What is your opinion on extreme traditional Christian families?

They aren't hurting anyone, so it they aren't of any concern to me. It isn't what I'd choose, but if that's what they value, I have no issues with it. I like that my wife can tile a floor or change her car's oil. I don't mind doing yard work and i like to cook. I don't want conservative Christians imposing their values on me ( they often try through their politics and "family values"). In return, I won't impose mine on them. I don't want them proposing book bans. .I don't think that the government should legislate morality or perform marriages for same or different sex couples. The government should register partners and let the churches decide who to marry. I know, it's a pretty radical idea, If a gay couple moves in next door, I hope they will keep their mouths shut on their opinions. I wouldn't voice my opinions on them to their faces. If it's good enough for me, tolerance is good enough for them. They can have 19 kids (or 4 or even 2) they homeschool, insist that their children date chaperoned, wear dowdy clothes,I don't care; those are their choices and rights. I think it's great if their older kids watch the little ones, as long as the little ones are well supervised. I actually think they're all good enough choices with the exception of chaperoning dates, that's ridiculous if you're talking about an adult over the age of 18. Parents can't and shouldn't try to control their adult kids. But if the dater is 16 or 17, well that's his or her parents' choice. I know a family with two girls who were controlled by their parents in this way. Even though they didn't rebel by leaving their values, they weren't as close with their parents as they could be when they were young adults. They don't trust their parents not to put the vice grip on. The real reason their parents controlled them was to select the type of man they'd marry (read in race and political affiliation) They moved as far away as they could in order to break the strings when they attended college. That's the beauty of becoming an adult, you move out, and move on. Would a 20 year old couple need privacy? Of course they would, and not just for hanky panky. Maybe just to get used to being without others in the room as they will be when they are actually married. But if a 20 year old puts up with that, well he must want to be controlled by mom and dad, (A sign he/she isn't ready or mature enough to leave the nest) because the option to leave is there.

They are crazy and are damaging their own children. If they have girls, they will never know what it means to go to college with their peers, earn a living (with a REAL JOB) or just be an ordinary teen. Yeah, I've had friends who were raised in this manner, and they went nuts when they got out of their house..they were raised extremely conservative and had every minute of their lives controlled. These types of families hurt their children.

We live in America....the land of the free which gives American's the right to live their life the way they see fit. Personally, I would rather see people raising their children like this then seeing people raising their children around violence, drugs and unfit living conditions. Sadly there are more children being raised in slummy conditions than there is in the way of conservative Christians. I don't live my life really conservative but reading your examples above I cannot really find anything wrong with it except for the fact that I don't think that I would be able to be without a TV for any length of time...LOL

I would agree with the answer that says they are not traditional. Even in colonial times, this is not how families behaved, at least not in the U.S. I would use the word "conservative" instead.

But aside from that, my opinion is that growing up in this type of environment will not harm children. As long as parents give them love, support, and structure, children will thrive. But I think it's almost a surefire way to turn the children against fundamentalist Christianity. I don't know a single child whose parents were ultra-conservative who adopted the same beliefs. Almost all of them rejected their churches as teenagers or young adults and expressed the view that they were glad to get away. In contrast, many kids that I know who were raised with more mainstream beliefs continued to practice the same faith in college and beyond.

My opinion is...to each their own. What is right for you is not necessarily right for me, and vice versa. They are doing what is right for their family, just as you and I are doing what is right for ours. There is no wrong, just different.

Some of what you mention describes our family-

we are Christians.

We homeschool. We do not homeschool because we are Christians, just like the homeschoolers I know how are Pagan or Atheist or Buddhist do not homeschool BECAUSE of that.

We limit television and internet. It is a great resource in life, but there are much better things to spend time on.

I am not against birth control. I do not like some forms, because of the manner in which they work, but I believe that God gave us free will and one of those choices we are free to make is if, when and how many children to have.

My husband works and I am a SAHM. I also volunteer at the Center for Birds of Prey. He does the majority of the yard work and repairs on our home and vehicle, but I am capable fo doing some things and help out when I can. He also cooks on occasion. I am the primary caregiver for our children. Again, I must mention that I know MANY families who are NOT Christian that follow these same gender roles. I occasionally wear long skirts, as well. I also wear shorts, pants, short skirts, etc.

I have four children. My older children help out with the younger children. They enjoy doing so, and it fosters a bond between the siblings and prepares them for having children of their own some day. It teaches working together, caring for one another, and being a part of a TEAM, which a family is.

I actually do think that when my c hildren start dating, they will be chaperoned- either in our home, on a group date or with a chaperone accompanying them. Why do they NEED privacy? It is our job to ensure their safety, and I believe that putting them in a situation where they can end up pregnant because of raging hormones and the chance to act upon it is just as irresponsible and neglectful as allowing a child to play with guns or knives or drive a vehicle unsafely.

They are not doing anything wrong. It is just different, and different is GOOD. Thankfully, we have the freedom to live as we want and not have to all do everything the way someone dictates.

I don't think that they are hurting anybody. They have a way that they believe is right to them and for them, and it works for them. Each family have to make their own decisions in life, and they are not harming others in their decisions. We are a product of our environment, what we see and immolate.

I find the simplistic way best! All the other is complicated and add more pressure on to situations we already have to face in life. We live in a fallen world. This is not heaven on earth. They have to make decisions based on their moral foundation and convictions.

I listened to a Internet sermon yesterday on the subject, "The Key To Making Wise Decisions". If I didn't learn anything else, I learned more about why people make the decisions they make and I respect that now. The choice in the sermon was, "Do you make decisions based on preference or principle's based from God's Word?"

Meaning of each...

Principle- - a fixed predetermined mode of conduct, or a moral rule based on the Word of God. As Christians, we should live by convictions that are grounded in the Word of God. (Biblical moral laws of God that are infallible and inerrant; 2 Timothy 3:16)

Preferences- - a moral choice based on likes and dislikes, or what ever seems best in the moment. A person who operates on this basis asks, "What is going to make "me" feel good, please "me", honor "me", or benefit "me?"

In preference you are given to compromise, greed or selfishness, and pleasing others so you won't be rejected (and people are screwed up).

I think those are the kids that have social and emotional issues, honestly. They're too sheltered. I know several kids who are being raised like that. It was fine when they were like 10 and younger, but they get to middle school, they get made fun of and/or pressured. Then high school? yeah, they cuss, drink, smoke, and have sex just because it's overwhelming and they aren't educated about it.

i say that as long as it doesnt lead to the abuse of their kids, what they believe is their business. just because their choices in life may not be the same as mine, that doesnt mean that they are bad choices, they just have a different way of doing things, and as long as the kids are happy and healthy, more power to them. my family lives at my grandmothers in the summer and her town is near a amish community, who live lives very similar to this, and the kids are some of the happiest (actually happy, not brain washed happy), well behaved, well mannered kids i know, so they must be doing something right. i admire their strong connections to their faith.

I don't see a problem with any of those things, even if it's not the way I live my life. As long as the kids are fed, clothed loved and not abused, I don't see how it's anyone else's business how parents raise their children. If you don't like it don't raise your kids that way. Simple as that.

Parents like that are just doing what they think is best for their life and for their kids lives... It may not be how I choose to live, but it's not my place or my business to judge those who live that lifestyle.

My in-laws are very conservative Christians... My husband and I are not that way at all, but we respect his parents and love them, and they are WONDERFUL grandparents.... I'll just have to be choosey with the ammount of time I let them spend alone with our son so as not to brainwash him or something :-P

Ya know, sometimes those wacky Christian's have some good morals and ideas...