Erika Shupe *fake smile* Large Families on Purpose *cringe*

[Seven Severn]

Bob's facebook page continues to be interesting. Political memes aside, he recently posted a picture of a sort of snowman made of pumpkins with a jack o lantern face having killed another pumpkin. Clearly, this is a Halloween thing but Erika is so very anti-Halloween.

He's also into very racists memes, including one called "Mexican word of the day" which he posts often. He's also posted some Pirates of the Carribean related content, which is media I'm sure Erika doesn't allow. So strange.

I'll never understand why easily Google-able small businesses and their owners make their political/racist leanings public knowledge. They have every right to, of course, but if someone searches for you and they disagree with your opinions then that's money not in your pocket. I've seen business vehicles with nasty bumper stickers on them and I think, Welp, I'm not gonna hire you. Granted, Bob and those like him maybe get business from people who see their public statements and hire them because they agree, but just the general nastiness I think would put off most people. My parents owned a small business for decades and their customers would never in a million years have been able to guess their political opinions.

[LovelyLuna]

Bob's facebook page continues to be interesting. Political memes aside, he recently posted a picture of a sort of snowman made of pumpkins with a jack o lantern face having killed another pumpkin. Clearly, this is a Halloween thing but Erika is so very anti-Halloween.

He's also into very racists memes, including one called "Mexican word of the day" which he posts often. He's also posted some Pirates of the Carribean related content, which is media I'm sure Erika doesn't allow. So strange.

I get the feeling that this fundie thing is all Erika and Bob just goes along with the flow. He is no JB inserting his headship in to all the kids lives and Erika's decisions.

[princessmahina]

I get the feeling that this fundie thing is all Erika and Bob just goes along with the flow. He is no JB inserting his headship in to all the kids lives and Erika's decisions.

Meh. They have two four year olds, a five year old, and a six year old. He's at least on board with the baby making part of it. I imagine he's just fine with keeping the kids quiet and oppressed too- less hassle for him and Erika is in a better mood. I imagine the whole household tiptoes around her temper. I have a feeling it's a nasty one.

If I were racist and owned a business, I'd have that facebook as private as I could get it. Bob has always struck me as being a few tacos short of a combo meal though.

[mango_fandango]

Meh. They have two four year olds, a five year old, and a six year old. He's at least on board with the baby making part of it. I imagine he's just fine with keeping the kids quiet and oppressed too- less hassle for him and Erika is in a better mood. I imagine the whole household tiptoes around her temper. I have a feeling it's a nasty one.

If I were racist and owned a business, I'd have that facebook as private as I could get it. Bob has always struck me as being a few tacos short of a combo meal though.

Men have such a small role in the actual baby making bit- all they need to do is stick in their penis.

W/r/t the racism, maybe Bob only deals with people who have similar beliefs. Ok, maybe not racists, but with Christians. Bit like the Maxwells. After all, there was that whole story where Bob and a colleague refused to empty an attic because there was a lot of pornographic material in the boxes. And, when he was out of work for a few months right after the twins were born, Erika wrote that he was at least thankful that his employer was a Christian.

Regardless, I do agree that a public FB profile should not display overtly racist content.

[LovelyLuna]

Meh. They have two four year olds, a five year old, and a six year old. He's at least on board with the baby making part of it. I imagine he's just fine with keeping the kids quiet and oppressed too- less hassle for him and Erika is in a better mood. I imagine the whole household tiptoes around her temper. I have a feeling it's a nasty one.

If I were racist and owned a business, I'd have that facebook as private as I could get it. Bob has always struck me as being a few tacos short of a combo meal though.

its not that hard to be onboard with kids when they don’t use any birth control.

[apandaaries]

Regardless, I do agree that a public FB profile should not display overtly racist content.

Nor should a private FB account! But that might be hoping for too much from people, sadly...

[Guest]

Bob remains a mystery to me. He usually looks vaguely miserable, and at first I thought he might be a victim of Erika in much the same way the kids are. Yet he's an adult and he's the headship, so he could stop her if he wanted to. When the twins were newborns, he was unemployed for a few months yet he still allowed Erika to wake up 13 yo Karen to help with feedings in the middle of the night. What kind of a father does that? I almost wanted to feel bad for him because I can't imagine dealing with Erika every day, but I think he's just kind of an ass.

