The subsets of rabid conservatives and hardcore Christians behave similarly in places. For example, if you are a stupid con and Wikipedia and Facebook look liberal(sane), why, create your own. If your child’s school dares to talk about how people behave sexually, then homeschool. Each move is designed to punch one’s own restrictive, constrained space in the larger, more well adjusted sphere of ordinary people. So it goes with crazy Christians-if you refuse to comprehend a word of evolution, you can bend over backwards to find answers in a convoluted, ostensibly ineffable 2000 year old book inspired by a god who doesn’t visit his creation any more because we are not worthy of his presence. If you are a base and wretched sinner, you can go to a Christian “treatment center” for re-education, Jesus-style. These clubs/cults reinforce themselves by eschewing traditional courses of healing and research.
Sometimes these measures fall short of their usefulness. Sometimes hypocrisy runs rampant and we find that the solutions collapse under their own shaky load. The unfolding saga of Josh Duggar is a great example showing that Jesus’ love cannot save them from themselves. When Josh was caught diddling his sisters, Jim Bob Duggar sent him to be “rehabilitated”. And it looks like he learned a lot-from some interesting characters:
The founder of a chain of Christian “treatment” centers Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar sent their eldest son to for molesting five girls — including his sisters — resigned in 2014 under a cloud of accusations that he had “sexually groomed” and harassed young women and teens in his ministry.
Bill Gothard, a Christian writer and minister, founded the Institute in Basic Life Principles (IBLP) in 1961, as a way to help families resolve issues by using Biblical principles. Among the services offered at IBLP are ministry seminars, community outreach, counseling for troubled Christians, and mentoring Christian youth.
Gothard, and IBLP, has a colorful history with his Gothard’s brother Steve being forced out after having affairs with a few of the institute’s secretaries.
Gothard himself left under a cloud in 2014, amid accusations that he had sexually harassed multiple women and failed to report allegations of child abuse at IBLP.
When you drench yourself in a broth of denial of self and natural urges, when you cloak yourself in self-righteousness and piety, you tend to act inappropriately at some point. Ask the Catholic Church. Don’t get me wrong, the faithless can be victim to bad thoughts and actions, but what’s missing is the irony.
Save us, Lord. From your adherents, above all.
UPDATE: The Hammer has the final word on these sanctimonous turds.
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