disqualified from returning to the organization in any capacity.<ref name="christianitytoday.com">{{Cite news |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2014/june/results-bill-gothard-harassment-investigation-released-iblp.html |title=Results of Bill Gothard Harassment Investigation Released |work=Christianity Today |access-date=March 27, 2020}}</ref>
On October 20, 2015, a civil lawsuit alleging a sex-abuse cover-up involving several minors was filed in DuPage County, Illinois against IBLP and its board of directors. ''Gretchen Wilkinson et al. vs. Institute in Basic Life Principles and William W. Gothard Jr.'' was brought on behalf of five female plaintiffs in order to "seek redress and damages for personal injuries based on the negligent and willful and wanton acts and omissions of the defendants with regard to sexual abuse and sexual harassment and similar allegations of malfeasance suffered by the plaintiffs."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilkinson v. Inst. in Basic Life Principles, 2020 IL App (2d) 190254 {{!}} Casetext Search + Citator |url=https://casetext.com/case/wilkinson-v-inst-in-basic-life-principles |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=casetext.com}}</ref> "Besides monetary damages, they have asked a DuPage County judge to bar IBLP leaders from alleged plans to liquidate resources estimated at more than $100 million while they close the institute's headquarters near Oak Brook and relocate to Texas, the lawsuit states."<ref name="chicagotribune">{{Cite news |last=Gutowski |first=Christy |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-dupage-ministry-lawsuit-update-met-20160218-story.html |title=More former followers of DuPage ministry allege abuse, harassment |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=April 18, 2017}}</ref> Five additional accusers joined the suit in January 2016, and even more in February 2016, bringing the grand total of complainants to sixteen women and two men. The case was voluntarily dismissed on February 26, 2018, due to [[statute of limitations]].
==In the media==
[[Amazon Prime Video]] debuted the limited series ''[[Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets]]'' in June 2023. The series centers on the Duggar family's connections with the IBLP.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/duggar-family-docuseries-producers-reveal-most-shocking-thing-they-discovered-what-didnt-make-the-cut-exclusive/|title=Duggar Family Docuseries Producers Reveal Most 'Shocking' Thing They Discovered — and What Didn't Make the Cut|work=People}}</ref><ref name= "LA Times 2023" >{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-05-30/shiny-happy-people-duggar-family-highlights-amazon-studios|title=What 'Shiny Happy People' reveals about the Duggars: 'We were taken advantage of'|newspaper=LA times|date=May 30, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/06/02/duggar-family-documentary/|title=The new Duggar doc is the cold, hard 'reality TV' we needed all along|newspaper=The Washington Post
==References==
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==External links==
* {{Official website}}
{{Authority control}}
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