There’s still mystery surrounding the death of Bethenny Frankel’s boyfriend, Dennis Shields, because an autopsy was NOT performed. The Chief Medical Examiner of NYC says there was a religious objection to the autopsy, so it was not…
Showing posts with label Religious. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religious. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
Monday, December 4, 2017
Duggar Family Accused of Faking Religious, Political Beliefs
For nearly a decade now, the Duggars have served as TV’s most high-profile representatives of a certain segment of the US population.
Television execs rarely seek out arch-conservative, evangelical middle Americans when they’re casting reality shows, but the Duggars found a way to secure a massive platform for their highly controversial views.
In a sense, they snuck their beliefs in through the backdoor.
At first, it wasn’t the Duggars extremist views that TLC was interested in, but rather their proclivity for breeding.
After a one-off documentary special generated controversy and attracted higher ratings than expected, the Duggars were contracted for a full series.
Originally entitled 17 Kids and Counting (the Duggar brood would eventually balloon to an astonishing 19 children), the show proved to be a surprise hit for the network, and it ran for 10 seasons before being canceled as a result of public outrage over the Josh Duggar sex scandals.
It’s a testament to the popularity of the show that TLC proved reluctant to cancel it amidst a child molestation scandal, and then gave the Duggars another shot with a spinoff series entitled Counting On.
Of course, from Octomom to the Bates family of Up TV’s Bringing Up Bates, large families are not in short supply, but none has captured viewers’ imaginations quite like the Duggars.
The reason for this seems to be that their shows are less about the size of the family, and more about the devoutly religious–some would say cult-like–way in which Jim Bob and Michelle raise their children.
It’s safe to assume that were it not for their ultra-conservative views, fans likely would have lost interest in the Duggars long ago.
Some “hate-watch” to gawk at bizarre dress codes and “courtship rules,” while others take copious notes in hopes of pursuing more godly lives.
But the head honchos at TLC likely aren’t interested in the reasons that viewers keep tuning in, so long as the ratings hold steady.
Of course, these days, most Americans are savvy enough to know that “reality TV” is a misnomer, and the events depicted in shows like Counting On are frequently scripted and staged.
It’s impossible to determine just how inaccurate our impression of the Duggars is, but it’s a certainty that not everything we’ve seen on their various series is true to life.
We at THG have conducted interviews with former associates of the Duggars who spoke of behind-the-scenes conflicts, compulsive spending, and other aspects of life on the Duggar conduct that are carefully hidden from public view.
With a few notable exceptions–the Josh scandals being the most obvious–the Duggars have done an impressive job of sweeping the more unsavory aspects of their lives under the carpet.
As their children grow up and leave the nest to start families of their own, however, new cracks seem to appear in the family’s carefully-constructed facade every day.
And the situation has left some fans wondering if the Duggars are really as conservative as they seem.
The questions began around the time that Jinger Duggar started wearing pants in photos posted to social media.
As fans of the family know, Duggar women are required to wear long skirts at all times, even when playing sports or engaged in other outdoor activities.
Jinger’s public act of defiance was seen by many as a brazen rejection of the values with which she was raised.
Seemingly inspired by her younger sister’s example, Jessa Duggar began wearing pants shortly thereafter.
Just last week, Jill Duggar mounted a minor rebellion of her own, sporting a small facial piercing on Instagram.
Obviously, these are all very tame and innocuous acts of disobedience, but coupled with other indications that the younger generation is more liberal than expected–Ben Seewald’s support of the Black Lives Matter movement being a prime example–the sisters’ public rejection of their well-known dress code raises a lot of questions about just what the Duggars believe.
Jim Bob Duggar has worn many hats over the years, but for the past decade, he’s been first and foremost a media mogul.
He has a keen sense of what sells and what viewers want from him.
He also knows that it’s his family’s extremist belief system that keeps viewers coming back, not the astonishing size of the Duggar clan.
To be clear, the Duggars are almost certainly far more conservative in their religious and political views than just about any other family on television.
But it seems more and more as though they’re concealing their more moderate views for the sake of preserving their public image.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most famous family.
Thursday, August 24, 2017
Derick Dillard Feuds With Fan Over Religious Beliefs on Twitter
Derick Dillard just can’t seem to steer clear of conflict these days.
The 28-year-old husband of Jill Duggar has been such a burden to his in-laws’ public image lately that he’s been dubbed “the new Josh Duggar.”
Obviously, that nickname is way over the top, as it’s not like Dillard has been involved in any sort of sex scandal, but his combative persona has resulted in rumors that TLC will cancel Counting On rather than weather the storm of another Duggar scandal.
The most damaging that controversy sparked in recent weeks arose as a result of some appalling comments that Derick directed at Jazz Jennings, a fellow TLC reality star and transgender teen.
“What an oxymoron… a ‘reality’ show which follows a non-reality. ‘Transgender’ is a myth. Gender is not fluid; it’s ordained by God,” Derick tweeted in an angry response to TLC’s promotions for I Am Jazz.
