Post-Rapture Introductions

[atheistjd]

Howdy! Same username here & loving the new board :dance:

20-something grad student, wife to an awesome man (too old to be a student and surprisingly young to be married as long as I have been). Definitely an ebil feminist in a disgustingly happy egalitarian marriage, attending a godless secular university on the librul east coast (in a lovely blue city). No babies, fur or otherwise.

And as always, happy to be here :D

Oh, ETA that I am clearly (see username) a godless heathen. Was raised fundie-lite with shades of too fundie for my liking, hence my interest in the subculture(s) at issue here...

[Guest Anonymous]

Hi! I've been lurking for a year, maybe two, without ever posting. I came here through TWOP but I can't remember what I was doing there...

I'm in my early 30s, married and arrow-less. I am very liberal and probably more socialist than the average person. (I do not live in the USA; maybe that helps ;)).

I was raised Catholic and went to mass every Sunday, then had some kind of religious experience in university where I became a very intense non-Catholic Christian (not fundy, but I'm guessing the fundies would consider me to have been "saved") and decided to minor in religious studies. This exposed me to stuff I'd had no idea about (how the Bible developed, other religions, etc) and thus began my slow but steady decline (or incline!) into atheism.

I'm still fascinated by religion, and I can easily understand why people believe it, although I have a harder time imagining why people accept and live in fundamentalism.

I really enjoy this board and just as the move to the new server has pushed me to post an intro, hopefully posting an intro will push me to participate in other discussions!

[sisof9]

Hey Soldier,

I dunno if I am a fundie - probably, but more fundie lite I'd assume. Lol!! I think in my ideals I am much more fundy than in my practices. :-)

1) What brought you to FJ and what makes you stick around? (I can imagine this not being the most inviting place for fundies )

I was googling the Duggars, and was bored of reading TWOP and saw a link to freejinger. :-) And then this became a way to read all of the fundies' blogs I could ever want to read about. ;-)

2) Do you believe in wifely submission, and if so, how?

Yes, in my head. *laugh* It was definitely in our wedding vows - I specifically asked our pastor to put "love honor obey" in there, pastor wanted to make it respect not obey. :-) But in Hubby and I's lives it's really a LOT of teamwork, neither of us makes a big decision without the other - I feel like it's more common courtesy and respect rather than *I* submit to HIM. The times when he "tells me what to do" are times when in the same situation I would tell him what to do. Like, if I didn't get much sleep and am falling apart, but really want to go to this party he might say "I think we should stay home honey, let's do that.", but I do the same for him. I think it will come into play more when we have kids, but still not a him over me mentality. I am not a very submissive person. *laugh*

3) What kind of a fundie are you?

Sovereign Grace Ministries - although I've been having a lot of issues in recent years. We'll see how things go. The funny part is that I am more conservative them most SGMers in a lot of my thought patterns. I prefer long skirts, hubby prefers me in long skirts, so it's what I wear 75% of the time. But then again, hubby loves it when I wear hoochie mama skirts and shorts out places too, so he is not consistent. ;-) I wore a headcovering on and off for years and in ideal hubby prefers it (and I do too), but they give me headaches and I just cannot reconcile them to what I believe about God. So, it makes for some interesting times. I don't believe in women pastors, and yet feel like women should be allowed to do whatever they are good at. I believe homosexuality is wrong, and yet I believe there are actual gay people in the world (who aren't just experimenting or trying to be "cool") and I don't know how to reconcile the two. I don't know... In my first intro on the old board I talked about all of my fundy and non fundy traits. :-) (And was immediately insulted because my grammar, spelling, and punctuation were so atrocious that the woman couldn't believe I plan to educate my children at home. :))

4) What are your feelings on the more extreme fundies out there, like Bill Gothard, the Botkins and Doug Phillips?

*shudders* I think they all have SOME good things to offer, but it is mixed in with SO MUCH CRAP that I don't believe they are healthy leaders or mentalities to have. Rather, ATI, VF, and the SAHD movements are harmful worldviews.

