Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Sunday, October 18, 2015
If you do this you are NOT a loving parent.
Do you remember the first time that somebody told you that you would suffer for eternity?
This is not be the universal way that Christianity is introduced to children in many (most?) non-fundamentalist churches.
Fire and brimstone (repent now!) is terrifying even to adults. IMO, Christianity is to be lived between birth and death. Treat others the you want to be treated; love one another. Judge not because you will be judged the way you judge others (cuts down on hypocrisy, IMO).
Well dowl, even in those "he's a loving god" churches, the logical outcome isn't what you likely had in mind. See Tolkin's "The Rapture" watch the little girls wish for suicide.
I laughed when my father told me that. He slapped the stuffings out of me and then turned me over his knee and beat me so hard I couldn't sit for three days. Had to lie on my side.
That was a good thing in the long run because I saw exactly how "christianity" was so very loving and forgiving.
I was sent to a mormon home as a pregnant teen.(lds social services). The father who was a bishop repeatedly tried to back my up against a wall,put his hands on my body and kiss me. I reported him to lds social services and they did Nothing. I had the baby. I stepped away from the church. I remained friends with the wife. Years later she told me she devorced him. He married an 18 yr old he was having an affair with in the church. He was in his 50s by then. He was a preditor to young girls and should have been arrested.
I was about six or seven years old when my Pentecostal grandmother told my sister and me that Jesus wouldn't love us if we misbehaved. I told her then that I really didn't care whether Jesus loved me or not. The look on her face and on my fathers face (her proud of me son) was truly priceless.
Ah, memories. The first time was because I listened to The Beatles - and it was my uncle doing the hellfire speech, not my parents.
The last time I was told I was going to hell was by an evangelical preacher commenting on another site. I replied I've been to your hell and they kicked me out for being too bright. Something about the glow hurting their eyes.
My oldest came home from his first day of kindergarten, 15 years ago, telling me several of his classmates told him he was going to hell because we didn't attend the same church as the classmates. I called the teacher, who shrugged it off, so I went to see the principal, whose only response was, "Well, maybe you should change churches". This was public school.
I remember when my son was told he was going to burn in hell. He was in elementary school and the gideon's were going from classroom to classroom handing out bibles. The kid's were asked who DOESN'T want one and my son was the only one to put his hand up. Of course many of his classmates told him he was going to burn when he was asked why he didn't take one and he told them he didn't believe in that stuff.
That was the last year those assholes were allowed to do that in his school. I made sure of that.
Awww shucks, someone remembered! My independent hard working, strong christian family forgot. I had a sadz, wallowed and waddled around making fishy faces, but my bff Marina remembered. Got me a card with a cute lipstick kiss on it in my fave color, then we went to Chic Fil A but it was closed and I has a sadz again,
I do too. You have no idea how many sermons I heard describing the flames, the heat, the misery of burning in hell. When I was young I mistakenly allowed 2 of my children to go one day to vacation bible school and they came back with pamphlets showing the devil on the cover & flames (aimed at children of course). Well I sat down with them and explained that wasn't true and they shouldn't believe that crap.
Same here: my seven-year-old daughter came home from Sunday School (Bible Baptist) via the bus and asked me if she was evil. I said "NO!" and never let her go back again. All a happily atheisitic family since then.
I can remember going to Sunday School and thinking "this is a bunch of baloney." My parents are still deeply involved in their church. They know I don't believe, but it's not an issue - they still love me.
Sometimes my little sister and I would succumb to peer pressure and go to church with friends. Once when I was about nine I went to my kind, non-judgemental, athiest mom and frantically told her I was going to hell because I wasn't "saved". She just smiled and rationally explained to me that she was certain that there wasn't any such place and that even if there was such a God he wouldn't do anything to a good and kind little girl like me. Growing up with this rationale I was finally able to sort it out by myself. My parents never stopped us from going to church and I attended services at a fairly moderate Lutheran Church for a few years. Finally in my late teens I realized that I couldn't buy into any of that mumbo-jumbo either. I think any parent cruel enough to scare and brainwash a susceptible child is guilty of child abuse.