In response to outraged fans demanding that Derick apologize to the 16-year-old girl, Derick replied, “I have nothing against him,” adding that “gender is ordained by God,” and cannot be changed by man.
The Duggars have yet to put that ugly episode behind them, and there are those who believe Derick’s actions will cost the family their reality show.
But far from taking a time out from social media, Derick seems to be tweeting more than ever these days.
And he’s become no less combative as a result of his latest PR crisis.
Taking advantage of Monday’s solar eclipse, Derick posted a seemingly innocuous tweet about his religious beliefs:
“On a day when so many will be looking to the sun, let’s not miss the Son. #SolarEclipse2017 #EclipseSolar #JesusChrist,” he wrote.
“The difference being that #SolarEclipse2017 is actually verifiable & #JesusChrist is not,” a fan tweeted in response.
“Do we need to have a history lesson on the FACT that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical figure?” an irate Dillard fired back.
Derick retweeted the non-believer’s response, and right on cue, dozens of his 123,000 followers pounced.
Obviously, there’s nothing surprising about Derick’s religious views, as he’s been quite open about his beliefs throughout his time in the spotlight.
But his decision to go nuclear in response to a rather civilly-worded dissenting view speaks volumes.
It’s interesting that Derick replied at all, as he chose not to respond to the many high profile figures who called him out following his tweets about Jazz Jennings.
Like the rest of the Duggar clan, Derick usually doesn’t bother arguing with fans online.
The reaction seems unnecessarily hostile (an ironic attitude to assume in a debate about Jesus), and given the recent events of his public life, we can’t help but think the pressure’s beginning to get to Derick.
Watch Counting On online for more from reality TV’s most controversial family.
Monday, August 7, 2017
Jim Bob Duggar: Clashing With Ben Seewald, Jeremy Vuolo Over Religious Beliefs (Exclusive)
Jim Bob Duggar is almost as well known for his ultra-conservative religious views as he is for the massive brood of children he’s raised with wife Michelle.
Jim Bob’s views on issues such as birth control, women’s rights and homosexuality have earned him scorn from critics, and accounts from insiders indicate that the Duggar children – daughters in particular – face harsh consequences for defying their father’s code of ethics.
But once Duggar women leave the nest (which occurs only after marriage), it’s their husbands who determine everything from how they dress to how they worship.
And it seems Jim Bob now wishes he’d been more selective when in helping his daughters select mates.
As we’ve reported previously, Jim Bob has butted heads with his sons-in-law over a wide variety of issues.
Jinger Duggar’s decision to begin wearing pants after marrying Jeremy Vuolo (Under Jim Bob’s rules, Duggar women are only permitted to wear florr-length skirts.) may have attracted the most attention, but it’s the more arcane doctrinal disputes that are creating the deepest divisions.
A source who formerly held close ties to several members of the Duggar family tells The Hollywood Gossip exclusively that Jim Bob is deeply upset by many of the views held by both Vuolo and Jessa Duggar’s husband, Ben Seewald.
As a result of the patriarchal structure of their home lives, these views are now being espoused by Jinger and Jessa, and our source says Jim Bob is extremely troubled by his daughter’s new beliefs.
“He’s allowed a division in the family to occur,” our source says of Jim Bob. “He knows it’s not a true doctrine.”
It seems the major point of contention is Vuolo and Seewald’s adherence to the doctrine of Calvinism, which holds that only a pre-determined “elect” is eligible for salvation.
Jim Bob’s life is centered around the conviction that salvation is available to all through the grace of God, so it’s not hard to see why he takes issue with Vuolo and Seewald’s belief in pre-destination.
Apparently, Vuolo’s rebellion against Jim Bob’s belief system did not come as a surprise, as the Texas-based minister has long preached Calvinism to his congregation.
Many now believe that Vuolo’s beliefs played a role in Jim Bob’s hesitancy to approve of Jinger and Jeremy getting engaged.
In fact, it seems Jim Bob may have only given his consent after realizing that he was no match for Jinger’s stubborn streak.
Seewald, on the other hand, was not expected to offer much resistance to Jim Bob’s views, in part due to his submissive nature and the fact that he’s beholden to the Duggars financially.
“Very quiet, reserved, but he’s a Calvinist,” says our source, adding that Jessa makes most of the major decisions in the Seewald household.
“His wife is the boss. She holds the key to everything – money, you name it.”
Seewald’s more liberal beliefs have caused him to run afoul of Jim Bob in the past, but it seems it’s only since Vuolo joined the family that Ben’s been vocal about his Calvinist views.
As a result of Ben gaining an ally, it seems the Duggars are in the midst of a power struggle worthy of Game of Thrones.
“The things you see when the cameras aren’t rolling aren’t necessarily so when the cameras are off,” our source says of the deep ideological divisions that threaten to tear the family apart.
The insider believes that Jim Bob will ultimately be triumphant in his struggle against his sons-in-law, noting that the former politician is such a force to be reckoned with in his hometown of Tontitown, Arkansas that locals have taken to calling the area “Duggarville.”
