by Erika Like most kids that are taken out of public school and start homeschooling, and whose families dive head first into patriarchy and fundamentalism, friendships that these kids have end up fizzling out with “old friends” as parents tighten the reigns. Sometimes, friendships are cut off altogether. I found myself in the position of my parents tryng to wean me away from my friends and because many of my friends didn’t understand what was truly happening in our home, they became uncomfortable and confused around us and our parents and eventually, they just stopped Full post …
Tag: child abuse
Purging Satan’s music….
November 1, 2009
by Erika Shortly after my family entered the cult of patriarchy, my father felt convicted that he needed to rid his house of Satan’s music. This meant getting rid of all his classic rock albums and cassettes. With a family of 6 struggling through the recession of the early 90s in northern NH, those albums would definitely have netted a bit of money that could have been put to good use. As most fundamentalists are taught, if it’s not good for you, then it’s not good for anyone. Instead of selling those albums, they had to Full post …
Someone was trying to control every aspect of my life … including my clothes
October 26, 2009
by Erika Me and my youngest brother, 1991 After being made to quit the basketball team and the FHA group, I was trying to find any way that I possibly could to stay close to my friends. I called them when I could, I would wait outside on my porch after school ended so that I could talk to my classmates that lived on my street as they walked home each afternoon, I would try to get down to the school or a friend’s house when the chance came available. In the meantime, my parents Full post …
Vyckie’s Tour de Crap: “The children do not get it at all …”
October 24, 2009
This letter which I wrote to Jonathan Lindvall via his “Bold Christian Living” email discussion list fits into the time period of the latest installment of my story. This one is total crap ~ I was trying so desperately to figure a way to get Angel to accept and embrace the godly, quiverfull lifestyle which we’d chosen for our family ~ I think that my desperation is quite apparent in this rather pathetic letter: Dear Mr. Lindvall, Thank you so much for your ministry — you have been a great encouragement to my husband & Full post …
Daughter of the Patriarchy: A Terrible Secret
October 21, 2009
by Sierra When we went to visit the house in Pennsylvania, it seemed remote, dark and expansive. At the inquisitive yet reticent age of seven, I hovered behind my mother’s leg as we looked around the basement of the long ranch house. It wasn’t quite a finished basement, but there was a bar installed with Heineken cans lining the ceiling. A child about my age was sitting on the floor playing with some ugly 1990s toys. We shared a mutual glance of childhood understanding: we were not agents in this business of buying, selling and Full post …
Biblical sexism tops “Ten worst verses in the Bible”
October 3, 2009
I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. (1 Timothy 2:12) by Vyckie Recently, I came across a “Ship of Fools” video which invited people to submit their nominations for the “Ten worst verses of the Bible” At first, I assumed that Ship of Fools must be an atheist website holding this “Worst Verse” contest as a way to raise awareness of some of the horrific messages contained in the pages of the Christian scriptures. My assumption was based mainly on the website’s name Full post …
No choices of my own
September 30, 2009
by Erika My sister and I in the winter of 1991-1992, the year we started homeschooling It wasn’t long before my parents got really frustrated with the church in town and wanted something different. My father told the pastor that we would be going down to the church in Bellows Falls (run by John Thompson) but would still come to services here and there at the church in town. The pastor felt frustrated at the time, too, so he gave my parents his blessing to attend this other church. I remember when the people at Full post …
Patriarchy Across Cultures: Magic Man
September 26, 2009
by Tapati Chicago, Illinois Cold late night so long ago When I was not so strong you know A pretty man came to me Never seen eyes so blue I could not run away It seemed we’d seen each other in a dream It seemed like he knew me He looked right through me –Heart Previously I described how I left the Chicago Hare Krishna temple. I was headed for my friend Suprabha’s apartment. I had her phone number and address written down, and knew which El stop to look for. When I got off Full post …
Michelle says, Never enough babies!
