by Vyckie Mom & Dad are in love … but is a patriarchal relationship of entitlement-meets-martyrdom a healthy and mutually beneficial expression of love? Following a recent interview with the religion editor of our local newspaper, I’ve been thinking more about what I’ve learned from St. Bernard of Clairvaux concerning the four “degrees” of love which the ancient monk postulated in considering man’s relationship to God (note that this applies to all other relationships as well) ~ although I’ve already written briefly on this topic here, I’d like to now give a more thorough explanation: Full post …
Tag: coercive religious groups
Something didn’t sit quite right with me …
August 10, 2009
by Erika The morning that I left for my missions trip Boot Camp. I’m pictured with my pastor and his wife. A newspaper story that was done before I left for my missions trip. When I left for Africa in the summer of 1991, I was excited about my trip and the things that I would see but I was also disappointed to know that I would be coming home to my sophomore year as a homeschooler. I was crushed by my parents’ decision and begged them to let me stay in school. After Full post …
Patriarchy Across Cultures: Summer of Transcendental Love
August 7, 2009
by Tapati Japa or rosary beads made from the wood of the Tulasi plant, a sacred relative of basil. Devotees of Krishna chant the mahamantra on each of 108 beads, keeping track with the “Krsna” or 109th bead. Each day a devotee is required to chant 16 rounds on the japamala, an ancient form of meditation. I was so relieved to be on the bus, headed for St. Louis. We passed through Hannibal, home of Mark Twain. I barely noticed because my mind was filled with memories of my brief visit to the temple back Full post …
NLQ FAQ: How can I help my "Quiverfull" friend?
July 3, 2009
by Vyckie Q: How can I help my “Quiverfull” friend? I have a good friend who is really into the quiverfull/patriarchy lifestyle. She is always careful to appear cheerful and happy with her family life, but I have often suspected that things are not quite as rosy as she wants everyone to believe. After reading the stories here on NLQ, I am more concerned than ever, especially for her children who are very well-behaved and respectful but who seem to be sending out “distress signals” like Angel did in Vyckie’s story. My friend is Full post …
RE: Carri & Benaiah Chmielewski ~ I am sickened and mortified
June 22, 2009
by Vyckie Through the Free Jinger forums, I was recently introduced to a blog by a quiverfull woman named Carrie who holds to a lot of the same lifestyle beliefs which our family subscribed to back in our “quivering days.” I was immediately interested because at the time that I first started reading her blog, Carrie was overdue with twins (she thought) ~ planning an unassisted home birth. This so reminded me of my own experience ~ with Hazelle (whom I attempted to have at home after 3 c-sections), Andrew (who was born at home Full post …
NLQ FAQ: Custody Issues for ex-Quiverfull Parents
May 29, 2009
By “Dogemperor“ NLQ Frequently Asked Questions Q. What resources are available for former Quiverfull parents seeking to retain/gain legal custody of their children? A. The following guest column by NLQ reader, “Dogemperor” addresses this issue in detail: Firstly, I’d like to thank Vyckie very much for asking me to do this guest column–and a minor caveat or two here: I am not a lawyer, merely someone who grew up in a “New Apostolic Reformation” coercive religious group that now tends to be a heavy promoter of the Quiverfull stuff. Anyways, Vyckie had notified me that Full post …
QUIVERFULL: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement ~ A Review
March 25, 2009
by Vyckie The reason I am telling my story now (as opposed to 10 years from now when my kids are grown up and I actually have time to write), is because I came across this article on Alternet and read with interest about the people and the teachings which our family had followed for many years. I was kind of amazed that someone on that liberal news site knew about this movement ~ so I posted a comment on the article ~ and that’s how I got in touch with Kathryn Joyce, author of Full post …
To Those Who May Be Shocked, Disappointed, and Hurt by the News of My Apostasy
March 12, 2009
by Vyckie Bennett (Garrison) This is a letter to those godly, dedicated Christians who know me (or know of me) from my articles and testimonies which have appeared in popular homeschool publications such as Above Rubies, An Encouraging Word, SALT, Unless the Lord, etc. ~ or who have followed news of our ever-growing family in my monthly column or in updates and prayer requests which I have posted on email groups such as MOMYS Digest, The Lord’s Heritage, FARBITM, and others. I have been an advocate of godly womanhood ~ I’ve encouraged fellow Christian moms Full post …
Michelle says, Never enough babies!