5) What do you like best about being a fundie?

Well, I am super grateful that hubby is the only person I have ever been with sexually. I am not saying non-fundies can never have this experience, but I think it is more common in fundie circles. *sorry I keep changing my spelling of fundy, I can't figure out which one I like ;)* I am grateful that I was never exposed to drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc when I was younger, so that I don't have to deal with them now. I don't mean I was never around them (except drugs :)), but I never had an opportunity to try them until I was way past 21, and it's not something I prefer now. Hubby enjoys mixed drinks and cigars. :-)

I love the fact that I was homeschooled in my younger years. I had the closest bond with my siblings and I am REALLY happy about that! I want to homeschool *with co-ops and such*, so that my kids can have that experience and so that I don't miss out on the majority of their childhoods. (not to say that kids who go to school can't have close relationships with their siblings or parents :))

I don't know if being a Christian makes me a fundy, but I am eternally grateful (literally - lol) for my relationship with God, and am looking forward to eternity with Him. :-)

[aubrietta]

Thank you aubrietta, for answering so candidly. It sounds like an all-round horrible experience, possibly cultish.

What are 'Ezzoites'?

People who follow the teachings of Gary Ezzo.

Gary Ezzo is an author and teacher, he wrote a book called Babywise which teaches you should schedule your babies feedings and let them cry themselves to sleep so they learn to submit and serve their parents. He wrote a series of books called Growing Kids Gods Way (as if he has the corner on what "God's Way" is) which pretty much a beat the kids with a plumbing line sort of series. The fact that he's been run out of several churches and it is reported that his children don't speak to him never gets mentioned in all the places that promote his material. see ezzo.info for more info.

[garciarodrigez]

I had to drop the marzetti part from my username, otherwise, I'm still the same garciarodrigez from the other board.

I lurked a long time before I joined. I got here via Duggar research. I stayed for two main reasons. #1 being the learning experience. Man, the things I've learned. #2 reason is the curiosity. I also learned I am not the only one confused about faith. My family is Baptist and if I ever become a church goer again, I'm probably going right back to the family church. Still got alot of work to do. lol.

I'm married to the high school sweetheart for 23 years now. We've been together for 27. We have two sons ages 20 and 25. Our oldest is married and the youngest still lives at home.

I'll be 43 in August and am currently a stay at home wife. haha. It's certainly not because my headship (husband) wants it that way. In fact, he'd love it if I got a job. But he understands, I think, what's going on with me. I have a bad case of depression/anxiety and I just can't put myself back out there with the big old world right now.

I mostly lurk here. Sometimes I comment with mostly smart assed snarky comments and leave the serious stuff to those more well versed than myself. I have a high school diploma and obtained a cosmetology license through tech school. Never worked a day in the hair industry and let my license go in 96. I don't do politics cause I'm just not smart enought to go there. lol

Also, Thanks everyone for the great new board. It is awesome. I am very glad to be a part of it.

[treemom]

I had to drop the marzetti part from my username, otherwise, I'm still the same garciarodrigez from the other board.

I lurked a long time before I joined. I got here via Duggar research. I stayed for two main reasons. #1 being the learning experience. Man, the things I've learned. #2 reason is the curiosity. I also learned I am not the only one confused about faith. My family is Baptist and if I ever become a church goer again, I'm probably going right back to the family church. Still got alot of work to do. lol.

I'm married to the high school sweetheart for 23 years now. We've been together for 27. We have two sons ages 20 and 25. Our oldest is married and the youngest still lives at home.

I'll be 43 in August and am currently a stay at home wife. haha. It's certainly not because my headship (husband) wants it that way. In fact, he'd love it if I got a job. But he understands, I think, what's going on with me. I have a bad case of depression/anxiety and I just can't put myself back out there with the big old world right now.

I mostly lurk here. Sometimes I comment with mostly smart assed snarky comments and leave the serious stuff to those more well versed than myself. I have a high school diploma and obtained a cosmetology license through tech school. Never worked a day in the hair industry and let my license go in 96. I don't do politics cause I'm just not smart enought to go there. lol

Also, Thanks everyone for the great new board. It is awesome. I am very glad to be a part of it.

