If you’re fascinated with the trainwreck that is the Duggar Family you have to see the new doc, Shiny Happy People.
The four-part series on Amazon blows open the abusive nature of Christian fundamentalism – focusing on reality TV show stars the Duggars (19 Kids and Counting) – and their connection with the teachings of the “Institute in Basic Life Principles” (IBLP) – an organization which can only be described as sadistic.
I highly recommend watching it.
Though deeply disturbing, Shiny Happy People casts a light on what happens when religion attempts to control people’s sexuality. The result is widespread emotional, psychological and physical abuse of children, teens, and women resulting in molestation, rape and domestic violence. To make it worse, a pervading silence protects the perpetrators while blaming the victims – naturally in the name of “God.”
What struck me most about watching Shiny Happy People were two things.
One, the pure irony of the religious right and governing bodies in states like Texas, Utah, Louisiana, and Arkansas, who are gunning for the porn industry in order to “protect” the population.
I’d like to speak a language they understand so I’ll remind them of Matthew 7:3-5:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Heads up Christian right! You don’t have a plank in your eye… you have a whole lumber mill.
Any issues they have with porn don’t even come close to the damage that conservative Christian organizations like IBLP actually inflict on their followers. If states are to police porn sites with warnings and age verification they sure as hell better police religious ones as well.
The second thing that struck me while tuning into Shiny Happy People is the age-old argument that “porn degrades women.” Again, religious right, I point you to Matthew 7:3-5!
In Christian fundamentalism, women must have children whether they want to or not, must obey their husbands no matter how unreasonable the request, are obligated to perform “the wifely duty” even if they have zero desire, and in cults like IBLP they must accept all physical, sexual and emotional abuse with a gracious, pious smile. A female isn’t a person she’s more like a horse you would breed or a donkey you would hit with a rod to make it carry your load (literally and figuratively) – talk about degrading.
So please, go ahead and check out Shiny Happy People then ask the religious whackos in government why they’re worried about porn when truly bad sh*t like this is going on in their own backyard.
Photo credit: iStock.com/FotoDuets
