The Duggar Family America's Creepist Family?
80The Duggars
One word, "yeech". Has anyone seen this show? They are so icky. Always smiling and patient, with 19 kids yet. Apparently, they are supporting themselves and their children and are not on the public dole. Their children are well-mannered and behaved and I have never seen Mr. or Mrs. Duggar ruffled, harried, unpleasant, and scowling; or smacking or yelling at their kids - in other words they are just not normal like the rest of us parents who are on occasion harried and unpleasant. Who scowl, yell, and been known to smack one of our kids when they had it coming. I keep waiting for one of them to snap and just reach around and slap one of those kids, or scream, or yell or something - anything that will let me think they are normal and will not snap at any moment and go on a rampage and burn down the countryside.
I figure a pregnant (for the frigging 20th time) Mrs. Duggar will let loose one night when Mr. Duggar comes siddling over on her side of the bed and starts rubbing on her leg or something. Maybe she'll pull some axe out from under the covers and give him 40 whacks or pull out a pair of scissors and do a Lorena Bobbitt and cut it off for him. Maybe she could do a "Basic Instinct" number and stab him about 60 times with an icepick.
I mean she is doing all the work. He's having all the fun. He apparently makes enough dough to support all of them without working too hard (he's always on camera). Those kids are never causing trouble (at least on camera) and apparently Mrs. Duggar never has a headache or says the magic words, "No! Now get the hell back on your side of the bed before you pull back a nob and I don't mean your hand!"
Normally, I would admire a nice, clean-cut, law-abiding family with loving, caring, involved parents who put their children first. But something about them is just plain scary and icky. They give me the creeps.
Does anyone else feel that way?
May 2008. Good lord, the woman's pregnant again with No. 18. She is currently 6 weeks pregnant and the youngest is only 9 month's old. She's 41 years old. She'll have to stop breeding soon. The oldest ones must be praying for menopause.
December 2008: "Jordan-Grace Makiya Duggar entered this world earlier this week, via C-section, at a healthy 7 pounds, 3 ounces."
The Duggars apparently adhere to the Quiver Full beliefs that having more children brings you closer to a relationship with G-d, brings you closer to virtue and holiness, so their sons with have brothers and their daughters will have sisters, to end abortion, so they won't be lonely in old age, to counter world de-population, to populate heaven, and to contribute to the economy. For more information about this "ministry", see the links below.
Quiver Full Movement
- Quiverfull - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Quiverfull is a movement among conservative evangelical Protestant Christian couples chiefly in the United States, but with some adherents in Canada,[1] Australia, New Zealand, England, and elsewhere.[2] Its viewpoint is to eagerly receive children a
Quiver Full Ministry
- QuiverFull
Children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them" Psalm 127:3-5
A Full Quiver
- QuiverFull Books & Resources
Dedicated to providing encouragement and practical help to those who are striving to raise a large and growing, godly family in today's world! A Full Quiver Family Planning and the Lordship of Christ Rick and Jan Hess How many children are too man
This Is An Election Year, Let's Put It To A Vote
The Duggars are Wrong to Have So Many Children
See results without votingThe Duggar Family Album
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down [flag this hub]
Comments
Actually, I believe there are a lot of stereotypes about have more than 2.5 children, and being serious Christians. When we see a bold example that would prove those stereotypes wrong we become uncomfortable. We must find another dig on the troop in order to keep our boundaries safe. I personally am sick of a culture that gives lip service to how much it loves children but then discourage large families. These guys test our stigmas in many ways.
At least they seem to be able to control their language which is more than I can say about the writer of this post. Who cares if they have 17 kids? How is that affecting you...stop picking on them and spend your time more profitably. Why do you think that Mr and Mrs Duggar have more sex than any other couple? They just don't use birth control...so what? What is it to you?
Erin, yet I see you took the time to voice your opinion. So did I and what's my opinion to you? And *YOU* should spend your time more wisely then wasting time reading and commenting on stranger's opinions!!!
If the world would take an example from the duggars it would be paradise. These wonderful christian people are "living" their faith, not just paying lip service. I cannot understand anyone not being able to see that these people are happy. Does anyone remember real hapiness? Being at peace with The Lord, and yourself, loving God and your neighbour? This world is becoming full of foul mouthed, disrespectful, and most sadly God ignoring people who have lost their way. Erin, before it is too late, take a leaf out of these peoples book. You don't have to have 17 children, that is their business, turn to our Saviour The Lord Jesus Christ, give yourself completely to Him and watch yours and hopefully those you live with lives become as they should be, and as they were made to be, a beacon of hope in this dark world. Please!!! before it is too late!!!
I absolutely love the Duggar family. Michelle is a beautiful example of a wife and mother.
I love them I think more people should follow their example. And I don't mean everyone have 17 kids. That wouldn't be for me anyway. But look at how they raise their children and live there life. Is it so wrong to have respect in a home? And living with no debt? If more people were like them would the world be such a bad place??????
I personally come from a family of seven. I cannot think of a better way to grow up. For me I always thought that we were so Poor we were Rich. Now some people will read this and wonder if I have lost my mind. However the simple truth is that although we did not have the name brands, newest and best of every tangible thing, we were extremly rich in the things that money cannot buy: Love, Faith, and Trust. There was enough Love in our household that many a time my father invited other people to stay with us in our four bedroom home untill they got on their feet. At times I wondered where the food would come to feed all that sat around our humble table, but after a blessing there was always enough, and no one left hungry. So God Bless this family and one day maybe someone will see that faith in God and the perseverance to continue even when the sun is not shinning will get them through. Last but not least I pray that we will one day go back to the old way of raising our children to have duties, respect, and reverance. We need to take a lesson from these people.
So we all should be like the Duggars and have 20 kids pass it to the next available child for buddying and call the house a church and so there would be no taxes and maybe TLC will do another special on families that have large number of children and they'll give us stuff too? Sign me up!
Of course that was sarcasm for the slower folks. I still can't understand how so many say it's great and we should all be like this family.
I don't think anyone is saying you too should have 17 children. I think it's sad that people would think this family is creepy. I have no doubt they have their moments of being sad, frusrated, irritated, etc. They are human and do not profess to be perfect. I think they are a wonderful example of a family who does it right. Do I think it's creepy that they are happy and in a loving home? No. Do I think they are raising a cult, a church, or Christian robots? No. I think it's sad, that people see a family such as the Duggars, who are happy, put together, and loving, and think there is something wrong with that picture. What is wrong with you? I'm sure their children aren't always perfect, but they are pretty amazing. They respect their parents and each other. They helped build a house for goodness sakes! They do their chores and are homeschooled! They do more than most adults. Having 17 children isn't for everyone, but this family obviously can do it. I say kudos! Way to go raising such a wonderful family. We should all be so lucky to be in a home as loving and wonderful.
Wouldn't the truly Christian thing be to maybe adopt kids that are already on this planet that need a good home? Or, take in foster children? They do seem to run a loving home, but it seems awfully selfish to me that they think they are so great that they need mini reproductions of themselves. Also, I have kids myself, and I would never put my kids in charge of other kids. It's too much responsibility! Kids should be able to be kids. They'll be grown up soon enough!
How come they always have to wear matching clothes?
And why won't the girls cut their hair?
I thought the Holly Hobby peasant look went out in, ummm, I don't know... 1862?
I believe in God. I don't believe that God would approve. What is the Mrs. and Mr. Duggar's goal? It makes me sick because I grew up with parents that didn't want me or didn't want to spend time with me, believe in me, etc. These parents don't have time to be parents. I believe God gave us a brain to make appropriate decisions and gave us each other to care for as God has cared for us. Duggar's are sick people. I am sorry for thier kids and the "record" setting pace doesn't have God in it anywhere. God gave you a brain to think for yourself. Please don't be so selfish and literal of one bible verse saying to procreate and fill the earth....
Ever notice how when comments about how creepy and weird, aand just plain awful the Duggars are. Along come the Fundy Christian comments and try to paint these freaks as wonderful Christians.
Hello To All:
I really have to hand it to these people that handle thier lives the way they do. Their children are well mannered & have been taught good morals from excellent parents. They are all equally loved & rather they 10 more children or 20 more it is okay by me because they are tax paying citizens & don't live off the government like many with this many children do. The are brought up with the word of God & thusly will filter off to their offspring & all of them know wrong from right from the very start. They only are allowed around other Christians so that is also a huge plus. I totally agree with how they run their home. They do not own credit cards, they don't have a mortgage or car payments they own everything & work for all they have & they owe no debts whatsoever, lessons for their children as well!!! How many people can do this??? Not EVEN 1% of the population of this entire world!!! I guarantee you!!!To each his own. Those of us that are against it so be it, if they can do it then let them do it & love their chilldren & spread the word of God while they are at it as well. Remember thou shall not judge lest you be judged. Just because we cannot do it or disagree doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to do it, at least they can handle it!!! They teach their children the value of God & of life & not one of them are a problem to anybody!!! If it works for them then let them have a football team.
Now I couldn't do what they do I am being honest but I agree with their program!!!
Now saying God wouldn't approve is not a fair statement because he is the one whom makes that decision & they live by the word of God & seem to be a very happy & content family. Most of us just need more education with God perhaps studing the word will help us all to substantiate what he expects of us as "TRUE CHRISTIANS."
God Bless you, Duggar Family I applaude what you do, you have done a wonderful job!!!
Sincerely,
Lori
Here's the real story on the Duggar "family". I did a lot of reseach on these people after I saw the discovery channel show on them because something just didn't sit quite right with me about them. And the number of kids they have is not the reason. After doing a lot of digging around on the net and after talking to some friends of mine in Arkansas, I found out some interesting tidbits about the Duggars. I found out that the Duggars are ultra conservative Pentecostals. If anyone knows about Pentecostals, you will understand why the women don't EVER cut their hair and why the girls are always clad in long skirts (NEVER, EVER PANTS). While people are free to practice their own religious beliefs, I do not appreciate the fact that Jim Bob Duggar has attempted to run for political office (and actually won a few minor elections) on the basis of his religious beliefs. He and Rick Santorum (ex-Congressman from Pennsylvania) had planned to introduce a bill into Congress that would outlaw ALL contraceptive use in this country, including for married couples. (I worked as a congressional staffer in DC and got this from a reputable REPUBLICAN source.) Now if Mrs. Duggar wants to be a baby factory, that is certainly her business to do so, but I have to draw the line when the Duggars try to tell me that my wife must also be one as well.
As far as living "debt free", well, that's pretty simple to do if someone else is picking up the tab. Anybody who saw the show where the Duggars built their house will know that people "volunteered" time and materials to assist. It's also no secret that the entire house was furnished by various sources, not one being the Duggars' own bank account. Again, I do agree that people should be free to donate goods and services to whomever they choose. However, don't be naive. You know somebody is paying for that and it's going to be you and me..paying customers who may end up having to finance that very same goods or services. Also, in the event that the Duggars have Health Insurance, how much more are your premiums for your family of four because the insurance company has to underwrite coverage for a family of 19? Think about it.
Somebody argued that the Duggars are not on the "public dole". How do you know that? I mentioned health insurance above but for all we know, they don't have any. That means everytime Mrs. Duggar pops out another baby, your tax dollars are paying for that baby via Medicaid, WIC, and possibly ARChip (the Federal Health insurance plan for kids).
Going back to the Duggars' religious beliefs, did you know that the Duggars have declared their HOME a church? Thus securing tax exempt status for it? That's right, they don't pay any property tax OR sales tax if they are buying something for their home. Wouldn't that be nice if the rest of us could do that? So, since they aren't paying any taxes, guess who is? Wow..you guessed right...you and me. As I stated earlier, it's not hard to live debt free when somebody else is footing your bill.
Yes, I think the Duggars are creepy. I also think that I'm paying for these people to do what they believe God has "commanded" them to do. And quite honestly, I'm tired of paying for them.
Has anyone else noticed the lack of affection these children receive? The newborns seems to receive plenty, but I've only seen 2 of the older kids ever get even a half-hearted hug.
I think they are a family cult run by Jim Bob. I find the entire show very creepy. I think Michele is addicted to having babies and Jim Bob is a control freak nut. It is impossible that they make enough money to support the family w/o assistance from the outside. I am looking forward to when one of these kids is out of the house and write a memoir.
Ok its none of my business I know. But if these people are going to plaster themselves all over the media I cant help and wonder how they earn a living. And whats the deal with the exact same clothing on the kids? Are they raising robots? Individulity is out right? Cant be because of budget.
I will say, compared to normal media disgraces like the Hiltons I would rather hangout with the Duggars. They seem friendly and open. At least in front of the camera. More than can be said for most celbrity types.
Dude Im ganna declare my damn house a church so I wont have to pay any taxes on the fucker.
Yeah great people who can afford their kids...more like finding every loop hole they can to get out of paying shit the rest of us have to pay, but you all keep thinking they are some great asset to this country while were paying our taxes and such that they have found ways to get around...
I really love how they are but thats MY view on it. Just to note that there will be people whom love,hate,dislike,like and people who just dont care about the Dugggar famliy because not matter what we write or do they will have maybe more children. Life goes on no matter what anyone says.
I feel that the parents are putting entirely too much responsibility on their older children. You heard the mother say that from the time the baby is weened it is handed off to a "buddy," meaning an older sibling. These kids are essentially parents themselves. All Michelle does is breed and homeschool. The other kids raise their siblings, clean and cook.
This family is like a train wreck that you can see coming, yet can't turn away from. What's going to happen 50 or 75 years from now to future generations if people like the Duggars (18 kids) The McGaugheys (8 kids) The Gosselins (8 kids) influence other religious whacks to do the same? The earth is getting smaller and older, people who support these nuts, and future generations are really going to suffer if certain people don't start having sex just for fun now and again!
It should be illegal to have that many kids.
World is populated enough.
why would this prompt such "abrasive" responses. i'm sure that in the day of my granparents (13 in one family and 9 in the other) raised as christian's with family chores and dinners and outings, nothing would have been said, then, about being wierd. is this where and what we have become in the modern day. i guess we have truly forgotten family and God and that things can be done the "right" way.
Why is it that people think that having a large family is freakish? Probably because they didn't get the attention that they deserved in a much smaller family. As one of nine children (7 of which were adopted), I know that children in large families are loved individually.
My father recently passed away and all nine of us were there (from all over the U.S.) returning love and support to our mother and each other. When it comes down to it, without family, life is pretty empty. I have personally known several elderly people who now live with regret about not having a family - - as they are now very much alone and bitter.
Growing up we did go without some material things (like the latest fashions or the latest video games - - and other ultimately worthless items). But we didn't see it as going without. We were also appropriately dressed and were always busy. We filled our time playing basketball, football, or other outdoor activities. Others of us learned to play instruments or develop other talents. I wouldn't trade any amount of material items for the relationships that I have with my brothers and sisters.
Hopefully, those of you cynics will realize what life is really all about before you find yourselves alone and bitter in a state-run nursing home with no one to come a visit you.
Here is the site...I can't get the link to work, but if you copy and paste...
...ok so when you get to the site...click "next" then enter "Duggar" and check the 4 parcels with James and Michelle, then hit continue and then next ..you'll get what you are looking for... https://www.ark.org/washingtoncounty/index.php?ac: b_itemdetail=1&billno=830-38318-000 It says they get a "homestead credit" of $350.00, but nothing about being tax exempt....it's 20 acres too....all of their parcels show taxes being assessed...no exemptions that I can see...
It is amazing how many people don't have a clue what they are talking about, but act like experts with 60 years of research to back it up. Let the people alone, or change America to Stalingrad so you can shoot them. Stupid liberals.
Having this many children is deeply inconsiderate of society and our globe. The earth can only sustain so many beings. Here are the rest of us learning about and trying to implement a "green" world and others putting more pressure on limited resources. Many, many others of faith have exercised better social judgement.
I must agree. Our planet is getting smaller by the minute and these people are breeding like roaches. If they feel the need to be surrounded by children, there are many children in the foster care system that would love to live in their home (wierd as it may be). It breaks my heart to see so many little girls being programmed to be baby machines like their Mamma. They'll never know what it feels like to meet their full potential because of their messed up religion sees them only as an incubator.
These kids will always be deemed wierd. I feel bad for them; it's not their fault. CULT!!!
These kids havent got a chance in the real world, they simply wont be able tosurvive they havent been taught to. all they know ih their large family and their way of life. they do appear slightly weird to me, too perfect worryingly so. i dont like the way the daughters must take on the responsibilities that are the parents, why should an older girl must take to mothering a younger one, she didnt bloody give birth to it. i dont agree with people who say they are abusing, neglecting etc their children that is bull shit, they are however being unfair, why should you have to keep to a timetable to have a word with your own mother, get in line Jinger!!
i cant understand the clothes though, now i dont agree with we all need designer bags and stuff but to shop in thrift shops all the time, it is not helping the children adapt to 'normal' life at all. they all dress alike, white socks, skirt and horrid blouse or dress....what?? these clothes belong to a differnt century!!!
I think America is called the land of the FREE because it is...and thank goodness it is. My grandmother had 19 children, if she hadn't, I wouldn't be alive. I have 4 and we are praying for more. Whatever the Lord blesses us with we will be thrilled - whether it's 4 or 14.
As for the person who posted about Pentecostals, you obviously don't live in the south, lol. I am not of that religious persuasion, nor do I know (or believe that the Duggars are), but in the south, the Pentacostal faith is HUGE. It makes up as much of the religious movement down here as Baptist. It's not uncommon at all...and it is certainly NOT a cult...that is just plain laughable. My entire family IS Pentacostal and they are anything but a cult. How ignorant.
I do think the author of the post should check her facts a little more before writing - Mrs. Duggar is just now (announced today) pregnant with #18, so I am not sure where you got that she has 19 children.
And now, last, but certainly not least, this is for the people who claim to be Christians, but then say that God is displeased with her giving birth to children. Hmmm...have you "Christians" ever read the Bible? It's quite clear that Children are the fruit of the womb...they are a BLESSING, the man is BLESSED whose quiver is full. They are a GIFT. It says no where in the Bible that God is displeased by children or that He would wish anyone to stop having children. Quite the contrary - God is MOST pleased by children. They are His highest blessing and reward...and His greatest gift.
You can humanly and sinfully say that YOU don't think she should have any more children, but don't use God as a club. Know what God says before you start claiming what He would think about something - He has already made it clear in His word what He thinks and says.
I think more than anything, the fact that the Duggars NEVER say one word against their detractors, that they have never, ever spoken out against anyone who has slandered them or lied about them outrageously, speaks more about their character than could be hauled in a dump truck of yours.
If stupidity would hurt, more than half of us would run screaming. They are a shame for the society. Those who kiss their asses, ud better wake up to reality. U know there's a saying; Better little and good, than much/many and wrong. Damm how true is it! Some brainwashed puppets feeding on our energy. And who said humanity progressed? Take a look around, take a look at these freaks and u'll see the opposite. What if all the children would have born handicapped and the "mom" showed no sign of stopping? I honestly fear and pity those kids. America land of the free? ONE OF THE BIGGEST LIES EVER. America's becoming nazi, u stupid asses! All that happens there and in the world is coz of our foolishness and apathy. Sterilize them, sterilize the children or kill them if possible, to let such garbage live or live as they have til now is a crime. And whats the fuss with Xtianity? Didnt u know that all religions are bullshit? I guess many centuries will have to pass til what's called "human race" would understand...
I don't find this family creepy at all. I really admire them and their sense of family. My husband and I have 7 kids. (and 4 more in heaven already) People are amazed when they find out they all have the same parents. And that we have raised them on a farm, in a 4 bedroom house with one bathroom (btw, they are all girls). Our average income is 25000 a year. My husband crop farms and I am a stay at home mom. We have no debt, our mortgage was paid off 10 years ago (on 500 acres and two homes), we have 4 vehicles and no car payments and 3 of our kids attend a private Christian school, the rest are homeschooled. We have everything we need....my kids have more than enough clothes and toys, they have fun and they have responsibilities. I'm sure there are times they wish they had more of my attention, but then they slways have extra attention from their sisters that other kids wouldn't have. They fight, sure, but they also stick up for each other. We are proof that it is possible to live a good life, with all the kids you are blessed to be given by God and not have to work three jobs, be in debt and never happy because someone always has nicer things. Too many people can't imagine this working because they've never been taught how to live within their means. And they have no rock to cling to and depend on...our Lord Jesus Christ. There will be a day, I believe soon, when our family will be gone....vanished. And all of those left behind will realize that maybe we weren't crazy after all.
I love the Duggars family. Just a personal opinion. When I was reading their stories, I felt their loves for one another. Go Duggars!!
No, go to hell Duggars and all the likes of u and ur worshippers!
They may not be on the public dole, however we are supporting them every time we watch one of the specials on television and for that reason I will not be watching another one. All I see is the older children having all this responsibility heaped on them at a young age. No time for a childhood of their own, always looking out for someone else. Very selfish of mom and dad.
global warming, that's all I have to say.
well, not quite. Duggar girls, if you're reading this, CUT YOUR HAIR AND PUT ON SOME PANTS!!!!!
Looks to me like the Duggars gave birth to quite a large staff of slaves!
These barbarians should be imprisoned for child abuse!
Did Jim Bob mention that he doesn't pay property taxes on that 7,000 sq. ft. house of theirs because he's had it declared a church?
Pathetic.
I am sorry but I cannot stand the Duggars.
I think it is wrong the way the hand of all the babies to the older children. Then they have a 17 yr. old making lunch for almost 20 people and an 18 yr old making dinner. These kids have to clean, and raise the younger ones. They have a strict schedule. When are they allowed to be children? When do they play? This reminds me of a cult. It seems these kids are instructed on when to smile, laugh etc. When you look in the Duggars eyes they all look vacant.
What I would like to know is what is going to happen if something happens to the parents? What is going to become of the children? Foster homes. Or did the parents will the younger kids to the older kids? These children do not have a normal childhood and never will. I don't mean material things either. I mean making friends, going to college (how will they afford it) going and playing baseball or going on dates.
What really gets me is that I have watched all these specials. It sickens me that if any of these children want time with a parent, they have to go to the kitchen and "make an appt" by writing it down that they want more time with a parent to discuss something.
This is just a sad family. I feel sorry for these kids.
I want to say that your comments about the Duggar family are hateful and disturbing. I know we are allowed to our opinions to just about anything, but why say such harmful things that would just crush someone's feeling's. This family is as wholesome and pure as is Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. At least they aspire to be (like him) each day of their lives. If everyone in this world were like them in any way, this world would be a much more peaceful place to live in. As far as their choosing to have as many children as the Lord will allow, they should be able to. The Lord knew what he was doing when he chose them to have as many children as they do. To them, the more the merrier. May the Lord bless you with a peace of mind and peace in your heart someday soon {you just have to want it and claim it). The Duggar's are not freaks, they are a breath of fresh air.
Proud to be a christian!
Does anyone really know what goes on behind closed doors?
Kids not allowed to socialize with other other kids in the outside world. Parents don't want tv in their home yet don't mind promoting themselves and their kids on tv, reaping from the freebies. I blame media for this but on the other hand the parents are hypocritical. Why is this family being glorified anyhow? Many large families out there and they don't put themselves in the limelight.
The Duggars are my heros...I respect their beliefs and I think they are Great. I myself have 9 children and 6 angels . Who knows ..my husband and I may have more ourselves. :D
Can't wait to read the tell all memoir written by the Duggar girl who escapes the compound. Should be an eye opener!
Like I've said before, on the surface everything seems okay, but after all the scandals in the news by supposedly religious people, I'm not so sucked in that their way is ideal. *They*, the parents are choosing to have a bunch of kids, but that is not necessarily the childrens' choice. Children are not something you own. Everytime, mom announces she's pregnant an older child must groan inside. I know adults who decided not to have children of their own because they felt they already raised them - their brothers and sisters. I did not grow up with a lot of brothers and sisters (one sister, two brothers), but I was given a lot of responsibility. By the time I was an adult I felt exhausted from the burden of responsibility. Many years later I still resent someone depending on me, because I had been brainwashed during my childhood into feeling that everyone and their needs was my responsibility. Even the most responsible child needs to feel that they can depend on someone. They can call themselves Christians all they want, I still say there is a creepy regimentation about them.
i love how all the "christians" defend them with quotes from the bible. STFU losers, these guys are completly creepy and all you who agree with them are brainwashed your damn selves. when i first saw this article it made me sick. i wanted to burn their compound to the ground. and why did they have to name em all with J,s same as the dad and grandpas first initial i know but 18 Js gimme a F'n break. also, teaching your kids to only hang out with other "approved" christians seems like a really bad idea. in the real world we have to deal with all sorts. some good, some bad but
i love how all the "christians" defend them with quotes from the bible. STFU losers, these guys are completly creepy and all you who agree with them are brainwashed your damn selves. when i first saw this article it made me sick. i wanted to burn their compound to the ground. and why did they have to name em all with J,s same as the dad and grandpas first initial i know but 18 Js gimme a F'n break. also, teaching your kids to only hang out with other "approved" christians seems like a really bad idea. in the real world we have to deal with all sorts. some good, some bad but thats
I worry about Christian fundamentalism in the US - it is no different from any other religion that practices such basic "truths".
