Art Streiber/A & ENobody puts Jesus in the corner.
That seems the M.O. of the Duck Dynasty stars, who are speaking out against what they see as a Godless nation—in the wake of allegations that A&E has edited out the words God and Jesus on the show.
Their latest message: "It ain't gun control we need; it's sin control," duck-call tycoon Si Robertson says in a new Men's Journal group interview.
"Self-control," adds elder brother, Phil.
And even if the A&E producers are playing down the bearded clan's beliefs on religion and politics, the Duck stars are determined to use their newfound fame for good.
"We're trying to infuse a little good into a culture in which gentleness, patience, kindness, self-control, love, joy and peace have become abnormal," Phil says. "I go out into America and I am literally navigating a minefield. Godliness has become abnormal."
Duck Dynasty has continued to smash ratings records, with 11.8 million viewers tuning in for the fourth season premiere, and the magazine reports the stars are rumored to earn $200,000 per episode. Still, Phil insists the money hasn't changed his family.
"This place is probably worth $100,000," he says of his Louisiana home. "But I consider it a mansion."
The men also admit they're not perfect, and Si recalls the 1960's as a particularly dark time. "I kept a fifth of whiskey in my pocket everywhere I went," he tells Men's Journal. "I tried dope one time, OK, like marijuana, but why would you smoke something that makes you feel 100 years old? So, drugs wasn't it for me. In my mind, it was alcohol and whoring around."
Phil's wife, Miss Kay, was only 16 and pregnant when they wed in 1966, but even the fans who want him to sign their panties can't break his loyalty to her. "They walk up with a pair of little bitty, bitty bikini underwear and say, 'Will you sign these?'" Phil says. "Well, my first question is, 'Are they clean?' But, see, as I move forward on my travels, I make sure I take two things with me, my Bible and my woman, Miss Kay. You see what I'm saying? I've put my heathen days behind me. I'm not going down that path again."
Duck Dynasty airs tonight on A&E. Are you watching?