Don't sell yourself too short! I recall always enjoying your posts and while they were snarky, they were also witty which requires smartness!

(and look at me being all smart and using smartness as a word. I think I am channeling Latisha Sawyers)

[garciarodrigez]

lol. Oh noes, not Latisha. Too funny. Thanks for the words of encouragement.

[Zoom]

Hullo I'm Zoom!

I lurked on the old boards for a looooong time and then finally joined just as the shit hit the fan (pardon my french).

I teach public school in a northern European country. I'm single and currently live with my parents since I just graduated from gradschool and I wanted to save money while in school. I move into my own place on September 1st (flat isn't available until then). Grew up in an agnostic household but religion and religious people intrigue me. My gateway fundies were the Maxwells. I found FJ when I googled the Maxwells around Christophers wedding because I figured a family that weird had to have people on the interwebbiez commenting on them. I continue coming here because I think what FJ is trying to highlight is important. Also I enjoy snark. :D

[Guest Anonymous]

I believe homosexuality is wrong, and yet I believe there are actual gay people in the world (who aren't just experimenting or trying to be "cool") and I don't know how to reconcile the two.

Do you think that a lot of gay people are just experimenting or trying to be "cool?" Because that's pretty offensive. But thanks for acknowledging that I exist, I guess, even though you think I'm wrong. (Wait, do you believe in bisexuals? Maybe you don't. If people don't believe in me, maybe I'm a unicorn!) Gay peoples' lives apparently = an interesting moral quandry for straight fundies. Okay then. I suppose you know that there are many, many gay Christians, right? Or do they not exist to you?

[VaSportsMom]

Hi all. I was AnotherMom on the other board but I never posted much. I'm a married mom of 2 boys (nearly 11 & 16). I live in Southwest VA and was raised by fundie (Southern Baptist) grandparents. I'm a *non-believer* but my fundie family is still going strong and convinced that one day I will see the light.

[EmmieJ]

Hi everyone -- I used to mostly lurk over at the other board off and on and I think my username was JaneCalifornia or something like that. Now I'm EmmieJ. I stumbled upon you when I saw the original board referenced on TWOP, came to check it out and liked the intelligent snarky conversations.

Me: Raised Catholic, but my dad was Catholic and my mom was Presbyterian and had to sign a paper stating she would raise all kids Catholic if they wanted to get married in the Catholic Church. So that's how that came about, but all in all, we were raised more to have an inner code to "do the right thing," than to consider Catholicism the be all or end all of all things religious. My parents are two of the best examples I've ever seen of "do unto others," and general basic decency, so they have really been my spiritual guides. I no longer consider myself Catholic and don't attend any particular church at all.

I'm a single mom to one son. I am sure fundies would say that my son has been raised by others, since I have always worked full time to support us both. To that I would say, "phffffffffffffffffff!"

I am sorry that the original blog seemed to have some problems, leading to this new one. I hope to be a more frequent poster here :)

[Guest Anonymous]

I'm Sydney. I'm a Southern Baptist but I'm pretty liberal. I'm 19 and going to school for Elementary Education. I think reading about fundies is super interesting, but I'm mostly a lurker.

[nolongerIFBx]

I'm nolongerIFBx. I'm fundie but I've lost my "X"er (extremist) status (that means something in fundie-world). I grew up IFBx and while I still attend and am a member of an IFB church, I'm not a man follower. I'd be perfectly happy to attend a church that called itself Christian Church or Bible Church. I applaud 20/20 for its expose- that might help you understand what I mean by losing my "X". I don't think that wrong should be covered up for the sake of appearances.

I am 30-something, technically a SAHD (at least for a few more months until my house is finished), but I have a full time job, go to an accredited college, have a car payment, etc. Currently struggling with accepting that a husband and babies is never going to happen for me- I'm too religious for the average guy and not religious enough for those I meet in fundie circles. Clibbyjo tells me there is hope that I will meet a life partner (I just hope she's referring to a romantic life partner as in a man not a life partner as in my cats!).