[JillyO]

Men have such a small role in the actual baby making bit- all they need to do is stick in their penis.

By that same logic, all the women have to do is just lie there. So yeah... not sure what you're trying to say.

I do agree that Erica is the driving force in that household. I think Bob would have accepted her decision if she'd gone back on birth control like she had before. He just seems really passive to me, basically just following whatever Erica decides. Of course, that doesn't mean he's any less responsible for the results.

[mango_fandango]

By that same logic, all the women have to do is just lie there. So yeah... not sure what you're trying to say.

I do agree that Erica is the driving force in that household. I think Bob would have accepted her decision if she'd gone back on birth control like she had before. He just seems really passive to me, basically just following whatever Erica decides. Of course, that doesn't mean he's any less responsible for the results.

I mainly meant that when it comes to pregnancy, the man just does his bit at the start, whilst the woman has to do the physical carrying, dealing with all the hormones, tiredness etc. And in the fundie world, men are viewed as NEEDING sex and can demand it whenever he wants even if his wife is tired. There is a gap of only ten months between Tyler and Spencer. I could not imagine being knocked up again a mere six weeks after birth, I'd be too tired to even think about sex let alone actually doing it. I hope any future partner/husband of mine would be respectful of that. Erika claims God makes babies, but women don't just conceive alone like Mary did with Jesus- it takes two to tango. But no, men NEED sex and the wife MUST comply, no matter how she feels. And did Bob help with the twins and feeding when they were born? NO! It was Karen. Bob didn't even have a job he had to get up for.

[mango_fandango]

Another year, another rehash of the Halloween post. BOOORRRRRINNNNNGGG.

Slight aside: Karen turned 17 in August. Melanie is 13 months younger, so she's a September baby. Yet Erika didn't post a birthday photo on the FB page like she's done with the other kids. Maybe Erika just forgot? But she's posted for all the other kid's birthdays.

Oh, and from past info I've gathered on the FB page, it's Bob's birthday tomorrow.

[anjulibai]

Maybe she doesn't like the idea of the girls growing older.

I think a lot of fundies don't like having teenagers. They aren't as cute and doesn't draw as much attention.

[princessmahina]

"I did a research project on the realities of the occult (satanism) and Halloween while I was attending Christian University."

Erika went to WWU. Where did Bob go to college?

largefamiliesonpurpose.com/2012/09/happy-halloween.html

[defraudingjezebel]

Reading the comments on Erika's posts is always disheartening. I like to think that Erika is her own special little brand of control-freak/nut and that few people think like her. Unfortunately, there's tons. I love the DRAMA and anxiety Halloween seems to cause amongst these kinds of people. Its incredible how much unsubstantiated BS they buy into w/ regards to Halloween and its purpose/origins. I could pose as some biblical scholar and blog about how Halloween originally started as a holiday for druids to do human sacrifices to Lucifer and they'd lap it up.

The homeschooling article (and its comments) just make me angry. Each individual homeschooling success is proof that homeschooling works and each individual failure of the public school system is proof that it doesn't. But if you dare to mention the people who have had trouble in homeschooling... oh nooooo that's just an anomaly and not indicative of the system's efficacy at all!!

[LovelyLuna]

Reading the comments on Erika's posts is always disheartening. I like to think that Erika is her own special little brand of control-freak/nut and that few people think like her. Unfortunately, there's tons. I love the DRAMA and anxiety Halloween seems to cause amongst these kinds of people. Its incredible how much unsubstantiated BS they buy into w/ regards to Halloween and its purpose/origins. I could pose as some biblical scholar and blog about how Halloween originally started as a holiday for druids to do human sacrifices to Lucifer and they'd lap it up.

The homeschooling article (and its comments) just make me angry. Each individual homeschooling success is proof that homeschooling works and each individual failure of the public school system is proof that it doesn't. But if you dare to mention the people who have had trouble in homeschooling... oh nooooo that's just an anomaly and not indicative of the system's efficacy at all!!

