Does Religion Traumatize People?

[@paulsmith8540]

I've been talking about my fears over not believing my fundamentalist Christian upbringing recently- from a 6000 year old earth to "infinite punishment for finite crimes". I was scared to say them outloud. I have good friends who listen to me, including my wife. Keep talking about it. I know we'll all get through it.

[@Hetkanookanders]

I struggle with the concept eternal hell. It,s very depressing and traumatic. Sometimes i wish Christianity never crossed my path

[@leegleissner9771]

Feel the same way. Even if hell was real I would choose it. Who deserves infinite punishment? I'd not worship a God like that let alone spend eternity with it. A true God would not need or even require you worship it. It would need nothing from you. Infinite worship would be the ultimate hell and insanity. No way. What if half your family are not Christian? You would have to love and worship this God eternally as you family is eternally tormented. It's time we all grow up! There are better ideas. Smell the Rose's and enjoy life to the fullest before it runs out. Let us cut the fear of a bad tempered and 2 faced God. We are better than this. If people are fearful they can hide behind the furniture and he wont find you! He was looking for Adam and Eve and couldn't find them until they came from hiding in a fig bush! Cmon folks! I was once a child that grew up. I'm 54 and still a resident evil fan. Take care from very agnostic Lee.

[@the_beef_is_on3682]

Religion is supposed to be positive and a form of spirituality that uplifts you and makes you more happy and fulfilled, when religion is making you depressed and sad then there is a definitely a problem that immediately needs addressing before it get's worse overtime.

[@sissi8704]

yes because behind there is manipulation by controling people.

[@PhoenixRaine777]

Right on! You got it right that people who are still under the belief paradigm will interpret your psychological or PTSD-type symptoms as if it is a deficiency IN YOU and could never be the belief system itself, in their minds. I think that's because of the vast 'normalcy bias' that happens, where we feel uncomfortable with someone who doesn't validate what we believe to be true. So it is easier to dismiss the spiritually abused and religiously wounded, than it is for them to really consider if indeed the belief systems ARE indeed, in any way, playing a part in the creation of the mind and spiritual conflicts that so many struggle with.

[@deSkepticon]

@genext7 So glad you were able to get out! It would have been very hard for me if I didn't have a lot of great friends to talk to about it.

[@BrandonSchlepp]

Love this discussion. It's a long way out of religion; but remember, only the truly thoughtful, and truly strong make their way out of religious thinking. It takes a lot of courage and willingness to seek the truth- no matter what that truth may be (and let me add, a whole lot more unbiased truth-seeking than any religious person will ever know). As my grandpa always says..."Keep the faith." Keep faith that seeking the truth is indeed the right way to go, and leads to true joy and freedom.

[@danielcho8750]

i still fear I'm not good enough around people. because my parents want me to look good in church

[@percubit10]

They do damage people creating havoc and a sense of loss of self.

[@aceshibuya3086]

I have ocd and high anxiety that I have the unfortunate to experience religion teaching to the extreme now I can't even say words like god Satan or Jesus without my aniexty ripping me to shreds. I hate feeling this way I thought coming back to religion after my teenage atheist years would help but it only made it worse for me now I take it day by day.

[@daman7129]

The thing that caused me the most damage is the so called prophetic ministry, people claiming to hear from God and give you words of knowledge and direction for your life, very,very destructive! Now that I'm deconverted I can see clearly what I was under was very cultish and robs you of your authentic identity. One book that helped me was combatting cult mind control by Steven hassan, very helpful.. So far the recovery process with counselling is good but slow.

[@leegleissner9771]

daman 71 Dude! Awesome point. There are so many people that claimed God talked to them. Some try to control you. They are loaded with contradictions. However there are a few I have liked because they are funny. They are far and wide. In general I don't believe. From Agnostic Lee. Love and take care.

[@jayschool9516]

oh man, i can relate to that... they messed me up real good.. i missed out on allot of things staying in the christian circle.. they had a good grip on me, now that im free i feel really lost, and confused about who i am.. but at least im free

[@sissi8704]

The manipulation by fear traumatize many people. The most difficult is to go out of this fear of going to hell in christianity if you start your own way and get your own beliefs. Jesus spoke about hell too. He was controling the people like a cult leader.