Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear

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However, this was way more biblical than I thought it was going to be. I understand using scripture to prove her points, but most of it went over my head because I'm not a Christian. I ended up skimming/skipping most of those parts. Maybe I should've read the fine print on that one? I truly felt like this book was going to be totally different. A tale of spilled tea, if you will? I watched 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On for years. This family has always fascinated me. I loved how close they were and how many kids they had, but as always, you're not aware of what's going on behind the scenes. The highlight reel is pretty, but every teaching that it's based on is terrifying and problematic. So hearing Jinger speak out regarding the horrendous teachings of Goddard was interesting. That perfect family on TLC wasn't perfect and here's why. JINGER Duggar has been snubbed by all but two of her family members following her scathing tell-all interview.

After the family’s show was canceled in July 2015, Jinger, along with sisters Jessa Seewald and Joy-Anna Forsyth and most of their large brood, documented their lives on the spinoff series, Counting On.It's been definitely a challenging process to write this book, but as I've said before, it's the most important thing I've ever done," Duggar exclusively told Us Weekly before the book hit shelves, adding that she hoped her words help "even just one person" find freedom. "I think in this book I've been more open and vulnerable than I ever have before." During the interview with People on Wednesday, Jinger got candid about her "cult-like" upbringing with her parents Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Jinger made her reality TV debut in 2008 when the show was called 16 Kids and Counting . After multiple additions to the family over the years, the show was eventually renamed 19 Kids and Counting . However, after eldest brother Josh Duggar ’s child molestation and cheating scandals, TLC pulled the plug on the show. It takes a lot of courage to call out a man who was both your childhood hero and who dominated your religious life. This is a good start to publicly calling out an abusive leader who ruined many, many lives. Jinger stands by her family. This is evident throughout the book. She blames Gothard for the abusive teaching she grew up under and avoids blaming her parents for the toxic way she was raised.

I really enjoyed listening to Jinger’s story/journey through going from a strict religious upbringing and coming out on the other side. So many times I hear about people growing up like this and end up deconstructing their faith and walking away from it all together and honestly it makes me so sad. I was happy to see that Jinger was able to walk away from that and still have a relationship with Jesus and have a healthy relationship with Him. Unfortunately there is a lot of church hurt/religious trauma out there and this is just one of many examples. edited after finishing 03/06: I understand a lot of where Jinger is coming from, though a lot of it comes across as hypocritical when she is still involved in a church that support one man over God, as well as her various thoughts on the LGBT community while she preaches about loving everyone. Written with such faith and grace. You will get a look into Jinger's life now that she has an understanding of the Bible and true love for Jesus. This was in no way a bash your religion book. It was how she came to an understanding that she Jinger had a lot wrong and as a young woman with her husband by her side with their Bibles she had a real come to Jesus moment. I would highly recommend this book to anyone divesting from the anthropocentric Christian-adjacent IBLP. On pp. 95-96, Vuolo quotes Gothard at length explaining a "gospel" that is actually salvation by works. Descriptions of Pelagius are eerily similar to how Vuolo describes Gothard and his isms. Reading that passage leaves no doubt in my mind that what Gothard presents is not orthodox Christianity. Although she is still a committed Christian, Jinger says her attitudes toward issues such as alcohol and birth control have changed.I personally don't drink, but I don't have a problem with other Christians, it's their liberty to drink if they so choose,” she said in the new interview with People. Much of what [Jinger] always believed about God [from her upbringing], obedience to His Word, and personal holiness,” are no longer in life with her beliefs today. Jinger does a fantastic job of showing exactly how Bill Gothard exercised control over the IBLP community. She recalls the "Gothard's girls" and the rumors of abuse that swept through IBLP circles. The cousin also hit out at the Duggars multiple times during Josh’s child pornography trial and subsequent sentencing to 12 years in prison.

My determination to guard my heart made it difficult for Jeremy to figure out whether I liked him. ... He, of course, assumed that I'd shared these things with my sisters. But I hadn't," she wrote. "I hadn't told Jessa or any of my other siblings how I felt about Jeremy."

Josh's 'Devastating' Scandal

Jinger, 28, opened up about writing her latest book in a YouTube video titled, “The Hardest Thing I’ve Ever Done” on Monday, November 7. While introducing her memoir, she noted that it is not a “tell-all about my family” but rather an inside look at her “spiritual journey.” She specifically called out abandoning the teachings of IBLP minister Bill Gothard, which she called “wrong” and hurtful. In another chapter, Jinger compared her sibling to Gothard. “He used his platform, and even his job at the Family Research Council, to promote some of the same ideas Gothard taught. But while he looked the part in so many ways, the true Josh appears to be much different. He was living a lie,” she claimed, revealing that she hasn’t “spoken to Josh in two years” but continues to “pray for him.” Jinger remembered feeling "a lot of pressure" from the outside world when she began her courtship with Vuolo. "Jeremy was the last guy to ask my father if he could court me," she wrote, admitting that she felt "a bit intimidated" by her now-husband at first. "He was unlike the previous guys in nearly every way." Like many in my generation, I grew up watching the Duggars. As a conservative, Christian, homeschooled kid it was fun to see a family I could relate to on TV ... even if my family had two kids instead of nineteen. The relatability continues in Jinger's new book.

However, only two members of her super-sized family came to the comments section to share their support.

It’s been a lot of years since that time and so I was intrigued by the Duggar daughters who have grown up and seemingly parted from some of the more stringent beliefs their family held. I follow a couple of them on social media, Jinger included. This book was a great peek into her journey and I loved her use of disentangling her faith rather than deconstructing. Maintaining a faith in Jesus while recognizing some teachings you’ve had and followed are not biblical is a complicated process. I wish I was surprised that it's clear Jinger has gone from one cultish sect of Christianity, IBLP, to another one, Calvinism. She went right from one conservative, transphobic, homophobic, and anti-women sect to another.