The Fundie Lite guy I dated wasn’t aloud to celebrate Halloween as a kid and they always went to a church harvest festival on the 31 instead. he said that their youth pastor told them that witches/Wiccans/Atheists/heathens made candles out human baby fat for their jack o lanterns. :pink-shock: Dead serious, they were told this happens today and thats why they don’t celebrate and closest themselves.

I now affectionately refer to myself and my spouse as evil ‘baby fat wax candles’ celebrating Jews as a private joke. its also fun to say try it :lol: :?

[mango_fandango]

Maybe she doesn't like the idea of the girls growing older.

I think a lot of fundies don't like having teenagers. They aren't as cute and doesn't draw as much attention.

Unless of course they're girls cos then they can be sister moms. And maybe it's partly because Karen is the first born?

I think we mentioned this in the old Erika thread, but in the Halloween post, Erika calls Halloween one of the two biggest Satanic holidays of the year. What would the other one be??

Oh, and Karen played violin in the church orchestra this morning.

[defraudingjezebel]

Unless of course they're girls cos then they can be sister moms. And maybe it's partly because Karen is the first born?

I think we mentioned this in the old Erika thread, but in the Halloween post, Erika calls Halloween one of the two biggest Satanic holidays of the year. What would the other one be??

Oh, and Karen played violin in the church orchestra this morning.

Labor day, because it was inaugurated by the evil atheist communists to undermine American capitalism!!!

Actually, I have no idea. I'm sure she's pissy about the commercialization and secularization of Christmas and Easter, but I doubt she'd call them Satanic holidays.

[princessmahina]

Labor day, because it was inaugurated by the evil atheist communists to undermine American capitalism!!!

Actually, I have no idea. I'm sure she's pissy about the commercialization and secularization of Christmas and Easter, but I doubt she'd call them Satanic holidays.

Gothard's birthday?

[Koala]

Facebook reading comprehension FAIL:

Reader:

I'm so frustrated. My 2 year old started daycare this year & her daycare has a big celebration with costumes & trick-or-treating lasting all day. I feel so discriminated against because I'll have to take off of work to keep her out of it frown emoticon

Reader with common sense:

You are not being discriminated against. You could have chosen a daycare more in line with your beliefs

Erika:

I don't believe she was saying she feels discriminated against, just disappointment and a bit stuck. Sometimes people can choose alternately for a daycare, sometimes they cannot and that is the best option. She is not saying that other people need to change their practices, she is simply expressing that she needs to find an alternative for their own family. Perfectly appropriate.

Reader:

She did say the exact words "I feel so discriminated against".

Erika:

***CRICKETS***

:roll:

[zadie]

Facebook reading comprehension FAIL:

Reader:

Reader with common sense:

Erika:

Reader:

Erika:

:roll:

HA! SOTDRT at its finest!

Also the general fundie inability to admit your mistakes lmfao

[defraudingjezebel]

HA! SOTDRT at its finest!

Also the general fundie inability to admit your mistakes lmfao

Its SOTDRT as much as its Erika's way of twisting her logic to fit her already-formed ideas. She is the QUEEN of twisting and interpreting things to better suit herself then claiming to people that HER interpretation is the only correct one.

Don't even get me started on her stupid "why short hair is biblically feminine" blog post. Ha! Even her readers called her out for that one.

[mango_fandango]

Its SOTDRT as much as its Erika's way of twisting her logic to fit her already-formed ideas. She is the QUEEN of twisting and interpreting things to better suit herself then claiming to people that HER interpretation is the only correct one.

Don't even get me started on her stupid "why short hair is biblically feminine" blog post. Ha! Even her readers called her out for that one.

Erika never even attended a SOTDRT.

Hang on, though, I saw those comments. Am I the only one who slightly agrees with Erika? People can overreact in frustrating situations. The woman later says she chose a Christian daycare and that she lives in an area where there are few other options. I do think this woman's usage of the word "discriminated" is a little strong. The daycare wasn't deliberately putting on the Halloween party to piss off the woman. Did the woman say she doesn't do Halloween? Is it really discrimination?