I am so sorry for all here who wrote such terrible stories of growing up in a way that I think is abusive. I was raised by atheists who allowed us to believe what we wanted. There was guidance in moral and civil behavior; but I imagine there might have been a raised eyebrow had we asked to go to church, lol
I remember it well. But who can forget an act of domestic terrorism when you're a kid and trust the terrorists? In my case, we all made up and religion is never a topic of conversation.
Like anonymous at 11:46 AM, I was never told that. Since Leland asked about that commenter's location, I will share mine. I grew up as a Presbyterian in Alabama, USA.
Now I'm a Catholic in the Pacific Northwest. In between, I lived in several US states, as well as two countries in Asia. For over 20 years, I would have fit in the unilluminating category which is today called none.
Fundamentalist Christians may believe in a literal fiery hell, but if so, only because of a failure of due diligence in understanding the terms sometimes translated as hell. Sheol and hades simply mean the underworld or land of the dead. Jesus used the word gehenna, meaning the valley of Hinnom, which was a sort of landfill where garbage (and bodies of criminals) were burned. Prior to that, it may have been used by pagans for sacrificial burning. He had a way with words, did Jesus.
There is no hell, per se, other than voluntary separation from God. That's the understanding I've reached in my four score years and ten. Right or wrong, I do not worry about it.
Agreed, this is HORRIFIC behaviour...
ReplyDeleteThis is not be the universal way that Christianity is introduced to children in many (most?) non-fundamentalist churches.
ReplyDeleteFire and brimstone (repent now!) is terrifying even to adults. IMO, Christianity is to be lived between birth and death. Treat others the you want to be treated; love one another. Judge not because you will be judged the way you judge others (cuts down on hypocrisy, IMO).
We must 'do theology' (Dwight Hopkins).
dowl
Well dowl, even in those "he's a loving god" churches, the logical outcome isn't what you likely had in mind. See Tolkin's "The Rapture" watch the little girls wish for suicide.
DeleteI remember, as well, Gryphen.
ReplyDeleteI laughed when my father told me that. He slapped the stuffings out of me and then turned me over his knee and beat me so hard I couldn't sit for three days. Had to lie on my side.
That was a good thing in the long run because I saw exactly how "christianity" was so very loving and forgiving.
I have never looked back.
I was sent to a mormon home as a pregnant teen.(lds social services). The father who was a bishop repeatedly tried to back my up against a wall,put his hands on my body and kiss me. I reported him to lds social services and they did Nothing. I had the baby. I stepped away from the church. I remained friends with the wife. Years later she told me she devorced him. He married an 18 yr old he was having an affair with in the church. He was in his 50s by then. He was a preditor to young girls and should have been arrested.
DeleteI was about six or seven years old when my Pentecostal grandmother told my sister and me that Jesus wouldn't love us if we misbehaved. I told her then that I really didn't care whether Jesus loved me or not. The look on her face and on my fathers face (her proud of me son) was truly priceless.
ReplyDeleteAh, memories. The first time was because I listened to The Beatles - and it was my uncle doing the hellfire speech, not my parents.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I was told I was going to hell was by an evangelical preacher commenting on another site. I replied I've been to your hell and they kicked me out for being too bright. Something about the glow hurting their eyes.
Great reply!
DeleteMy oldest came home from his first day of kindergarten, 15 years ago, telling me several of his classmates told him he was going to hell because we didn't attend the same church as the classmates. I called the teacher, who shrugged it off, so I went to see the principal, whose only response was, "Well, maybe you should change churches". This was public school.
ReplyDeleteMy mother would say that meme is blasphemous and tell me I was going to hell for reading this blog. *sigh* (I'm 60 years old)
ReplyDeleteAll religion is about controlling people. Nothing more.
ReplyDeleteI should have added grifting. All religion is about control and grifting. Fixed it.
DeleteACTUALLY EVERYTHING is about SEX, BULLYING and Money$$. BUT because "GOD", no accountability in any FUCKED up Religion. It is all BULLSHIT!
DeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteI remember when my son was told he was going to burn in hell. He was in elementary school and the gideon's were going from classroom to classroom handing out bibles. The kid's were asked who DOESN'T want one and my son was the only one to put his hand up. Of course many of his classmates told him he was going to burn when he was asked why he didn't take one and he told them he didn't believe in that stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat was the last year those assholes were allowed to do that in his school. I made sure of that.
Happy birthday Bristol.
ReplyDeleteAwww shucks, someone remembered! My independent hard working, strong christian family forgot. I had a sadz, wallowed and waddled around making fishy faces, but my bff Marina remembered. Got me a card with a cute lipstick kiss on it in my fave color, then we went to Chic Fil A but it was closed and I has a sadz again,
DeleteControl through fear. The first tactic of all terrorist organizations.
ReplyDeleteYears ago my Jamaican lady friend confided to me that the reason she became a Christian was that she was dreadfully afraid of fire.
DeleteI do too. You have no idea how many sermons I heard describing the flames, the heat, the misery of burning in hell. When I was young I mistakenly allowed 2 of my children to go one day to vacation bible school and they came back with pamphlets showing the devil on the cover & flames (aimed at children of course). Well I sat down with them and explained that wasn't true and they shouldn't believe that crap.
ReplyDeleteSame here: my seven-year-old daughter came home from Sunday School (Bible Baptist) via the bus and asked me if she was evil. I said "NO!" and never let her go back again. All a happily atheisitic family since then.
DeleteI can remember going to Sunday School and thinking "this is a bunch of baloney." My parents are still deeply involved in their church. They know I don't believe, but it's not an issue - they still love me.
ReplyDeleteIf they are true believers, they think you are going to hell.
DeleteSometimes my little sister and I would succumb to peer pressure and go to church with friends. Once when I was about nine I went to my kind, non-judgemental, athiest mom and frantically told her I was going to hell because I wasn't "saved". She just smiled and rationally explained to me that she was certain that there wasn't any such place and that even if there was such a God he wouldn't do anything to a good and kind little girl like me. Growing up with this rationale I was finally able to sort it out by myself. My parents never stopped us from going to church and I attended services at a fairly moderate Lutheran Church for a few years. Finally in my late teens I realized that I couldn't buy into any of that mumbo-jumbo either. I think any parent cruel enough to scare and brainwash a susceptible child is guilty of child abuse.
ReplyDeleteI've been around true Christians all my 41 years and never have heard one utter something like this.
ReplyDeleteThen I am happy for you. You're lucky to have been unexposed.
DeleteMay I ask (generally, no specifics) where you grew up/are?
I am so sorry for all here who wrote such terrible stories of growing up in a way that I think is abusive. I was raised by atheists who allowed us to believe what we wanted. There was guidance in moral and civil behavior; but I imagine there might have been a raised eyebrow had we asked to go to church, lol
ReplyDeleteMildred
I remember it well. But who can forget an act of domestic terrorism when you're a kid and trust the terrorists? In my case, we all made up and religion is never a topic of conversation.
ReplyDeleteLike anonymous at 11:46 AM, I was never told that. Since Leland asked about that commenter's location, I will share mine. I grew up as a Presbyterian in Alabama, USA.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm a Catholic in the Pacific Northwest. In between, I lived in several US states, as well as two countries in Asia. For over 20 years, I would have fit in the unilluminating category which is today called none.
Fundamentalist Christians may believe in a literal fiery hell, but if so, only because of a failure of due diligence in understanding the terms sometimes translated as hell. Sheol and hades simply mean the underworld or land of the dead. Jesus used the word gehenna, meaning the valley of Hinnom, which was a sort of landfill where garbage (and bodies of criminals) were burned. Prior to that, it may have been used by pagans for sacrificial burning. He had a way with words, did Jesus.
There is no hell, per se, other than voluntary separation from God. That's the understanding I've reached in my four score years and ten. Right or wrong, I do not worry about it.