The Duggar brand

[antwan]

There are so many instances, lately, of where the Duggars seem to be compromising on what they used to forbid. Moving Benny onto the property is but one example of relaxing their stern, legalistic views, I believe. So, my question is....

 

Do you think the Duggars have softened their religious convictions based on

A) sincere changes in thinking (likely due to being exposed to views and experiences, other than their isolated own)

what is best for the brand, moving forward (meaning, JB knows that the show won't go on forever, so he's positioning the brand for continued fan interest and interaction in the future)

C) some other reason

D) I don't believe they've softened their convictions at ALL, not even deceptively so (see "B")

 

Feel free to share examples that back up your choice. Personally, I'm thinking it's a combination of A and B.

[Sundaymorning]

Well, I think it's a mixture between A and B, but mostly B.

Also, as I wrote in another thread, many "royal" families of cults like to pick and chose when it comes to obeying their own cult rules. They always find an excuse why it's ok to break or bend a rule when it's convenient to them. Just look at Gothard and all his counseling unsolicited touching of young girls who were alone with him in a room, when I'm pretty sure the ATI rules make it clear that no young girl should be left alone with a man that isn't related by blood to her.

Also, there is so much hypocrisy in these cults and among conservatives from all religions, just look at the Catholic church and such, so it's not surprising that the Duggars often don't live what they preach.

[singsingsing]

Have they really softened their religious convictions, though? I can't really think of any way they have besides dressing more stylishly. The kids still aren't going to college, the girls still aren't allowed to have non-Gothard approved careers, they still condemn birth control, will not kiss until marriage or even hold hands until engagement, they won't dance, they actively campaign for extremely conservative political causes, etc. etc. etc. - in what material way have they changed?

[Feberin]

I guess B they want to keep the show alive and the money rolling in but I don't really feel like they are softening their convictions that much. Ben and Jessa are still always supervised and he's living in the guest house/garage. The girls definitely dress differently but they still always wear skirts. I don't feel like with anything they've really abandoned a huge part of their beliefs just a couple minor things.

[Jay9]

I think B. The show is who they are, it's their way of life. Whatever keeps the show going is what they do.

And yes, I definitely think they have changed. They let their daughters marry people who don't live up to their standards. College degree and secular job for Derrick, different religious beliefs for Ben,among other things. They don't allow their own children to get degrees or have different Bible beliefs. So it's pretty much a double standard. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that the family is branching out, away from ATI roots, etc. It might be their only hope. But with the way they control their children's relationships, they could easily refuse to allow their kids to marry anyone from the "outside". But they relaxed their standards in that regard. All the relationship crap on the show keeps fans glued. And besides, it would look pretty bad and people would be pissed if all their adult children remained single due to not being able to find any acceptable people in ATI circles.

Also, their dress has significantly changed. Now, they at least try to put some effort into style (the girls anyway). They gotta be appealing for them eligible boys out there. They gotta be gorgeous for TV. I am sure it's all about how they are perceived by others. Somewhere along the line, they got the idea that some style would make them more interesting. It's no longer enough that they have a million kids and strange religious beliefs. They gotta do something else to keep people interested in what they are doing.

[singsingsing]

I think B. The show is who they are, it's their way of life. Whatever keeps the show going is what they do.

And yes, I definitely think they have changed. They let their daughters marry people who don't live up to their standards. College degree and secular job for Derrick, different religious beliefs for Ben,among other things. They don't allow their own children to get degrees or have different Bible beliefs. So it's pretty much a double standard.

It may be a double standard, but how does it indicate change? There's nothing to compare it to. It's not like they had four older daughters who all married men with exactly the same beliefs and standards and only now have they relaxed their criteria. They never even claimed that they would only allow their daughters to marry men who were exactly the same as them.

Again, the only real change I'm seeing is superficial. I see no evidence of them softening their convictions at all.

[Feberin]

I think they're letting their daughter marry men who aren't ATI because the other royal fundie families aren't interested in their sons marrying a Duggar girl and willing to have it all showcased on the show. And I think Jim Bob finally gave up expecting to find perfect ATI matches for all of his kids. I don't think it's a huge change though I mean the Bates similarly are having non-ATI spouses. Even the Maxwell boys married women from less fundie families.

[Rescinded and Mended]

I think the Duggars are willing to make concessions on certain things as long it's nothing that interferes with their core beliefs. For example, I watched a recent interview yesterday where Jim Bob and Michelle stated that their daughters were go-getters, and while they would support them finding jobs and working, their explicit goal as parents was to make sure their daughters found Godly young men to marry so that they could become mothers and keepers of the home.

I feel they were lying about being supportive about their daughters working, but my point is, as an example, Derick being college educated and not owning his own business = no big deal to JB and M, because Jill found a man who would marry and support her while she continually pops out blessings. The goal was to train Jill up to be a wife and mother, so her parents haven't strayed from their core beliefs even if her husband is more educated and less malleable than they would like.

(I will go and find the interview and put up a topic on it. It's long and boring, so I'll take some notes and post them - the Duggars cover lots of talking points that crop up around here regularly)