The Docuseries, ‘Shiny, Happy People,’ Overplayed Its Hand

Christian circles have been reacting this week to a docuseries that dropped on Amazon Prime on June 2, 2023. Shiny, Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets takes a critical look at the popular conservative Christian ministry called Institute in Basic Life Principals (IBLP) through the rise and fall of the Duggar family who is best known from the TLC reality show 19 Kids and Counting. I’m torn about this documentary because it sheds light on some important issues for Christians, but it also embodies the old expression “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” in its treatment of conservative Christianity.

Common Objections With Shiny, Happy People

While unbelievers, deconstructed “exvangelicals,” and Christians alike are recommending Shiny, Happy People, conservative Christians are left scratching their heads. Where was the nuance? Surely, people don’t think that being a Christian who upholds the Word of God as absolute truth is a dangerous person seeking to harm women and children, do they?

After watching the docuseries in its entirety twice, I have to say that the creators certainly give the impression that conservatives, and maybe Christianity as a whole, are a danger to society. Not just that, but homeschoolers have been clumped into this “harmful Christian narrative.”

The lack of specificity, nuance, and representation from non-IBLP conservative Christians is disappointing, and I recommend Christians watch it understanding the elephant-sized bias in the room. But I do recommend watching it.

Criticism Is Not Validating Abuse

I should probably begin by making it crystal clear that abuse is always wrong.

I am a conservative, fundamental (more on that later), complementarian Christian woman who is married to a pastor of an independent Baptist church in rural Wisconsin. Oh, and I homeschool my five children. There! Now all my chips are on the table.

By the definition of the Shiny, Happy People narrative and Christian authors like Beth Allison Barr and Sheila Gregoire, I should have watched that film and seen no issues at all with IBLP. However, I found the accusations in Shiny, Happy People devastating to hear.

Like most Americans, I knew about the Duggars and the reprehensible behavior on the part of Josh Duggar. I have prayed for his children and wife. My hope was always that the Duggar family drama was isolated to that family in particular, but I always doubted it.

I have no plan to dissect the Duggars’ lives today, but I do want to officially state that my problems with Shiny, Happy People have nothing to do with exposing abuse. Victims have every right to be heard, and their stories can serve as a warning to us, as well. “Good Christians” who seem to have it all together may very well be putting on a show. We don’t know their hearts or live their lives.

Rather than shut down women who reach out for help, we should be available as a safe place to turn. In fact, we should be able to recognize signs of abuse because victims don’t always ask for help. Are we ready to step in and offer assistance and resources? Shiny, Happy People should make us consider that.

Shiny, Happy People Recap

The docuseries is broken into four episodes lasting anywhere between 36 and 51 minutes. The first episode is entitled “Meet the Duggars.” It shows how the Duggars went from a relatively unknown family in Arkansas to a cultural phenomenon. Then, it addresses Josh Duggar’s secret sin (i.e., molesting his sisters) and what his family and IBLP did to cover it up.

Episode 2, “Growing up Gothard,” gets into how women are viewed in IBLP, and we learn about the IBLP homeschool curriculum from its education wing, Advanced Training Institute (ATI).

The third episode is called “Under Authority.” It paints the picture of former IBLP leader, Bill Gothard, and Duggar family patriarch, Jim Bob, as men who abuse authority and seek after power and significant cultural and political influence. The episode also documents Gothard’s sexual abuse scandal and fall from IBLP power.

The final episode, “Arrows Activated,” is difficult for me to report on in an unbiased manner. Essentially, the entire episode is fear-mongering about the fundamental Christians organizing for world domination.

That might sound dramatic, but here is the episode description straight from Amazon Prime.

“Despite Gothard’s demise and Josh Duggar’s disturbing new crimes, the movement goes on. Fundamentalists have consolidated political power nationwide to reshape society in their own image.”