Having so many children, in my opinion is selfish, ignorant and a blight on our planet. Why not adopt children who have no homes and give them a home?
The problem is that the family would indoctrinate them with their narrow minded views.
I am glad to be living is a truly democratic country - it is not the US
Well, first of all, I think debating while calling names on either side of the argument isn't exactly mature.
Secondly, what does having a lot of children have to do with global warming? That has absolutely no congruency with the point. And over-population? The only people who say that live in a big metropolis. Have you ever driven anywhere besides a big city? You know....the country, where there is a lot of land.
Thirdly, the world talks about accepting different cultures. This usually seems to ring true unless it has to do with Christians and some sub-cultures within Christianity, like the Duggars practice.
Fourth, what is the big freakin' deal anyway if they want to have 1 or 25 kids? It's not our life, it's theirs. Whether they dress alike or not.....whether the women cut their hair or not....whether they homeschool or not.....does it REALLY affect your life that much? Maybe you should be honest with yourself and wonder why it bothers you to this extent to bash harmless people that you don't even know.
Lastly, look at our mainstream culture now. The teenagers now for the most part don't really have a focus in life. Their idea of exercise is moving their fingers to play video games. The majority of them haven't been taught morals by their parents. A majority of their parents actually rarely SEE their children.
Now look at culture 100 years ago. Most children had household duties and chores they had to accomplish daily. Most families were larger. More families established moral behavior as a GOOD point. More children stayed out of trouble. I'm not saying that every family was perfect, but I can guess that children grew up understanding responsibility more. They had better family ethics and work ethics. They knew how to survive in bad times. I doubt that my generation, (X,) or the following generations would know what to do in economic crisis or in an emergency situation.
I don't like it when non-Christians use expletives to make a point. And I don't like it when Christians quote the Bible to make a point. To use the Bible to make a point isn't going to turn a non-Christian to your viewpoint. All they are going to think is, "Crap, here comes some more mindless Christian jargon." Their mind automatically tunes out what you are saying. And the same goes for the cussing....that's definitely not going to get a Christian to see the secular viewpoint. It will only turn them off.
My point: I think that the Duggars have some things that we could learn. However, I think that some of it is a little extreme. I don't think that large families cause global warming or over-population. Most small families have 3+ cars and probably travel more than large families. Most large families have 3 cars max.
We have 4 children with one on the way. They are well-behaved, but still have a LOT of personality. I lose my cool with them. I'm not Martha Stewart. I hate cleaning, but I do it anyway. My children do have daily chores, which they often forget and I constantly remind them to do. We not only wear pants, but also shorts!!!! (SHOCKER) And we're Christians. (another SHOCKER) And I have a music ministry that goes not only to churches, but also to bars! (ANOTHER SHOCKER) We have two vehicles: one van that gets 18 mpg...ouch. And a used geo metro that gets 40 mpg that my hubby drives to work everyday. We pay our taxes. We homeschool. So we pay taxes for OTHER kids to go to school. wow. We aren't completely out of debt. We have a small credit card bill....very small which will be payed off this year. We have our van payment and two house payments. (one rental home where we used to live) So we aren't perfect, but we aren't CULTISH by any means. I think people use that word when they don't completely understand something.
I think a lot of large families are stereo-typed. I also think that they just need to be left alone to do what they want to do. Their children aren't a menace to society. What's the big deal? We just need to leave each other alone and get along with each other, regardless of our beliefs.
what's wrong with a girl/woman having long hair? My daughter has always had long hair and so have I (except as a child). We love our hair. My daughter went to PUBLIC school that had uniforms (k-8) and dress code (9-12) and she now (@19) dresses conservatively, for which I am eternally grateful (no pantiless, dancing on tables). Also, as far as children helping, my daughter is an only child and she always had chores and thought it was unfair that she had noone to share them with, but is a better adult cause I stuck w/them. (She is a great cook and knows how to change oil on a car.) I watch the Duggars cause I am sick of the violence/nudity and sex of other programs. The only thing I think crazy is the homeschooling. My grandmother had 12 children and they all went to school. (I only have the 1 cause that is all I got, maybe that's why I find the Duggars fascinating.)
Yes, there are many large families including a local family where I live that do not plaster themselves in the media. The parents both work real jobs. The Duggars are using religion for selfish reasons. Twisting the bible. I really feel sorry for the older children for being born slaves. Intelligent, responsible humans use some sort of birth control. I canted stand people who work the system.
If we shouldn't care if they have 25 kids, then why don't they just keep it to themselves. It seems like the so called parents are out to prove something with no regard to their children. It is so sad that these kids don't have friends to socialize with other than siblings. Their life is this compound they live on.
If they want to have 30 kids then fine, just keep it off the national TV. If they can really support and pay for all those kids, then they don't need the media. Jim Bob is a politician (can't stand politicians anyway) and knows how to work the system...using his family for his benefit. Anybody can get pregnant just like cats and dogs. It's the intelligent, responsible citizens that have some sense of control and don't just get pregnant because you can. "God" will give you kids at age 13 or younger...doesn't mean you should get pregnant every time you have sex. Humans should be above the intelligent level of animal instict. Saying if "God" wants to give you more kids is so rediculous....what would the world population be if no one used any birth control? This family makes me sick to see.
I have no problem with them living a Christian life, or being happy. The sole problem I have is the fact that they are giving ownership of their eighteen children to God. I think we have gotten to the point where it's obvious if you believe in God you should also realize that biology is a reality. I think that it is ignorant and irresponsible for a well-educated family to think that having eighteen children is perfectly fine. It is very well known that China is overpopulated, and obviously this is going to become a problem elsewhere sooner or later, so why hurry the process? It blows my mind that the obvious fact that more people equals more consumption equals more of a burden on the Earth that they believe God created for us is a non-issue in this household. I also have a huge problem with the parents delegating responsibility in raising the kids to the other siblinbs. I understand some of your comments that it is good they have responsibilities, and I agree. Kids need to have responsibilities. But, you have to remember, these are still kids! They deserve a childhood! I personally think homeschooling is very unfair to children. School with children other than your siblings is a necessary phase in childhood in today's world. It allows the kids to be without their parents, but still supervised, around other children, and allows them to develop communication and friendship with others outside of their own family. There are so many things I find wrong with this family, and none of them involve their faith, and I'm sure that is the same way a lot of others feel, so if you are arguing for this family, please, enlighten us to what you feel about the issues outside of the family, because to me, those are the most important in this case. You have to be conscious of others, and respectful of the Earth. I honestly see no way that in this case having eighteen children can be justified.
One of the things that "bother" me is the insular way that they live. These people appear to only socialize within the family and a very select group (other Christians). The kids never appear to interact with people of color, other religions, or people of other ethnic origins, therefore, missing out on learning about other people - all valid topics. The world is getting smaller and smaller. Interacting within your community but globally as well to me broadens the mind and experience. They live in a vacuum.
These people scare me. Everything about them screams, "CREEPY!" That man is raising his own personal cult. Their children all dress, talk, act, and think alike. They're completely brainwashed. No individual identities. It's sad that such beautiful kids that could be so much more than tools of the Church will never be more than part of something - part of the boys, part of the family, part of the cult, part of the religion. They have no individual identity and no hope to develop one whilst inside that border. What a waste.
I do not think there crrepy, but I do not believe everything they show us. NO family is this perfect and no family should be this perfect. The kids to me seem like little drones instead of being creative and unique which each human being is. I would like to see these children have their opinions than just mimic parents views on EVERYTHING. The children seem to be on this schedule and what about being spontaneous and going outside of the box!
The shows about the Duggar family is basically just another reality tv show. Considering some of the appalling reality shows out there I find the Duggar's probably the least offensive and if you do not like them then don't watch the show. Everybody is entitled to live their life the way they want to and worship they way want to. I am not a fan of fundamentalist christianity but I don't hold that against a person unless they try to force their beliefs down my throat (then I tell them to research the council of Nicea when the books for the new testament were chosen and edited removing all references to reincarnation except one "he who was elijah will come again"). The Duggar's seem nice enough, I may not agree with them on everything they do or some of their attitudes towards equality in the home for both sexes but I do not walk in their shoes and it is not my place (or anybody elses) to judge them. If they are doing a bad job one or two of those kids (at least) will rebel and write a tell all book that we will all devour and many will disagree on. Worry about something that applies to your own life not the Duggar's. As for accusing them of damaging the enviornment by having so many kids you forget that there are alot of DINK's out there (double income no kids). So if you allot 2.5 kids per couple my DINK friends and I can cover 15 kids that we did not have that the Dugger's took care of having, plus 2.5 of their own so with the 18th child on the way they are only over the quota by .5 of a child. And I'm sure there are some other DINK's out there willing to give them their 2.5 kid allotment so she can keep producing until her uterus prolapses or menopause hits!
Just add guns and yell Wacko
I grew up as the eldest child in a family of five children, and though this does not seem very large, I had to bring up my siblings as my mother seemed to pumped out each child with little thought of the future. As an adult, I am very glad now to have my siblings, who are my closest friends, but I must say that my mother was an overwhelmed, younger sort of mother, who could not always be relied upon - hence I was a mother figure to all of my siblings. I came to resent it - not my siblings, who couldn't help it, but my parents who thoughtlessly birthed child after child without really thinking of the fact of having to look after these children. Trust me, elder children who grow up having already looked after baby upon baby can't help but feel like they've lost something because of it. I'm in my thirties now and can't stand the thought of having children. I've done that already for my parents. Every time I look back over photos of myself as a child and a teenager, there's a baby on my hip.
I should also add that the neighbour's children, younger than myself, were also neglected by their parents, and were basically brought up in our family (or me, who they looked up to). Most times around the house there at least six other children for me to look after.
GOOD GRIEF!!!!! Leave the poor family alone!! what have they ever done to you all! they are not creeps, they are not a cult and they are not penecostals. They happen to be Southern Baptists as am I. And so what if the girls don't want to cut their hair, and so what if they don't want to wear pants, is it hurting you! Think about it...if you had 18 kids wouldn't it be a little hard figure out which pants were the guys and which pants where the girls?? And I have seen a couple of them in pants! And when you live on a certain amount of land you can consider it and farm and it can be a tax deductible, not a tax exemption. So what if they recieve freebees, they didn't go begging to anyone for them. The only reason they are on national T.V. is to spread the love of Jesus Christ. You people are clearly misisng the message that they are trying to give you. They are a loving and sweet family, the only reason they seem perfect to some of you is because they have the love of God whitch gives them the strength to stay patient and persevere through life. I'm sure they would tell you that they are far from perfect. And as someone mentioned, CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING not a hindrence, and they are not hurting the invironment! The kids are not slaves, when you live in a large family you have to help out to keep everything running smoothly. I come from a large family and we all know that we have to do our part! I also don't believe in birth control and I hope i am blessed with as many kids as them. You people who bash them seem to be jealous of their happy family.
If every woman who had a miscarriage made the decision to keep every child and get pregnant as often as 'god' intends, how long would it take for the human race to have serious food shortages? How much of the other species homes would have to be destroyed even further to support us? Why does this family think they're special. I think it's disgusting and should be against the law. And to bring your children up brain-washed and deluded with a terrible fear of hell if they put a foot wrong. Why don't they try reading a science book instead of the bible at the dinner table and learn something useful.
Ignorance is religions best friend. These children will grow up ignorant of life, the world and where they came from, and they will think proliferate breeding is expected and good.
"Saying there is too many children is like saying there are too many flowers" ~ Mrs. Duggar
I agree 100%.
I say have tlc broadcast a show that has mre.dugger doing all the work a mother
with children should. bathe dress feed diaper etc with no help from the older
kids . she wouldnt last a week.
they are not christians. they are part of the mormon religion. mormons believe that you must have so many kids in order to advance to the different levels of heaven. the need to have "spirit children". its a duty.
They're weird. There's no need to debate it. Society tends to conform and move toward what is 'normal' (whatever that may be). By any standard, in this country or others...THEY'RE WEIRD!!! Fine, they're Christian, SO AM I...it's still WEIRD!!! There's no need to feel like they're being picked on...they put themselves out there and are availing themselves to criticism... We're simply doing what they've allowed us to do. They're good people, good parents, good children...that's all lovely and I wish them no harm, but....THEY'RE STILL WEIRD!!!
Well what do you say about the duggar family??hmmm We are not Usa folks yet we are folks from Australia, and are being bombed by the duggar family on our paid TV, yeah you dont have to watch it some may say, yet my goodness how can you not? its not just scary to think that a family has so many kids, yet the scary thing is, everyone of those children are a carbon copy of their parents!
Thats the scary part, we are a family of 5 grown children, and raising them was a task on their own, making sure their needs were met, and allowing them to grow within guildlines, so that when they reach adulthood they have the tools to make choices for themselves good or bad, yet look at the children of the Duggars, I can say that not one of them has their ownself, eachone is a carbon copy of the parents, the girls, want to grow up to be a stay at home mom with a large family, my goodness, were are their true dreams, like growing up to explore their roles in this world? look something that makes me think this is scary is, if you the Duggars were living here in Australia, like you are there, with your children running around all wearing the same cloths, having to attend school at home, and attend your own home church, our goverment would be investergating them, because in our eyes, thats not allowing your children to have free choice, here in Australia, we addmire parents that show guildance, are actively involved with their children, yet making carbon copies to have only the parents beliefs systems, act like them and so on, nope sorry duggars you would be regarded as a cult here in Australia, and your children would be taken from you. God Bless those that show that all great and small have the right to develope ones own choice in life.
In response to Katrina and Jason - I'm from Australia and I completely DISAGREE with everything you've mentioned!
Praise God for the Duggars! Praise God for the gift of children! Praise God for everything!
WOO HOO! Duggars rock!
God continues to bless the Duggars in abundance because they are good and faithful servants who are obedient to His word.
Well I didnt ask for your acceptance all I said was, Were is each childs right to be themselves without the mainstream programming of their parents and the belief system they have programmed into these children, this truely makes me realize is how narrow minded some are when they start programming babies from birth to accept and live as them, a child is so easy to program, monkey see monkey do, so to speak.
And as far as beliefs go and following the right path, gee what is the right path, so many have different versions of it, I feel the teaching of a christian ,is to develope, guild and nuture that child into being able to be all they can be, not carbon copies of their parents let them grow and develope their own way of thinking not that of others, when you as a parent dont, or christian then you are not living a good path you then are in it for ones own self not that of your children.
.
I totally agree with Katrina and Jason, these parents of so many children are creating duplicates of themselves, what I have seen is each parent is living their lives through each and every child in the family. One thing that disturbs me is how false the reality they are exposing their children too, life isnt about having heaps of children, home schooling, and building a home church plus being a reality TV family, and teaching them all to live it. Life is about nuturing, teaching scocial interaction, not just with siblings and church members, yet cultures and beliefs of others, interaction with a real world good and bad teaching them, boundries and respecting themselves, therefore being able to have respect for others, yet how can you teach a child self respect when you live your life through your children, how can you think thats the lord's plan, that to me is a ego's plan, one that only see's what it wants to see, like 17 plus children made up of big and little michelle's, and Jim Bob's sorry thats not the lord's plan for us, yet I salute them for the well mannered children they are, and getting them to help within a family unite, yet the stage they have their children at to me is nothing short of brain washing. I know this if I was raised in the same manner, maybe somewhere down the road, I would harbour some restment towards my parents, for making me accept only what they beleive, that to be is bad parenting. And why do ego's of man and woman have to quote verses and knowledge of the bible and teach this, when they dont understand it to begin with just like many religons out there.
Im sorry, but watching this family gives me the creeps. Really. They are the most bizarre people. Their children have no personality of their own. All of them are programmed robots. All they ever do, is chores. And if its not chores and looking after the young ones, they read the bible with mother and father. Dont even get me started on the michelle. The only reason she is having this many children is because she believes that god wants all females to pop out as many babies as humanly possible before they die. So naturally, her being the good little christian she is, she's doing her damn best to not let god almighty down. " saying that there are too many children is like saying there is too many flowers"...........mhm......riigghttt. Ugh. Seriously. SO DISTURBING.
Totally katy you have won me on that comment, Good christian and God's will to be blessed with having so many children....yeah Right, Dont people know about how their bodies work, more so for this family to be given some education on whats real, to start with, its not God's plan nor blessing it bacis human function, known fact the more children you produce, the higher the fertility, and if your having unprotected sex, well really what will happen? yep you all guessed it you get pregnant simple fact not a blessing yet plain simple science..... yet Michelle darling if you take the chance to ever read this, Are you aware that you place yourself and your future unborn babies at greater risk if you continue to produce children, as you become older the higher the risk of having a down's sydrome child with a higher risk of you having problems, Along with many other problems that can accure, yes to be given the role of parenting is a honour, as some people cant have children, having children and teaching them to be productive, and to help develope their personalities to guild them teach them how to be all that they can be, and when they are grown, and leave with a good well rounded upbring, that is when you can recieve or even say you as a parent are blessed, because you finally have forfilled your role as teacher, mentor,nuturers and last of all a co creator of the human race, thats the blessing when its all said and done, so Duggars, while you still have a chance open your eyes to the truth, and this shall set you free!
It seems to me that the people that are so against this family come across as threatened by the Duggars' faith, devotion, and obvious dedication to one another, which I think is pretty sad. It may not be for everyone, but it's obvious to see that these children are happy, healthy, and enjoy a strong sense of themselves, and a strong sense of family. I would give anything at my age (mid -40's) to have siblings I felt close to and shared a history with. Contrary to what someone posted, I believe these children will actually have an easier time adjusting to adulthood- they've already learned some of life's most valuable lessons. I don't see any signs of neglect or lack of attention. It's my personal opinion that in general children from larger families are more mature, selfLESS, and well-adjusted. While I couldn't do it, I can't offer up anything other than encouragement to this family.
I dont think for one minute, others or myself are threatened in any way with the duggers large family, nor in their beliefs, for me I think that anyone that is so gullable and blind that place their trust in something that is purely a fare sighted thing like religon are not living a real human life, so to the reader that posted, NO I AM FAR FROM THREATENED BY THE DUGGERS I am concerned for the children becomming Religous Robots by the choice their parents have instilled in them plain and simple.
I humbly disagree....the Duggars act boldly on their faith, and that can be intimidating, or threatening, to those that do not share faith or trust in God, which is far from a "fare sigted" existence. If you are a true Christian, you understand that a "real human life" is actually the farce or the practice run, whereas where you will spend eternity and who your Lord and Master of your life is the much more real and everlasting focus. Mankind is by nature fallen, and tries to deny the existence of God. You can ignore Him, but it doesn't make Him any less real....We are increasingly becoming a Godless society, and reaping what we've sown.
Some people believe in God but they have little faith in man. Especially when you see so-called Christians preaching intolerance and hate for those who are different, Rabbis killing their wives, Priests molesting children, Ministers having sex with members of their congregations. Why shouldn't people have doubts?
HALARIOUS! You know i have always thought it, but never thought to write about it. he whole world thanks you. I was jsut thinking perhaps everyone was dosed a special morning smoothie, with a hint of crack in it to keep them all so perfect.
I sure enjoyed reading your hub, thank you
Even Mother Teresa had doubts after witnessing all the evil and suffering in the world as revealed in her letters that were found after her death. She even stopped praying. I'm not saying this to break one's faith; but certainly, I don't place mine in man and organized religion.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/08/23/eveningn
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/0
I remember watching one those 20/20 or new magazine programs where this woman had been murdered. They were interviewing one of her relatives who also was a preacher/minister/man of God (take your pick), when asked about forgiveness for the murderer, a look of hard hatred came across his face and he basically said, [to h*ll to the Christian teachings I've been preaching each Sunday], I hate him and hope he rots in hell. A human reaction, yes, and one many of us can understand, but I thought where is all that pious righteousness now when the chips are down for him? Where's his faith now? Yet another revelation that put another chink in my abhorrence for organized religion.
You can be sure if one of us was grieving a loved one, he would be spouting a lot of pious crap about forgiveness. But when the going got tough for him, it was a different story. Now mind you, once again, I could understand his reaction - it would certainly be mine - but then I don't go around shoving my beliefs down other people's throats and basically making them feel guilty for feeling and being human.
There's a movie, darn, can't remember the name, but I'll post it soon about this child molesting priest that was at it for like 20 years and they *knew*, the bishops all of them *knew* and they transferred him from one parish to another.
He's living in Ireland. He's not a known or registered sex offender there if they have such a thing, free to continue. This is a documentary and they featured several of the victims. And the look of pain on the parents faces. One family used to leave their daughter with him nearly everyday. As they would be walking out the door, he would be kneeling and praying.
They have bits of these bishops and priests being interviewed and what liars they were. In one see the women (the little girl) flew all the way to Italy for a consult with the pope. Do you think she got in? Do you think the pope would lay a hand on her head and perhaps allow her some resolution, some solace? Hell, no!
And when I see the opulence of the robes, the money that people just hand over, it just turns me off. There have been so many recent stories of thefts by members of every kind of church. No, you can't make me trust man.
There must be a special place for people who take advantage of people's need to believe in something greater than themselves, to take advantage of their fears and trust.
Gosh how narrow minded are we when it comes to religon? So many place their most precious thing they own, Faith, Trust in something that really brings nothing in return, Like religon, I would class myself as a honest, truthful and compassionate person, I weep when I see uncaring acts upon others, I cry when I see children used as tools for others, yet am I a church going attendee? Nope am I a christian? that could be questioned by others that dont share my way of living. yet What I am is real, Religon is nothing more than a far sighted system of people that look for salvation and comfort in a teaching that is practised by controlling the masses with fear and lies, and this is done by handing over the most precious thing you own, YOUR FAITH/TRUST if people placed that faith in themselves and trust they could move moutians, they could change their lives for the better and not only that would be in the true power of God/Goddess yet again many follow like sheep looking for a fairy tale ending, and a acceptance of what they really are. For me, I know who I AM, and dont need the lies and Mumbo jumbo crap that religon spills.
there's a reason that people mistrust mankind in general....because mankind in general is untrustworthy, fallen and broken. People are aghast when they hear stories of abuse/unkindness against one another, but the real miracle is that we behave as well as we do. God loves us when we are unlovable, and loves us perfectly, which we are incapable of ourselves. It's a misguided but common mistake to confuse "religion" with God. As soon as you put people into the equation, you have trouble and that has been true from the beginning of time.
Eppy, I dont mistrust mankind, that would be like me saying I dont need my brain to make my body work, what I am saying I dont beleive in the religous mumbo jumbo, of preaching and doing what some beleif system say I should, religon isnt living as god would want us, he wants us to be unprefect, like he is, after all werent we created in his own image, he wants us to make mistakes, he wants us to be good and bad, because only then can we truely know the father, and therefore know ourselves. its when we pretend to be something we are not, is when we dishonour what we are, And religon teaches us just that, to be something we are not, look I was raised as a baptish, I attended church while my parents became heavely involved in this way of life, and I can recall one time sitting in church looking around at the fakeness of others there, all pretending to be something they were not, good christian people, yet everyone had a hidden agenda when they left that sunday service, they all went back to back stabbing, cheating and so much more, to be honest I was the only one that was being real, I took from the plate, I questioned the service given, and I asked the many there, Why they pretend to be caring and nice, I was only 8 when I saw the true nature of what was real, and in the lords church people were pretending, to be something they were not, by listening to the sermon, and giving praise to me I sat through hours of lies, hours of untruths, yet all the time I really was hearing the real truth, and that was "be all that you are, for that is how I made you!
Looks like everyone is agreed so far that religions and so-called religious people can be pretty fake, can prey on peoples faith and belief, but I don't think anyone is knocking faith or belief. Personally, I just can see myself going to church anymore.
Remember the Stepford Wives? How about a Stepford Family! Right-wing, fundy, wackos!
I'm a practicing Christian, but these people are extremists...no different than extremists of any religion.
Hahahaha, My husband said he stopped beleiving in what the church practised when he found out at 5 years old that father christmas and the Easter Bunny were'nt real!!
