Exactly my first thought!!
I attended a private “Christian” prep school during Gothard’s heyday. I was alone - ALONE - in warning that he went far beyond Scripture into legalistic practices.
Many of my peers attended, and encouraged me to attend. I refused. I do not recall a single teacher criticizing the foundational basis for his so-called ministry.
Yes I understand what you mean. Bill was held up as the second coming. Bill liked it that way
I was close enough to his idiocy that it took me years to shed the hateful judgmental attitudes subtly programmed into my brain. I didn’t even know it happened.