In another thread, I read that this thread has been considered as anti-Christian. I do not believe that this is the case, but I wanted to throw it out here, to anyone who is reading -- does anyone think that this thread is 'anti-Christian', and if so, in what way?
The thread has a definite anti- right wing Christian bent. Especially anti-Christian fundamentalism. It also has posts criticizing religious fundamentalism in general.
But it it is not a Christian-bashing thread. I am Christian myself. (Catholic). I've seen nothing to indicate that any of this sex abuse and infidelity stuff stems from Christianity in general or that Christianity in general is bad.
But I can understand why conservative Christians might get that sense and feel uncomfortable here.
Remember, the Duggars and their ilk, who are radical, right-wing, extremist fundamentalists, have been role models and heroes to more mainstream conservative Christians (think Calvary and other mega-churches and regular baptists, etc.,) for a long time. The radicalism of the duggars is not followed by those mainstream Christians and many of the more extreme practices of the duggars are seen as "old fashioned" by the mainstream, but also quaint and if not admirable, at least certainly respected.
In fact, the duggars and others in their movement, have been quite influential in the spread to the mainstream of some of the concepts they champion such as patriarchal "headship"/wifely submission, homeschooling, purity rings, father/daughter purity balls and the use of a very systematic child "training" that involves the deliberate and cold-blooded corporal punishment of children starting as toddlers and the total submission of he child to parental authority.
I'm basing my opinion on hundreds of comments I have read over the years by duggar apologists and fans who are not extremists, as well as on years of reading articles about Cristian dominionism, the Christian homeschooling movement, child training, Christian patriarchy, Christian parenting and marriage, various websites and message boards and even shows like Supernanny which have featured mainstream Christians employing systematic child abuse methods (spanking a toddler while hugging her and demanding she "trust and obey") explaining that method was learned in a seminar at church,for example.