My Issues With Shiny, Happy People

As happy as I am to see Shiny, Happy People calling out dangerous teachings, red flags for abuse, and giving people a platform to share their experiences, I am also alarmed at the complete one-sided nature of this docuseries. For as dangerous as it asserts IBLP and ATI have been for some, Shiny, Happy People isn’t doing conservative Christians any favors in its presentation. In an attempt to shed light on Bill Gothard and his ministry, the creators of this docuseries have vilified conservative Christianity alongside him.

I’m sure you can find a seemingly endless list of complaints about Shiny, Happy People, and I welcome you to research that if you’re interested. Personally, I have four major complaints, and I have found I’m not alone in my concern.

1. Shiny, Happy People uses “fundamentalism” as a derogatory term.

Each time someone says, “fundamentalism” in this docuseries, she practically spits the word out of her mouth. Yuck! What’s the message from those featured in each episode? Fundamental Christianity is a danger to others? Perhaps those involved with Shiny, Happy People just think fundamentalists are fools. I can’t say. However, I can say with little to no doubt that they want the world to see it in a negative light.

What is fundamentalism really? Well, it’s pretty simple, and it is not at all a threat to anyone. Got Questions gives a succinct definition. Fundamentalism is “a movement within the church that holds to the essentials of the Christian faith.” The definition goes on to expand to five common beliefs found amongst fundamental Christians.

1. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God and literally true.

2. Jesus is divine and His mother, Mary, was a virgin when she was pregnant with Him.

3. There was substitutionary atonement on the Cross.

4. Jesus rose from the grave after three days in the tomb (i.e., the resurrection), and He is with the Father now.

5. Jesus performed true miracles on Earth, and there will be a second coming.

There Is Bound To Be Crossover

There you have it. Fundamentalism 101. To be fair, there are many books on the subject and so much more to say on this. But do you see how this is not a threat to society or women?

People who strive to live out God’s commands are not the same as the kind of people Shiny, Happy People illustrates for viewers. Despite some crossover, IBLP and ATI teachings do not equate to fundamental Christianity.

Some of the teachings are the same, of course, because Gothard used the Bible to make IBLP teachings. The best lies and manipulations use truth as the foundation. It seems true or sounds right, and the listener takes the whole teaching even when part of it is bad.

IBLP Gets It Wrong

There’s a lot to say about IBLP and ATI. I’ve only known one person (as far as I’m aware) who associated with it, and I didn’t like him at all. But that’s the extent of my personal relationship with Gothard teachings. After watching the docuseries and having lightly researched it on and off for years, though, I get the gist. And it is not fundamentalism. Here are a few reasons:

1. IBLP teaches a prosperity gospel-like Christianity.

Gothard’s rhetoric was that God blesses you if you do what is right. On the other hand, God would bring destruction if you were out of God’s will. So, if you want success, influence, etc., then you’d better do what God’s will is in your life. And who knew best about that than Gothard himself?

ATI “helped” families stay on the righteous path with “wisdom booklets.” Among the ATI teachings was the idea of the umbrellas of protection. God protects the husband. The husband submits to God and protects the family. The wife submits to her husband and cares for the children and home. Finally, the children submit to their parents. If anything is out of whack in that hierarchy, then Satan attacks the family. As long as everyone does as they should, though, Satan cannot bring destruction.

2. IBLP treats women as less than men.

The Bible tells wives to submit to their husbands.

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”

Ephesians 5:22-24

It also says…

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”

Ephesians 5:25

The twisted version of submission represented in some IBLP families is not biblical. The umbrellas I shared above also have a scary implication about women accessing God. It looks as if a wife will know God’s will only through her husband. The image almost closes her off from God. I ask my husband all kinds of spiritual questions, but I also seek the answers for myself, being sensitive to the Holy Spirit in my life. Meanwhile, ex-IBLP members report that their husbands being the spiritual heads of the home meant wives’ entire spiritual life was through them.

