Shiny Happy People

The shiny facade of America's favorite giant family, and the ministry that guided their conservative values, is shattered, revealing a troubling reality underneath.

As IBLP's homeschooling empire grows, it becomes clear that patriarchal, abusive authority is at the core of Bill Gothard and Jim Bob Duggar's power.

Bill Gothard and Jim Bob Duggar grow their shared vision into an international empire on the backs of young people. Unpaid labor, abuse, and threats of retaliation build, until Gothard is finally cut down inside of his own organization. But the roots he put down are now spreading everywhere...

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

In the explosive opener, Teen Mania emerges as millennial America's radical evangelical youth movement. Charismatic founder Ron Luce dazzles with "Acquire the Fire" - pyrotechnic stadium revivals where teens pledge their lives to spiritual revolution. Beneath the rock-concert worship and adrenaline-fueled Christian missions, Luce is assembling his army of true believers.

Teen Mania's Honor Academy subjects its eager young recruits to brutal bootcamp tactics and endless hours in a massive call center as teenage telemarketers for Jesus, facing crushing quotas while enduring strict purity rules. Terrifying "End Times" simulations complete with mock executions create trauma disguised as spiritual transformation, forging young martyrs ready to die for their faith.

Teen Mania goes to new extremes with BattleCry, a hyper-militant culture war campaign. An evangelical pied piper, Luce leads the children into politically volatile protests. Meanwhile, interns collapse under grueling conditions — and alumni begin speaking out, leading to Teen Mani's explosive demise. But the army Ron trained fights on, with devastating consequences still unfolding today.