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<\/a>by NLQ founder Vyckie Garrison originally posted at Raw Story<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n There\u2019s been some speculation recently about whether the Willis Family<\/a>, the musically-talented mega-family of 14 featured on TLC\u2019s creatively-titled reality TV show, \u201cThe Willis Family,\u201d follows the Quiverfull<\/a> movement.<\/p>\n Toby and Brenda Willis, along with their one dozen lovely children, appear strikingly similar to TLC\u2019s scandal-ridden Duggar Family \u2026 only with considerably more talent and rather less legalism. Like JimBob and Michelle, the Christian couple follows most, but not all of the lifestyle particulars promoted and practiced by Quiverfull families<\/a> based on their \u201cbiblical worldview.\u201d<\/p>\n Both the Willises and the Duggars share a strong faith and believe all children are an unmitigated blessing from God, both families embrace traditional gender roles, they homeschool and believe that college education is not a priority for their passels of kids, they both reject contemporary dating and believe adult children should seek parental approval of their future spouses, they insist on chastity before marriage, disapprove of comprehensive sex-education, both families home-church and teach their children that the earth was created in six days<\/span>.<\/p>\n JimBob & Michelle adhere to many of the most oppressive parenting practices found in strict fundamentalist Christian homes such as stern obedience training for infants and toddlers, no television in the home and limited access to contemporary entertainment and culture, heavily-monitored computer and cell phone use, and very modest clothing to ensure their daughters are mostly covered so as not to \u201cdefraud\u201d horny teenage boys (as the Duggars have discovered, this method of \u201cprotecting\u201d young girls doesn\u2019t work), \u2026 their list of rules is endless, as is typical of Quiverfull families.<\/p>\n By comparison, Toby and Brenda are almost permissive parents. Their children are involved in a number of non-religious-based activities, and while they dress in what most would consider modest apparel, they\u2019re certainly not afraid to show some skin. Bare arms and short skirts<\/a> \u2026 obviously, this is not a truly Quiverfull family, right?!<\/p>\n They actually seem kinda normal.<\/p>\n It may seem like an exaggeration to say that Quiverfull families are everywhere, but when I describe the worldview and lifestyle, it never fails that at least one (usually several) people will recognize they personally know a Quiverfull family.<\/p>\n You probably do too.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a map of the U.S. from a website called The National Center for Family Integrated Churches (NCFIC) in which \u201cFamily Integrated\u201d is code words for Quiverfull. NCFIC provides a network where Quiverfull churches and individual families can register in the hopes of finding \u201clikeminded\u201d fellowship and friends in their own communities.<\/p>\n The NCFIC interactive map<\/a> reveals that Truly True Christians\u2122 are not concentrated in the Bible Belt. Wherever there are people, there are Quiverfull believers.<\/p>\n I once had a reporter from Sacramento tell me she doubted there were many Quiverfull Christians in her area. I pointed her to the NCFIC website where she was able to find quite a few<\/a>, including a pastor who was willing to go on record stating that in a truly biblical society, women would not have the right to vote.<\/p>\n A Christian couple does not need to have a dozen or more kids to be Quiverfull, and not every extra large family follows the Quiverfull ideology. This is because, at the core, Quiverfull is not so much about how many children a couple has as it is about a MINDSET: it\u2019s a way of viewing life through the lens of biblical literalism. A Quiverfull family is simply one that believes the Bible is the inerrant Word of God containing eternal principles for marriage and family AND they are actually putting those principles into practice in their daily lives.<\/p>\n Inquistor writer<\/a>, Mandy Robinson points to the fact that Brenda Willis says the couple won\u2019t be having a 13th child as evidence that the Willises are not Quiverfull. Brenda suffered a uterine rupture during the home birth of baby #11 \u2013 a quick trip to the hospital for a cesarean delivery saved her and the baby\u2019s lives. But even the couple\u2019s use of whatever form of birth control they\u2019re relying on to prevent a potentially deadly conception does not automatically disqualify the Willis family from being Quiverfull believers.<\/p>\n Like I said, it\u2019s all about what\u2019s going on in their heads. After the uterine rupture, Brenda quickly (presumably unintentionally) conceived again \u2013 a pregnancy which she describes as \u201cvery tough.\u201d Even knowing that she was risking her life, Brenda \u201cchose\u201d to continue<\/a> the pregnancy and give birth to baby #12. That she was willing to martyr herself is a firm indication that she believes, as the Bible teaches, that God alone is the creator and giver of life \u2026 she believes strongly enough to live (or die) according to the words written in that Book.<\/p>\n<\/a>