I watch this show. I’m not into reality TV, but I really like this show.
Ben was an empty vessel. I don’t say that lightly, but like so many conservative, Christian Nationalists, he lacks the ability to understand what it means to be part of humanity. They remove themselves emotionally from the pain of others.
It was absolutely mind boggling to me how he didn’t know or even have an inkling about the questions she asked him. An empty vessel sums him up perfectly.
Yes, yes, yes!!! But also, how little he had thought about these issues also shows how little he thinks about others. Not a good look and not like the Jesus I know from the Bible. But that’s never the point is it…
I can’t believe they finally talked about religion and politics on a dating show and I missed it! It drives me nuts these couples seem to never go there so I always wondered if it was edited out.
So true. I don’t recognize our country anymore. I don’t even know who my friends are anymore. The hate, anger and spite spewing from the right is unbelievable.
In my part of the world, it is coming from Pew sitters who love to tell everyone how many times they go to church and yet don't know or just don't follow the teachings of Christ. I am done with organized religion.
I’m a former recovering Baptist, I was raised liberal but changed as a young adult to conservative and after a little while ran away as if the devil himself was chasing me!! I call that response the guy had a “Baptist lie” they do it all the time if their mouth is moving there’s a lie in there somewhere. She definitely did the right thing and I know she’ll never regret it!!
I grew up Southern Baptist & it took me a long time to find the truth and cut ties. The brainwashing is top tier. I remember hearing all the time about guns, abortion and gays & now that I'm older I wonder if they truly even know what Jesus's teachings truly are.
I’ve been “hate watching” (that’s tongue-in-cheek, I hate nothing) Love is Blind for years. But I started this season and…for some reason I just couldn’t do it.
Great article. I’d like to expand on one thing that you mentioned, though…the outrage. It’s a very small, brainwashed group that lead the charge on the vitriol against the thinking woman. (I love “the bullet is the thinking woman” 💫)
They’re the loudest because they’re the most afraid, having never figured out how to think for themselves. That dude Ben is a great example. “I never really gave it much thought” = “I’ve never had a reason to because I’m so privileged.”
They’ve become soooo loud and soooo outraged because they can feel their insular worlds crumbling around them and don’t have the EQ or critical thinking skills to manage it.
Having said that, I know many people who actually believe in equity and human rights are terrified of what’s happening right now…with good reason.
Perspective shift? They want us cowering in fear, too overwhelmed to move. But we’ve come much too far to succumb to turning back time 125 years. The far right is imploding, and the progressives will clean up the mess…just like always.
Sorry to make this an extra-political declaration on your smart take on LIB S8 🤣
I was asked what my "guilty pleasure" music was when I interviewed someone for my podcast. I dismissed the notion that we should feel guilty for enjoying anything we enjoy. So, MK, you will receive zero judgement from me! (Also, well written as always).
Woah. Yes. Thank you MK for elucidating this necessary truth: women who think critically about politics and religion are a perceived threat to the establishment. If only we could remember how delighted Jesus was to find Mary sitting at His feet (a male-only disciple's posture, by the way) and telling Martha how Mary had chosen the better path. Jesus was never threatened by thinking women.
‘Rejected him over politics’ my 🍑. Sounds to me like she rejected him because he opted out of important rights-based conversations that affected her loved ones. How could she go into it not knowing if he would affirm, or at least be kind to, her sister?
I'm wondering what they edited out. Ben seemed so disengaged with anything approaching critical thinking. I was really surprised when the two of them started moving forward.
“Anything real can stand up to questions” and why should a serious thoughtful person be stuck with someone who doesn’t even pay attention? Good for her
This is brilliant. There's so much conversation about how Purity Culture fucks with women, but I'm thankful that season 8 of LiB has the capacity to explore how Purity Culture limits men.
Julia and I are only on episode 3 of Season 8, but we've both had visceral reactions to the comments that quite a few of the men--not just Ben--have made in connecting religious fundamentalism with their views on gender and relationships. We've been forewarned that there's a lot more of this as the season evolves.
I watch this show. I’m not into reality TV, but I really like this show.
Ben was an empty vessel. I don’t say that lightly, but like so many conservative, Christian Nationalists, he lacks the ability to understand what it means to be part of humanity. They remove themselves emotionally from the pain of others.
It was absolutely mind boggling to me how he didn’t know or even have an inkling about the questions she asked him. An empty vessel sums him up perfectly.