To be or not to be, that is the question! And for me, I choose not to be like the duggers practising and beleiving, that it is soley their responsiblity to populate the world in their own image, or better still building their own little kingdom, bound only together on their lack of taking real responsiblity to say enough is enough.
Michelle, get your tubes done, or send Jim bob off for the chop......You both have what you entended to get out of this, Media attention, free stuff etc..... stop being greedy, look up what is said about Greed in the Bible, and practise being Real!
It's pretty disgusting to continually read how being a "Christian" equals using no birth control, home schooling, and a bubble encased lifestyle. The Duggars make other Christians look bad because they have some pretty strange beliefs. Most Christians I know do not live this kind of lifestyle nor would they believe they are good Christians just because they have 18 kids. God gives people brains. It's obvious the Duggar's aren't using theirs. They are not trusting God with their sex drive, so why should they trust God to take care of having more and more babies? Because it's the older kids who are raising the younger ones. Get a clue people. This family is whacko.
Whacko, hmmm I think they are pretty selfish more than anything. Its funny I saw on the tv the other week, a tv station interviewing the duggers for mothers day, , boy here was all the children looking just like their parents, ready to surpise Mum with some presents the children had picked for Michelle, complements of the tv station. Yet the surprise was on the children, Michelle told the children, they were having baby number 18, I will never forget the look on the face of the older children, more so the older son named John, his face said it all. It was the look of YOU GOT TO BE JOKING, and then Jim bob and Michelle commented with " the lord has blessed us with another baby, and we will continue to have children until the lord stops this from happening", gosh how funny and stupid was that comment? Lets pray for the older children that mother nature takes over and this is the final dugger that will enter this family, after all Jim bob just makes them, Michelle spits them out and the older children raise them, lets pray for the older dugger children, to give them the strength to continue parenting, be lets face it Jim bob and Michelle arnt doing it.
I think this family is weird on a lot of levels. I as a parent, want to spend as much one on one time as I can with my children. To just keep having babies and letting the oldest children take care of them is just sick. Children need affection and attention. This just seems like a strange cult. With that many children, how are they getting the one on one time that they need? Another thing is, how do they have time to have that much sex when they have that many children? Something is off.
I dont really think they would have lots of sex, after all you only have to have sex once and if there is no protection in place then the chance of having another child is very high, I agree with the comment made anout having one on one time with each child, in their wacko world they made think that spending alot of time home schooling and reading the bible with their children is one on one to them, who knows?
yet I am a father of 5 grown children, and Grandfather to two grand children, and I never have enough time in my life to have very much one on one time with them all, and yet I treasure the time I do have, all I can say is that these parents havent a stable foundation for these children with all the crap they beleive in, and maybe later in life they made just see this, when the youngest is 21 and the two parents are too tired and worn out to see what they have missed out on ONE ON ONE.
You people are all just silly. Who cares if they have any children. And by the way they probably dress the way they do because its cheap. People today are obsessed with clothes and the way we look, they don't seem to care. They aren't worldly like most of us. They are probably debt free because they don't do unessesery spending. All of you idiots who buy expensive cars and than wonder why they owe money. They believe that all children are a blessing, and that seems completley reasonable to me. None of you know what kind of stabibly they have. The Duggar family hasn't even aired that many shows. Whats sad is that most of us had shitty lives with only a few sibblings. I plan on having a ton of children and I'm pretty confident that I can raise them to contribute to society in a good way. Hey and guess what, I'm going to raise them to love God and love people.
lets not be a bunch of socialists.
No one is saying that they don't love their children. Read the original comments. Despite the positives, rather than admiring them, which I would expect, I find them creepy. To each his own. And you don't know how anyone who has posted here lives. So you mind your manners.
What is wrong with these people?! Ive been waching this pathetic example of parenting for some time now. I have yet to see the mother or "babymachine" hold or show any amount of affection to any of her children. It seems to me that the eldest children have assumed the parenting role. They have absolutely no social skills and it wouldnt surprise me in the least if every single one of them spent the rest of their lives on that remote peice of farm land. They are COMPLETELY alienated from American society. The reason the queen of this ant pile is always pregnant is very clear to me...SHE IS AN ATTENTION WHORE! It also bothers me that these people do not seem to care about the odds of producing a mentally handicaped child. They'd probably just hand it off to the next oldest child anyway.
Also, has anyone else noticed the similariities between these people and those polygamist degenerates in Utah?
Gosh are we silly people? this seems to be the comment made by Sara, well I didnt know free speech was regarded as silly, or the freedom to buy a fancy car if one so wants too,? and having tons of children is a act of freedom as well, yet as a free speaking human I have the right to voice what I to beleive in, and that maybe to disagree on the way these duggers breed and raise their children yet do I have the right to stop them? NO I DONT. yet am I silly or stupid to others out there that agree with the duggers way of life? NO I AM NOT because my fine folks that is their freedom to disagree. And about all this christian ways and so forth, I dont give a rats bum, if you are a god loving person or a heathen that is your right to beleive in what you want, I care for others not out of being a christian or following the good path of god, yet because we all have a common tread, that is we are all humans. And as a concerned human that see lots of children living in sorrow and starvation in parts of the world, the duggers need to count all their blessings, and take better responsiblity in guilding them not to be just a good christians, having large families, yet to be satisfied with what they do have, and not want more, and take a risk with a childs life or child to be life, and when you do have children dont expect others that didnt make the choice to have children help raise them and when the Parent duggers understand this that is when they will become true caring people (human)
Well good for you sara!!!!! You have heaps of children, raise them to love god and others, yet dont forget when your up too your arm pits in dirty nappies and screaming children, that it was your choice to breed these little humans and it isnt their responsiblity to care for eachother while your pop out more ok sweetheart, and while you teach them to love god and love others, just add to your long line of teaching to teach them the importance of being themselves and respecting and loving themselves, as this will better help them in life, and oh dont forget when your are so tired and wanting a break, that it will not be your older childrens role to look after their siblings while mum and Dad take a nap, after all you are to surrender all selfish thoughts and acts to ensure your children grow up to be themselves remember that Sara before you make a bold statement that you are going to have tons of children........think before one act lol
I respect these peoples. I was only able to have one child. I had three miscarriages before I had her. I was lucky to even be alive after she was born. She is fifteen now. Don't judge people on having children. THey are a blessing.
No one is judging these folks, we are all voicing our right to free speech nothing more, and having children is a blessing and for those that struggle with achieving this, more so. Yet there is some out there that just keep popping them out and dont understand that it isnt the responsiblity of their older children to help raise them, like in the dugger family, stop and think about it, when you have reached baby number 17 or whatever number, as a parent you will seek assittance from whoever to help make your job easier in raising them, like placing more responsiblity on the likes of the older children, yet is it fair to place this upon them? after all did they have a say into how many babies mum and dad want!
I am a mother of 5 grown children and when my oldest was 13 I was having my 5th child, it would have been easy for me to have got my older child to baby sit, change nappies and help with raising them, yet was it fair of me to place this demand upon my oldest child?, No it wasnt, so my oldest child was never made to change nappies, bath the younger ones, nor feed them, nor baby sit, or even be a buddy friend to them, He was allowed to be himself and now he is a fine computer programmer, not married and hasnt any children, and the question why he isnt married and have children, because one he watched how hard it was for his own parents raising him and his siblings, that he learnt that unless you are prepared to give up everything you disire in life, to devote your energy and time into raising a child by yourself or with a partner then dont go there, this is what all my children have learnt, and I am proud I didnt mold them all into having heaps of children and palmming them off onto others to raise, for when the time comes for them to have children they will all be ready to take full responsiblity for them..
These people are sick. It is socially iresponsible to have that many kids. They should not be praised, rewarded, or scene as celebrities. This day and age to have that many children is signs of there own selfish need to be scene as good christian people and not a gift from god. Anyone who backs them is just as insane as they are. I hope all there kids write books on how horrible there parents are and someday they will be scene for what they are. A BUNCH OF FREAKS.
OMG i had to turn the show OFF when the teenage boy asked his girlfriend to marry him and wouldn't even kiss her. I was so freaked out, If a fella asked me to marry him then refused to kiss me I would run the other way. That for sure is the creepiest family I have ever witnessed. I can't stand how stupid they are.
One more thing i just need to comment on. Did you see how the Father pretty much called his wife a whore because she had a boyfriend before him? That bastard should be hung by his dick till it seperates from his dumb ass body.
I don't see that they are having children for the children's sake. Or even for the blessing that they are. I have one child and I chose that because I realized that financially and emotionally that was all I could handle. Also my husband was not supportive. When people have children beyond their emotional, physical, and financial means (not that they don't have money - I thought Jesus says be humble - but they don't mind exploiting their family and children for TV), then they simply should not have them. I do wish now I had more, but I know that I couldn't have supported more than the one.
I come from a larger, christian family (6 kids) and the Duggars definitely weird me out. I realize that everyone comes equipped with different talents and gifts but I honestly don't believe that those parents can equally spread their love, time and attention out over that many needy human beings. Sure, they may be providing for them physically but are these kids getting the love and attention they deserve? I've seen it time and time again in large families where parents just get worn out. The younger ones are usually somewhat neglected emotionally and the older siblings are relied on more heavily. It happens in my family, though I think we are fairly functional for the most part.
What I appreciate most about my parents is that they have raised us to think. I'm the oldest and first to leave home and I still have an excellent relationship with my parents. This isn't because I was raised as a robo-clone or brainwashed, but brought up in an open, nurturing environment where I was encouraged to think freely and develop my own opinions on the world around me and how to live my life. When I see the Duggar children spewing out regurgitated lifestyle values and expressing their desires to have tons of children just like mom, it makes me upset with their parents for not giving their kids space to breathe and become their own people.
I'm also glad for the opportunities I've had to take part in the rearing of the younger siblings (the youngest is 2 in november) as it has taught me patience and responsibility. However, there has always been balance in that I had a lovely, carefree childhood where I was allowed to play and use my imagination. I think at least some of the Duggar children will break under the strain of such a rigid, scheduled lifestyle.
This is not to say that everyone should let their children run amock and abandon all moral concept. By all means teach your kids to be good citizens and human beings in general, but don't filter absolutely everything they are exposed to! My parents, instead of shielding me from the world's many unpleasantries, would expose me to them in a safe way by watching movies/tv with me and discussing our beliefs after. I think this is much healthier than just pulling the wool over their eyes. What happens when they leave their bunker-of-a-home and realize that the world isn't quite as rosy as it's made out to be? Or on the other hand, that it's not so wicked as it's claimed to be either and a lot of beauty and worthiness can be found in things that are new and different from what we regularly experience.
I'm so grateful for a lifestyle and opportunities I've had to experience different cultures, countries, and life perspectives. I've met wonderful people from all over the world who have enhanced my way of thinking by presenting me with ideas different from my own. I feel like my upbringing has made me a better christian in many ways because I am more tolerant and loving towards mankind in general than I would be otherwise. I only feel sad that the immense sheltering of the Duggar children will prevent them from experiencing these things and living their lives fully.
Wow. That was a lot longer than I initially intended it to be.
Great story. You sound very lucky.
They are pitifully ignorant and patheitc. It appears they are trying to move back into time to the "cleaner way of life" that never really existed. The children are dressed like freaks, and live in an insular unreal world that exist only in the minds of the parents. I find them far more creepy than the fundamenalist latter day saint cults
I think the fact that they are pure and devout Christians is the only thing I like about this family......I agree with another poster who said that the children don't seem very affectionate or don't recieve much affection as the infants. This is due to the fact that there are so many kids that none of them gets the personal attention, love and acknowledgement that they need from their parents---or even eachother. Think about it---by the time everyone got only one a hug a day from everybody, the day would be over and it would be time to wake up and start all over again.
These kids are going to be messed up. They live in a bubble world---and as a mother, I know how you wish you could protect your kids from sin and the bad influences of tv, media and other people...but making your kids only have friends who are their siblings....too strange. I mean they are so cut off from the world, that none of them seems to have a clue as to what even the "styles" are right now in the world. They look like Little House on the Prairie living in a mansion.
I am sure our tax dollars are going to support people like this. And I don't understand at all how they were allowed to deem their home a "church"...but that isn't an honest thing to do---especially for a family who is so religious and "strict." I have one child now and would love another but I am worried b/c the economy is so bad, and public aid only helps people who "lie" to get it, by saying they live alone when they really have two or three incomes....people who keep popping out kids because the more kids they have the lower their gov't healthcare or the higher their food stamps will get. Honestly I once saw a woman who had 900 dollars on her food stamp card---and she was wearing name brand clothes---things I can't even afford, but i still don't qualify for food stamps?????? I don't believe that the Duggars could afford their own healthcare for these kids. Who are they trying to fool?
I don't "unlike" this family, but when I watch them, I do find something to be a little "off" and it creeps me out. And for goodness sakes, someone fix the Mother's hair. She looks like she's in a cult---and she could still wear it long if it were just styled the right way.
How interesting that this family generates so many heated comments.
To the "selfish parents producing slaves" arguement: these children will be able to run a household whether it be one or 10 when they leave the nest. They will be able to clean, cook and fix things around the home and have had great examples of living within one's means to guide them. They will know that the world does not revolve around them and are unlikely to run away from responsibility. Good for the parents.
To the "no personality/individuality" arguement: since when does manner of dress/hairstyle define one's personality? Would you say to someone who was raised in a Hindu household that constant exposure has rendered them a robot? I believe that the prejudice against Christianity is alive and well here. And it's interesting how if a non-religous family removed television from their home and raised their kids without it they would be applauded. I don't think this is different.
"Not enough affection/attention": it seems from the programs at least that this family knows their children quite well. They seem well adjusted. In a large family, there are more than enough people to give and recieve love. I highly doubt that is an issue.
"Not paying taxes": Would any single one of you turn down a legitimate tax break? I suspect not. And while I don't know about Jim Bob's push for no contraception, I suspect that it was a measure that could have been voted on. So don't vote for it. Unlike here in CA where gay marriage was made legal (a lifestyle choice like no contraception would be) without a vote from the people.
"Pimping out their family to the Discovery Channel and getting free stuff": So what? If you got half an hour a week to show people how you live and got some free stuff for it, wouldn't you? Why not? I'm all for it. You don't like it, don't watch. If people didn't want to see it, the Duggars wouldn't have gotten their own series.
It is refreshing to watch wholesome television like this, and I don't even have children. I wonder why people are so hateful. Maybe you should take a look into your own life and focus that energy into finding what you are missing. Good luck.
Sarah
How interesting that this family generates so many heated comments.
To the "selfish parents producing slaves" arguement: these children will be able to run a household whether it be one or 10 when they leave the nest. They will be able to clean, cook and fix things around the home and have had great examples of living within one's means to guide them. They will know that the world does not revolve around them and are unlikely to run away from responsibility. Good for the parents.
To the "no personality/individuality" arguement: since when does manner of dress/hairstyle define one's personality? Would you say to someone who was raised in a Hindu household that constant exposure has rendered them a robot? I believe that the prejudice against Christianity is alive and well here. And it's interesting how if a non-religous family removed television from their home and raised their kids without it they would be applauded. I don't think this is different.
"Not enough affection/attention": it seems from the programs at least that this family knows their children quite well. They seem well adjusted. In a large family, there are more than enough people to give and recieve love. I highly doubt that is an issue.
"Not paying taxes": Would any single one of you turn down a legitimate tax break? I suspect not. And while I don't know about Jim Bob's push for no contraception, I suspect that it was a measure that could have been voted on. So don't vote for it. Unlike here in CA where gay marriage was made legal (a lifestyle choice like no contraception would be) without a vote from the people.
"Pimping out their family to the Discovery Channel and getting free stuff": So what? If you got half an hour a week to show people how you live and got some free stuff for it, wouldn't you? Why not? I'm all for it. You don't like it, don't watch. If people didn't want to see it, the Duggars wouldn't have gotten their own series.
It is refreshing to watch wholesome television like this, and I don't even have children. I wonder why people are so hateful. Maybe you should take a look into your own life and focus that energy into finding what you are missing. Good luck.
Sarah
Perhaps and then some people grow UP and say they don't want any kids because they already spent their childhood raising their brothers and sisters. They will tell you they resented the housework and never having a childhood. Look at what's been happening in Utah. NOBODY knows what is going on in someone else's household...NOBODY.
I have always felt these people are absolutely crazy. There is no way to love and nurture all of those children as they deserve to be nurtured. A couple of things that REALLY bother me:
1. Does Mr. Duggar have sufficient life insurance should the unspeakable happen? Anyone can keep getting someone pregnant. How will this family be provided for should he die? Have they even thought of that every time another "gift from God" is added to the horde?
2. The dating rituals of the oldest. Really irritated me no end. A chaperone was needed constantly. The couple were never allowed to be alone together, much less kiss. They could only hold hands and at times had to have a much younger sibling act as the chaperone. What message does that send to the young man? It basically is saying you cannot be trusted. What does it say about how he was raised? That they didn't do a good enough job teaching him right from wrong as it relates to how to treat a young woman on a "date". Terrible mixed signals.
I sure hope menopause kicks in real soon for Michelle. Of course by that time, the oldest will begin overpopulation activities of his own. Think of these irresponsible attitudes about family size X 18 (as of this writing). Good grief.
Hear! Hear!
Who cares if he has life insurance, frankly I am over this very strange family, yes they are strange, wheather others agree or not. All I have to say is, will it be a blessing when a child is born with major problems, , who then will the Duggers give thanks too?
I am sick of all the bullshit spoken about this christian's, beliefts systems and so forth. Anyone in my eyes that put a child or future child at risk by continueing to breed knowning all the risks involved with having a child in the latter part of a womans reproductive years, and ignores all advise given on what could happen and so forth, are not God loving humans, yet selfish ego driven humans, that dont know that their flower vase is full! And no more flowers can fit into the vase without causing some sort of damage to the new flowers being introduced into the vase, these parents are NOT CHRISTIANS Folk!
I beleive the ones that are real christians and treat all their children with the realness of life are Joh and Kate plus 8, I am watching them from now on, for they are real people, doing the best for their family......Go Joh and Kate plus 8 heheheheh
Didnt Michelle dugger say "Having to many children is like saying there is too many flowers" or something to that effect?
yet really what a statement, to me she and husband are just trying to justify their inability to have self control thats all, too many children is like saying there are too many flowers, maybe they should consider opening a florist then, that way they can have all the flowers they want!!! LOL
do the math, in 5 generations with 18 kids per child there would be 1889568 children (almost 2 million extra people) For every 530 familys did this today one billion people would here in 5 generations. If we all adopted the dugger life style in 25 years we would have over 2 trilion mouthes to feed. hope your in the mood for soylent green.
I know they get paid to do TV specials and shows. I don't understand if they aren't allowed to watch TVs and such why they are allowed to be recorded. Also, they never seem to have much emotion. You watch Jon & Kate and the kids scream and you see the parents stress. But then you see the Duggars...yeah, that's off.
I think that it is their business if they want to have multiple children. There are many other people living off the taxpayers, such as foreigners who pay no tax to live in the united states. I'd much rather pay for people who have class and will more than likely grow up to offer our country positive influences!
What is positive about teaching your off spring to breed like rabbits do for any country, with the way the world is going these days, with global warming, food crisis, not to mentions the economic structure, how can this big good for any country? I beleive china has the right idea, one child families, due to the country not being able to cope with a very large population now, they took steps to do something about it, gosh what would michelle and Jim bob do if they were told by the government no more children?, oh I know, they would encourage their off spring to carry the torch for them......lol now folks just think how would that effect the world cirisis? hmmmmm
The author is complaining that these people are actually saying and doing exactly what they say they believe in. How many other so called Christians practice what they preach? See Christians can't win against these snobs- if they fail as humans usually do, they are hypocrites but if they actually achieve some success at living the gospel they are labeled mindless robots. Being a Christian means recognizing the example of Christ and setting these high goals for oneself and just because we fail to acheive all of them doesn't mean the goals were not worthy. Our only choice is to ignore the self-absorbed snobs and continue to strive towards being more like Christ. We are not surprised that those who have not set such goals would criticize those who do, it has been that way since the time of Moses.
Oh give me a break. The biggest small-minded snobs out there are so-called Christians who are so self-righteous and self-assured that they are so right about everything as they march against other people's rights to co-exist on this planet. Who's more self-absorbed but "Christians". As soon as I meet one that is not a self-righteous, small-minded bigot, I'll let you know.
Paulie, I am not a small-minded bigot nor are many others out there however in regards to this article, mo monther came from a family of 14 and in those days it was comon amongst a Catholic family. My grandmother loved children and the family is thankful to have one another. In today's society it may appear strange but I have watched the show and they are blessed to have there children, it is there choice if they want so many, as apparently they can afford them. They are not abused or mistreated and all are healthy so try not to judge. It may be odd and strange to many as personally myself there would be know way, but again remember it is there choice. You should read my article about Gay Rights as it may form a different opinion about some of us christians. :)
My goodness what is wrong with you so called christians, my goodness you band together like a swarm of flies when one is challenged or someone is saying that they may not agree with what is being said or done by them (christians), You sit in your homes, stating you are christians and tell others that dont agree with the duggers not to judge them, my god who is Judgeing who? hmmm
And for all the church going christians out there, that believe we are to follow chrisit's teaching "wake up and smell the coffee, we are humans created in the image and eyes of God what is that saying folks?, god takes the same form as us, he thinks like us, he has fualts like us, he is negative and positive, he is us, not some image that looks like us and then behaves like some astral angelic being, shit stop teaching bullshit and stop judging us because we dont think as you all do, and for gods own sake stop lying to yourselves and seeing us as against the duggers, we are just stating the normal way some out there think, and that is the duggers are weird in their thinking, about having a larger than large family, and the way they go about doing and raising their brood, simple, as far as them personally I dont know them, I dont know if michelle has inner thoughts, dreams, plans and the same with jim bob, so I dont judge them on them personally, I just have a opion on how they are shown to the world, and that is a erratic over breed, religous family.
Kate and Jason, You should read my article "Gay Rights in Today's Society I am far from being a bigot and I do not believe they are being erratic. So if a person was an Atheist and had a brood then you are saying that would be o.k.? I noticed that you point out Christianity and religious interesting... It is there choice to have so many? Who are we to judge them and mock and point ? It isn't right as define normal? Since you are also quoting God then I see you believe and who is judging you? I am certainly not so please do not place all of us in the same category.
Someone being an athiest doesn't bother me. I don't foist my beliefs on others. If they were similar to the Duggar family, I would find them creepy. I don't find the Duggars creepy because they are Christian; but maybe because they are Christian, they are creepy.
AEvan: And your mother's family was probably not creepy. My mother wanted 10 children and regretted she only had four. She wanted them because she loved kids. Altogether with my father's marriages, I have 18 siblings. I don't find big families creepy. I find the Duggars icky and creepy. I can barely watch them. No where do I say I find something wrong with large families. But yeah if because of society's pressures, some poor woman is expected to have one baby after another whether she wants them or not because society or religion says it should be so, I find that wrong. Many women in the past were saddled with kids and were stuck in abusive marriages. Having a bunch of kids and then handing them over to the oldest to be raised, then exploiting them on TV (let's face it, its a reality show) in my opinion smacks of the phoney. This is Christ-like???? Where, where is this Christ-like??? Slap "Christian" on it and then its okay??? Christians seem to judge all the time. Or at least the loudest, most bigotted get center stage. To paraphrase, "Do not judge, lest ye be judged." Why oh why are they on TV. Have your babies, raise them in private, go about your pious way. But reality TV?Oh....come....on....already!!!!
Evan, to begin with let me say, I find all christians ready to defend and challenge all people that dont beleive in the same thought process of themselves, you are doing that now, by questioning me on what I have written, so point one I said correct, all christian gather like a swarm of flies when they are challenged, now about a none religous person or persons having a larger than large family, would that be excepting to me, personally to me I dont give a crap, yet if they showed themselves on a reality Tv, having a great brood and continue to pop them out handing them over to the other children to raise, yep I would state my opion thats a fact, because if a person places the most important thing to them for others to see on tv, then expect others to have a opion on them simple, now about my intrest in christians and religous topic's, I am saying this, two many christians or ones that state they are run around creaming out to others, about others that dont share their beleifts are judging and to stop it, look at yourselves find out who is judging before you re-act to the treads, go through the countless responces and read how many, state we (none christians in their eyes) are judging, when truthfully all we are doing is saying how we see and feel about the duggers,
The duggers show to the world that they are christians, yet I question then what religion that they are living by, because real people dont put their family on TV and continue to have babies after babies and hand them off to others (children to raise) that isnt normal thinking thats what I define as NOT NORMAL Evan, and as far as intrest in religion, I cant stand countless humans hidding behind a beleift system that is utter crap, because if it was true, then why isnt their christ like humans running around the world healing the world of all is problems? oh thats right you are all waiting for the second comming of christ., sorry Evan thats why I am intrested in religion, because I cant beleive how stupid some people are......pffft
oh Evan you asked me weather I read your tread about gay rights I dont have to ok, because I know what problems a gay person faces every day my oldest son is gay and I know the struggle, and its all because of religion and erractic narrow minded Christians, people that claim they are christian loving humans, I know all too well about gays wanting equal rights, and if we stood one day against religion the main stream one, then maybe the world would be what the good word wants us to be, real Christ humans.