“You really have to be around these people to understand how cultish they really are,” our source says. “Everything is controlled by Jim Bob, all the money in that place is controlled by Jim Bob.”
“Jim Bob does what Jim Bob wants to do,” he adds. “Sometimes, people who have a little bit of clout just do whatever they want.”
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Justin Bieber Cancels Tour Because of Religious Beliefs, Screws Over Crew Members
If you’re a true Belieber, then by now, you’ve no doubt heard the disheartening news.
Justin Bieber has canceled the remaining dates on his “Purpose” tour, leaving tens of thousands of fans gravely disappointed.
Reps for the Biebs claim he was simply too tired to carry on, and that excuse shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.
Bieber has cited exhaustion for canceling numerous events in the past, usually letting a whole lot of fans down in the process.
Many on social media have been quite vocal in their curiosity over just what the hell is making a seemingly healthy 23-year-old so damn tired all the time.
But now, it looks as though JB called off the tour not for reasons having to do with his body … but rather due to a crisis of the soul, girl.
Yes, TMZ is reporting that Justin has found Jesus, and Jesus … doesn’t like arena shows?
We’re not really sure, but sources close to Justin say his involvement with the Hillsong Church led the singer to decision that he should cancel the remaining 14 stops on his tour.
It’s important to note that those same sources insist Hillsong leader Carl Lentz did not encourage Justin to cancel the dates.
Unfortunately, it seems Bieber is getting his signals crossed, as canceling the tour is probably no what J.C. would’ve done.
You see, it’s not just the fans Bieber is letting down, but his dozens of crew members who now find themselves unexpectedly out of a job.
TMZ says the crew is “incredibly pissed off at him,” as many were living paycheck-to-paycheck and now have to worry about their immediate financial futures.
According to the site, anonymous crew members are scoffing at the idea that this is part of some spiritual awakening for Justin.
Instead, that say it’s just more of the bratty behavior that he’s been known for for years.
Bieber has yet to speak out on the matter directly.
He’s probably too tired.
Or he’s in church.
Whatever his excuse for being lame is these days, that’s what’s going on.
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Jim Bob Duggar: Clashing With Ben Seewald Over Religious Beliefs?
If you know anything about Jim Bob Duggar aside from the fact that he’s very big on procreation, then you know that the father of 19 is deeply religious.
In fact, aside from the staggering size of his brood, it seems to be Jim Bob’s strict fundamentalist beliefs that attracted television producers and audiences to his unique story.
But it often seems that for every one fan who’s drawn to Jim Bob’s piety, there are 100 who are disgusted by his cultish views or who revel in pointing out his hypocrisy.
From an outsiders persective, it seems that Jim Bob rules over his household with an iron fist.
And indeed, the Duggars enforce a patriarchal system that gives Jim Bob a disturbing amount of autonomy over the lives of his wife and daughters.
But he exercises no such control over his adult sons or his daughters’ husbands, and it seems that even within the extended Duggar clan, Jim Bob’s uncompromising belief system has proven to be a source of strife and conflict.
We already knew about some of the more obvious ways in which Jim Bob’s beliefs differ from those of the men who have married into his family.
The most commonly cited example is likely the fact that Jinger Duggar is permitted to wear pants now, as her husband, Jeremy Vuolo, doesn’t share Jim Bob’s belief that women should only wear skirts.
Yes, once the Duggar girls marry, their husbands assume control of their lives, which may be why Jim Bob is taking some seemingly minor religious differences with his sons-in-law so seriously.
A source tells the The Hollywood Gossip exclusively that Jim Bob has openly disagreed with Jessa Duggar’s husband, Ben Seewald, on a number of different issues, particularly Ben’s belief in the doctrine of Calvinism.
Seewald and his family are adherents to the teachings of an Arkansas pastor named Kevin Smead, one of the nation’s formeost propnents of Southern Baptist Calvinism.
One of the more controversial teachings of Calvinism is that of predestination, or the belief that one’s salvation and path through life are pre-determined.
Ben has openly split with Jim Bob on a number of issues, such as when he publicly supported the Black Lives Matter movement, but it’s reportedly his beliefs in Calvinism and predestination that are of particular concern to Jim Bob.
Our source, a former employee of the Duggars, accuses Jim Bob of being unfaithful to his beliefs and accepting Ben’s influence over his daughter as a means of maintaining the illusion of wholesomeness and family unity that’s so essential to the Duggar brand.
“They chase they almighty dollar instead of their doctrine,” says the insider.
“When the cameras aren’t rolling, it’s a whole different life,” he adds. “It’s all about money. It’s crazy.”
The source adds that he believes fans would be shocked to see “such a division, doctrine-wise” within the Duggar family and the rift that it’s caused between generations.
Watch Counting On online to see the illusory world that the Duggars present to their legion of devoted fans.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Muhammad Ali Jr. Stopped Once Again at Airport, Claims Religious Profiling
Muhammad Ali’s son was stopped and questioned again at another airport … and his lawyer says the TSA is lying by trying to minimize the incident. Muhammad Ali, Jr. was at Reagan National Airport Friday when he tried checking in for a flight…
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