That's encouraging to me that you immediately found the show disturbing. So many people buy into how sweet it all seems. BTW, it was also disclosed that Josh had molested some of his sisters. Seems kind of standard stuff in that kind of sexually repressed environment. [washingtonpost.com]

Some people in the movement have the saying "Twenty by forty." It's their goal to birth 20 kids by age 40. I knew quite a few moms who were pregnant with baby number whatever at the same time that one of their daughters or daughters-in-law were pregnant.

@nomorechristian Oh yes, that too, about molesting his sisters. Really sad.

@nomorechristian Wow, I can imagine that, if they feel they need to have that many kids. I believe the Duggars were aiming for 20 but she miscarried the last one... Interestingly, in many of the the Hasidic (ultra Orthodox) Jewish communities, they also emphasize large families, and the husbands also have ultimate control.

@bleurowz Yes, the patriarchy, the shunning of birth control, the misogyny, abuse--all of that is pretty standard across fundamentalist religions of all sorts. I learned how much all cults have in common when I participated in a support group for former cult members and people who had experienced spiritual abuse. It was very surprising to me at first. We had people from various eastern religions/cults, bible-based cults, "big" cults, such as Jehovah's Witness, Mormonism, Scientology, and even from a couple different Catholic cults. Women and children are always on the bottom rung. I firmly believe that how a society treats women and children is indicative of how enlightened and humane they are.

@nomorechristian Absolutely. It's all about fear and control.

@JackPedigo what happens is that the desire to please god and to live one's life in accordance with one's understanding of the bible becomes an all-consuming passion that far outweighs anything else. When this happens, you can justify doing anything. It's why women risk their lives, giving birth to 10, 15, 20 children, it's why abortion doctors are shot, it's why marital rape is accepted, it's why children are birthed at home and live without a birth certificate--all manner of violence and abuse can be perpetrated when people desire to serve god in an absolute way.

@nomorechristian I question how many of these people would be such dedicated (crazy) followers if they weren't going to get another life as a reward? When I was a Catholic that was constantly drummed into our heads heaven and hell. Greed and/or fear. I don't think very many desire to serve a god, it's what they get in return.

@nomorechristian, @JackPedigo the way they behave, it's like the most important thing to them is sucking-up to someone more powerful. A god, a godfather, a boss, a rich person, a politician, a celebrity, a daddy.

Unfortunately, very common shit in the segment of christianity in which I used to be immersed. There is a whole subculture of people who live like this and don't see the evil or irrationality of it.

Well, the males, anyways.

Stand our ground demand from xians proof alleged gawds exist to make child abuse and rape legal