[bertiebean]

Hi, everyone!

I don't think I ever did a proper de-lurk on old FJ, so here's my bio: 20-something female who migrated over from the TWOP Duggar circa Josh & Anna's wedding. I tend to enjoy reading snark more than posting it, but now that FJ has a shiny new site I'll try to chime in a little more often.

[Michiru]

Hello! Now with the new board I might post more often, so here a real introduction. :-)

I am 24, from Germany and have been brought up withough religion. I would not say I am agnostic/atheist but whenever I look into religion there is so much that I just don't like.

I found freejinger like this:

In a german forum there was a link to the Duggars when they "just" had 16. One boring day of procrastination I looked them up and found the videos on youtube. When digging deeper I found a blog entry from the redheadedskeptic about the Duggars, I have not seen her around latly... Well, and when I read her blog, somewhere she mentioned freejinger, and I never needed a tv ever again. :mrgreen:

[MerryHappy]

Hi all!

I am the artist formerly known as thatonechick.

I have a handful of kids, chickens, a cat and a hubby. We live in the Midwest.

I am a former Gothardite and am now an outspoken critic of the twisted, unstable teachings of Gothard and his cult.

Love the new forum. Much thanks to those who worked so hard to bring it to life. :D

[Xanax]

Hello,

I lurked on the the old board and thought it's about time I participate.

I'm 30, Canadian, Married (I use that term loosely right now) and have one amazing soon to be two year old son.

I'm an atheist, and I have this crazy obsession with religion I can't get enough of it!

I have trouble sleeping and I find myself on freejinger at 2/3 in the morning most nights on my iphone.

I chose the username Xanax because honestly after the week I've had you would understand.

I look forward to posting more!

[Goyangi]

Hi all! I'm still Goyangi. (Goyangi, btw, is the romanized form of the word cat in Korean)

I don't have any fundie cred at all. I guess, technically, I'm still a member of the United Methodist Church but I haven't attended church since I was 13 (save some horrible ecumenical experiences) and I haven't considered myself to even be a Christian in many years. I used to say that, while I no longer consider myself to be a Christian, I don't have any issues or anger with Christianity. Well, let's just say that ain't the case anymore.

I studied anthropology and religion in college. I don't think there is a better recipe for making atheists. That said, I rarely consider myself an atheist. I (attempt) to practice yoga and meditation and, if pressed, I would label myself as a Buddhist.

I'm 30, married (to a Hindu) and my quiver is currently empty. I'd like to have one really really awesome arrow some day. Since some previous posters have already admitted their mental health issues, I'll add that I have a history of depression and anxiety. I write fiction and paint. Finally, I have an inexplicable (to others) interest in Korean dramas and Korean music.

Thanks to everyone that facilitated the move. Here is a jump roping banana in your honor: :banana-jumprope:

:animals-cat:

[GenerationCedarchip]

I'm nolongerIFBx. I'm fundie but I've lost my "X"er (extremist) status (that means something in fundie-world). I grew up IFBx and while I still attend and am a member of an IFB church, I'm not a man follower. I'd be perfectly happy to attend a church that called itself Christian Church or Bible Church. I applaud 20/20 for its expose- that might help you understand what I mean by losing my "X". I don't think that wrong should be covered up for the sake of appearances.

I am 30-something, technically a SAHD (at least for a few more months until my house is finished), but I have a full time job, go to an accredited college, have a car payment, etc. Currently struggling with accepting that a husband and babies is never going to happen for me- I'm too religious for the average guy and not religious enough for those I meet in fundie circles. Clibbyjo tells me there is hope that I will meet a life partner (I just hope she's referring to a romantic life partner as in a man not a life partner as in my cats!).

Don't give up hope! The part in bold describes me pretty well, too, and yet I somehow managed to stumble across my husband. The religious but non-fundie guys are out there; They can just be a little tricky to find.