Did anyone catch the show this week which was a repeat of the engagement episode? This family is doing such a disservice to their children. Josh has never dated anyone; he proposed to this young woman after only spending a limited amount of time getting to know her. Now he thinks he is COMPLETELY in love and ready for marriage. Same for her. All it is is their natural hormones raging. Josh seems about ready to pop out of his skin because of it and he has been allowed no release other than to hold her hand. Good grief.
I personally think it is terrible to enter into a marriage knowing so little about the other person's personality, likes & dislikes, views, etc. They talk about how this will be a once in a lifetime decision/event and I think it is tragic that they are both so ill prepared for it. The producer asked one of the preteen girls if, when the time came, she would be open to dating (meaning going out with more than one boy) versus the whole [creepy] courtship ritual. Her response was typically scary in that she would never even CONSIDER dating a variety of boys.
The Duggars are living in the 18th century with regard to courtship and marriage. I don't wish them ill but the odds of true marital happiness for all these children is dismal.
There's nothing creepy about having a large family, its how they live thats' creepy. Its like the mother's only purpose is to have children, and they all smile and act like absolutely everything is OK , all is fine, nothing in life is perfect, especially with a large family. The babies never seem to cry or get chaotic, no child ever seems to express an original opinion, its like their brains have been deadened. And then I hear they're part of Quiver Full "religion" and that is all kinds of creepy
As we say in my family - EGGxactly.
Kat, I sense a little agitation I understand you don't need to read my article however I am only asking that you do not put all Christians into one pot as we are all not the same. I become offended when people place us together and we are all entitled to our own opinions. I am certain that I have gotten a backlash or two over my beliefs but I think we should have more to worry about then pointing fingers at all others, do you not agree? As for the Duggars I agree that they have the right to have as many children as they wish, however to clarify I also believe it should not be placed on TV for the entire World to see. Amazingly we all know about them and somewhere along the line we have seen the program or else none of us would be having this discussion. Also in agreeance I do also find it odd that everyone is so uniformed, but that is apparently what our Country wants to see and they are getting the ratings, or else it would have been cancelled by now.The only thing I can suggest is to stop watching it, don't judge it and find something more interesting to discuss as unfortunately none of us can change it.:(
Evan, it makes it really hard not to place all christians into the one pot, for the reason when someone finds God again or whatever, they do tend to continually say what they beleive is correct, and do tell others not to judge, this is what gets my hairs to stand up, truthfully, I have nothing against others beleiving in whatever, I just cant stand it when I hear those christians say DONT JUDGE when we are not, like you wrote christians have the right to opinions and yes they do, just as we are, Judging is when no matter what in your eyes they are judged to have done wrong, with the duggers its not that they are being judged by the likes of others like me, rather we are stating, This family is creepy and showing to the world they are a strong christian family with strict Religous boundries, that are not to us normal and therefore we are questioning that all what and how they live, after all you tend to agree with if you dont want the world questioning how you live, then dont agree to placing your family on TV, yet you know I thank the duggers just for that, because what they beleive and how they live, only helps me to say "you know I did a great job raising my family of 5, because they all have the tools to handle what life dishes out, without the falseness of a strict religous beleift system.
Kat, I understand and I honestly despise it when the same people who believe in the same as me pass judgement on others, that is not what we are supposed to be doing. We are not supposed to Judge and I know it is hard to lead others to whatever religion we are supposed to lead them too when so many are over critical. I think behind those doors and after the camera goes off there is more to it. As I am certain that it is well scripted. I am also certain that they are making an abundance of money of the show as I am certain that with only her husband working they would not be able to support that many children, only Donald Trump could would you not agree? I am certain that you did a fantastic job at raising all 5 as you allowed them to make there own decisions and be who they wanted to be and did not pass any judgement on any of them, and I commend you on that . I wish more parent would do the same thing but they don't which saddens my heart.
Julianna
A freind of mine just told me about this Duggar Family. I have not personally seen the program. But I am shocked at the venom that I have read coming from some of you people who have posted here. What is it about people that they have to tear others down that seem to have it together? What is wrong with a family that is happy? What is wrong with a family that believes in God? What is wrong with a family who loves children? What is wrong with a family that wants to homeschool? What is wrong with a family that has figured out how to live debt-free? The only thing I figure for why so many of you have the need to tear these people down is because they threaten your own life-style and beliefs and so to pull yourself up and be superior, you have to tear them down. Why can't you look at them and draw some lessons from how how they live and try to make some improvements in your own life instead of ripping them to shreds? This is pathetic.
Again, another jumps on the band wagon, claiming others are attacking the duggers, boy dont some have some lessons to learn, and as far as What is wrong with the duggers questions asked by last tend, well friend nothing apperently thats the statement you made! well being you havent seen the show, take sometime and veiw it, then post what you see and feel, yet remember not to judge, just view your opinions.
Evan I see we share a intrest, that is its is a pity some parents out there dont understand the guildance given when raising a family that is to trust, honour that they too have a brain and thoughts and if they make choices you dont agree with, then dont judge them because of it this is how I have raised my children, give them options and sit back and waite for them to work out which one is best for them, thats real parenting thats what I beleive anyway, yet with the duggers I dont see this being so, yet maybe after the tv camera's are gone maybe this might be done, who knows, yet I doudt it after all what they show to the world is what they do, after all trying to keep up a act would be very differcult wouldnt you think?
yes it makes you wonder if they are being paid for the show, most likely they are, really who wouldnt ask for money after all nothing these days is for free, and no matter what they follow in their christian life style I bet the duggers get a nice slice of the pie, and that brings me to this question, would they regard it( the money) that is as a donation to their church which they hold in their own home, therefore pay no tax on a non profit org or are they honest people and declare the monies as a income and like everyone pay tax?
Also here in Australia some non profit orgs get a grant from the government, is it the same in the states?, and if so do you think the duggers would recieve it, being they are on reality TV?? Many questions, yet alas no truthful answers, well not from the Duggers that is!
Dear Marsha, you can have an opinion about something - even a harsh one - without being threaten. My original point was here was a family that seemed to love their kids, was not on the public dole, etc., etc., all these positives things and yet they give me the willies. I wanted to know if others feel the same way. It was notable because why would something seemingly so positive make me feel that way. Hey and maybe because it does threaten? Hmmm....I don't think so, because, I think, something is wrong. Perhaps the Stepford-like, insular way they are raising those kids. They are stifling the natural, completely normal and, nay, I say, God-given urges and desires that we have. Human beings are meant to learn and explore and even make a mistake or too (that's how we learn) and these kids are not given an opportunity to do so. Perhaps it is their cult-like lifestyle. Surpression and brainwashing are just that no matter how you dress it up. Dress it up it the cloth of religion and try to disguise it, but it still looks fishy from where I sit.
LOL....HOW FUNNY IT IS TOO READ ALL THESE DIFFERENT OPINIONS ABOUT THIS VERY STRANGE YET, PROVEN BY THE LENTH OF THIS DISCUSSION BOARD, EQUALY FASCINATING FAMILY! PERSONALY, THE DUGGARS JUST PLAIN CREEP ME OUT... AND HERE IS WHY...I LOVE CHILDREN! IHAVE 6...6 AND UNDER! AND YEAH,IM SURE SOME OF YOU THINK IM RUIINING THE OZONE LAYER AND AM PLAIN CREEPY MYSELF....BUT , THE THINGS IS.....I HAVE MY CHILDREN, AND THEY ARE JUST THAT,,,,CHILDREN! THEY ARE SPOILED ROTTEN....ALL HAVE DIFFERENT CHARACTHERS....HANGING FROM THE BANISTER....RUNNING AROUND MILK MUSTCHES....PLAIN...EVERYDAY(THOUGH I THINK THEY ARE ALL SPECIAL) CHILDREN....OUR HOUSE IS ALWAYS CHAOTIC....AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT...YOU WILL HAVE SOMEONE HAVING A MELTDOW OR A TANTRUM......WHERE IS THAT IN THE DUGGAR HOUSE????????? WHY IS EVERYONE SO WELL BEHAVED?????? WHY ARE THE KIDS SO CLEAN????? WHY IS THE HOUSE ALWAYS SO CLEAN????? WHY DOES MOM NEVER NEED A BREAK AND FOR THE LOVE OF LIFE.....HOW IS IT THAT PARENS OF THAT MANY CHILDREN NEVER FIGHT?????? THERE IS SOMETHING JUST NOT RIGHT ABOUT THIS FAMILY........I THINK THEY NEED TO LET THERE KIDS BE KIDS...AND MAYBE HIRE A FEW NANNIES AND LOOSE THE BUDDY SYSTEM....MAYBE THEN THE OLDER KIDS COULD HAVE FUM AS WELL.....
Amanda you and your family sound perfectly normal.
I just don't like how she's the mating machine. Its just like the family guy episode "vigina junction, whats your function?" "Taking in sperm and spitting out babies." Thats exactly whats she is and it seems like she never has time to recover. I'm glad that they are happy and that they have raied 17 godly soldiers and another out of the shoot. Idk... I just want to know if they really know each of their children individually. if Jinger was upset would her mother really notice... oh yeah I forgot No one is ever sad in that family.
While the Duggars have placed themselves in the public eye, I don't believe they deserve the harsh criticism Amanda has dished out. No one really knows what really goes on in the Duggar household, but it is apparent that this family is at least decent, well-behaved members of society. I would have never considered having 18 or even 9 children, but respect Mrs. Duggar's decision, her attitude about her faith and her abilities. I think more attention should be paid to those men who have several children and fail to provide and care for them unlike Mr. Duggar.
The issue of a buddy system is not unusual and not "unfair" as many families manage their households where the older, more responsible children look out for their young siblings, do housework and are expected to love and protect one another. Once again, we don't know the finer details of the Duggar household, and aside from what is presented, it isn't really anyone else's business. I am sure we all we would be seriously criticized for how we run our homes, discipline our children and care for one another if we permitted the media into our living rooms. After watching the Nanny shows, viewing the Duggars on TV was refreshing. And for those who criticize the hair and dress of the Duggar girls, I am sure there are many people throughout the world who don't think walking around half-dressed is appropriate, dressing a lot like streetwalkers is desired and spending money that you don't have on clothes that you can't afford is smart. Every young girl n the US does not want to look like Beyonce or Brittany.
Tiger1981, the Duggars are not Pentecostal. If you did the research, you'd find that they are Baptist. There are different variations of Baptist, some being more conservative than others. Many "independent" Baptist churches tend to be the most conservative of all the branches of Baptists. "Southern" Baptists can range from liberal to conservative, but it reallly depends on the individual church. If used to attend a Pentecostal church several years back, but my basic background is Baptist, so I know a thing or two about which I speak. Pentecostals do NOT preach about not using birth control. You will find that the majority of Pentecostals see nothing wrong with birth control. However, they do not usually wear any kind of makeup (which Michelle and some of the older Duggar girls wear). Most Pentecostal women do not cut their hair, but they also wear it up instead of free-flowing. The United Pentecostal Church basically believes that only UPC people are "saved". Many Baptists think that Baptist is the best way to go, but many do not believe that only Baptists are saved. I'm not against church or people who believe in God, but I am against people who mindlessly breed and try to label it as part of Christianity. The Duggars offer nothing to society as a whole except filling landfills with thousands of diapers. Like another poster suggested, we never hear of them helping out people less fortunate, only how they are prego with another one and are going to have another TV special on Discovery or TLC. Truly makes me want to vomit.
I think the creepiness factor comes from the inconsistencies. Truth be told, they don't practice what they preach.
They want to have 18 children, that is their choice - or God's as they see it.
They want to teach their children personal responsibility - they should practice this and not hand off the younger ones as buddies. Helping in a large, or small family is a good thing. Having a buddy (or two) when you are only 12 that you are responsible for their studies, hygiene, cleaning your assigned part of the house each day...That's where the line is crossed. This is where the parents are no longer running the show, they are passing the buck.
They do not wish their children to watch TV or be over exposed to secular entertainment. Guess what Jim Bob & Michelle...you have just MADE everyone of your children secular entertainment. They will never have the blessing of being able to go into public to work or go to college in any relative normalcy. They will be hounded by the press and gawked at. You did this. You invited this in and it will never stop. You cannot have it both ways.
As for dressing the kids the same way...c'mon...I'm all for thrifty, and I dressed my boys alike when they were all under 7...but if they don't think that dressing their 17yo son in a matching outfit as his 4yo sister is unfair, they are really out of touch. I'm all for modest. I get the dockers and polo shirts. Just let them mix and match their own colors for crying out loud. There aren't that many combinations.
Lastly, your oldest son has just been married. You have taught him well. He is a good man. Be his family, but let him live his life. The welcome note on your webpage said you were looking forward to being grandparents! What about what the young couple wants. They haven't been married three months yet. This just adds to the creepy factor.
So, in my opinion, these are a few of the just over the top and/or hypocritical issues that get to people. It then opens the door for all the other ugly stuff.
Sorry, I did want to add that (as another poster had mentioned) I soundly believe that God would smile on the Dugger family if they chose act as foster parents. To open their hearts and home to a child in need is one of the most selfless, awsome gifts they could offer. The rewards to the child would be unspeakable, however the experience for the entire Dugger family I belive would be life changing. I am not suggesting they stop having children. That is between them and their God...perhaps simply take a long enough break to allow time for this service to Jesus first, Others second, Yourself last...JOY (as is preached by the Duggers).
It's a vi jay jay, not a clown car, they don't 'live off the government' but seeing as he worked for the man they enjoy the free healthcare.
ha they creep me out too. Its like a trainwreck though I cant help but watch in utter disbelief. All that bible junk and their stupid names starting with J. For christ sakes the fathers name is Jim Bob. Someone needs to back a cargovan up next to their "pantry" with about 2000lbs of fertilizer and 20 gallons of gas.
I think the family is creepy. Its creepy that the girls perm their hair and keep it long because "Dad likes it that way". Its also creepy that the girls have to wear skirts all the time, even when changing oil. These kids are totally unprepared for the real world. The engagement episode totally bothered me. Let Josh and Anna kiss for crying out loud. Poor things. Its a good thing they finally got married. Weird, weird family.
I have been reading the last few texts as I havent been on for alittle while, in the time off the site I have undergone big changes, I have just attended my stepson funeral as he was killed in a hit and run, and since then I read the treads and think how stupid this all really is, and here we are all voicing our own feelings in regards to the duggers, when really it doesnt matter if they continue to have child after child, and even raise them strange to the likes of others, the truth is they are a family no matter how weird they seem, and when you lose a loved one and now we have lost 2 sons in ten years family is so much more important than complaining about someone elses.
So many women cant have children. Nobody thinks of this. I guess I wont go to heaven since I dont have any. Any good Christian knows it is the Lord's will. A small family can be filled with love and a family with no children too.
So many women cant have children. Nobody thinks of this. I guess I wont go to heaven since I dont have any. Any good Christian knows it is the Lord's will. A small family can be filled with love and a family with no children too.
Big families were normal at one time. I see nothing wrong with their family. They dress the way they do because of their religion. There is one thing they know for sure and that is they will always have someone to take care of them in their old age. There are many other families like theirs that dress the same way and have large families their just not on tv and don't have as many kids. I was always taught not to cut my hair but as time went on and we married into different religions ideas also changed.
I think lots of the religions in the area they live in feel the same way the Duggars do about dress and hair. My Mom and sisters live not far from this family.
I'm sure they make a very good living off the show.
They have the right to live the way they want.
Funny how I never have seen the Commandment that says "Thou shalt use birth control" or "Thou shall have as many children as thou can" I think the reason most people stop at 2,3 or 4 is common sense and probably the way God really wants it, if not then why is it abnormal to have such a large number of children?
Then again as a Christan I never suppose to know the mind of GOD.
Well, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to understand why these people are having so many kids, Every time she squeezes out another one, that mother gets tons of free stuff and the sponsors of the show pays for practically EVERYTHING in their lives! They are con artists using the system. I don't mean the welfare system, I know they are not on it, but they have figured out a way to ensure a life time of free stuff, no taxes, earned income credit forever, and a lifetime of constant travel: have a kid a year.
Michelle Duggar may be a nice enough woman but has anyone else noticed the stupid smile she has on her face CONSTANTLY? And she hands the baby off to one of the other kids to raise while she grows another tax deduction in her belly! Those girls are gonna hold that against her probably for the rest of their lives. I cannot believe that her doctor allows her to have kids like that constantly. Her body doesn't have a chance to heal between pregnancies, when she gets older she will have a prolapsed uterus. She is past 40 now and pretty soon her kids will start to be Downs Syndrom babies, and the others will have to take care of them and raise them! Oh, and they will receive SSi for the Downs Syndrom kids, so there is another free ride!
I think what they are doing is shameful. There comes a time when you have to do something, if you don't use some sort of protection (withdrawl even, or condoms) of course you are gonna get pregnant every time you turn around. You are more fertile for the first few months after giving birth so that is really when you should be watching.
The girls (some of them) are getting to be teenagers now and it looks like they are actually wearing a little makeup. They are getting to be pretty girls, they have perms and have braces (thousands of $$$ per kid) and even they act like they are fed up with the whole situation. They kind of roll their eyes when they talk about the "modest swimwear" that they have to wear and you can just tell that they think this lifestyle is off kilter! Now the oldest boy is married and I pray to GOD that he and his pretty little wife don't start this whole ball rolling again. Maybe they'll have more sense, or at least the wife will try to keep the population of Duggars under control in her own way!! Being pure of heart and following the Lord is all good but using it as an excuse to get lots and lots of free rides (tv shows, magazines, sponsors, speech circuts, etc.) is shameful.
Michelle and Jim Bob (nice name by the way) are nothing more than back yard breeders running a human puppy mill!!
My, My what is wrong with everyone lately, for goodness sake, so what if this woman and man have 50 kids, so what who cares I dont after all is it effecting me? NO, And as far as how they are all being raised, I AM NOT INTRESTED, they dont live under my roof, so should I have a reason to comment on them then? NO way, their lives dont effect mine in anyway, so why the hell should others be commenting then, are the duggers living with all of you on the site? Look people life is too short, like one writter wrote, so to all that have made it their business to speak about the Duggers, get a life!, make changes to your own nest before you comment on some body elses. For all out there, LIFE IS SHORT, go for a walk, or play with your own children, or better still talk to your own partner, dont sit on the computer typing treads on how weird someone elses life is, start living your own!
Thank God for the Duggar family. Scripture says that Children are a hertitage of the Lord and are like arrows in the hand of God.
We all love the Duggar family, thank you for you being the salt of this earth.
Again someone is quoting words that another has written, personally I dont beleive the bible was written to take literally, children are blessings, just as all life is, yet I dont think we should be having children because the bible says so. The Duggers seem very steadfast in what they beleive, and live according to their belief, and I say good for them, do what makes you happy, yet to take the words in the bible and breed to the point, that you become a tv reality show, displaying your family to the like of so many, I dont think thats right, and I dont think it written to be ok in the bible eaither.
Do you know why they are different? It's because Jesus Christ is living within them and their family on a daily basis. Makes you curious uh? Well, why don't you look into it.
Ha,hahahaha FromAbove, was your comment meant to be funny, I thought it was ..heheheh, my question "look into what"? I am so sick of some over the top christian folks, not all yet some that make stupid comments like that.
Hey FromAbove are you saying that comment because you beleive I dont have Jesus christ work through me or he/she isnt in my life, because I dont act or live like the duggers?hmmmm Well let me refresh your narrow minded thinking, in what you think about me, to start with everyone has the christ spirit within them, every man ,women and child was created in the image of God, and everyone has a soul that is a part of God, the difference between you and me, is my christ spirit works humbly and looks for no attention, it doesnt have me judging, nor screaming from the top of my voice, the lords spirit works with me , and that is when another needs a hand, or a shoulder to cry on, or a compassionate ear, the lords spirit brings tears to my eyes and pain in my heart when I see so many suffer through the hands of others, or who are less fortunate than myself, and then I am given free will, the choice to help in whatever way I can.
So please next time to surgest another to "look into it", take sometime first to stop, and go within and ask your soul what you should do, rather than allow your ego to comment, many blessings FromAbove to you!!!!!
Merry Christmas and a Happier new year for all!!!!!!
Marsha -- if you have never seen the program, then I don't have a lot of respect for your opinion about what others are saying. WATCH a few episodes of the program, THEN post a response. What you've done is like saying "I haven't seen 'Batman' but I can't understand why some people liked/disliked it." Well... you have to WATCH the program to possibly gain some understanding. So far, you have ZERO experience with the subject.
Totally agree there Kathleen, nice name by the way, have a child with the same name!
Also you know why some make stupid comments on something they know nothing about dont you?
Because they cant see the forest for the tree's, they beleive the Duggers are good christian folks, having numerous children and raising them with such limited life expereinces, apart from that, in their eyes (others) Marsha is one, that beleives the world needs more people like the duggers, yet I ask this question would she support them if they were non christian beleivers? I would bet she would be screaming at the top of her voice, sterlize them!!!!!! hahahaha
As far as having little respect for her opinion based on the fact she hasnt seen the show, regardless she is allowed to comment and I do give her points for being honest with her tread and telling us she hasnt seen the show..... oh well thats life I suppose.......happy holidays everyone!!!
Even though they are called creepy, I adminred them for how they live (without debts and many materieal things)
Michalle teach her children about life, God, and moral values that our society has lost.
They don't go to school so what?? Today, when our educational system is so bad ( children can listen CD in the class, no homeworks) I am sure these kids know nothing more than regular kids that go to " school". Do you know that grade -eight student didn't know to answer in which season leaves are changing the colour, spring or fall?
Besides, prayer is giving them patience, hopes, modesty, and strenghts and I think these kids will will be able to achieve everything they want.
God bless,
I cant say weather home schooling is better than attending school, yet I wonder how they go as far as mixing with others apart from the siblings, and some church friends, I'm talking about mixing with different people that live differently from themselves, to me it seems that learning about different cultures in history books and social studies is one thing, yet to have real hands on with others is another thing, and no matter how much michelle educates her children,the truth is you cant bet the real thing! And I dont think any parent can teach that to their children, without allowing them to socialize and mix with others this is done only in a school setting not at a kitchen table no matter how big or long the table is. :)
Well, #18 is here and in about 4 months we will surely get word that there is yet another addition on the way (big surprise there!!). After all, that is how they make their living for the most part, having babies, I guess professional parenting is a very lucrative deal. I wonder which girl this one will be handed off on to raise.
<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -->
some people litter the world with cigarette butts and coffee cups,
these people litter the world with more broodlings.
wasteful, selfish and irresponsible.
Wooooo!!!! Number 18!!!...Dude I totally agree with this article...I work with High School and Jr. High kids and when do they not get in to trouble just a little bit. My kids are awesome, but every now and then they get out of line. Teenagers just do that, it's fundemental to their growth...these kids are like children of the corn kids...creepy
This family is fucking creepy and that's all there is to say. It's great if they want to have all the children they want, but why the hell are they on TV? I would honestly rather see bimbo Paris Hilton prance around on TV than see this family. The family is doing a great disservice by allowing these children to grow up sheltered and nurtured by the strictest of religious beliefs.
The mother was probably born pregnant, and it disheartens me to imagine that she's been pregnant consecutively for, what, eighteen or nineteen years? DISGUSTING!!
Well thank Goodness baby number 18 is healthy, with no mental or serious physical defects, I think that Michelle and Jim bob, must'nt be very bright because it is very plain to see they dont really understand the serious nature they put on future babies if they continue to have child after child.
They may say that children are a blessing and so on, yet why put a childs life at risk by continuing to populate at the rate they are, What will happen if they have baby number 19 and there is something wrong, what then? I think these parents are so selfish because after all would it be fair from a handicap persons point of veiw knowing that because their parents were so selfish that that childs life is so much different than its siblings, knowing these parents they will say, "the lord gave us this baby as a gift, with all this childs physical and mental problems, we are very special parents to have been choosen", this will be most likely what they will say, yet the real truth will be, Because its parents were thinking only about themselves, rather than the wellbeing of a childrens life and future!
