28 minutes ago, just_ordinary said:

This irk of fundamentalists have created several subsets of believes and rules that have no real ground in the bible anymore, that’s why even mainstream Christians are at a loss with them. They give certain words a different meaning, so we basically don’t even speak the same language at some points. They also have left the pure religious sphere and have created a confusing mix of religion and politics- but that’s a very US thing for Christians I am afraid.

The fundamentalists here in the US can be loosely described as "Dominionists". They are looking to establish a Theocracy here in the USA, something to do with the US being the "promised land" or some stuff like that. It's a bastard marriage of Christianity and far right wing politics. Ted Cruz' father is a Dominionist along with others. It is my understanding that Bill Gothard and company were part of this belief system.

Here's some info:

https://politicalresearch.org/2016/08/18/dominionism-rising-a-theocratic-movement-hiding-in-plain-sight

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominion_theology

Here's the Google search string https://www.google.com/search?q=dominionism&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS904US904&oq=dominionism&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i512l3.9714j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

2 hours ago, nelliebelle1197 said:

That is not the same dress. Josie’s has a collar and cuffs.

I think the poster knew that, but wanted to show what “normal” people would wear if they choose such a dress (short, no collar, no cuffs). Hers is like the version with the modesty panel. 
I like the colour. There is nothing else nice about it though. It looks like a modest version of a 90s get wasted and laid clubbing outfit.  And the porn shoes definitely don’t help. 

12 hours ago, Melbelle said:

I'm curious, I live in a heavily blue/liberal major metropolitan area in the US.  Yet it's super easy to find places to eat, drink, explore, where vaccine rules, mask rules, etc. are not followed/enforced.  Is this not true in Europe?  

They were sitting outside though I think. It’s not always clear which rules are followed atm and I many countries the cities/states differ from each other depending on infection/hospitalisation rate. It could be that if you show a 24/48h negative test you can be outside to eat, while sitting inside requires recovered/vaccinated. And yes, in private shops/restaurants you have more chances of not being asked. And in Rome there are enough restaurants to just walk a bit till you find one. 

7 hours ago, HereticHick said:

I totally believe that Lawson's horse will be involved in the ceremony.

And I'd recommend that all Residenti a Roma stay inside this week, because sometime in the next few days, in some public place (the Forum? the Pantheon? the Spanish Steps?), Lawson, cameramen in tow, will appear with a guitar and "surprise" Tiffany, serenading her with a song and proposing. Its going to be gross. And she will be shocked!  Happy tears will flow! 

My money is on either INSIDE the Pantheon, in Piazza Navona at sunset, or in front of the Trevi Fountain.

I totally expect him to be IN the fountain, all wet showing if his abs. She maybe too, but that might not be modest enough. And then spending the night in jail. Re-United in the sunrise….. that will be a great photo love story 🤢🤮

You now, love makes you do crazy things…..

I don’t know much about Amy’s side of the Duggar family, but I thought the red might come through her husband? I don’t think any Duggar truly had red hair ever?

4 hours ago, feministxtian said:

There's living through bad things and intentionally doing bad things. The first is usually a "shit happens" thing, or maybe being irresponsible or doing something stupid. Then there's the intentional doing bad things. The way I understand it, sin is choosing to do the bad thing when you know you should not and it's compounded by not being sorry for it or choosing to do that again. The fundies presume to know what God is thinking at all times. I'm not so sure about that. There's plenty in the New Testament about things like saying "Lord, Lord" and God saying "I never knew you" or about the "elect" (saved people) being deceived (See TFG). I have no doubt that Josh Duggar is not sorry for what he did, he's sorry he got caught, just like so many other "conservatives" (see Jan 6 defendants). 

I'm not saying I'm perfect...I am SO not perfect, but these fundies get much of it twisted and I think many of them will be surprised when the time comes. 

That’s how I understand it. “Being saved”/“accepting Jesus as Saviour” brings you into the position to UNDERSTAND that you are sinning and gives you the freedom/power to do better. That’s why heathen sinners can be loved, while the sin is damned from an “enlightened” position. The “forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing” phrase goes into the same direction. That’s why the heathens need to be saved and be brought to Jesus. People can do the right thing but it doesn’t come from the right reasoning without Jesus their reasons are weak and somewhat arbitrary. 
People like Josh and how to deal with them are harder to explain. 
Saved sinners know better. So if they repent they repent for the right reasons. They should have the tools to be stronger. But they also get attacked more by Satan than others? It’s a bit weak.
As I said it’s harder, but nothing Fundie logic can’t do I am sure. This irk of fundamentalists have created several subsets of believes and rules that have no real ground in the bible anymore, that’s why even mainstream Christians are at a loss with them. They give certain words a different meaning, so we basically don’t even speak the same language at some points. They also have left the pure religious sphere and have created a confusing mix of religion and politics- but that’s a very US thing for Christians I am afraid. Most hardcore fundamentalists in Europe don’t even vote (even if they did, they are so few it really doesn’t matter) and live very isolated. They rather set themselves apart than trying to take over. Even though it seems in some countries they start to grow and become more powerful. It’s still very very far from comparable.