MovieChat Forums > First Grandson (2011) Discussion > What is Courting

What is Courting

posted 10 years ago by MeganCraft
10 replies | jump to latest

One of the daughters started "courting", what does that mean?

[–] Angie_MJ 10 years ago

It's formally dating. It was called courting before it was called dating but during a time where people didn't tend to date multiple people at once. The person you were courting would be introduced to your family and ask permission. Because people married a lot younger, courting was more purposeful, it was with the understanding of looking for someone to marry. An attractive girl could have many suitors but they didn't have many courtships at one time.

[–] jayme_franklin 10 years ago

The Duggars say it's "Dating with a purpose." Which means it's serious, and the couple who enter the courtship usually end up getting married.
And, yes, it is also an old-fashioned term for dating. I know my grandparents courted, but neither were Jesus freaks.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] urciolo 10 years ago

Everything you said is absolutely true – and very sad for the young couple.

If I’m not mistaken, they aren’t even allowed to engage in the disgusting and dangerous physical act of holding hands!

It’s one thing to try and teach your kids to refrain from having sex with someone unless they’re in love or in a relationship - and at the very minimum, to practice safe sex. What the Duggars believe is VERY unhealthy.

It reminds me of something a funny young female comic said: “Why would anyone wait until their wedding night to have sex? That’s a TERRIBLE time to find out he won’t wear the spurs!”

I imagine that they are against divorce ... if they have installed that belief in their children, can you imagine the feeling they have when they realize that (a) they made a mistake and (b) there is nothing they can do about it?

Cats are delicate dainty animals who suffer from a variety of ailments ... except insomnia.

[–] corinnacarpenter 10 years ago

They're rushed into getting married and becoming parents within a very short period of time. This is all done in the name of giving into their sexual desires. They've said so themselves.

Heaven forbid these ADULTS make their own choices. I'm all for sexual purity but there comes a time in which parents need to back off and allow their adult children to make adult choices. It's especially unhealthy and even creepy for the girls' father to be so involved in their sex lives.

How can the girls even get a chance to know their potential husband privately and intimately (as in being able to connect)when the entire family is in on their relationship? Ben and Jessa courted over Skype for a year and had no physical contact until he returned home! They barely know each other and now they're being thrust into marriage and parenthood. It's crazy!

Bish please!

[–] MissGruntled 10 years ago

I agree with you completely, and would add that I think that it would be difficult psychologically to have both your first kiss (in front of an auditorium full of people, no less) and your first sexual experience on the same day.

[–] jefgg 9 years ago

That is an excellent point.

[–] corinnacarpenter 10 years ago

Why does dating need to be serious? It's absolutely absurd. They're so young and they're being forced to take on the incredible responsibility of marriage and parenthood.

⚡ BE THE THUNDER ⚡

[–] hankysmom57 9 years ago

I agree that it's absurd to marry your children off at a very young age and figure God will take care of the inevitable problems that happen when people marry people who have been, presumably, on their best behaviour while the whole freaking family is watching, but can only be THEMSELVES behind closed doors, AFTER the wedding. I married as a teenager, like Ben, and it was totally stupid. The person I was then was so different from the person I am now, or even the person I was only ten years later, that there was no way my first marriage could have survived. But I was lucky--divorce WAS an option for me, so I was able to find the person I've been happy with for 35 years. The Duggar children don't have those options.

[–] libby2130 9 years ago

your post hit the nail on the head and this is a really good thread...those kids are so sheltered, how do they even know what love is