I say these parents are no better than crimmals that commit crimes against others, if number 19 comes and something is wrong, lets hope there isnt anything wrong, yet if there is, they should be charged with a crime against humanity! thats my take on the matter, after all if you have Aids and knowing pass this onto others you can be charged, why then shouldnt the Duggers!
Well, the Stepford Family has added another humanoid. The child hadn't drawn a dozen breaths before Jim Bob starts talking about adding to the brood. Sick, twisted family.
Sort of sorry for dragging up an older topic, but I would like to contribute to this as well.
My father was one of seven children with him being one of the only boys. My Aunt on my father's side was one of the eldest girls and she was one of the girls who had to take care of her younger siblings because both of my grandparents worked. She hated it. But, unlike the older Duggar girls, she only had a few children to look after, and even then they weren't incredibally young.
I can't imangine that each of the children gets the attention that they need from their parents. I'll liken it to being in a classroom. Do all of the students get the same ammount of attention? No!
I also have a bit of a problem that they decided to have that many children when there are so many children in the US that don't have a home! I can understand that people want children that look like themselves, but still...
While I don't wish anything bad on the new baby, I would like to see what would happen if the baby had Down Syndrome or Autism. Would the parents actually pay attention to the child, or would they put the child off on one of the daughters? Or, would they use the child as a poster child and attempt to make money off him or her?
I'm Catholic, and I have absolutely nothing against loving God, but there comes a point where it just gets scary.
In an era where resources are limited, and the environment it being taxed to the point that it may not ever recover no one has the right to contribute to over population to the degree that the Duggars have! They are being selfish, and narrowminded. We all have the responsibility of taking care of the environment, and having 18 children is just unsustainable! What if everyone decided they wanted to do that, we would have a serious problem.
I watched the episode where they all went to the thrift store for shoes for the kids. It is time to sew it up if you have so many kids that you cannot afford new shoes for them. How can they feel like they are doing the best for these kids when they have to wear someone elses shoes. Absolutely Gross!!!!! Call it quits duggars before her uterus falls out on the street. Wonderful jim bob find a hole in the fence.
I think that this is Ridiculous! This man and woman need to start considering using birth control.
These people are producing enough kids to start a small country! Wait till the others start to reproduce.
In case these fanatics don't realize, we are starting to have a population problem. It wouldn't be so bad, if they decided to adopt children, not contribute to an overpopulated planet.
You'll notice that on the TODAY show which aired on 12/22, the father started to promote a book...yeah, as if millions will run to the store an buy it?!
I believe that they are feeling the pinch of feeding all of these kids.
Lastly, I don't think they realize that us taxpayers will have to PAY for this overpopulated family, if something tragic happened to the parents.
What a group of dumbasses.
The wife/mother of all these kids gets lots of attention by continuously giving birth. It is sort of like a Munchhowseins syndrome. It's attention from the medical field, attention from the media, from the public, ect. I agree with those who say the older kids will be resentful because they are truly the ones raising the younger kids. When these kids start having grandkids, and the wife/mother now is no longer the center of attention, how will she behave? She certainly cannot meet the individual emotional needs of her own kids, how will she be able to extend herself emotionally to her children when they become parents? And she's not going to want to give up the spotlight of "perpetually pregnant woman" when her kids start having kids. It will be like a competition.
No its perfectly normal to have that many children in fact I want a set of twins and a set of sextuplets like Jon and Kate Gosselin
Seriously, why would you or I care how many children these people choose to have. I can't stand people who think anyone who does something out of the norm is "creepy". They all seem happy and healthy. They are kind and helpful kids who love each other and their parents, which is more than I can say for most of the families I know with only TWO kids.
Also, I have seen both of them flustered at times and Michelle telling the little boys no a couple of times. However, I suppose if you beat and yell at your children, you may not recognize a quiet caring voice as discipline.
For those of you concerned about population problems, you should do a little research. You will find that MOST industrialized nations will be facing the problem of UNDERPOPULATION within the next few decades due to a lack of reproduction. Countries like Norway actually pay $600 a month for every child you have in order to encourage people to reproduce.
Serioulsy, who is this person concerned with where they shop?! Gasp, they make WISE financial decisions!!! Do you realize that this family is completely debt free?! They didn't get there by buying a brand new pair of stride rites everytime a kid grows out of a pair of shoes! But then again, how unAmerican to be thrifty and not care about how you appear to others.
For those of you concerned with the older siblings taking on responsibilites, I can only say this. I hope that my daughters will leave our home knowing how to cook, clean and care for a baby, unlike myself. I hope they are half as responsible and capable and, dare I say it, SELFLESS as the girls in that family. A generation, or two, of completely selfish kids is destroying our country as it is. Also, my husband is one of eleven kids and everyone of them Loved having tons of brothers and sisters (even the girls who are the oldest and did have to help care for the younger ones). Look at their oldest son. He is only twenty years old, renovated a house for his new wife and runs a company. How many of you can say that about your twenty-year old.
Consider also, if you have two children, who do you expect to care for you when are older? THE GOVERNMENT! I know a family with seven kids and when there is something that their elderly parents need there is always one of them who can fly down to see them. They all pool resources to make sure that their parents needs are met.
Ya know, I really think that government should be in charge of making sure that each family is only allowed 2.1 children (the number of births it takes to replace ourselves given mortality rates) plus one dog, one cat, a two-story home in the suburbs and one subaru and one volvo.
One more comment. I'm sure that all these kids receive more attention than children who spend their prekindergarten years in daycare, then go to school all day, after school programs, soccer practice, summer programs, babysitters and so on. Instead these kids know that they are worth something to their parents, so much so that they are actually willing to stay home with them!
I am split about the Duggars. I like the way they live their life. Most of today's kids have a lot to learn from the Duggar kids. My biggest criticism/concern is that the Duggars seem to be using the older kids as babysitters. Jim Bob and Michelle are lucky that none of the older kids have rebelled against them for imposing that they take care of the little kids. I mean, think about it. How could Michelle feed all of the babies at the same time. She can't! So she has to resort to the older kids to help out. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about giving kids responsibilities, but they shouldn't be babysitters. Seems like the older kids are not being allowed to live their adolescent years. One other thing, Michelle......PLEASE GET A MAKEOVER, YOUR STYLE IS SO OUTDATED....A LITTLE FIXING UP IS NOT A SIN.
I have three of my own. You know 18 kids is alot to have . The older kids are probably not enjoying there child-teenage time because they are practically raising the younger ones. Teenagers need there own space. I could see have 7-maybe 8 kids if you want a big family , but 18 kids wow thats a little bit to much. They dont belive in birth control well at the age of 50 she will be giving birth to her 25th kid , come on. I am just stating my thoughts. I think she should stop while she is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy ahead...
now lets all be honest with ourselves they are FREAKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i wish my family was like that!!! i dont think i would mind having great parents. instead of a druggie mom and who knows where my dad is!!! i wish i could have the twin siblings my mom aborted last year. i watch this show to help me get away...i hope i can have a loving family one day.
they are freaks, i think they are created a munch needed change.
id rather have a family of "freaks" than no family at all.
I have a big problem with them not paying property taxes by claiming their house is a church. If that is a fact, is that lie and cheating the "Christian" thing they keep preaching? What else do they lie and cheat about. With the recession and real estate down, do you and I pay their bills? Hopefully the tv rights cover them. She has been pregnant for their entire relationship. It is bizzare, but their choice. As long as I don't pay for them.
This family follows the teachings of a man named Bill Gothard. LOOK BILL GOTHARD up on the internet- creepy. They follow his teachings to a t. He runs a fake college/institute called Advanced Training Institute. They believe in arranged marriages, no tv, no birth control, obeying husbands, etc. They say the children have say about their future lives- but that is absolutely not true. They would be abandoned if they ever turned from this system. There is a lot of abuse in this organization. It is by all means a CULT- christian fundamentalist- although not polygamous like the mormons. It is a very scarey homeschool move across the country of ultra-wackoism. The clothes, the modest swimsuits, the engagement (Did you notice how the oldest boy is PROPOSING and he says, "come over here" to his future bride? demanding her around-- please- some things you just can't hide), I mean come on- what is this? Just NUTTTTTTTSSSSSSS!!!!!!
Duggers = Selfish, egocentric, Ignorant and unevolved. Not only is it horific, and in my opinion child abuse to have so many children, but a scourge upon the earth which as humans we are destroying by our unabashed disregard for the fragility of this beautiful planet which was a gift. We are here to be guardians and caretakers of the earth and everyday we corrupt it more by our unconcious and arrogant attitude of self entitlement. The Duggers supreme disregard for anyone's future but their own, is so offensive they should be in jail for what they cause by contributing so abominably to overpopulating this world..
I say shame on them, Like the judge told OJ, they are the epitiome of ignorance and arogance combined...and in my eyes no better than anyone who commits murder for they are murdering our planet.
What many are failing to realize is that the Duggers and others like them that are bringing so many children into this world is MY PROBLEM and MY BUSINESS. The earth's resources are not unlimited. There are many on this planet who do not have clean drinking water or nutritious meals to eat. Imagine if we all decided to birth this many children...its so ignorant and irresponsible. I don't judge them for living a Christian lifestyle, but wouldn't it be more Christian to spend their energies as possible foster parents or missionaries to help others who are less fortunate? Conservation of the earth, that is a true gift to us as humans, is more spiritual and God-like than selfishly wasting its resources with more and more bodies.
Michelle, you make some good points. Unfortunately, the Duggars live an extremely insulated life and are unable to reach out to others on any kind of personal level. It's all about them. For the mom, it's all about her. Foster parenting and adoption are ways to extend yourself into a world that doesn't revolve completely around yourself and the world you've created around you. No way these Duggar parents want to leave that comfort zone.
i think the duggars are great...i love watching their show. They are not creepy people to me i admire how patient and loving they are to their children. It doesn't hurt kids to have responsibility. It actually helps them to be better in life. If you don't teach kids at an early age when do you expect them to learn??? I think the kids have been able to experience a lot of things other kids wouldn't get to experience. They are getting older now and even one is married and none of them have harmed anyone or anything so how can you say their parents are horrible or the kids are horrible. If you actually watched the show you would see what they do for a living, how they save money, how they discipline the children when wrong, and how sometimes when they go shopping one of the little boys drags stuff off the shelves and michelle has to discipline the child. I think they are normal people but have an extraordinary family. To talk so angrily about the duggars must mean you don't have the happiness in your life that the duggars have so you think its impossible to be that happy but maybe having rules, loving children and doing what you think is best for your family is HAPPINESS!!! So don't hate someone you don't even know personally, cause they might not be as creepy as you think!!!
I'm sorry Kaysmommy, but I am NOT JEALOUS. Why would I be jealous with a family who wears long dresses, has long hair, matches the boys in polos and has all the children nodding along with everything I say. I enjoy thoroughly my children having a free mind to explore all points of view on issues in their lives. I have never abused my children, I am not in debt, I have a loving husband who is my closest friend and who the children adore. We ARE christians- just not christian robots. We are not talking "angrily" out of jealousy- but out of fear for these children. They are going to end up living on the Duggar compound, with dozens of their own babies and what will happen to JUST ONE of these kids if they decide this is not the life for them? Will they be shunned and rejected by the rest of the family? Things are not always as they seem (the super sweetness). When a family goes to such great pains to appear so entirely perfect where they cannot relate to 99.9% of the world- what are they hiding? What are they trying to win people into? Their way of thinking? Their cultic ways? And when people don't buy into it hook, line and sinker the people who are the Duggar clone families rear up in anger? Just remember who decided to put themselves out into the middle of the world to be analyzed- and scrutinized. It happens with every family on TV-- so people need to get used to it. If they don't want bad "PR" they should stop doing programs on TLC-- because I'm afraid the PR is just getting worse and worse the longer they promote their point of view. And if people feel the children are in a mentally (mind control) dangerous situation then THEY SHOULD BE VOCALIZING IT!!
I don't care if they have 20 more....obviously the reason behind all of this is their deep relgious beliefs AND ...they financially have the ability to provide a wonderful home and lifestyle for these children. Not sure where all of the money is coming from, but I also think that the publicity is reaping them financial benefits too. Oh the delights of capitalism!!
I just think its so unfair to those girls because they are always cleaning and taking care of kids. They aren't suppose to be mothers they are suppose to be sisters. I think when you have to have older children take care of your younger children because you can't handle it you have had enough children. The other thing that bothers me is they don't let their children watch TV yet they have a show on TV. It just seems hypocritical. It certainly an advantage to be a boy in that family.
These people obviously have religious people who come on the net to boost their perception. Because their is no way in hell that anyone would think this is normal or acceptable unless they had some strong belief it was to be so. What they have done and what they believe is just over the top and gross! If we're talking about some religious cult here then they should be analyzed and scrutinized for abuse. And if we see it -- we should speak up about it as a community. And I think there are some serious educational issues-mental brainwashing- and child slavery (or at lease child labor). It is sick to see so many kids in their teen years sleeping in the same bedrooms as well- like bunkhouses- and we all know the stories that come from that condition. The kids don't seem like they can think for themselves - and to see this many following the family "code" hook, line and sinker says, "Something isn't right in Dodgeville." Their compound looks eerily similar to the photos from Warren Jeffs that are on the net.
The thing about the Duggars is this: yes, people are free to live however they choose. Michelle and Jimbob are choosing their own lifestyle, and no matter how much I disagree with those choices, they are their choices to make. BUT Michelle and Jimbob take all choices away from their kids, and that, ultimately, is what makes the whole situation so objectionable.
The children have no exposure to other people, lifestyles, values, and beliefs. They are receiving grossly subpar educations from a woman with, at best, a high school education. (An early special showed a bumper sticker that said ATI Bound; ATI is an extremely fundamentalist Christian homeschooling curriculum with virtually no grounding in academia.) What kind of education can one woman give to fifteen students of different ages simultaneously?
Furthermore, it is not the children's choice to run an enormous household and parent their younger siblings. And yes, the older girls are responsible for the vast majority of parenting. The Duggars themselves admitted that "buddies" are responsible for the dressing, hygiene, feeding, and schooling. The older girls are expected to make breakfast/lunch/dinner for twenty people every day, do all the laundry and ironing for twenty people, clean up the messes for twenty people-- and the list goes on. That was not their choice.
There is nothing wrong with children having responsibilities, but when "helping out" turns into a teenager running a household of twenty and parenting as many as three young children (at last count, Jill had three buddies), something is very seriously wrong.
And that doesn't even mention how little parenting Michelle Duggar actually does. She has readily admitted that she weans the babies at five or six months and then hands them off to "buddies." Beyond that point, buddies do essentially all of the parenting. Michelle actually admitted that they have a sign-up sheet for one-on-one time with a parent. When a child has to SIGN UP IN ADVANCE to spend time with a parent, something is very seriously wrong. That should be a giant red flag that parents have more children than they can properly parent. Those responsibilities fall to the older girls which, yet again, takes away their freedom of choice.
So I see a great deal that is wrong with the Duggars, and it is because I believe people have a right to choose how they live. They have a right to a decent education; they have a right to exposure to more than one type of person; they have a right to choose whether or not to be parents (and some of these children are, for all intents and purposes, parents).
I object to the Duggars not because I want to impose my choices on them, but because I object to the Duggars imposing a lack of choices on their children.
An opionion is like a butthole, everyone has one!
Mandy - EXCELLENT post. I don't understand why more people, especially those who think the Duggars are GREAT, can't see your point of view. My main objection to this family's lifestyle is how the daughters are given no choice other than to be mothers to the children Michelle & Jim Bob keep spitting out. It actually is a form of misogyny to have the females in this family treated this way.
Boston905 and Mandy, I couldn't have said it better myself, so many applued the duggers saying what wonderful people they are, and how many wish they could be like them and how well balanced they all are, yet like the both of you I too say well what about the rights of others, the endless mindless choices the parent duggers continue to instill in the life and minds of their children, being a parent myself, my role was to instill morals, pride and trust, honesty and confidence to make choices in their own lives was and is the only blueprint a parent can offer a child, yet the duggers dont do this with their children, they control, manipulate, take all rights and personal choices from them, by enforcing their own, makes me think, that the dugger parents are just living a falseness and lie and this is what they as parents have blue printed into each one of the dugger children, how will these children ever know that what their parents are doing is no less than cult living and with very controlled lives how will they ever be free from it?
After all the oldest child now married is continuing the life style his parents have blue printed into his being, I think the duggers are all lost, none will ever experince life away from King and Queen Dugger and the Kingdom they have created, its sad to think others out there think the duggers are wonderful parents, some thought Jones town was great too, and its founder yet look at what happened!
The Duggars are part of the Quiverfull movement which eschews all forms of contraception OR fertility treatments. Whether God decides to "bless" them with children and/or the amount of children God decides to bless them with is something they are taught to accept with blind obedience. They do not have children necessarily because they like kids so much, but because they are taught it is God's will and they must obey that. Andrea Yates and her husband are reported to have been adherents to the Quiverfull movement. Thus, despite Andrea's continuous and severe mental problems including post-partum depression and psychosis, her husband encouraged her to keep popping out all those little blessings who she eventually drowned, one by one, even chasing the 7 year old around the house before murdering him in a bath. The Quiverfull people now try to say she was not part of their movement, due to shame (note how her family's dress and hair style was eerily similar to the Duggars.
From what I have researched, includuing old interviews with this family before they were on t.v. (when ol' Jim Bob was running for office), I learned the following: The Duggars are very extreme, fundamentalist, right-wing, evangelical Christians. They apparently follow a system of "discipline" which allows corporal punishment for children as young as 8 months old or so. They now call it "correction" so they do not turn off their huge t.v. audience.
They also pratice "blanket training" which consists of placing a baby or small child on a blanket with toys, then tapping the edges of the blanket with a wooden spoon to let the child know where the boundary is and then "correcting" the baby or child if and when they get off the blanket. The method includes placing enticing objects or foods outside the blanket's perimeter and then "correcting" the baby when he or she goes for it. This goes on until the baby dashes to the far end of the blanket away from the desired object for fear of "correction". The goal is to be able to have a small baby or child remain in one place for certain periods of time without a parent holding them there, so the parent can attend to other things. To people who follow this method, it is not considered punishment, but, rather, "training".
Another discipline technique these people employ is having their children play a game in which they follow a random series of their parents' commands, regardless of meaning, logic or reason, without question or hesitancy. This is supposed to be fun and is not supposed to be done in anger. I think it is a great way to raise future victims of pedophiles or wife beaters, or future mob members who dare not question right or wrong but blindly follow the leader. Hitler would have loved these cats in his army. They are "training" children not to be able to think for themselves or to question authority and this can be very dangerous on both a personal level and also a larger, social level.
In their religion, husbands are the leaders and wives must submit to them. Women are expected to raise children and be wives, and not to work outside of perhaps a family business, nor to achieve higher education. Children must obey their parents without question and harsh and swift punishment will result if they fail to do so.
The skirts and "modest dress", the long hair, etc., are all meant to stamp out individuality and clearly define the roles of men and women. Long hair and long dresses can sometimes confine women - make it harder to participate in certain things and that is the point.
The Duggars are radical right-wingers. Jim-Bob ran as an "extreme" christian. They follow a scary guy named Bill Gothard who has some very fanatical, extremist views - anti-gay, anti-woman, etc. Appartently, Jim-Bob wanted to pass a bill outlawing contraception. I cannot say that for certain, however. It is hard to find the truth these days about the Duggars' beliefs and politics as they and TLC are making money by keeping some of their radical beliefs under wraps, but the info is out there. Take a look.
Someone posted several months back that the mini city that the Duggars are creating has nothing to do with global warming. It does. The larger the world population, the greater the use of fossil fules which contribute to global warming. Further, it increases pollution of our waterways, oceans, earth and air as more people use more contaminants, more phosphates, etc., which impact our world. Granted, the Duggars are one family. They cannot be blamed for our world's problems. But, their mentality, if it spreads, can.
Thank you Anna. You said it much better than I could- since I don't know as much. If what you are saying is true- then ranchmaster is right- there should be investigations for abuse. Any kind of cult will allow abuse at some level. This is a historical normality as sad as it is. I looked up Bill Gothard and got all the info. I could. It's nuts.
Don't you think the "positive people" on these boards are those from within the cult? I am friends of people from the Family and everytime they speak out against what's going on within this religion, a PR person from the family comes along and talks about how wonderful it is and on and on and on. They can recognize it's someone from "within" because they can say NO BAD at all about the group- just like the complete brainwashing that goes on. These groups do a good job of managing their group from looking bad to the outside.
Religion boy will that have a big hand slap when the time comes, hehehe so many beleive in far feeched dreams and relaities, and yet how many do more harm in the name of God than any other beleif system in place in this world, look back through the history books, read how many were killed and so forth in the name of religion in the name of God, I dont understand how anyone can say that the duggers are good parents/people because it is abuse, religion taken to extremes like what the duggers live by, is abuse of the humans right and is abuse in the eyes of God, and if a time comes when questions will be asked of these people all I can say is I hope they know some divine defence lawyer to help them out, because when they are asked to answer for what they have done, saying "god I was following Bill Gothards teachings", the sentence given for them isnt going to be a nice one! hahahah boy I think God has a wicked sence of humour......
See links above about the Quiver Full Movement. The Duggars apparently adhere to the Quiver Full beliefs that having more children brings you closer to a relationship with G-d, brings you closer to virtue and holiness, so their sons with have brothers and their daughters will have sisters, to end abortion, so they won't be lonely in old age, to counter world de-population, to populate heaven, and to contribute to the economy. For more information about this "ministry", see the links below.
What is it about the Duggars that frighten people?
Here we have a large family living for God. They have established that large families can support themselves. The family unit taking care of its own. Older children taking care of the younger children. This is not only appropriate but establishes a familial bond.
Responsibility is seriously lacking in today’s society. The “ME” generation has taken over and laid waste to the American way of life.
We see families such as the Duggers and it frightens us. Here is a very large family not only exiting but thriving. The family community cares and nurtures it young. This family forces us to take a hard look at ourselves and a hard look at “responsibility” and we cringe. So instead of cleaning up our own lives we want to attack those who are actually happy.
Is it your hope they will become as miserable as we have become?
God Bless the Duggers and may God bless them with as many children has He wants them to have.
David wake up and smell the coffee, havent you heard of how stretched our worlds resourses are already?
In todays world with the treat of gobal warming excess use of fosal fuilds and so forth, creating a larger population is not only criminal, yet very irresponsible in this day and age, The world ihabitance should be putting pressure on the Dugger family to stop this stupid act of selfish, mindless irrogrance to how they follow anothers way of life (Bill Godard) teaching and make them realize that even tho they may own their own home, be free of financial burdons, they are still using the worlds resourses, they use electricity which compared to another family would be alot higher due to the size of the household, waste products would be alot higher than anothers family waste would be, water intake would be alot higher and the list goes on.
As a Australian, not Amercian we here in this country and in most states of Australia are on water resrictions of high levels, and we dont have the high population America has, yet because of Gobal warming and so forth, this liquid gold as we all call it is running out, and if we as a nation sat back and continued to praise people like the duggers breeding out of stupidity and of all things religion beleifs, then we really dont care about what would happen when the water runs out, yet I have a right as a tax paying country inhabitant to say, hey look Duggers enough is enough the world cannot cope with the stress you add to its already stretched resoures regardless of how well maintained your life style is, the truth is THE DUGGERS STILL CONTRIBUTE to the worlds situation, and out of christians caring for others first and self last beleif system, you would think they would see the bigger picture.
David you made a statement that many seem afraid of the Duggers, well let me tell you this family and others like it we should be afriad of them after all they have no compassion nor concern for others here on this earth, struggling with the effects a stretched world has right now, they live in their small community teaching their large family brood, how to destroy the world by continuing to breed out of stupidity, rather than love for another!
If this family was living here in Australia, continuing to drain resourses , then I would be campaining to the goverment to do something to protect what little we ALL have left!!!!
People wake up and smell the coffee, we are running out of what we need to survive water, and yet people like the duggers dont care, because in their beleif system God is the only thing that matters and pleasing him/her by having as many children as the lord wants them to have, that is stupid and whats more criminal.
