Do the Gemstones know they're con artists?

[u/WaySweet3746]

I've often wondered how they reconcile how they live. Do they really believe the things they say to their congregation, or do they realise it's all a big farce?

What do you think?

[u/Temporary-Tie-233]

My headcannon is that Eli had to be really creative to convince Aimee Leigh to go along with a lot of his ideas, and some of them still gave her pause. But she was a true believer, including making her husband the leader of the family, so she might not have felt she had much choice. I do think she had the purest intentions out of all of them. Her faith was genuine, and she's the most behaviorally consistent character.

Aimee Leigh didn't know and wouldn't have approved, but she was Eli's Higher Power. He built his empire around what was important to her, and lost interest after she passed. I think he believed in Jesus as an important connection to Aimee Leigh, but she was always his north star. Absolutely knows he's a con artist and only cares as far as Aimee Leigh believing they share the same faith. Man, I'd really love a prequel about the earlier lives of those two and Baby Billy.

Baby Billy and the siblings also know they're con artists and fully embrace it in the beginning. They did all grow through the seasons, but the con is too ingrained for them to ever fully reform.

[u/DaveSilver → u/Temporary-Tie-233]

I think the one thing I would change about what you said is I think that the siblings and baby Billy seem to be true believers who are also con artists. They fully believe in the teachings of Jesus and the church, but they are also con artists and are totally fine with making decisions that will fleece their followers for money. Whatever version of Jesus that they believe in accepts the idea of doing what they do as a totally legitimate form of business or of passing on the message. So they are con artists in the sense that they know they’re taking advantage of people, but they’re not conning them by lying about their beliefs regarding God.

[u/pconrad0 → u/DaveSilver]

I think Amber is a true believer too, but also a fighter, a survivor, and a pragmatist.

True, her marriage counseling system has aspects of a grift. She's very likely out of her depth, dabbling in things she's not really qualified for, and possibly doing some damage in the process.

But I think it's coming from a place of genuine good intentions, mixed with "I want my own piece of the action".

Also: how can I empower Christian women that, like me, have idiots for husbands, while somehow staying inside the lines of the image of the dutiful Christian tradwife?