[anniebgood]

Hello

I am mrsanniebegood, and I've been the thorn in Steve Maxwells eye the last couple of posts.

I am a cradle Lutheran, married to a now agnostic, with 2 adult children, 1 kitty and 1 doggie who's spending the night in doggie jail because he ran away today. He was found and sent to the shelter so I've got to bail him out with a license tomorrow.

I believe in freedom of religion, freedom of thought and living life to honor the God I believe in.

I'm an evil sorta gal when it comes to narrowmindedness and bigotry.

I drink a little but I love Jesus.

:mrgreen:

Oh yeah, I'll be 58 in 2 weeks, I live near LAX and I am ex TSA. I have a college degree, taught special ed, want to be a paralegal, am 12 units short of a Masters in Education, and I was anniebgood before.

:dance:

[sisof9]

Lissar -

Many Christians believe that homosexuality is 100% choice, and I was at least trying to acknowledge that there are people who are legitimately attracted to their same gender. Sorry if I made you feel like a unicorn. :) (Although I personally love Unicorns ;))

To be completely honest - I think that a large percentage of "GLBT" people today take on that label to be part of something different and "cool" ESPECIALLY teens/early 20's. I do not judge who is what, and I would never presume to tell someone that they are not what they thing they are. IOW, I am not going to say "You aren't gay." to someone who is struggling with that - or decided. Bisexuality... well, I shouldn't answer on that one or I WILL offend people. I'll just leave it at - whether you are a religious person or not I think you should be faithful to the person you are with/married to/committed to. I think it is selfish to say that because you are attracted to both genders that you need both at the same time to be happy. (same not NOT meaning in the same bed same time :p)

I mean, I am WAY more attracted to the female body than male body, but A: I am a christian since age 4, so it was never an option for me and B: I am totally head over heels in love with my hubby and enjoy sex with him immensely. So, I am happily straight. :)

As to the Christian Gay question... if you really want to discuss it we can, but you will find my answers narrow and offensive, and I really do not know a way to express my views on that that would not hurt anyone. Even my views on "actual gay people" would be considered horribly offensive, so I generally try to keep my mouth shut about it on here and just snark on people more conservative than I am. *halo*

[MerryHappy]

Lissar -

Many Christians believe that homosexuality is 100% choice, and I was at least trying to acknowledge that there are people who are legitimately attracted to their same gender. Sorry if I made you feel like a unicorn. :) (Although I personally love Unicorns ;))

To be completely honest - I think that a large percentage of "GLBT" people today take on that label to be part of something different and "cool" ESPECIALLY teens/early 20's. I do not judge who is what, and I would never presume to tell someone that they are not what they thing they are. IOW, I am not going to say "You aren't gay." to someone who is struggling with that - or decided. Bisexuality... well, I shouldn't answer on that one or I WILL offend people. I'll just leave it at - whether you are a religious person or not I think you should be faithful to the person you are with/married to/committed to. I think it is selfish to say that because you are attracted to both genders that you need both at the same time to be happy. (same not NOT meaning in the same bed same time :p)

I mean, I am WAY more attracted to the female body than male body, but A: I am a christian since age 4, so it was never an option for me and B: I am totally head over heels in love with my hubby and enjoy sex with him immensely. So, I am happily straight. :)

As to the Christian Gay question... if you really want to discuss it we can, but you will find my answers narrow and offensive, and I really do not know a way to express my views on that that would not hurt anyone. Even my views on "actual gay people" would be considered horribly offensive, so I generally try to keep my mouth shut about it on here and just snark on people more conservative than I am. *halo*

I would encourage more of the bolded.

[Childless]

nolongerIFBx:

It's never to late. I pretty much assumed I'd never get married or have kids. Then, along came my husband when I was 34. Now, I'm 36 and married with a baby. Life can change at the drop of a hat. Nothing is ever for certain.

[oscar]

Whoops - taking my response over to the split thread!

[Kaylee]

(moved to split thread)