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His conferences focus on family relationships and specializing in "youth conflicts." His solution to family and youth problems is a Conservative , some argue Ultraconservative , view of family life. Yet, critics of Gothard and IBLP believe that it is Authoritarian and Legalistic in nature, and that he does not always "practice what he preaches". BIOGRAPHY In 1964, Gothard's alma mater, Wheaton College , invited him to design and teach a course based on his work with youth. The course was given the name Basic Youth Conflicts; two hours of upper-division undergraduate and graduate credit were awarded to students completing the course. Forty-six students, youth pastors, and teachers registered for that first class. The next year 120 students enrolled in Basic Youth Conflicts. Gothard gained popularity in the 1970's due to his calls for strong authority in a time of social unrest. His calls were a product of deeply conservative '' 2006 In 1996, Character Training Institute (CTI) was started (with help from businessman '' January 9, 2006 His seminars teach that unmarried children should honor their parents even if they are adults and that unmarried adult children should continue to live at home until marriage. If they never do marry they should remain with parents until death. This was true of Gothard (who has never married, and who lived with his parents until their deaths). Similarly, divorce is never acceptable for any reason, and a person who is divorced should seek (if possible) to reunite with their spouse – even if the divorce took place ''before'' the person became a Christian – and if not possible should never remarry. Gothard distrusts Modern Medicine and organized the "Medical Training Institute of America," which publishes ''Basic Care Newsletters'' full of Gothard's teachings. This has led to criticism that Gothard is "practicing medicine without a license", though Gothard has never been legally charged with such. Gothard also discourages the listening to Contemporary Christian Music ; encourages Homeschooling and publishes its own homeschool material; and claims borrowing money for ''any'' reason, even a home mortgage, is wrong (though he did not advocate home mortgages to be wrong during the earlier years of his ministry). Gothard protested against the Cabbage Patch Kids because Cabbage Patch Kids or Treasure Trolls could lead to difficulties in conceiving or giving birth to a child (see January 1996 ''Basic Care Newsletter''), and has discouraged the use of contraceptives or other Family Planning . In 2004, Gothard received his Ph.D. from Louisiana Baptist University , an Unaccredited school. CONTROVERSIES AND CRITICISM Within evangelicalism, criticism of Gothard centers on three basic areas: a view that Gothard's views are '' 2006 Christian watchdog groups Midwest Christian Outreach and Personal Freedom Outreach , and Christian rock musician Steve Taylor (who was negatively mentioned in Gothard's writings), are noted critics of Gothard and IBLP. Gothard has been criticized for his handling of two major sex scandals that included top-level men within his organization.Don Veinot, Ron Henzel, and Joy Veinot. ''A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard & the Christian Life''. 21st Century Press, 2002. ISBN 0971700923 The first, in the early 1980's, involved Gothard's brother. Rich Poll, "Exegeting Bill Gothard" . '' Christianity Today '' March, 2003. This scandal resulted in a significant decline in Gothard's popularity, which has never returned to prior levels.[http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/gothard/general.htm A second sex scandal in 2001 took place at IBLP headquarters, shortly before the group's annual homeschooling conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. {Link without Title} Jim Voeller, an intended keynote speaker at the upcoming conference and the director of Bill Gothard's homeschooling curriculum, left his wife and seven children after an ongoing affair with his secretary was exposed. Much of the criticism of Gothard originated from David Venoit's book ''A Matter of Basic Life Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life'' (2002). Venoit was later criticized himself for hypocrisy following his involvement in a child abuse scandal on May 11, 2003. Employees and volunteers serving at the facilities in Oak Brook were asked to keep silent on both matters, leading to criticism that Gothard was attempting to "cover up" the issues. See the article on Institute In Basic Life Principles for more detail on specific controversies regarding Gothard and IBLP. BOOKS
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