Unless I've totally misinterpreted the situation, in which case do feel free to enlighten me :)

About the short hair thing: IKR? She's the only fundie woman I've come across who has short hair. It's not even an Abby Maxwell type bob; it's short cropped hair like Bob's. She claims it's "whispy" and "feminine" (er, that would be "wispy", Erika) but I don't see evidence of that. Maybe that's partly why she's so pro-skirt; she'd look like a dude from the back otherwise.

[defraudingjezebel]

Erika never even attended a SOTDRT.

Hang on, though, I saw those comments. Am I the only one who slightly agrees with Erika? People can overreact in frustrating situations. The woman later says she chose a Christian daycare and that she lives in an area where there are few other options. I do think this woman's usage of the word "discriminated" is a little strong. The daycare wasn't deliberately putting on the Halloween party to piss off the woman. Did the woman say she doesn't do Halloween? Is it really discrimination?

Unless I've totally misinterpreted the situation, in which case do feel free to enlighten me :)

About the short hair thing: IKR? She's the only fundie woman I've come across who has short hair. It's not even an Abby Maxwell type bob; it's short cropped hair like Bob's. She claims it's "whispy" and "feminine" (er, that would be "wispy", Erika) but I don't see evidence of that. Maybe that's partly why she's so pro-skirt; she'd look like a dude from the back otherwise.

You're right, Erika went to public school. I forgot her talking about going to WWU.

I get the meaning and subtext of what Erika's saying. Its just the way she phrased it-"I don't think she was saying she feels discriminated against" when that IS exactly what the woman said verbatim.

Yeah, the whole short hair business really seals the control freak deal for me. She wants things the way she wants and no one can tell her that they have a different interpretation of scripture because (if you read the comments you'll see that) she has done her research and she knows exactly what it all means!!!

[mango_fandango]

You're right, Erika went to public school. I forgot her talking about going to WWU.

I get the meaning and subtext of what Erika's saying. Its just the way she phrased it-"I don't think she was saying she feels discriminated against" when that IS exactly what the woman said verbatim.

Yeah, the whole short hair business really seals the control freak deal for me. She wants things the way she wants and no one can tell her that they have a different interpretation of scripture because (if you read the comments you'll see that) she has done her research and she knows exactly what it all means!!!

It's also weird how she claims that Scripture has 'one meaning that applies to everyone'... so why do people interpret it so differently? She does also mention that everyone's on their own walk with the Lord, so maybe on matters where it doesn't say specifically what you should do (eg how modestly you should dress) you should just pray and see what God says.

Erika also mentions reading things in context. In the hair post, she says how when she reads that Corinthians passage her study bible says that it's not really referring to hair but submitting to your husband in general, or something. But everyone interprets "context" differently, right? Most fundies read that passage and interpret it to mean that they must have long hair, or cover it. Erika reads it and thinks "aha, what it's really talking about is wifely submission!!" Don't know where she gets that from.

If the bible really DOES have one meaning for all, how come people interpret it differently? Wouldn't God say the same thing to each person seeing as it's supposedly His word? IDK. The Bible is so bloody ambiguous at times, not to mention contradictory.

[AmazonGrace]

This is one of the silliest passages in the New Testament though... Creative reinterpretations are certainly needed.

13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Does not nature teach you that long hair for a man is shameful?

No, it doesn't.

Look at male lions, they're the ones with long hair...

It's just Paul trying to project his cultural prejudices onto nature and make them God's law. It's plain to see but of course if you're a fundie you can't admit that so you need to invent some ways in which he did not mean what it says or why it doesn't apply to us in the changed society (with somewhat different cultural prejudices) anymore.

If God doesn't like long hair in men, why didn't he just make it so that it doesn't grow long?

[YoshiCat]

]

Its SOTDRT as much as its Erika's way of twisting her logic to fit her already-formed ideas. She is the QUEEN of twisting and interpreting things to better suit herself then claiming to people that HER interpretation is the only correct one.

Don't even get me started on her stupid "why short hair is biblically feminine" blog post. Ha! Even her readers called her out for that one.

It's typical of the "I follow the Bible" types. They follow the Bible until it says something they disagree with, then start the mental gymnastics. Erica's short hair is Biblical because it has wisps and is therefor feminine.

Show them that the Bible forbids Christmas trees (Jeramiah 9) and watch them start spinning. It's fun.