Yes, yes, yes!!! But also, how little he had thought about these issues also shows how little he thinks about others. Not a good look and not like the Jesus I know from the Bible. But that’s never the point is it…
I can’t believe they finally talked about religion and politics on a dating show and I missed it! It drives me nuts these couples seem to never go there so I always wondered if it was edited out.
Good. For. Her.
Great write up!
So true. I don’t recognize our country anymore. I don’t even know who my friends are anymore. The hate, anger and spite spewing from the right is unbelievable.
In my part of the world, it is coming from Pew sitters who love to tell everyone how many times they go to church and yet don't know or just don't follow the teachings of Christ. I am done with organized religion.
I have to agree to much of this!
This is excellent! Probably one of the best explanations I've seen of this toxicity. Thank you for writing this.
This is why so many people nod their head when they read Karl Marx’s quote about religion being the “opiate of the masses.”
When you don’t even stop to think about what you believe in, you might as well be stoned.
Ah... The were "unequally yoked." He was a non thinker and she's bright. Good for her asking questions and getting out before getting hitched!
I’m a former recovering Baptist, I was raised liberal but changed as a young adult to conservative and after a little while ran away as if the devil himself was chasing me!! I call that response the guy had a “Baptist lie” they do it all the time if their mouth is moving there’s a lie in there somewhere. She definitely did the right thing and I know she’ll never regret it!!
I grew up Southern Baptist & it took me a long time to find the truth and cut ties. The brainwashing is top tier. I remember hearing all the time about guns, abortion and gays & now that I'm older I wonder if they truly even know what Jesus's teachings truly are.
Sarah is a QUEEN who realized Ben wasn’t even good enough to be a court jester. Good for her!!
I’ve been “hate watching” (that’s tongue-in-cheek, I hate nothing) Love is Blind for years. But I started this season and…for some reason I just couldn’t do it.
Great article. I’d like to expand on one thing that you mentioned, though…the outrage. It’s a very small, brainwashed group that lead the charge on the vitriol against the thinking woman. (I love “the bullet is the thinking woman” 💫)
They’re the loudest because they’re the most afraid, having never figured out how to think for themselves. That dude Ben is a great example. “I never really gave it much thought” = “I’ve never had a reason to because I’m so privileged.”
They’ve become soooo loud and soooo outraged because they can feel their insular worlds crumbling around them and don’t have the EQ or critical thinking skills to manage it.
Having said that, I know many people who actually believe in equity and human rights are terrified of what’s happening right now…with good reason.
Perspective shift? They want us cowering in fear, too overwhelmed to move. But we’ve come much too far to succumb to turning back time 125 years. The far right is imploding, and the progressives will clean up the mess…just like always.
Sorry to make this an extra-political declaration on your smart take on LIB S8 🤣
P.S. L + C 4eva 💘💘
I was asked what my "guilty pleasure" music was when I interviewed someone for my podcast. I dismissed the notion that we should feel guilty for enjoying anything we enjoy. So, MK, you will receive zero judgement from me! (Also, well written as always).
✌️ ❤️ 🐧
Woah. Yes. Thank you MK for elucidating this necessary truth: women who think critically about politics and religion are a perceived threat to the establishment. If only we could remember how delighted Jesus was to find Mary sitting at His feet (a male-only disciple's posture, by the way) and telling Martha how Mary had chosen the better path. Jesus was never threatened by thinking women.
‘Rejected him over politics’ my 🍑. Sounds to me like she rejected him because he opted out of important rights-based conversations that affected her loved ones. How could she go into it not knowing if he would affirm, or at least be kind to, her sister?
I'm wondering what they edited out. Ben seemed so disengaged with anything approaching critical thinking. I was really surprised when the two of them started moving forward.
“Anything real can stand up to questions” and why should a serious thoughtful person be stuck with someone who doesn’t even pay attention? Good for her
This is brilliant. There's so much conversation about how Purity Culture fucks with women, but I'm thankful that season 8 of LiB has the capacity to explore how Purity Culture limits men.
Julia and I are only on episode 3 of Season 8, but we've both had visceral reactions to the comments that quite a few of the men--not just Ben--have made in connecting religious fundamentalism with their views on gender and relationships. We've been forewarned that there's a lot more of this as the season evolves.
Thanks so much for posting this!