We just learned that the “Born to Breed” episode of Secret Lives of Women is available through the iTunes store. If you have iTunes on your computer, click on “iTunes Store” in the sidebar and use the search to find “Born to Breed.” The entire show can be downloaded for only $1.99.
It’s a great show, really. Don’t let the title scare you away. The only reservation we have is the marketing guy (the producer is convinced it was not a woman) who put together the intro–shows women with body tatoos and leather outfits. Sick. But, get past that and watch the show; it is a nice and thought provoking episode.
And don’t be so quick to judge the adversaries on the show. They have very personal takes on the Quiverfull movement. Though they are vocally against families like ours, their perspectives are interesting. We think especially of Vyckie and her oldest daughter, Angel. They have a heartbreaking testimony of religious abuse and judgment. Sad, Vyckie admits she brought this on herself, though she ultimately lays blame on her x-husband. They’d probably be surprised to know that Wendy and I found ourselves really hurting for them, and in some ways relating.
See, there is much to be said about religious legalism in this Quiverfull movement. Many of us (Vyckie included) at some point thought works could somehow replace the personal calling God has in store for our families. We take fine-tooth combs to Scripture and come up with all sorts of foolish dogma on how to live perfect Christian lives, and I suppose letting God bless you with children can be one of them. It wasn’t till after our fallout with Alicia, our oldest, that we began to see the error of our way. We go into depth with this in our book Love in the House where we returned love to its rightful place in our family.
Of course, we still hold fast to the promises of Scripture and the calling God has for the Jeubs. But we take the Word of God at its word: Love is the most excellent way. Place anything above love and your life will morph into an ugly, legalistic beast. This is the picture Vyckie and her new friend, Kathryn Joyce, try to paint of families like ours. Thank God they’re wrong.
Believe it or not, I ordered Kathryn Joyce’s Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement. She’s a good writer, though she comes from a secular feminist perspective of the world. She admits in the introduction to this. I would argue that she fears the implications of conservative, Christian parents with several children. Her arguments attempt to put families like ours into a carefully defined, narrow box. After this, she will systematically tear the box apart with her feminist perspectives.
Heh, only past the intro and I can see where it is going. Kathryn, if you’re reading this, return the favor and buy our book.
About Chris & Wendy Jeub