I hear ya kat and jason, and many others do to:) the problems is do the duggers and others that beleive in the duggers way of life? may be when the shit hits the fan the duggers may hear us then, yet as always it will be to late, reminds me of the story of Noeh and the Ark dont you think? :(
After reading about the Bill Godard and his teachings, I wonder if this man, knows what the hell he is talking about, to me he is no more than a con man, praying on the minds of vanuable weak minded people, that are looking for some answer to how they are suppose to live, and this business about having lots of children to basically make you feel like you have achieved something important, really what planet is this man from? what a wanker and it all that live by his words.....Grow up and get a life, learn by what you do and act, not by what another says!
Paulie, I am sorry to say this but the world would be a much better place without people like you. Please help make the world a better place. CHANGE! Follow the example of the Duggars. They are full of genuine love for God and humanity.
What right do you reideer, have to say that another needs to change? looks like you beleive that Paulie along with some others here that support what she has written, need to change in order to make a difference to the world, well let me say this to you and others that share your truth ok, each and every person on this plannet has the GOD GIVEN RIGHT to live and act and say what is RIGHT for them, truthfully I beleive mainstream religous leaders need to change and the way they go about preaching their truth, yet out of respect for myself first I choose not to be sucked into what they nor others beleive, just as I see so to does Paulie, yet I am not screaming from some mountian CHANGE, the topic is about how the Duggers continuing to breed and what they stand for to some is creepy and I beleive them to be just that, STRANGE, I dont beleive the Duggers truely follow a christain family lifestyle, this is shown by shifting younger children onto older children to raise, and the whole business of two parents showing to the world, how loving they are yet still practise shifting responsiblities onto such young shoulders is creepy in my eyes, and to some extent wrong, yet like you and me IT IS THE GOD GIVEN RIGHT of them to do this. Maybe you might need to change your attiuade towards Paulie by not answering to a tread you dont agree with, after all that is your GOD GIVEN RIGHT, and by the looks of what you have written, you might find more support on another forum.
For the critics: I'm not afraid of the Duggers and their lifestyle (to each his own), but watching them one day, I realized that instead of admiring them (as I felt I should - self-supporting, loving, happying, smiling people), I found them incredibly creepy. As for Reindeer, I work in a field where I help people every single day. It is a tough job and requires me to come into contact with people that most wouldn't give the time of day to. So don't *you* judge. This is an exchange and I censor no comments, including ones that are critical of *me*. Comment on! People who ahere, without questioning, any ideology, to any one individual are unthinking in my opinion. No one should put all their trust in any one doctrine (look at Jonestown, David Koresh, the Mormons, Catholic Priest scandals). We should be curious, cautious, questioning human beings.
Not too many years ago, I was applauding the Duggars's boldness in doing what they felt right by following their religious beliefs to have all the children God would want them to have ...BUT... now, after these last few babies, I have serious doubts about them.
I do grant that they are living a decent life. The children are well-behaved and trained because family life is first priority for them; they have not allowed the modern distractions and self-absorptions into their family. I have no doubts that they are receiving a good education at home. I am also assured that they provide for themselves without taking any assistance from the government or community; whatever they make from the TV show is earned. Their children obviously cannot get much undivided attention, however, I feel that there is enough love and support to go around their home. If they want to skip fashion trends and dress in a very modest code, that is their perogative as well. And I'm not even going to complain about world population but rest on this one contention:
They speak of their conviction to allow God to plan the size of their family and yet,
How can they consider this is God's plan when they go against nature? They do believe that God has created the human body, both male and female but should not be noted that a woman's body was never meant to produce so many babies in one lifetime; that is able to do so does not mean it should. If one was interested in following God's way, then it should be realized that a child does not have a full set of teeth until it is around 3 years old. This is the way a baby was designed. Yet here she is weaning these babies at 5-6 months of age, thereby stopping the natural birth control which would occur: a part of the plan for how her body was made. There are several biblical references of children being breastfed till they were 3-4 years old, and some that indicate it could have been even longer. Couldn't she at least go for 12 months? Or how about 9 months? Her body was pregnant for that long, wouldn't it seem prudent to give it another 9 to recover?
Yes, though, beautiful family, happy to have so many blessings that are never counted as burdens. But 18 children in 21 years? It's getting bizarre.
Wait, I do have concerns about the children as I have been around other large families with my children, and have noted quite a few times how they stuck to themselves and didn't reach out to mine. I'm wondering if this is typical. And how about the Duggar kids? Do they know how to reach out to others? will they have the ability to make friends outside their family? or does this lifestyle encourage them to keep within the clan?
Jim creeps me out!
You said it well Rega, I feel the same way. It's beginning to seem more like a baby manufacturing coalition rather than a family. If there is a message (and I am assuming there is one, since they allow their family to appear on TV) its starting to get lost. My perturbance comes from that I feel I *should* be admiring of the many positive qualities exhibited (at least when appearing on TV) and yet cannot. I'm conservative (with an open mind) and watch in dismay as I see this country falling to failure as parents fail to parent and raise their children and teach them moral values. I see a lack of work ethic, courtesy, and hard work in the workplace. I see rudeness and a sense of entitlement every day. You can barely get a courteous response from a clerk in a store where you are spending your money. Employers tolerate terrible behavior less they be accused of discriminating against an employee. With the state of many of our schools, I can see parents who prefer to home school. But the world is a big place and unless (and they probably can) you are completely self-employed and live in a community of like minded people, I assume you can function within your own little world. My understanding is Mr. Duggar started out by fixing and selling cars. If you have a business you have to deal with the public and the wider world. I do not watch the show anymore and don't recall seeing them proselytiazing to others but I assume he is also selling to non-Christians. So exactly what are the rules? You practice insular living, but you allow your family to appear on national television on what is essentially a reality show? What's the message here?
Bottom line to the Duggers is they are nothing more than a clan of over religious freaks, trying to show the world how creepy their family is and what they live by, to me I say "whats the point to understanding the duggers and why they are living this way" In all of my being I keep hearing this one sentence and that is, "This isnt normal", they really are addicted to having child after child, and the thing that will help them is therapy to make them deal with this addiction, rather than keep pretending and denying and living behind a vail and calling it Religion to which they use to continue their addictive life style, I think someone should take these two parents aside and explain what a addiction is and how they seem to be showing signs of just that!
An earlier poster did the math on this family and determined if these 18 children reproduced at the same rate as their parents, there would be 1,889,568 Duggars within five generations. From ONE family.
Now, if they reproduced at the level most people consider SANE (which is to replace yourselves, i.e., two children per family) there would be 576 Duggars within five generations. Let's see, 1 million eight hundred eighty-nine thousand, five hundred sixty-eight Duggars or 576 Duggars. The fossil fuel requirements for nearly two million versus a little over 500 people ~ what makes sense to you? Just curious.
No offense to some here who defend the Duggars, but none of you have even considered what having that many children does to the environment, the world's resources. If everyone were as loving, but as fruitful as they were, we would end up like the Aztecs. 18 kids produce waste everyday, they consume everyday, they use fuel, electricity, water, everyday. they wil then marry and produce more. We chide those in poor countries for having 2 kids because their country can not sustain them, and where do you think America would beif everyone was like the Duggars.
It is obvious they love their kids, but to put he weight of having to parent so many other kids on the shoulders of so many of their young children is wrong. The kids did not choose to have kids, the parents did. So parenting is THEIR job. Hence the name PARENTS. I see other chidlren taking care of other childrenmore than the parents do themselves, which is not to say they are not involved with their kids. Any other "family" and they would be accused of robbing their children of their childhoods.
And finally, wht disturbs me, and to that one up top who said this person was judgmental and cruel, all one has to do is go to the Duggar website where they say using birth control is selfish and kills babies. Yeah and poverty, homelessness, birth efects, and being unable to raise kids due to mental incapacity is a better alternative for women? many women use birth control because they know they are not good parent material. Some choose to be single. Some choose to have careers, etc. And they themselves said they couldn't afford kids at first. So had they not been "selfish" as they put it, we would have been supporting them through state agencies and welfare.
I think the Duggarshave a lot going for them. I just think that it is more selfish to continue to produce chidlren that the already over-populated world can not support in many countries. And why couldn't they have adopted? Isn't that the Christian thing to do? Don't other kids deserve homes too? Ask me, I think putting your own need to multiply above the lives of forgotten children 18 times over is selfish.
JMHO.
P.S. I apologize for the typos in my above post. My keyboard is rail thin and sometimes I don't quite push the keys down hard enough while typing for fear of jamming a letter.
And despite their above flaws as I stated earlier, I think that they do have a lot going for them. I do not wish for their belief system to be pushed upon me though. I know the bible says be fruitful and multiply, but at the time of that statement much of the world was unoccupied dueto technologyand logistics. Another species that is fruitul is the flea, but it doesn't mean I should be become a flea.
I can remember the saying in the bible that said God said to his followers, "Now go forth and mulitpy, spread the word of the lord amongst the land", well something to that effect, yet I think the duggers have taken that lituraly, and beleive they should populate single handed, What a laugh!
Look everyone has the right to beleive what they want, choose what life they live, and say what they want, yet I do agree with many out there that the Duggers have gone alittle over board with the whole gammet of this beleif system they follow to a tee, yet I do agree with why didnt they take children into their homes that would beneft from having some structure as there are so many children without a home that are not wanted by their own parents, that to me would be a great service to the lord, yet again so many think with their body parts rather than their hearts and minds, and unfortuntly because of this we will always have a problem with so many homeless, unwanted children.
Michelle and Jim Bob if you ever read what is written please consider this giving is not from the body yet giving is from the love of a soul, and you would be doing really what the lord is saying and that is, Children are a blessing from God, and every child is a gift just like Michelle said "having to many children is like saying there is too many flowers", yet consider your vase would look so much more beautiful if you added a different type of flower to your collection!
These people are creepy freaks anyone that beleives the shit they do, need some serious therapy, I beleive that michelle or jim bob need to be fixed so that no more children can be born.
Kylie, you said it and you know it. This is ridiculous. Getting pregnant every year and now she is at risk of dying or having a mentally handicapped kid. What would happen if she did die? What's scary is old Jimbob could reproduce into his 80's(look at Tony Randall). Would he find another woman? He and Rusty Yates should move in together. This family is in their own world and they want to protect them from media influences? They are pushing themselves into the media. Go figure
You know Micki, I bet Jimbob if Michelle died because of over production, I reakon the freak would start to have sex with his daughters to keep the family going, and then come up with some explaination that is apart of his religion, just as many that behave like the duggers do, look at the past cult leaders and how they convinced followers to have sex with family members and then say it was what the Lord wanted them to do!, this family is in real need of some outside intervention, and I am not talking about religious intervention. The Government needs to step in before history repeats itself with some oversexed father having sex with his children then saying it was what the lord wanted to keep his quiver full, how sick is this family beleiving that crap?
They don't bother me as a whole. The only thing that concerns me is they aren't being introduced to any sort of diversity. They seem to be pretty sheltered. Also, they aren't getting any sort of higher education after "high school". If they are satisfied being in construction or used car sales that's fine. Doesn't seem they don't strive to be much anything else.
ugh I absolutly hate these people. Every single think they do bugs me. I have watched their program before and i have just recently watched an episode in which Mrs. Duggar is ready to give birth to like her 50 millionth freakin kid....and uhh well they were showing the kids the hospital room that was "going to get the baby outta mommies tummy" haha sounds so gay. They are seriously messed up....why in the hell would you name all your freakin kids with J's.....are you just trying to assist in the process of humiliation at school or around others? Of course the duggars dont go to school.
Mrs. Duggar needs to get her freakin tubes tied....b/c she is so fucking old...jesus woman you need to stop or else your gonna get so loose that everything will fall out
hahaXD
suckkkerrrr
yep so true about the Duggers, they dont strive to be anything other than a continuations of their cult following, What the parents have failed to see is that they have taught their children to live and act like themselves, meaning each one of the Dugger children have only been programmed to grow up, take care of younger family members ,so that when their time comes to be parents they will know what to do, and therefore the cycle continues, teaching children how to care for others is a important lesson they can learn, yet to programe your children to become parents that is creepy and freakin sick. My mom taught me how to clean up, have pride in my appearance and how to cook, tools I needed when I left the family home, she never taught me how to parent others, that was what I had to learn by my own mistakes when I married and had children, and you know I am glad cause the more children I had the easier paernting became, yet I learnt this all by myself, with some insight when needed by my own parents.
My Mom is in her 70s and I have sat with her and watched this programe of the Duggers with her, and then asked her what she thought about the Duggers, she nailed it as far as the Duggers are concerned, this is what she said!
Well they seem to be in a world of their own, teaching such a large family rules and boundries is a good thing, yet I wouldnt had handed babies over to my older children to raise, and expect them to met all the needs required, the reason why I wouldnt do that is because some of my parenting skills maybe not that good, and if I hand my babies over to other much less experinced than myself, then I am asking for some trouble Mrs Dugger to me is shifting her responsiblities onto others, and maybe she is doing this because deep down Mrs Duggers cant parent after a certian age, or its all to much for her, so at a certian age they become someone elses problem, this is very overious this is what is happening, when the child gets to a certian age it is handed over, now some cultures do this my mom said, yet it is mostley done in a tribe type of setting, were the sisters take care of the younger brothers and sisters, while the mom continues to have another child, my mom said now if this was the case then we as humans accept this quite well because the people concerned live in other countries and so forth, yet she said that the Duggers dont and it dosnt look like a culture, nor religious practise with what is going on with the Duggers, rather Michelle just cant parent nor cope having to raise all the children on her own, and that is the bottom line.
Now question is Michelle and Jimbob are so caught up in all of this, they fail to see what the real problem is, and continue to breed keeping the cycle going, I have to agree with my mom and that is until Michelle and Jimbob realize this is what is going on, they will continue to populate, its like a drunk they cant get help until they realize and stop drinking, this is the same with the Duggers, they cant stop having babies until they realize they cant cope with them after a certian age.
Who dosnt love babies, I would have had hundreds if they had stayed at that cute wonderful age of infancy, after all what demand does a infant have apart from feeding and changing and the long cuddles we attentitively give the infant?
Any parent will tell you that demands and trouble starts aground the age of teething, long sleepless nights, tempetures, running noses and so forth at the age of 5 to 6 months, this seems to be when Michelle Dugger hands off the child onto another to raise, she most likely does give the older child advise on how to care for the baby, yet many out there give advise on how to parent a child even tho they may not have children of their own.
I can see how Michelle and Jimbob can say the comments they do about having so many children and the blessings they bring, yet the truth is once the baby hits that demanding age that requires more attention it is then passed off, Michelle and Jimbob may be addicted to babies, were its like a endorfen type feeling when they hold their new born in their arms, a feeling of being high, of total happiness, and continues during the months until that feeling subsides, and they then prepare for another and she falls pregant again, I recall seeing a show were Michelle said that the older girls start looking at the callender each month, from the time the child is handed over to them to raise, and when the child is about 9 months old mum is announcing she is expecting again.
So from that comment and the way the history of the duggers is playing out, its safe to say Michelle and Jimbob are addicted to new born children, and confuse their feelings for the common answer they give, and that is "The lord will determine and bless us with as many children as he wants us to have"
To me thats sooooo wrong and I am sooooo suprised her Doctor hasnt sat them down and spoke to them not about the complications of another pregancies, yet about what their minds are doing and the reason why, to me any Doctor that encourages this behavour is buying into the risk of a seroius problem down the track, like a mentally handicap child or the death of the mother and possibly both.
I don't care that the Duggars choose to have lots and lots of children by not using birth control. What I DO care about is that these children are getting a VERY censored education. They're homeschooled by their mom, so of course, I'm sure they're not learning about evolution, or ACTUAL science. I saw them go to a creationist museum on an episode a while back. They were so happy to see a place that acknowledges their "the world is 6000 years old" belief. It was really kind of sickening.
I watch this show with my 7 mo. old son. His dad doesn't even acknowledge he exsists so watching this is a sort of way to keep sane. It helps me to realize how great I have it!! I live with my family, don't have to 'obey' some jerk guy, am allowed to wear regular swim wear, can kiss a guy I'm dating( by the way I WAS married to my son's father...for all you weirdo ultra conservative NAZI douche bags!!!), and get to focus ALL my energy into raising my son, my way. I don't have to ruin my body and health(women's bodies are PROVEN, by REAL SCIENCE to suffer greatly from multiple pregnancies...we have TWO nipples not SIX...think about it!!!). I literally go for days without going out, showering etc...it's not because i am lazy it's because I take WONDERFUL care of my son. I don't pass him onto another person(whether that be an older sibling, personal friend etc.) just so that I can f*$k in order to have another child when I am frazzled caring for the one I have. This is 2009, not 1909 -- thank God for it too!!! People like this family want to make it seem like living a hundred years ago when God was the only belief people had, when 50% of babies died before age one (the biggest reason people used to have bigger families), when we didn't have medicine or vaccines when we didn't have ANY laws to protect workers or to prevent kids working 13 hr. days in factories...when 'modest swimwear ' was all anyone could wear... well that these were wonderful times and that these are the times we should emmulate now...ok it's official --- they ARE CREEPY!!!!
I find the Duggar's lifestyle to be very disturbing. Those children are quite mentally confined, stiffled by two people who deprive them of emotion and the world. I do not watch the show but I tuned in last night to see the eldest get "married". I felt so sorry for that poor bride.....This is your life Anna....Submit to your husband, have baby after baby. Books, movies, dancing, a good glass of wine, wearing a pair of jeans, getting a pretty haircut, so many small things she will never know. (All the sisters too).
And a question, the son who just got married...it doesn't appear he works. For the two to three months between the proposal and the wedding he seemed to be unemployed. Considering the childrens' education or lack there of I wonder what he or they are capable of doing in the outside world. Certainly none of these children will go on to college. Just so sad.
Josh was married last night. I missed it! There is an encore on Wednesday night on Discovery Health at 9:00. Have to remember to catch it. Anybody catch it and have an opinion?
If Jim-Bob and Michelle want to have a bunch of kids, that thier choice. For the most part, the kids seem well fed and clean. Yeah, the older ones have a lot of responsibility, but just ask any child of divorce about that - taking care of younger siblings goes with it. Yes, they do creep me out because thier beliefs are different from mine.
What worries me, is the future. What happens when one of the kids is gay? or commits suicide? or wants to go to college in the "outside" world? Or want to marry outside the religion? Or is mentally ill? Statistically, something is going to happen. How will Michelle and Jim-Bob handle it? With love and consideration or with banishment because some of these issues are considered "choices"???
So the oldest got married, was this a arranged marriage? And what outside preperation did the son have for marriage? Havent seen the wedding yet as it hasnt filmed here (Aus) tho I have heaps of questions regarding this event, did his wife come from the same church back ground as the Duggers, and if so was this woman (wife) raised the same as the Dugger children?....so many questions can anyone answer them?
I just watched the wedding episode last night. It absolutely disgusts me that Anna's father referred to Josh as her "authority". And in the vows she promised to submit to Josh's authority and have as many children as possible. And there was no dancing allowed because music makes men "lust after women". I mean come on! IS this footloose or something! These people are so paranoid about lusting after eachother. Maybe they need to deal with there own perverse minds and stop taking it out on the kids. It is sad. Also, Jim Bob telling josh that sex is like the way leggos fit together is sick.
You must be joking, about what Jimbob said to Josh about sex, for god sake what are these poeple thinking, and this so called father of the bride saying she must submit to josh's authority what the hell is he talking about, to me its nothing more than male control, I was under the impression that times were a changing and a female was starting to take her place at the sides of males, my god this is disguesting behavour on behave of the parents of the young couple, so what when Anna in the future becomes older and tried from raising children cant say "NO NOT TONIGHT DEAR" she must submit to her husbands physical needs as well as having no control in the actions he has, shit this blows me away!!
This family is so sick that it shocks me beyond belief....someone please help save these children from the sick minds of those that believe they are God. Lets get something done about how this is all unfolding because if we sit back and do nothing then we are just as bad as them!!!!! These are sick people, having children for their own satisfaction, to feel like they are GOD!! sick creepy people!
what a strange family, all this stuff on protecting the males from lusting if they listern to music, sounds like it to me that Mr dugger has a lusting problem himself, for he cant leave his wife alone.....................you know I have found that folks that complaine or do all they can to protect themselves about certian things, like this lusting problem, are folks that are saying they have no will power against certian things.............strange really when their faith is so stronge they struggle with a human desire......................really strange that dont you think?
You said it Kate, JimBob seems to have no trouble getting it on. Is it just a sense of duty or does this natural act, just feel good?
The Duggars trust God in every area of their lives, and in return, he blesses them bountifully. He gives them well-behaved children as well as the means to provide for their growing family. They have a new book, which I highly reccomend, and it explains all the miracles God has bestowed on the Duggars.
Has anyone else noticed that Josh's new wife, Anna looks JUST like one of his sisters? Eek!
If the Duggars were Amish, we wouldn't know a thing about them.
Why do folks say such stupid comments on a fact of life, that blessing are bistoad upon a person by their own power not something else, its like this why do some win lotto when others dont, is it because its a blessing? nope its just chance, luck call it what you want, yet its not from some higher power, yet as some folks do they convince themselves it is, and some how feel more worthy than others, and what about children dying due to wars, shortage of food and abuse, is it a blessing or would you say its what God wanted?....what a load of shit, the blessing the duggers recieve is through addvertising their children and themselves on reality TV nothing more, grow a brain!!!!!
I love the Duggars.
Interesting comments. Certainly having a foundation for how you chose to live your life is a good thing. Presenting a united front to your children as to how they should be raised, what values you want to instill, and how discipline should be meted is a good thing. But teaching our children to not only get along with each other and within the family, but also in the larger world is also a good thing.
Interesting comments. Certainly having a foundation for how you chose to live your life is a good thing. Presenting a united front to your children as to how they should be raised, what values you want to instill, and how discipline should be meted is a good thing. But teaching our children to not only get along with each other and within the family, but also in the larger world is also a good thing.
I checked out Josh's wedding. They are indeed insular, but there is comfort in insularity. You don't test anything and nothing tests you. They seem afraid of their own natural sexuality. The entire focus was on sexual contact and avoiding it at all costs. Even a small kiss was seen aS potentially dangerous.
Dad's advice was pretty much black and white - all men this, all women that. (I'll never look at a lego the same way again). Personally, I prefer balance. Like a lot of people, I am tired of the overt sexuality plastered all over the place, but I don't believe in completely sheltering kids to the point of obsession. Even while I viewed a happy, clean, wholesome family, I couldn't help feeling sorry for the bride. They are so young and, to me, rushing into marriage so they could finally have that forbidden sex. Knowing exactly what you are going to do say, think, and feel for the rest of your life takes out all the guesswork and that titillating thing called living.
They looked so clueless. Darn, I am so torn, I want to like them!!!!!
Well nobody's gettin' on the bus with that group. See how they blew off that waiter??
I just watched an episode of this show. This family is so creepy. They are robots. The oldest son creeps me out the most. I love how in the intro they talk about how their kids are not allowed watch TV - yet they have their own TV show.
The wedding- which I watched, was just insane, those kids are so young, and so brainwashed it makes me ill.
I am certainly of the belief that America is the land of the free and that we have the ability to choose our own lives and destinies. That being said, I think that having 18 children crosses the fine line that separates freedom from license.
My husband's mother was one of 13 children. Within the last year, her mother died at the age of 102. My mother in law's eldest sister hadn't spoken to her mother in years, because she was angry at her mother for the fact that she felt that she never had a childhood, because she had to raise her younger siblings. Though none of them may not verblaize it, you cannot tell me that some of those Duggar girls will not end up feeling the same way.
Living such a sheltered existence (being home schooled and only associating with those are home schooled also) should any of these children attend college, even in a relatively smaller big city like Little Rock, they will be in for a culture shock. I predict that should any of these kids go to college one of 2 things will happen, either they will be outcasts or they will run wild and rebel. I have known children from very religious large families and at least one of them rebels, especially children of ministers (Grace Jone, Alice Cooper anyone?).
Psychological studies also show that depression and serious mental illness manifest more (proportinately speaking) in large families rather than smaller ones.
It will be interesting to see what will happen to all these children 20 years from now, but I will make some predictions and only time will tell to see if I am right:
At least one of the daughters will end up being wild and a bit trampy and disowned
One of them will be busted for a DUI
and it wouldn't shock me one bit if one ends up committing suicide
One or perhaps more will end up feeling angry and resentful
I am sorry, but it is just not natural to never raise your voice towards your children. I think Michelle is addicted to the attention she gets being pregnant and is a prime candidate for someone who will later manifest symptoms of Maunchausons by Proxy. It's always the quiet and sweet ones who end up snapping and draowning their kids. It's normal and healthy to show a little anger sometimes.
