Former 'Welcome to Plathville' Star Olivia Plath Reflects on Strict Christian Upbringing

Olivia Plath Compares Strict Christian Upbringing to Being in a Cult

Olivia Plath. Courtesy of Olivia Plath/Instagram

Olivia Plath, 25, has been on all five seasons of TLC's Welcome to Plathville, a show that follows her family in rural Georgia. She got married to Ethan Plath in 2018 after going through a period of reflection on her religious upbringing. Now, Olivia is trying her best to move forward and piece her life back together.

Olivia was no stranger to the conservative and religious values upheld by the Plaths. In a recent Teen Vogue article released on Tuesday, April 2, she shared, "I was raised in a strict Christian environment, which I now recognize as a cult."

Olivia grew up feeling very isolated, with much of her childhood revolving around the teachings of her father, Don Meegs, who was a pastor.

At the age of 13, Olivia was already receiving books on how to be the perfect wife. She shared, "From a young age, I believed that as a woman, my role in life was to get married, have children, and be a stay-at-home mom."

For a period of time, everything seemed to be going well.

But in February, Olivia and Ethan decided to get a divorce after being married for five years. Following the separation, Olivia relocated to Los Angeles, and that's when things started to take a different turn.

Olivia found that deconstructing her religious past in her new home was a challenging and eye-opening experience.

As Olivia reflected on her beliefs, she discovered that questioning a few things led to questioning even more. She came to the realization that the foundation of her life was not as solid as she once thought.

Olivia shared that her childhood was similar to the Duggar family, known from TLC’s 19 Kids & Counting. Her father and his church followed the beliefs of the Institute of Basic Life Principles, which was closely connected to the Duggars.

According to Olivia, people in fundamental Christian communities generally share similar beliefs, with minor differences. However, these differences, no matter how small, can lead to division because each person believes they know the right way to live.

Olivia is currently working on creating a fresh start for herself. She mentioned that she may be in a new relationship and although everything may not be ideal, she expressed, "I feel very comfortable being myself."

Editor's P/S:

Olivia Plath's journey of self-discovery and liberation from the constraints of her conservative upbringing is both inspiring and thought-provoking. Her candid reflections on the damaging effects of religious fundamentalism highlight the importance of critical thinking and the freedom to question established norms. Olivia's realization that the foundation of her beliefs was not as solid as she once thought underscores the transformative power of questioning and seeking truth.

Olivia's experience also sheds light on the similarities and divisions within fundamentalist Christian communities. While they may share common beliefs, subtle differences can lead to division and a dogmatic adherence to what is perceived as the "right way" to live. Olivia's courage in breaking free from these rigid structures demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit and the possibility of creating a fulfilling life outside of predefined societal expectations.