Jinger Duggar Describes Breaking Free From ‘Cult-Like’ Religious Upbringing: ‘It Was Built on Fear’
usmagazine.comA new perspective. Jinger Duggar reflected on finding “peace” as she began to turn away from her strict Christian upbringing.“I definitely think it was cult-like in many ways,” she exclusively told Us Weekly ahead of the release of her book Becoming Free Indeed on Tuesday, January 31. “It was built on fear, manipulation, control and superstition, so all those things combined in how hard it is for kids to leave or adults to leave — anyone, really. … Once you hear the teachings, you’re not supposed to depart from those.”The former TLC star, 29, rose to prominence on 19 Kids and Counting, which featured her devout family and often discussed their lifestyle of purity, modesty and faith. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar raised their 19 children under the teachings of controversial and ultra-conservative Christian minister Bill Gothard.Since forging her own path with husband Jeremy Vuolo, whom she wed in 2016, the Counting On alum feels more “free” than ever. “I have so much freedom and … peace with God, really,” she told Us. “Because I think I had wrestled with fear for so many years and I wasn’t sure why or what the source of that fear was.
And once I was able to figure out, ‘OK, I think this teaching is making me fearful’ … I do feel like there was that ‘A-ha’ moment.”Jinger remembered being “gripped with fear” as a child. “[I’d be] thinking, ‘OK, am I pleasing to God?
I don’t know what God expects of me.’ And so I would be so terrified to, like, even go play sports with my siblings. [I’d think], ‘Maybe I’m supposed to stay home and read my Bible for hours and hours.
I’m not sure.’ So that kind of fear did cripple me.”The Arkansas native credits her husband, 35, for helping her start to distance herself from the pressure she
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