Sons of Patriarchy

I have mixed thoughts and emotions about the latest podcast. I appreciated some of the thoughts and beliefs shared but disagreed with so much shared as well! The topic of divorce is not black and white. What was not discussed or even mentioned is divorce due to an abusive partner and what research shows as being healthier for the child. In my experience and because I am a woman-many women want to remain married but when a husband is abusive emotionally, physically, spiritually it greatly impacts children as well who learn an unhealthy dynamic and often continue unhealthy cycles of abuse. I was a woman in marriage who told my ex-husband to pursue his dream of being a musician because I saw his talent and I made more money than him because of my degree. He lasted a couple months and because he felt worthless about himself being a stay at home dad while producing music he went back to work and I had to quit my job. He did not like that I made more money than him either. I hear stories like this a lot! Too many stories!

Schrute bucks were mentioned, that’s hilarious!

Someone gave me a few of his books when I started raising boys, something felt off about them so thank God I never read them and applied his religious dogma. I am a life long christian and have brushed arms with cultish environments, specifically the homeschool mom types who love to grab onto anything martyr-ish, and Doug Wilson has completely turned one of my best friends into someone I don’t even recognize. She can’t even talk to or have friends. She criticized me and my daughter due to my parenting style and because she played with Barbie’s, she is slowly becoming more and more racist and fanatical and so so controlling I fear for her and her children. I read Tia Levings memoir, as well as the Duggar girl books and let me tell you, this podcast takes the cake! If you know anyone who listens to the dangerous rhetoric from this movement and this man, warn them! And try to rescue their wives and children.

I thought this podcast was very thought provoking and I appreciated hearing stories from those who survived Moscow and Moscow adjacent groups. It really helped me to work through a lot of my own issues leaving a church that, while they openly condemned Wilson, they still upheld A LOT of his teachings on patriarchy, how men and women relate to one another etc. It seems though as the podcast has gotten into later seasons they have become ok with openly attacking conservative Christianity as whole. Which I am uncomfortable with. I do not adhere to anything Wilson or really what any Protestant (I am Eastern Orthodox, formerly 1689 Baptist) teaches, but I would still consider myself conservative and traditional. So it’s uncomfortable to hear guests scoff at religion and express clear disdain for those who would consider themselves conservative.