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” (emphasis mine)

1 Peter 2:9-10

Are women not also a part of this chosen generation? Are we not members of the royal priesthood? Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not advocating for female pastors. The Bible is clear on that matter, but it also seems clear that all believers are citizens of God’s holy nation, and I don’t need a mediator, be it priest or husband, to have a dynamic relationship with Him.

3. The IBLP’s sexualization of women.

The IBLP wisdom booklets appear to focus heavily on women in an oddly sexual way. Some assignments required girls to determine better hairstyles for godly women to wear when given options to look at. “Sure, your hair is long, but is it curly enough?”

These booklets also taught girls to identify “eye traps” on drawings of women. For example, a dress may have a slit or lace on the upper chest region. I guess the message is that good Christian girls don’t have those on their clothing. Essentially, anything a woman wears could possibly be an “eye trap.” Women in IBLP bear the responsibility of keeping men from sexual sin, and they share responsibility for any sexual assault they may endure. It’s the whole, “Yeah, but what were you wearing?” scenario.

The other thing that gave me the icks was the baby voice thing. Do you know what I mean? Michelle Duggar, the Duggar matriarch, always speaks in a baby voice. I’ve heard it referred to as “infantilization.” Women in the IBLP are encouraged to be more childlike in their tone than like fully grown women. My guess is that it makes the men feel more secure with their masculinity, but no matter the reason, it creeps me out.

4. IBLP has some serious cultish elements.

Who is Bill Gothard? He is a man who is not and never was a pastor and never received a seminary education. He was also never married and had no children. Nevertheless, Gothard’s personality and teachings were enough to entice people to watch his Basic Seminars, follow his teachings, attend his conventions, purchase his ATI curriculum, and serve in his ministry.

He was masterful at taking Scripture and weaponizing it against those who he believed were under his authority and the authority of others, namely men. Gothard didn’t only negatively affect women with his teachings but children also.

Gothard was big on obedience training for children, and no one can argue that the Bible doesn’t say children should obey their parents.

“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”

Colossians 3:20

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

Ephesians 6:1

Do these verses indicate spanking a child for an hour? How do these verses become ammunition for parents to force their grown daughters to do whatever they are told and marry who they say? How does Jim Bob Duggar get the idea that he can force his married adult daughter to participate on his show for no pay? As Jill explains in the docuseries, she had never said “no” to him before, and she made it sound like it wasn’t well-received. It doesn’t appear that her experience is unique.

Is IBLP A Cult?

So, IBLP had a manipulative and charismatic leader who had no credentials to do what he did…or even the expected life experiences. This leader used lies mixed with truth to manipulate his followers to get what he wanted, and he wielded an unreasonable amount of power and authority over his followers. Not to mention, there have been many accusations of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and at least one rape allegation. And he managed all this while getting filthy rich.

Does this make IBLP and ATI a cult? No. But read this quote from an ex-IBLP member, Brooke Arnold. I think it sums up the hold IBLP had on the lives of the members and their faith.

“To me, you know, Bill Gothard came to loom over my life almost mythologically. And I just felt like there was something important I needed to find out. I felt like the more I understood Bill Gothard, the more I would understand myself.”

Brooke Arnold, ‘Shiny, Happy People’

IBLP is not fundamentalism. The tenets it holds to are authority, misogyny, and legalism. The best thing a true fundamental Christian can do if she finds herself tangled up in all of this is to run from it and return to the truth in the Word.

2. Shiny, Happy People misrepresents complementarianism.

Because IBLP teaches (or least strongly implies) that women are less than men, the docuseries conflates complementarianism and IBLP teachings.

Complementarianism is the biblically-based belief that men and women have been designed with unique callings, strengths, and weaknesses. They also believe the verses in the Bible that instruct believers about the pastoral role being limited to men, and that women aren’t to have spiritual authority over men.

Well, IBLP teaches that, too, so there is confusion if we refuse to look more closely at complementarians and IBLP teachings. I have only belonged to churches that I define as complementarian, and women have not been restricted in really any way that is not explicitly stated in the Word. We have women who are part of our jail ministry, leading Bible studies, taking charge of Vacation Bible School, handling church finances, and plugging into nearly every ministry. At one church, despite my terror, I even led the congregational singing for a bit. (No worries, my conservative friends. I wasn’t preaching.)

