Poll Have You Had Bad Experiences With a Church or Religious Organization?

[Emmie420]

Religion can be very damaging, it was in my case when my mother decided it was good idea to bring them into our home and family life. I'm now a proud atheist..

 

[Changing4Best]

I answered that it caused my PTSD, because one "church" that I belonged to really put a lot of pressure onto my husband and I for "donations" and meanwhile, they were all driving fancy cars and such. We finally saw the light, and left that church behind. This church was NOT a Christian church.

On the other hand, I belong to a sweet and loveable church now, one where some folks offered to help me out financially recently when I thought I needed to pay the estimate to my Dr. before she performed surgery. As it turned out, the Dr. did not pressure me to pay, even though her literature said she would, so I had the surgery last week (gall bladder removal) and will be paying the copay in the future, when it arrives in the mail.

So, as you can see, some churches are not very charitable, while others are very charitable. In fact, when I was homeless for 3 years, it was the Christian churches that helped me out the most. They would give me meals, and a shelter to stay in, among other things. One church would put gas in my car even. The church I belong to now pays folks electric bills, if their power is in danger of being turned off for lack of a paid bill.

 

[void]

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
Seneca

As true as it ever was.

 

[Changing4Best]

I have a high IQ and I believe in God and Jesus. I am considered by many to be wise.

 

[ReachingOutJ]

Because of my PTSD, I reached out to two priests, but they treated me as though I were just some nut who walked in, and it didn't feel right. Haven't been back since.

 

[void]

I have a high IQ and I believe in God and Jesus. I am considered by many to be wise.

Hmmmm......

 

[anonymous]

@SheilaKathy A person shouldn't sing self praises. It can raise your ego's head. ;)

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

I am a spiritual person, but I would rather have a hot cheese enema, than set foot in another church.

 

[Deleted member 34424]

No, I was raised with all religious beliefs in the house because my grandmother was a Spiritual Science Minister and now I'm a Buddhist. no churches for me.

Though I do remember one time visiting a church and running into my abusers family... That was *such* a treat (heavy sarcasm there).

 

[asadafagahajakal]

A little over a year ago my wife and I were in a cult. The woman that was our influence was a self proclaimed preacher and prophet, the latter I debunked to her face nearing the end of the time we endured her bullshit.

It's funny because I told her earlier in this "ministry" that there was only two ways the devil could destroy her, either straight up kill her or reduce her to an egotist. It's funny because her health was declining at a rapid rate at the time and through the fruits of her actions revealed herself to be a perfect textbook example of narcissistic personality disorder.

It brought me some closure to know that now her cover is totally blown and nobody likes or trusts her now. She's scared of me. Absolutely terrified, knowing I've never been a person you want to manipulate.

My wife and I have faced serious emotional abuse, extortion, and this woman (who was also my employer at the time) has also tried messing with my marriage, telling my wife I fancied another woman (this woman was someone I worked with, and i wasn't interested in her at all) and even going so far as to say I was drunk when my wife was giving birth to our son, when in reality I was three months sober at that time. I was also in the delivery room so my wife knew I wasn't drunk.

I don't know if this post was also talking about cults or not, but I felt I should open up here in case someone feels they're stuck in a situation like this

 

[Frenzy3674]

Yes, I've been hurt. It didn't cause my ptsd, but the Church triggers me.

Church is certainly a trigger. I was raised in a cult.

 

[asadafagahajakal]

Did not cause, but seems to perpetuate

Due to their lack of understanding, the fellow believe...

Sure, prayer and faith can do wonders, but im sure that a person as educated as a pastor can come up with something more to say than "just have faith".

Im with you on this one, i cant stand churches like this. And with my experience i have no tolerance for christian fundamentalists who have no real way of helping with their members' mental health and morale.