I am certainly of the belief that America is the land of the free and that we have the ability to choose our own lives and destinies. That being said, I think that having 18 children crosses the fine line that separates freedom from license.
My husband's mother was one of 13 children. Within the last year, her mother died at the age of 102. My mother in law's eldest sister hadn't spoken to her mother in years, because she was angry at her mother for the fact that she felt that she never had a childhood, because she had to raise her younger siblings. Though none of them may not verblaize it, you cannot tell me that some of those Duggar girls will not end up feeling the same way.
Living such a sheltered existence (being home schooled and only associating with those are home schooled also) should any of these children attend college, even in a relatively smaller big city like Little Rock, they will be in for a culture shock. I predict that should any of these kids go to college one of 2 things will happen, either they will be outcasts or they will run wild and rebel. I have known children from very religious large families and at least one of them rebels, especially children of ministers (Grace Jone, Alice Cooper anyone?).
Psychological studies also show that depression and serious mental illness manifest more (proportinately speaking) in large families rather than smaller ones.
It will be interesting to see what will happen to all these children 20 years from now, but I will make some predictions and only time will tell to see if I am right:
At least one of the daughters will end up being wild and a bit trampy and disowned
One of them will be busted for a DUI
and it wouldn't shock me one bit if one ends up committing suicide
One or perhaps more will end up feeling angry and resentful
I am sorry, but it is just not natural to never raise your voice towards your children. I think Michelle is addicted to the attention she gets being pregnant and is a prime candidate for someone who will later manifest symptoms of Maunchausons by Proxy. It's always the quiet and sweet ones who end up snapping and draowning their kids. It's normal and healthy to show a little anger sometimes.
Does anyone else think the name Jim Bob is retarded? Only people who have 20 kids and dress the same as their five year old are named Jim Bob.
I definitely agree with you but not just about being creepy. This family just makes me a bit angry. I KNOW we all have our freedoms but there has to be a line drawn some-freaking-where between individual rights and common good. Imagine if every woman had that large of a family with some sex-crazed man. Our world would explode from overpopulation. Some of you may say that women are Africa are each having around 6-7 children each. GUESS WHAT? Those women have no choice and if they DID they wouldn't waste their life being pregnant and this has been proven by many countries. These people are being horribly selfish by creating so many children and then encouraging them to create children. I don't mind religious beliefs, but when they counter science I get kind of exasperated. A Muslim's religious beliefs may be to kill Hindus. Is this right? No. I'm not saying birthing large families is wrong, but at a time like this it is not responsible. You can always adopt if you desire a large family...look at Brangelina! A bit of birthing and a bit of adopting. Also they are being horrible to the women with the whole Josh-Anna thing. It really disgusts me. Here is where they draw the line and really make me hate them. Fine they were irresponsible having so many children but really? Anna submitting to his 'authority'? It is people like the Duggars who are ruining the human progress. And finally, all the children do the same things, such as playing instruments, etc. Now I just wonder, how is it that 16-17 kids ALL end up liking music? Ok I admit there might be a possibility but come on! I bet at least ONE kid isn't really into music. Yet they do it, WHY? Because the Duggars are freaking psychotic and don't let anyone have their individual opinions and personalities!
Well that's my viewpoint. Sorry if it offends or anything, but I am allowed to share my opinion :)
This family is home schooled, the parents have no clue about what's happening in our world, She had no clue what a head shop was didn't reconize a hash pipe. They need to Live in todays world, get out of that bubble. These kids will not survive in the real world. Get with the program Dugger family, befor it's too late, Do they vote? do they even read the news?
I find it amazing that for the Duggar's, charity begins and ends at home. I have yet to see anyone in this opportunistic family do anything charitable or being of service or help to anyone outside the family. The Duggar family is self centered and have a robotic lack of concern for their fellow man. The Duggar world begins and ends with the Duggars and their comfort and their attitude of entitlement. Also, I am surprised in the obsession with worldly goods within this family. Apparently, the Bible takes a back seat while the Duggars sell themselves out on a weekly basis thru TV, speaking gigs or hawking a book. Other families, much less fortunate volunteered or donated time, materials and food for Josh's wedding and reception. Jimbob thinks his family is giving back by feeding some animals at a wildlife reserve! Any family would pay for the opportunity to feed the animals up close, but in Jimbob's warped view, the family is helping others!
Hey Duggar's, try helping your fellow nonfamily neighbor! This person might be non white or even non christian! Also, try teaching your homeschooled kids about compassion,concern, and care towards others, personal and family sacrifice, and that rewards come in the afterlife! Also, we are all brothers and sisters, not just the 20 people secluded in your family compound. I guess I don't remember anywhere in the Bible where it tells man to sell out his family and their private lives on a weekly TV show for pieces of silver, or a fitted out tour bus, or a house finished and furnished thru donations and TV paybacks. Duggars are a family of "Posers" who need to learn to "Represent"
Totally agree !!!!!!
Jim Dan has nailed it !
Jim Duggar is in reality a shrewd and cunning man of the worst sort. His vanity and obsession with his looks and his overuse of hair lacquer is creepy. He rivals PT Barnum for creating a great show with freak appeal. He convinces his wife to keep breeding so they can get the tax benefits of a church. He never misses an opportunity to parade his brood around because there might be some good hearted individual who will donate something to the family. He finds family outings where he will get free admission, keepsakes and the plot for his next money making episode. His kids seem to feel entitled or as they put it "blessed." How about teaching them some responsibility other than the older girls raising their younger siblings? How about stop using all those paper cups and do something green for the envirnomnent?
When Josh gets married you can see that his future in laws live in a double wide that has seen better days. The bride to be's sisters do all of the sewing on the bridesmaids dresses. I'm sure all Jim Bob had to do was put a call into David's Bridals, promise a great episode with lots of media attention with the girls trying them on and looking for modesty in the gowns and gotten free dresses. But wait a minute. then it would have meant helping out someone other than himself.
Unfortnately for Jim Bob, this show will be off the air soon. Maybe Josh and his bride will buy another season if they get on the program soon with a new baby. Michelle Duggar has played that card already. I hope that at some point these kids get to experience the world and not stay cloistered for life on the Duggar compound.
to Joe Bob's comments, without trying to be too harsh and judgemental, i agree with most of your comments. all the reality people gain financially from their shows. i'm not sure how very much though. they aren't Brad Pitts after all. but i can't help but notice the hypocracy of their show considering their kids watch very little tv. at least the other reality family's dont claim such of their kids.
further, i so have to agree with your environment sentence. and the help someone else was too funny. watched the diamond mining episode and jim bob said if he found 1 he would sell it and invest. i was appalled. thought he might say give to the needy or something. wow
and i did a facebook search and found josh duggar other than the group thing. man, did he have alot of friends, mostly women, and some very provocative pics. why does his new wife allow that. then the next day, the page was just gone. i did copy the profile pic, and it is small but i'm sure it was of him and his wife. i cant zoom it though to make sure. i was quite disgusted though that he had so many female friends. none im sure that he knows. he's 20, on tv and full of himself because of it. but is that very christian? and i would so not allow my husband to allow that many anonymous friends. i wait your reply
The Duggers are the true reality TV family, messed up, full of themselves and claim to be christians, what a load of bullsh-t! hahah
I have to say I myself think the Duggar family is a little odd. I feel sorry for the kid because they are way too sheltered. They are way too conservative as well. They need to lighten up on the clothing a little. The girls should wear pants for some of the activities they do.
Hear! Hear! Joe Bob. I think your comments are right on.
Quiverfull.....just when exactly is a man's quiver full? Where is that in the bible?? That is the loophole that allows people to take it to the limit and beyond. There is a point where enough is enough. But when? I believe in God but does that mean I keep on reproducing over and over till my body is so exhausted that I die a nice young age? I would rather have my three children whom I can dedicate all the time and attention they need rather than passing the buck to the next available sibling to raise. They call themselves parents? I don't think so. Try raising EACH one until they are ready to leave. She doesn't yell because she doesn't have to deal with it. The older children do. Gee maybe I should have had more so I could have built in pseudo parents for all the future children I decide to pop out. No wonder life is easy. REAL parenting isn't a holiday. It's a challenge and a labour of love. It's about being down to earth and taking EVERYTHING that your children dish out. Whether it be the little bumps and bruises to fighting with each other. My children are VERY well behaved by the way. I get compliments everywhere I go about how well behaved they are. Gee and I didn't have build in nannies to do it for me. What a concept! Let's have a new show where Michelle has to raise them all on her own without her older children doing all the work for her. Now that would be a show I would watch!!
I don't hate the Duggars because they are a large family or their religious beliefs. I hate them because they are so damn annoying about it. They constantly push their faith in other peoples faces. They have no tolerance for others of different lifestyles and think they are great because of this. The kids have the charisma of a dead frog and they isolated from others. These people make me sick. When the oldest, who is younger than me, has no higher education and runs a used car lot, got married they were talking about how they can't wait for them to have grandchildren. How warped are their minds? I'm not saying that a big family is bad. I knew a family that had 16 children, however most of them were adopted. But here's the kicker: some of these kids had some kind of handicap and the couple adopted them because they wanted to not because some religion said it was a good thing to do. Why didn't that family get a TV show. Also, someone said on here that most of us had less than great childhoods because we had smaller families. What the hell? I am an only child and I can tell you my childhood was awesome. Yeah, I was spoiled by my parents sometimes, but they also kept me grounded. I can't stand it when people say that must have been hard growing up with no siblings. Please, I had my own room, I didn't have to fight for bathroom space, and I birthday parties were spectacular. So, don't tell me I didn't have it good. Last point: Ok the eldest proposed to his girlfriend, but didn't want to kiss her because that would be too intimate? That must have been the most awkward wedding night.
I got stuck watching their show tonight and it blows my mind. Tonight was about their one kid getting married and he and his soon-to-be wife have never even kissed. Are you kidding me. These kids are robots. I am just blown away that this Duggar kid found a girl thats as wierd as he. I think its great to hold on to your virginity, but not to even kiss. So wierd. And where did this kid propose, a Dennys? This family makes Disney look like Hustler.
Shame on you. Would you rather he was like most of the young people in America today and HAD to marry his girl because he couldn't keep it in his pants before marriage? I think the Duggars are a wonderful family. They raised their oldest son to be a decent man, and their other children are all so well behaved and sweet. You think there is something wrong with that, really?
JimDan, . "The duggars never did anything charitable for anyone".....blah, blah, blah. Apparantly you didn't see the episode where they went to El Salvador and bought so many toys and food for children that don't have any. Nor did you know that they do this EVERY YEAR, even before they had the TLC show. You have nothing better to do than to spread lies about this sweet family? What have YOU done for YOUR fellow man, huh? Other than rip them apart on a blog when you don't even know what you are talking about. Are you MAN enough to now apologize and admit you were wrong about them not doing anything for anyone? Probably NOT.
IMA girl and, no, there is no apology for them. Basically, they pimp their private lives on TV. What's Christian or charitable about that? I think photo op.
Michelle Duggar is my aunt. I spent most summers growing up vacationing with her and my grandparents. For all the commentors that say they push their faith and aren't tolerant don't know them. I am a long haired, body pierced atheist, who believes in evolution, and they have always excepted me. They have never pushed their beliefs on me.
And I do know for a fact that they are extremely loving towards all their children.
I know so many "normal" families that are so much worse off than they are.
Dont you think that maybe some of the Dugger children are writting on this board, boy reading Jennifers comments it sounds like a Dugger child to me.....hahahahahah
What would mummy and Daddy think? ....lol
This is just wrong. Don't these kids even know about the real world? That Women have rights and that there are tons of children that need to be adopted? In my opinion, the Duggar parents don't really care about their children at all. They're like people who buy puppies and then give them away as soon as they aren't cute any more. The Duggar parents just like playing with babies, but as soon as they become difficult to keep up with, they hand them off to an older sibling. These kids will be scarred for life. I really can't wait for a memoir!
Sounds like the Duggar family sold their souls to the devil and have a very nice front of being 'Christans' to hide it. A big house, big TV show, a big political career, big fake smiles and creepy obediant kids. As we all know, it's hard to be a politician without having to give up something. But Jim Bob has it all.
Read the writing on the wall, people. Jim Bob is the antichrist and Michelle is in for the ride. The plan is to overpopulate and take over. Get your family in the spotlight and get into the weak and trusting peoples' hearts. He's almost there.
And....The Duggar Family is creepy.
For the family member who posted who is the atheist / their REALLY NICE because they want to SAVE YOU! DONT YOU GET IT?
CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT! CULT ALERT!
Hannah....why should people that are able to have children of their own be criticized for not adopting? That makes no sense. Most people adopt kids because they aren't able to have kids of their own. And, no---I am not a Duggar child as one poster accused. I don't understand why most people on this blog take such joy in ripping this decent family to shreds. Yes, their children are well behaved. Yes, they love each other. And yes...they have alot of kids...which is their God-given right to do so. They aren't on welfare and they managed to take care of the kids just fine BEFORE TLC offered them a show. I'm sure they would have continued to do fine w/out TLC, too. How many of you bloggers have kids that are messed up, marriages that are failing, etc...? I think the reason you all rip the Duggars apart is because deep down, you wish you had what the Duggars have. How does it go? "Let he among you who is without sin cast the first stone...." By the looks of this blog, there must be ALOT of perfect, sinless people, huh..... :::sarcastic roll of eyes::::
Most of us know the Duggars only becuase of their TV show but please keep in mind since the TV show is only about their family you will see only what they want you to see.
I would also think that a large part of their financial success has come from their TV show and related sales and advertising. I think it would be interesting to see a break down of how much income they derive from "ALL" the different sources, including their real-estate business, the TV show, their book, and or product endorsements including any donations they may have received anywhere along the way.
So where is written in U.S. law that it is illegal to make money with a reality t.v. show? No where. So why is that being listed as one of the Duggar family's many "crimes" against humanity. If you don't like the show don't watch it.
As for the people who have suggested the family adopt, did you happen to see the special on the Murphy family. 23 adopted children, most with special needs. If adoption is the golden ticket to having a super sized family they certainly win. Yet no one is asking the really tough questions. What will happen to those children and adults, the majority of whom cannot live on their own, when their parents are no longer able to care for them? Adoption, in my opinion, is a tricky business, and not always as rewarding as Discovery channel specials make it out to be.
Overall I admire the Duggar parents for raising their children with a strong work ethic, a strong sense of family and a commitment to moral values. I may not want that many kids, but as long as I'm not footing the bill, it's none of my business what they do.
yep your right we shouldnt be concerned about how the duggers are breeding, raising their brood, yet in the whole of the bigger picture Mickey, have you stopped to think about how those dugger children have been programed that having a large family comes rewards by the way the parents beleive in their way of life.
well stop and ponder this The duggers if they all breed at the rate mother and father are when old enough lets say the youngest now in 20 years has her first child, what effect do you think that will have on the worldy Global warming, not to mention the enveriomental effects, look we are all living on a dying plannet now dying a slow death, and yet we the human rase say we need to do this and stop driving that and using this, yet truthfully in 20 years the world is going to be in a worst situation than it is now, so why knowing this, why shouldnt people say look Duggers its great you live like you do thats fine, yet when you home school your children teach them about how we as a population now cant cope with the amount of humans that are here living on this dying plannet, and dont do what mummy and daddy are doing being selfish to the rest of the population, think about that Mickey!!!!
I certianly have thought about that. If we were to do what's best for this planet then every human being should here and now be sterilized. At the rate things are going even allowing couples to have no more than one child each will not save this planet. All we can do is hope that the Duggar children won't do the same as their parents, the same way I hope most of the people on this planet will decide not to have any. There are a lot of things wrong with this world, and families like the Duggars, few and far between as they are, are by no means the biggest.
There are smaller families in this country with three plus cars, burning up fossil fuels and filling the atmosphere with carbon dioxide. Do you believe they are teaching their children anything about protecting this planet. Think about that.
Totally agree and I constantly think about it, more so when I look at my two year old grandchild, and think, my goodness what are the human race leaving for this generation and younger ones to come, so I teach my grandchildren, yet I didnt continue to breed and I dont encourage all my children that havent children yet to think before they act, i tell them is their going to be a plannet for your future children, I dont make stupid statements like the duggers at their oldest son's wedding , we look forward to lots of grandchildren........!!!!!! so what do you think the Dugger children will do, like the saying goes monkey see monkey do!!
The one thing that freaked me out is when the camera man asked one of the girls about their long hair. One of the girls said that their dad liked long hair.....because their daddy likes long hair, does that mean they have long hair, whether they like it or not ??????Creepy...creepy....
chrisitian robots they have great family morals and are completely chrisitian and theres nothing wrong with that. Its there business on what they wanna do quit hating and get over it. Your going to hell if you say anything bad about this family.
Not only should I breed nbunches of children but they should only hang around other Christian children? Christian can mean many things. Neither the government nor the media should dictate how many or if any at all children a couple has. This is a personal decision.You will never see a child free couple on TLC because society says you cant be happy without them. To those who think we criticize because of our messed up lives, husband and I will be happy with or without. We have stayed together ten years without kids. How many wives get abandoned because they cant reproduce? Talk about messed up. Children and marriage dont always bring happiness either. Multiple children is not best for everyone so dont judge.
I was just talking to my mother about the Duggars the other day. She thinks they're a wonderful Christian family. I think they are CREEPY. (That was the exact word I used.)
I don't put too much stock in what my mother thinks about people, because as long as they profess to be Christians she thinks they're wonderful. She was also a fan of Jimmy Swaggart and Jim & Tammy Baker until their respective falls from grace.
If I suddeny fell on this planet and people were saying they were Christians my world view would be that Christians are insular, hippocritical, narrow-minded, preachy people who think they know how everyone else should be living and shove their ideas down everyone's throat. I grew up attending church and that teaching can never leave me. I believe in a God and Jesus, but I have to say I have never met a professed Christian that I found I could admire or look up to and I think that is a sad indictment for Christians. While I am a member of one of the "Christian" faiths, I never profess to be one because from what I've seen I have no desire to be one of their members. Just what is a Christian anyway??
Hey a christian is a person that beleives in the Easter bunny and father christmas and the tooth fairy............they all have blind faith, and thats it they are blind to what is the real picture....heheheh
Christians are nothing more than a label given for a person that cant live with what choices they have made in their lives and therefore seek some sort of justification for why they are like they are.........they instead turn to a faith and declare themselves forgiven through accepting Jesus into their hearts, truth is bottom line, they are unreal none truthful people that band together and point fingers at others for not sharing in the same belief system as them, by saying " ask jesus to forgive you for your wrong doings as that was what he died for" I say yeah right..........grown a brain and take responsiblity for what choices you made and live with them simple!
First I want to start by saying that I am a pentecostal christian, have been my whole life. I have NEVERbeen taught to breed for the kingdom as it seems the Duggars have done. I have to agree with others that by adopting and bringing in foster care would be a much better use of their God-given talents.
This is my biggest issue with the family: They have made a spectacle out of their "religion". Being a christian is about having a relationship with Jesus Christ, it is not about rules as this family has clearly done.
If there is truth to the family declaring their home a "church", my conscience is clear in saying that is wrong.
There is nothing wrong with having a schedule, but once the children hit the age of accounability there should not be a forced schedule. To force your children is wrong.
If you have faith in God, I do not believe you would need to be that controlling of your family.
To those christians who say that this is not cult like, I must disagree 100%. It does seem very cult like. Does this family actually go to church outside their home?
God does bless people with multiple children, but I believe they have taken matters into their own hands out of grief for their miscarriage due to the pill. The fact that she does not give her body much time to heal is not would God would want.
The word christian is such a loose term in today's society. I believe christianity has become "religion". God does not teach us to be "religious" but to have a real relationship with Him. A relationship with God makes a christian. These people seem to be religious and there is a difference.
I hope that what is portrayed by this family does not keep others from having a relationship with God.
We are to strive to be Christ-like. This family seems to be perfect and that is what is scary. What really goes on when the cameras are off?
FROM A MEDICAL PERSPECTIVE:
I do not believe that they are leaving their pregnancies up to the hands of God. If you have ever taken a medical course you would know how much of a miracle it is to concieve a child. There is literally a very slim window of oppurtunity to concieve each month. You can not convince me that they have gotten pregnant by chance 18 times. That is called strategic planning. Even in remote areas of the world where it is customary for women to have lots of children it is rarely that many in the end.
Nevertheless, the children are here therefore they are a blessing from God and that is the truth. My heart and prayers go out to those children. To be sheltered as they are is wrong. But then again, I doubt mommy and daddy have given them much aspirations to go out into the world---> which is what Christ has called us to do....
With as scheduled as the time is in this family, where did the oldest get the chance to go out and date?????
Hmmmm Intresting comments, yes from a medical point of veiw, there is a small window of oppurtunity for a pregnancy to accure, yet the Dugger parents hit that window all the time, so I tend to agree with what has been said, Mrs dugger must know at the right time when she is able to conceive, I wouldnt be at all surpised if the Billingly method isnt practise and known to Mrs duggers.
All life is a miricle and a blessing , yet it is a part of life, we grow and develope and multiply and die, thats the circle of creation in all walks of life, yet the Duggers are taking it as if the lord has something to do with it all, and that to me is a falsness they show to the world, yet for some that are so religous and dont really understand what being a christain really is stand and defends the Duggers yet truthfully it is nothing more than humbo yumbo this what is shown to the world, people that are very ignorrant, uneducated sheep that live by the laws of some faith, remember more demage has been caused through religion than any other cause known to man, yet people still defend and stand by the cause rather than see what really has or is taking place.
I just want to know how the Duggers will cope when told soon after birth that their child given from the lord, has some physical and mental disorder due to over populatating and the mothers age factor, what justifaction will the Duggers use?This is the question I ask and this question is being asked from a medical opinion! After all we in the medical field are left to explaine to these parents the whats and why this has happen and then help them knowing this all could have been prevented........................yet again that stupid way of thinking comes into play and that is God is looking out for us, and the lord wants us to live like that...again Religion!
There are poor people right here in America Just turn the block and you'll see foreclosed houses and the like America cant take care of its own people and yet preaches to help neighboring countries liek the Duggars
I love this family and your blog is a huge waste of time. It's a free country and they can do what they want. To tell someone they cannot have children or raise them any way they want as long as they are not being abused is communism.
The way they live may be different than most in our society, but it's not wrong. They raise their children to be respectable, responsible and most of all, to be followers of Jesus Christ.
And yet you took the time to post. I never said they shouldn't have children. I said I found them quite creepy or something to that effect. They put themselves on TV. If they hadn't put themselves on public display, noone would know anything about their lifestyle and create forum for posting their opinions. I approve all comments. Thank you for posting.
I think the Duggar's are an amazing family. I have to give them so much respect to be able to take care of such a large family. There is nothing wrong with a courtship. It takes a lot of self control not to even kiss before they were married, and I have much respect for them. I myself was also married at a young age. I am now 21 and have 3 children myself. I can understand why they would want to have many children. As long as they can take care of their children, then it shouldn't matter if they want to have 30 children. Every child is a gift from GOD. They had went through hardships and have also lost children because of contraceptives. I also think that it is great that the family shares their life with us.
Boy you just cant talk to some people that are so lost in their faith, why do they become so blind, and also Judgemental? after all no one said the Duggers cant have children,......
My advise to all those that beleive the duggers to be right in the way they live.....well good for you I say, just dont preach your iggnorance onto the likes of me, who happens to enjoy this hub page......:)
After I read this comments, wow it very pretty about negatives and positives... we all are judging their outside of book, but we should judge inside before we judge the outside of book.
What the hell are you talking about?, at least make what your saying readable to others that would like to make sence of your comment!..........you may have worded it this way, before we judge the person based on how they live, first we must judge our own way of life!!!!!.......instead of the outside book and so forth.
Just a helpful hint thats all, :)
I like this blog. I have posted on it and like to return from time to time to read the opinions of others about this insane, irresponsible family. I actually quit watching the show recently because it was just too upsetting for me. I disagree entirely with how they are raising their children (blanket training, female servitude, insular environment, lack of personal choices), with the fact they continue to breed without regard for their other children who end up becoming each new baby's caretaker, lack of respect for our planet's resources, their religious "philosophy", patriarchal attitudes, etc. I could go on and on and on. I think the topper for me, even more than the spooky courtship ritual of the oldest son or the sexist manner in which the daughters are being raised, was when they revealed how a child had to make an appointment to speak with mom or dad. Michelle ~ Jim Bob, how would you have felt as a child to have to make an appointment to talk to your mom and dad about something important?
Oh I only give my opinionals, if it dont make sense to you and I am deaf person....
