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(Date Posted:07/28/2007 17:21:10)
But after I left, it took about seven years to dare to completely think for myself.I was not raised in a religious family. I accepted Christianity in my early twenties, but before then, I had already been exposed to "worldly" practices, i.e., sex, drinking, education, secular music and movies, and objective thought.I attended a fundamentalist-WalMart-superstoresque-mega-Baptist church in the South complete with stadium seating and giant TV screen. In the early days of going to church, things were working out pretty well. But as years went by, I began to see holes in what I was being taught and the people who were teaching them. When I questioned things, like who re-wrote the Bible and why, I was patted on the head and given a stack of books to read. If I disagreed with an interpretation of a verse or presented an alternative possible way to interpret it, I was looked at with scorn.On singles retreats, a modest bathing suit was required for the swimming pool, i.e., a one-piece for women. But what was the difference between a dry two-piece bathing suit and a wet, clingy one-piece bathing suit -- especially on a nippy day? heh heh Just a short 100 years ago, a woman's ankles were considered erotic, buttoday they're not worried about ankles at all. lmao...I was a "different" Christian at the church because I was not raised in a Christian family. I then discovered that there were two types of Christians at church: those who were raised in a Christian family and were sheltered from the "world," and those who came to Christianity much later in life after being exposed to "worldly" things. This created a significant clash of perception and experience while interpreting scripture and discerning lifestyle choices. For example, just because a person has a glass of wine with dinner does not mean they will become an alcoholic, yet drinking alcohol was forbidden. So was boot-scooting style dancing. (not exactly refined or seductive dancing, heh.) Because after all, pre-marital sexleadsto dancing. (Ba-da-BOOM! Heyyyy!) But people who had not experienced drinking a glass of wine due to being raised in a Christian home did not want to consider that it does not have to be harmful. If they never want to drink wine --fine -- but don't impose those standards on me if I don't havea problem with it.Our pastor was anti-Halloween and condemned people who even handed out Bible tracts to trick-or-treaters. His words to them in a sermon were, "Well bless your little black hearts." I'll never forget theadditional police protection presentwhich were hired to protect the church during the Fall Festival (a Baptist's answer to trick-or-treating) in case the devil's cohorts tried to attack the church.If you know anything about the Southern Baptist culture, you know that 1) food must be involved at every function, and 2) theyattendchurch sermonsthree times a week. I'll never forget when our pastor said this in a sermon:"Those who attend church on Sunday morning love the church. Those who attend church on Sunday evening love the pastor. But those who attend church on Wednesday evening love Jesus, amen??" And abouttwo-thirds of the congregation clapped.I also noticed that people there were not intellectual thinkers -- it was as if they were supressing their intellect -- if they had any, and I am not being arrogant -- and let the pastor and scripture think for them. They would never entertain thoughts about how the Bible was re-written,how the King James version came about, alternate interpretations of scripture, why other denominations believe as they do, all the wars in history where Christians killed those who did not conform, or how their standards about sex andmusicevolved.For example, back in the 1950s, it was forbidden to have a piano in the sanctuary. Only organs were the instrument of God. But eventually, pianos became accepted. The next musical instrument of the devil was the drums. Oh no. Can't have that satanic instrument in the sanctuary. Once again, the drums found their way into Sunday morning praise and worship. Even lipstick was sinful to wear to church back then, but now it is accepted.The list of inconsistancies and mind control in that church just goes on and on. I could write a friggin' book about it, and probably will end up doing so in my future posts.Anyway, one day I had enough and I moved away from the church to another state -- one of the smartest moves I've ever made. The internet was new back then (1996) so I got on it and researched mind control and learned that the church had many cult characteristics. It took about seven years to undo about four years of mind control.I do still retain my faith, but I only do so as it makes sense to me and while not creatingmental illnessin the process.Though I can look at something with an open mind, I will not be coerced/bullied/intimidated into believing something just because I am expected to believe it.That's m' story, and I'm stickin' to it!
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I doubt 'christian's can be adequately 'sheltered' from the world & Separatism is not something thats easily achieved, quite the opposite, christianity is evolving with social change..not against it. People come & go & do leave these places all the time. Even though (as you observed) the common characteristic of using armed guards, boarder patrol and highwire fencing...