No one ever shamed a woman for her dress, hair, or makeup in my churches. I didn’t know any father who set up his daughter with a man and/or wouldn’t allow her to refuse a proposal. You know the line women in IBLP influenced families and churches get. “God told me you are meant to be my wife.” I mean, how can a young lady refuse that?!

Are All Complementarians Abusers?

Shiny, Happy People gives the impression that all complementarians are abusive to women and children. Of course, IBLP falls under that category, and the viewer walks away from the docuseries wondering if every family involved in IBLP is abusive. The answer is “no.”

I’ve already seen plenty of women speak out about the healthy homes in which they grew up while under IBLP teachings. Some had parents who followed Gothard but did so with grace and care. Others joked that their families thought some of the teachings were weird, and they were the IBLP rebels because they watched television.

I don’t have any statistics because I wanted to write about Shiny, Happy People as soon as possible. So, I’ll just have to wonder out loud with you. Are more men abusive in complementarian homes that egalitarian ones (if you use my previously given definition of complementarian)? Are more men abusive in IBLP and other churches, sects, denominations, etc. like it? Does IBLP draw abusive men? I don’t have the answers, but I think the answers would interesting to see.

IBLP is complementarianism plus legalism and misogyny. Equating the two is false, and I want my fellow complementarians to stand strong and correct people when they accuse them of hating women or looking at them as lesser people. These are lies, and you should feel free to call them out.

3. Shiny, Happy People attacks homeschooling.

You may not know this about me, but I strongly advocate for homeschooling. In fact, I caution Christians away from Christian schools and voucher schools, as well. So, when the docuseries turned on the homeschooling community my heart broke. ATI produced the wisdom booklets IBLP members used for homeschooling, and I can guarantee that is not a sufficient education by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I don’t personally know even one homeschooler who would say that is enough. They would have something to say about it, though…

Shiny, Happy People describes ATI homeschooled children as sheltered, unsocialized, poorly educated, and victims of abuse. First, I think claiming everyone involved in ATI and IBLP has been abused is painting with much too broad a brush. Second, each family could have added more to their children’s education than those ridiculous wisdom booklets, so we can’t say these students were poorly educated for sure.

For the sake of argument, let’s say ATI students are exactly as Shiny, Happy People describes. (Note: ATI ceased to be a homeschool curriculum in 2021.) What does that have to do with all the other homeschoolers in the world?

Shiny, Happy People’s Anti-Homeschool Agenda

The homeschool presentation was reckless and seemed designed to poison the viewer against homeschooling. The creators wouldn’t do that, though, right?

I think they would, and I believe that they did. I found an article from TV Insider which was published on June 2, 2023 that ends with a short discussion regarding homeschooling. The director, Olivia Crist, (who directed alongside Julia Willoughby Nason) said Shiny, Happy People is not meant to be anti-homeschooling, but she clarifies that there is definitely a correct way and a wrong way to homeschool.

The producer, Blye Pagon Faust, went further to criticize unregulated homeschooling because conservative Christian ideas can spread that way. The article closes with these thoughts.

“When you’re indoctrinating kids from day one, and you’re keeping them isolated from the rest of the world, and you are not teaching them a secular education, and you’re denying them the true facts of many things, it’s a breeding ground for trouble and for problems later on.” (emphasis mine)

Blye Pagon Faust, 2023

This quote gives the game away. Faust believes the only appropriate education is a secular one. In addition, she equates her view of ATI with all other Christian homeschoolers with her description of religious-based homeschool.

Don’t be fooled. Shiny, Happy People isn’t just a critique of IBLP and ATI. It’s a sneak attack on all conservative Christians, especially those who homeschool.