Dragonfly, I am very familiar with the deaf community and your comments are welcome and valued.
To all: excuse my typos (I was just reading all my past comments and realize there are many typos in them - well there goes being grammatically correct in the age of instant information/communication).
Everyones' comments are welcome and I approve them all. It's an open forum to express our opinons about people who make their intimate lives public. The Duggars are no different than any other reality show personalities or public figures. When you expose yourself, especially on TV, then you have to accept the fact that people will have opinions - you don't have to accept their opinions - just the fact that they have them and, with the internet, their opinons can be made them public and others may be interested in what the common, ordinary person thinks.
So to Dragonfly and everyone else - I welcome you to express your opinion about this very public family - especially in today's climate - whether it be religious, political, or economic.
Anyway, I am thinking about moving this discussion beyond the Duggars into Christianity, Catholicism (what I know), Baptistim, and other religions, etc. I grew up in a family that valued religion - to a point. Certainly, we kids were expected to gain from religious instruction - how I feel about that, what I think about organized religion, what others think - I think, might be a forum that other persons would be interested in.
Yes, I know there are other forums out there that cover these topics. But they are run by individuals that are conversant in the Bible backwards and forwards, who are scholars on religious ideology, and are learned individuals who are way smarter than the rest of us (we?) poor, everyday slobs.
But I wonder what about the rest of us? In these times of struggle, of the middle-aged wrestling with kids and aged parents and their own decline - what do they think and feel about God, a god, religion? What are we ordinary, plain old non-glamorous folks doing to keep body and soul together? Especially those of us that are not so sure (self-assured?) about our own religiousity or for that matter non-religious belief?
I would like to start a chat about the things that trouble us - whether we believe, or not, don't believe, kind of sorta believe, believe now because we are facing a crisis in our health or family health or recent death...whatever the reasons for our interest.
This has always been in the back of mind which is probably why I started this Hub. Because no matter how modern, hip, cool or whatever we think we are today, we cannot let go of that - even a little bit - of the religious indocrination we received as children.
The other reason is that while reviewing comments today, I realized that one of us mentioned a recent family death that made that individual realize what is important and may be not so important (commenting on this family) in the scheme of life of losing a family member - all else pales. Yes, I know what it feels like to lose a family member, but I still say, nay, because we are still here and unless we do away with ourselves and for some of us that is unthinkable for religious or other reasons then we have to remain here until...well what...our Lord calls us? We go "home"? We just die and there is nothing else? Anyway, I say, nay, even through pain and grief. Because I know the discussion of religion and beliefs becomes even more inportant we a loved one dies...will we see them again? Can they see us? Are they happy? With God? With a god? What there a purpose or meaning in their death? What can I do to make it meaningful to me and others?
Because no matter how insigificant we think we are - our thoughts, feelings, and opinions, can touch ourselves as we are reflected in others. So to that person (read back in the comments), I apologize for missing your comment at the moment and not expressing my condolences for the loss of your family that you had experienced and the grief you will always hold....as we will all experience in our lives.
A long comment to say....please comment on and will keep every informed on the new HUB I would like to start to discuss things religion that I would like to hear from everyone.
Sorry for the long post...I am feeling philosophical (well I always feel that way) maybe because of the recent choas that is out there. But for some people, the internet is a way to reach out and be touched.
And once again, excuse my typos. I know how to spell and make a grammitical sentence!!!!
And yet in the last sentence I still spelled something wrong. Okay I am not writing a college paper, just forgive the typos.
Thanks Paulie for your kind words in regards to the recent loss of our son, as the time passes the pain becomes alittle better to handle, yet I dont beleive you ever get over the loss of a loved one.
Personally for me the point I was trying to make was , regardless of what the Duggers beleive in or how they live, they are a family and that in itself is a blessing, more so in this day and age, with so many unloved and unwanted children casted aside by uncaring People that will not and dont want to take responsiblity for them, as far as the Duggers stuctured life style goes, it is abit weird and strange, to me its very old age programming that the children are raised in, yet they are a family and therefore that deserves respect, yet I will not be changing my way for a Duggers way of living, its not for me nor my family..........:)
the Duggers are wierd. its annoying how they all wear the same clothes. i feel bad for the girls in havig to dress like that..that look has been out for like a century.mrs.dugger should get her tubes tied. havig more children in an economy like this is selfish. i beleive the only reaso they are popping out more children is for fame and money. obviously people are donating everything to them. growing up, my parents couldt even support me and my brother. an average family could never support 20 children. the duggers should getoff tv. they make me sick.
To Kat and Jase: I can't imagine losing a child....my family losses (so far) have been my mother and father and older family members. If they had disease, if they were old and had lived long lives, if they had been suffering, it was easy to somehow justify their deaths. But the death of a child, no matter how old...oh boy I can't do it. I have one child...he's an adult...and for whatever bizzare reason that mothers justify to themselves (you know no matter how old they are you sneak in their rooms and listen to make sure they are still breathing), we can never understand or justify a child's death (whether 4 days or 40 years old). We are so important to others (an aside - ever beem invited somewhere and blow it off? So have I...until I had a retirement party for my husband and a friend didn't come...I was so upset and at that moment I realized how each person contributed to that event in their own special way and how much their non presence was missed...and I vowed to attend every event I will ever promise to attend because I realize how much we can be missed)...and we have no idea how important that the fact we exist is important to others...that when we are no longer here for whatever the reason...we leave gigiantic holes in someone else's heart. So in this time of Easter and Passover...count our blessings of family and friends...we for them...and them for us. ...Blessings to all.
For those who have experienced a loss...talk about them as though they are still here. Quote them. Say, "Remember when so and so did this or that?" Express your grief. Teach others who are uncomfortable (because they don't know what to say to you) that they, too, can share their memories of that person....that you want...need to hear it...and they will live...always...in your heart.
I suppose that is what the Duggars are...a family...but I still think they are weird!
To Kat and Jase: I can't imagine losing a child....my family losses (so far) have been my mother and father and older family members. If they had disease, if they were old and had lived long lives, if they had been suffering, it was easy to somehow justify their deaths. But the death of a child, no matter how old...oh boy I can't do it. I have one child...he's an adult...and for whatever bizzare reason that mothers justify to themselves (you know no matter how old they are you sneak in their rooms and listen to make sure they are still breathing), we can never understand or justify a child's death (whether 4 days or 40 years old). We are so important to others (an aside - ever beem invited somewhere and blow it off? So have I...until I had a retirement party for my husband and a friend didn't come...I was so upset and at that moment I realized how each person contributed to that event in their own special way and how much their non presence was missed...and I vowed to attend every event I will ever promise to attend because I realize how much we can be missed)...and we have no idea how important that the fact we exist is important to others...that when we are no longer here for whatever the reason...we leave gigiantic holes in someone else's heart. So in this time of Easter and Passover...count our blessings of family and friends...we for them...and them for us. ...Blessings to all.
For those who have experienced a loss...talk about them as though they are still here. Quote them. Say, "Remember when so and so did this or that?" Express your grief. Teach others who are uncomfortable (because they don't know what to say to you) that they, too, can share their memories of that person....that you want...need to hear it...and they will live...always...in your heart.
I suppose that is what the Duggars are...a family...but I still think they are weird!
What I think is wrong is if the older kids were allowed to go to school the parents wouldn't last a day at home with the younger ones!!! the mother is addicted to having babies and when they are at walking age they are passed on to the older kids to raise so having a big family is great i come from seven being second to oldest i babysat occasionally but never had to give up my childhood to raise my mothers kids!!
Jax I think large family's are great too, yet draw the line at expecting the older children to be parents to the younger children....this is what is weird I feel in regards to the Dugger family.......
Creepy
The Duggers are NOT pentcostal! They belong to some Baptist church. Most Pentcostal quit dressing like them 30 years ago. I ought to know, I grew up in a pentcostal church and still attend one. That said, I like the Duggers but not Michelle. She gets on my last nerve! She's sickly sweet and it doesn't seem real.
I have an adopted specal needs child from China- I have nothing against having a large family, we would have had more children if we didn't have fertility issues but to me share some of that familylove with a child that has nobody to care. Michelle seems to brag at the beginning of the show that she has 18 children herself. If they love kids so much, adopt one or 20! I think she's addicted to having a newborn and all the fuss that goes with it.
Deplorable example of myopic christianity.
permitting any group of people to live off the public dole, specifically
property tax avoidance in the name of religion is in direct violation
of church and state: dear IRS, please audit these "lovable parasites".
I think they are weird beyond belief. I found it interesting that one of the daughters couldn't do a simple mathematic problem that any 12 year old should be able to do. On one episode they actually left one of the children and went sailing off on the babyexpress before returning to gather the crying child.
I think they are a sham, fraud and just plain ....BULLSHIT.
I think that this family lives in a bubble...To me I think that it is kind of sad that they are so far removed from what is going on around them in the world. Just because everyone is not like them doesnt mean that everyone is bad...To them having sex or even kissing out of wedlock is wrong...so if a teenager has unprotected sex why is that a sin and not 'one of god's blessings'....
Well, it didn't take the oldest son long to start his own baby train. Just read he and his bride are expecting a child in October, 2009. I actually wondered what had taken them so long. They were married all of 4months before she got pregnant. I'm sure we'll be hearing soon that Michelle is pregnant again. Her newest infant is now 4 months old ~ she has about one a year so I guess it's time for her to spit out another one.
If each Duggar child reproduces at the rate of their parents, within five generations there will be ONE MILLION EIGHT HUNDRED EIGHTY-NINE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY EIGHT DUGGARS descended from Michelle & Jim Bob. Heaven help us.
Your Right Boston905, the breeding train has begun, boy Michelle and Jimbob should be real proud of the fact they have achieved the out come they were looking for, and that was to brain wash their children into the same mind frame thinking that they have...:)
david I think Jimbob was elected as some form of government official, not to sure on that one as I read it somewhere, yet if he was do you think the IRS would check them out? I dont think so as he would have many so call friends in government and I dare say the IRS too, Here in Australia many a bad government official's do get away with almost anything and have many loop holes to crawl through, like we say here if you want to committ a crime that you can get away with get into politic's, you sure to get away with anything, they have no justise to answer to......so as far as the duggers go, I beleive they have explored the beniefts and a ways to advoid paying any taxes.....hmmmmm
The only thing I like about watching the show is finding little slips that are allowed in. Like the day they went shopping as a family - they bought all of of the kids used shoes (like that's really good for a growing child's foot - I bet the parents don't wear used shoes; well maybe the mom, but I'm darn sure not the dad) then went to a warehouse type store for groceries. Did anyone notice the dad putting a CASES of Pringles Potato Chips on the check out? Come on now - you can't buy your kids a NEW pair of shoes, but you can buy cases of potato chips??? Also in the same show, one of the girls said she liked the shopping trips because "we get to go out". I think that's sad that a child rarely gets to see the outside world. They rarely watch TV, their computer time is limited (and you better believe they aren't allowed to surf the net), and they don't socialize....What type of education in life are these children really getting ? Well, on one of the shows one girl told us - Her goal is to get married and have lots of children. These girls aren't even aware they have choices. Well, like many have said before, they will have tons of experience in child rearing, they have literally raised their younger siblings. I guess others also wondered where the money came from since the show openings now include that they "make ends meet" from rent they receive from commercial properties ......I wonder where they got the bus they travel in - looks like it was really inexpensive. Religion aside, most ppl don't have huge families these days because they simply can't afford to house, feed, clothe and educate them. Well, I haven't seen anyone applying to, or attending college (or any institution of higher learning for that matter) so I guess that's one expense the Duggars don't worry about, and the cookie cutter dresses and thrift shop polo shirts shouldn't cost them much, and they sure don't have any barber/beauty shop expense (every time I see the mom I feel like dragging her to a salon and getting her hair styled). If anyone saw the recent show about the power outage you saw some pretty wound up kids (makes me want to see a REAL day in their lives, not one altered for the camera). Personally, as far as I'm concerned they can have as many kids as they can support - however, allow these kids some individuality, allow them to experience the real world, and give them some choices. It will be interesting to read about these kids in years to come - who will become an alcoholic, drug addict or even worse because they cannot cope with the real world...........SAD but it most likely will happen to at least one of them, since unlike even the Amish who give their kids a chance at the age of 18 to see the outside world before making a life decision, the Duggar's won't allow any choices.
The only thing I like about watching the show is finding little slips that are allowed in. Like the day they went shopping as a family - they bought all of of the kids used shoes (like that's really good for a growing child's foot - I bet the parents don't wear used shoes; well maybe the mom, but I'm darn sure not the dad) then went to a warehouse type store for groceries. Did anyone notice the dad putting a CASES of Pringles Potato Chips on the check out? Come on now - you can't buy your kids a NEW pair of shoes, but you can buy cases of potato chips??? Also in the same show, one of the girls said she liked the shopping trips because "we get to go out". I think that's sad that a child rarely gets to see the outside world. They rarely watch TV, their computer time is limited (and you better believe they aren't allowed to surf the net), and they don't socialize....What type of education in life are these children really getting ? Well, on one of the shows one girl told us - Her goal is to get married and have lots of children. These girls aren't even aware they have choices. Well, like many have said before, they will have tons of experience in child rearing, they have literally raised their younger siblings. I guess others also wondered where the money came from since the show openings now include that they "make ends meet" from rent they receive from commercial properties ......I wonder where they got the bus they travel in - looks like it was really inexpensive. Religion aside, most ppl don't have huge families these days because they simply can't afford to house, feed, clothe and educate them. Well, I haven't seen anyone applying to, or attending college (or any institution of higher learning for that matter) so I guess that's one expense the Duggars don't worry about, and the cookie cutter dresses and thrift shop polo shirts shouldn't cost them much, and they sure don't have any barber/beauty shop expense (every time I see the mom I feel like dragging her to a salon and getting her hair styled). If anyone saw the recent show about the power outage you saw some pretty wound up kids (makes me want to see a REAL day in their lives, not one altered for the camera). Personally, as far as I'm concerned they can have as many kids as they can support - however, allow these kids some individuality, allow them to experience the real world, and give them some choices. It will be interesting to read about these kids in years to come - who will become an alcoholic, drug addict or even worse because they cannot cope with the real world...........SAD but it most likely will happen to at least one of them, since unlike even the Amish who give their kids a chance at the age of 18 to see the outside world before making a life decision, the Duggar's won't allow any choices.
The only thing I like about watching the show is finding little slips that are allowed in. Like the day they went shopping as a family - they bought all of of the kids used shoes (like that's really good for a growing child's foot - I bet the parents don't wear used shoes; well maybe the mom, but I'm darn sure not the dad) then went to a warehouse type store for groceries. Did anyone notice the dad putting a CASES of Pringles Potato Chips on the check out? Come on now - you can't buy your kids a NEW pair of shoes, but you can buy cases of potato chips??? Also in the same show, one of the girls said she liked the shopping trips because "we get to go out". I think that's sad that a child rarely gets to see the outside world. They rarely watch TV, their computer time is limited (and you better believe they aren't allowed to surf the net), and they don't socialize outside of families just like their own....What type of education in life are these children really getting ? Well, on one of the shows one girl told us - Her goal is to get married and have lots of children. These girls aren't even aware they have choices. Well, like many have said before, they will have tons of experience in child rearing, they have literally raised their younger siblings. I guess others also wondered where the money came from since the show openings now include that they "make ends meet" from rent they receive from commercial properties ......I wonder where they got the bus they travel in - looks like it was really inexpensive. Religion aside, most ppl don't have huge families these days because they simply can't afford to house, feed, clothe and educate them. Well, I haven't seen anyone applying to, or attending college (or any institution of higher learning for that matter) so I guess that's one expense the Duggars don't worry about, and the cookie cutter dresses and thrift shop polo shirts shouldn't cost them much, and they sure don't have any barber/beauty shop expense (every time I see the mom I feel like dragging her to a salon and getting her hair styled). If anyone saw the recent show about the power outage you saw some pretty wound up kids (makes me want to see a REAL day in their lives, not one altered for the camera). Personally, as far as I'm concerned they can have as many kids as they can support - however, allow these kids some individuality, allow them to experience the real world, and give them some choices. It will be interesting to read about these kids in years to come - who will become an alcoholic, drug addict or even worse because they cannot cope with the real world...........SAD but it most likely will happen to at least one of them, since unlike even the Amish who give their kids a chance at the age of 18 to see the outside world before making a life decision, the Duggar's won't allow any choices.
Instead of the Duggars going out of the US to offer assistance to others, it would have been really nice to see a show about them traveling to Appalachia to bring gifts and necessities. Or how about a show where Michelle and the girls make shrouds for the poor babies of Appalachia (many mothers there don't even have anything for them to wear in death) due to the high infant mortality rate. Let them learn of the poverty right in this county, not too far from where they live.
Here's a thought...think you'll ever see this family on Nanny 911? No Way! Sadly, those families probably more accurately portray the average American family experience than the Duggar family. It is interesting to watch a family function as such a cohesive, cooperative unit. All religious prejudices and beliefs aside, I am encouraged by the kindness they consistently demonstrate toward one another.
they don't socialize outside of families just like their own i think this is very races
I used to watch the show a lot, I do admit that seeing such a large family from only one woman was fascinating to me.
Until I saw the episode about the family going to the Creationalist museum. *gagging* To say that humans lived side by side with the dinosaurs and the world was only 6000 years old made me nauseated... And their comments about how man "didn't" evolve from apes did it for me, I changed channels on the spot. It has been proven that we share about 98% of our DNA with chimps... Do they discount the fact that DNA exists too???
Like others, I see one of the children going nuts and either really rebelling and writing a tell all book or having a really bad case of culture shock and winding up in the nuthouse after seeing what the world is like outside of their bubble.
*UGH*
Thus being said, I am not against people having huge families. It's when they start trying to shove their religious beliefs down other people's throats that really annoys me. I believe in freedom of religion and they way the Duggars act, they think EVERYONE should believe exactly what they do, and that attitude is not welcome around others a good part of the time.
The blanket training... That really really made me upset, that's abuse in my opinion. Children need to explore the world around them, their PARENTS have to make sure the area is safe first and if one has to hit a child because they moved out of a certain area, the person who hit the child should be whipped within an inch of their life in my opinion!!
Duggars = HYPOCRITES (IMHO)
Do you not realize the way these people live was the norm for most of our world's history? They crazy way that we currently live in the US is NOT normal it is chaotic. This family is an example of what love and discipline look like. This is foreign to most young people who have grown up in a cynical society that has constantly dumbed them down. There is nothing "creepy" or freakish about being happy.
It saddens me to see some many youth of today waste themselves in pursuit of nothing. Texting constantly, yet having no REAL relationships. Desperately lonely in a group of "friends." Empty.
They are not selfishly trying to "clone" themselves they are trusting God to give them as many children as HE want to. It's about faith.
What a stupid remark....They are trusting God to give them as many children as HE wants too.....that is the most stupid dumb remark I have read in awhile, its time people understood having children is not deemed by a faith nor anything related, and sure is not determed By God, its the body and a group of hormons and the right enviorment for a womans body to reproduce, GOD has nothing what so ever to do with conception........Michelle's body alone will determine how many children she will pop out, and also while determine if they will be normal and healthy....that is a basic knowledge of how they human body works, now to say God will give them as many children as he calls fit, is a very guallable way of thinking and maybe if people do beleive that, need to go back to school and pay attention to what the teacher in human developement is telling them.......stupid people!
Viv, do you REALLY believe that God is personally responsible for the number of children the Duggars or any other humans on the face of the Earth have? "...trusting God to give them as many children as HE wants to" is a very scary concept. If you take this type of thinking a step further, you are basically saying that all the illegitimate children born to young teenagers were pre-ordained by God. Does your way of thinking also apply to the children born of rape or incest or is it just children born to Christians in wedlock?
It's not about "faith", it's about the evolutionary process which drives humans to procreate. The Duggars are just a pair of homosapiens procreating at a selfish and totally irresponsible rate and then deeming their actions religious by stating that God is really the one in charge. I just don't get this way of thinking.
Boston905 its about time someone with some brains finally wrote something that is real......it so suprises me that some out there think this way, I am all for free speach and so forth, yet when someone writes the stupid remark about the duggers I think Oh my God are they for real????? you wrote your tread with such illteligence....well done!
While I understand the joy parenting brings, I don't understand why these people don't adopt......and at some point these kids being deprived of normal experiences like going to school, hanging out with kids of different backgrounds or religions are going to come back to haunt these people.....and with so many kids, at least one of them is going to be gay..hopefully they won't tar and feather the kid
Why do people have to quote the bible word by word? Why don't they see that some of it is out of date? i.e. to have as many children as possible, to me, that was to ward off the high motality rate of babies back then. But today almost all kids survive and average life span has improved many folds. Plus today we are no longer farming, ranching, where having enough labors were so crucial.
These people are rather strange. Interesting how odd behavior is considered acceptable as long as it is under the guise of religion. Non-stop pregnancies, forcing the girls (and mother) to wear their hair long and long, "PA Dutch" like attire, (long prairie like skirts) is rather disturbing to me. Just another way to keep women down, which is what ALL religions do anyway. Why is there such a need in this country to behave in such extreme ways in order to be considered a Christian. I just don't get it. Gee, if Jesus were alive today what would he think?? I don't think that was the purpose of Christian teachings.
I think the Duggers are cool. I love watching their show, they all seem so happy and positive. I wish my family was more like that. Im not religious at all but I can really appreciate their core values, and the Mum seems like the sweetest lady you could ever meet.
I think they are great, and you are just jealous because you are so disfunctional. Who wouldn't want to live with so much love around them, as they obviously do.
Oh please moon. Console yourself with our wickedness. I am a Christian and I get what is going on here very clearly. when the mother reaches down and whispers in her sons ear "Stop it or you'll get a time out" the boy knows she really means this is code for "Your going to get a beating." There is no way you can have such absolute control of children without beating them behind closed doors. this can make any child seem "perfect" if they are trained to look that way. this is really CULT BEHAVIOR----plain and simple!!!!
Please go back to your compounds. and STOP BLAMING GOD FOR YOUR IRRATIONAL BeLIEFS and CHOICES!!!!!!
the duggar family is cool. i dont see why everybody is making fun of them. i think the parents are cool for keeping their temper all of the time. i wish the very best for this family and hope that all of the kids grow up to be very sucessful.
Believe it or not---this WAS the norm many years ago and I think it is refreshing to see that we have families with morals and children that are well behaved in this troubling world today. My mother (88 yrs old) and father (deceased) both had 14 and 12, respectfully in their families and this was during the depression. It not only did not hurt them but helped them to become very strong individuals in their adult lives. I could not do this but I commend the Duggars!
I like this family- they are different (for obvious reasons), but I think they are raising some really great kids with really great values. I love how Josh treats his new wife, Anna- he is so sweet to her. While they do things a bit different from the rest of us, let's not judge too quickly. Their way of living works for them and they aren't hurting anyone. What if your life was broadcast for everyone to see? What would people be saying about you?
I can't understand how Michelle looks so beautiful, not a sag, bag, or wrinkle, how???? With alllll those children, her husband, always happy and smiling, and calm. How?? I just simply cannot understand how incredibly beautiful she is, and her face and skin, not one sign of ' I AM TIRED '. Your opinion comments, I would love to read.
Well, it's because her daughters are doing all the work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You would also have to consider that a woman's hormone level is at its highest when she is pregnant and because this woman is popping out a child at the rate of about one a year, her estrogen/progesterone levels are always elevated.
These people need to be arrested for child abuse. The children, especially the girls, are slaves. They are just trying to breed their own cult of little religious nut, right wing voters.
Boston905: Hey! Thanks! You know, I never considered the estrogen/progesterone levels! Smart person you are! Thanks for responding, and giving your opinion, I appreciate it. I was really hoping people would give their opinion/view on my query, and you did, again, thanks!
This family is so annoying and they think their all that bcuz they have a freakshow of a family. They should join the circus. JOHN AND KATE ARE BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My grandma gave birth to 15 kids and u dont see her boasting on the tv. The parents are fakes. They say they are religious when they make the older kids work as slaves. I wish the parents the worst ever!!!
i cannot stand this preachers!...god this and god that...For being holy people that certainly like having Sex!
Just another example of stupid, selfish, attention seeking people if you ask me. It really bothers me, TLC would glorify any people like this. Hey, TLC!!! You should do a show on octa-mom. The world doesn't need you to have child for them. We all know the money to feed your addiction "have children" is coming from the state and the church offering.
"Normal" says:
2 years ago
Just too weird. The children are like little christian robots. They are raising their own cult!