4. Shiny, Happy People’s creators’ motivations are questionable.

As I’ve pointed out, the creators of Shiny, Happy People appear to have an issue with religious based homeschooling, strongly resist complementarianism, and see Christian fundamentalism as a dangerous teaching. The charitable view to take would be to assume they just don’t know better. Maybe they only know ATI homeschoolers. Perhaps complementarianism is a new idea to them, and ex-IBLP members were the only ones available to define it because Google broke down…

Ultimately, the charitable view takes a lot of work to adopt, and sometimes things are exactly as they seem. In this case, things are sketchy.

The Creators’ Backgrounds

Cori Shepherd Stern, executive producer, grew up in what she calls a fundamentalist Southern Baptist church. TV Insider reported on the restrictive lifestyle changes that an IBLP influence caused. “I remember that happening in our church where it just got more and more restrictive, and suddenly I couldn’t watch certain TV shows and I couldn’t go trick or treating because it was ‘satanic,’”

Far be it from me to belittle someone else’s struggle, but is the producer of a docuseries meant to expose physical and sexual abuse really quoted as complaining that her tv consumption was limited and her Halloween participation stopped? Don’t mind me while I clutch my pearls.

Blye Pagon Faust, producer, attended a Southern Baptist church, but left it when she was thirteen years old because her beliefs were not aligned with those of her church.

Olivia Crist was quoted in TV Insider as saying she has, “an interesting family background in relationship to religion,” but her real reason for wanting to be a part of Shiny, Happy People was her interest in the Duggars and the cultural phenomenon that they have proven to be.

What Kind Of Work Have The Creators Done?

All four women involved, including Julia Willoughby Nason, have a work history that leans heavily on exposing corruption, especially in a faith-based or conservative context, or addressing racism and other typical liberal agenda topics. A few examples include the feature film Spotlight, the docuseries LuLaRich, the podcast series Bad Bets, a movie described as a “realistic story” about an undocumented worker in the United States called The Illegal, and a TV series called Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story.

Finally, Stern explained to TV Insider that Mike Farris, founder of Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), has had a relationship with IBLP. He also used to be the President and CEO of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). Well, to Stern’s displeasure, ADF was a strong voice in the fight for the right of the unborn to live, and she partially blames this group for overturning Roe v. Wade.

People like Mike Farris who have been influenced by IBLP must be stopped because they are trying to force their fundamental Christian beliefs onto the nation. That’s how these women seem to feel, anyway. Meanwhile, I’m writing this in June and have to spend the next month hearing about how wonderful it is that Target sells traditional female swimwear for boys that allows them to tuck their packages comfortably. Trans the kids? Great! Deny legal protection for murdering unborn babies? Bad.

I suppose the creators of Shiny, Happy People don’t believe in the marketplace of ideas, freedom of speech, and the right to life. The “tolerant” Left made a docuseries to make conservative American Christians look dangerous and set for world domination. But I have to ask, who are the ones trying to silence an entire segment of the population?

Final Thought

Is Shiny, Happy People good or bad? Both. IBLP is a cultish and legalistic “ministry” which twists God’s Word and focuses significantly too much teaching on men’s and women’s roles. Heavy-handedness with authority and a willingness to tolerate and hide abuse makes this docuseries a helpful reminder of our need for grace, Christian liberty, and a focus on the Lord rather than on man or any particular ministry. But remember the source.

The creators have gone too far and utilized zero nuance in their presentation. Watching the docuseries is like getting hit in the back of the head with a frying pan with the message, “Conservative Christians are dangerous. Homeschoolers are dumb. Keep these people silent and out of any positions of power in the government.”

Shiny, Happy People overplayed its hand. The creators were too confident that their message would land, but all they did was expose their real agenda. Sure, they want abuse victims to have a voice, but that was secondary to dragging biblical Christianity and Christian homeschoolers through the mud. And just in time for the presidential primaries to heat up. Isn’t that a coincidence?

Did you watch Shiny, Happy People? What did you think of it?

Image courtesy Gayatri Malhotra of via Unsplash.