Paul and Morgan Want You to Develop Anxiety?! | Therapist Talks Religious Trauma

[@Tink00]

Sometimes it really feels like if you told fundies that normalizing sexuality makes you less inclined to do "sinful" things, their heads would explode

[@rishaa682]

you’re not wrong

[@ToruKun1]

If less people engage in "sinful" things because they've been normalized into something equal parts mundane and unappealing, fundies would be angry because they believe you're supposed to be constantly struggling against temptation. The more you wanna do bad stuff but resist it, the more Godly(tm) you are. It's why they also hate asexuals and aromantics.

[@AeriaGl0ris]

Ngl, I wouldn't be sad to see that happen. And to "the struggle against evil/temptation= godly," funny how they apply that to something utterly mundane, but when it comes to fighting back against domestic abuse, CSA, etc., you know, REAL evils that are making this world a fucked-up place, suddenly you hear crickets, or they try to distract you from the rot within their own churches.

[@bretthansen3739]

To at least some degree, they wouldn't care. It's not really about improving the world for them, it's about obedience.

[@fourcatsandagarden]

oh they absolutely do blue screen, or get super mad and call you a pedophile because they don't want to actually try to think things through

[@ericb9252]

I personally use "Does The Dog Die?" before watching movies and shows, since I can't handle seeing dogs die or get seriously hurt.

[@emo_penguin420]

Lol! I need sufficient prep for trauma concerning the pet's character being harmed.

[@Kabunz]

Same!! I have stopped watching a playthrough of A Plague Tale because the dog dies in the intro and I couldn't handle it 😢

[@TiffanyOkoye]

Yes DDD is a great resource for triggers!

[@beyondallmeasure]

As a CSA survivor I use sites like these to avoid triggering content.

[@TheSightOfTheStars]

Yes! I love Does the Dog Die because especially with popular media, you can usually get really good answers about even kinda of obscure triggers! 10/10 great resource!

[@somik-i3x]

Paul: I am a film critic. Also Paul : I can't watch a movie with feminism or the naked shoulder of a woman.

[@CostumedFiend_Audio]

Yeah, based on this and his thoughts on the Barbie movie I have to wonder what makes him think he's qualified to call himself a critic even as an amateur.

[@Limemuh]

Oppenheimer showed a lot more than a shoulder 😂 but you’re so right

[@loraleepooley3669]

Lol

[@timnewman1172]

I thought "porn shoulder" was a Mormon thing?

[@brandenaustin37]

Paul also can't watch a show or movie if a white person is dating a non white person. It makes him far too uncomfortable and annoyed. Don't call him rascist though or you'll hurt his feelings. He just feels like it shouldn't exist, and he shouldn't have to see that in his movies and shows.

[@Hermionethehobbit]

“Over-romanticize love” I feel like Morgan is telling on herself a little with that one!

[@somik-i3x]

Yeah, I find it weird too.

[@shilohgoes5544]

Oop you’re so right.

[@hanatemonstas4485]

Ironic given how this was the opposite complaint she had for the Barbie movie.

[@chloeroberts5600]

I found that so weird😂

[@t_ylr]

It is so toxic how fundamentalism tells you that everybody is a sinner, but at the same time they make you feel like you have to be perfect. To the point where you're policing your own thoughts.

[@GoddessError]

I understand why people will join churches like those though. When people feel like they are bad and broken because of the things they've done, churches tell them everyone is and there's a way to not be bad and broken anymore (repentance, Christ, yadda yadda). They accept that message and feel less guilty over the ways they've hurt others and themselves. The problem arises when a child who has never gotten the chance to make a major mistake is told "you are bad and broken just like everyone else". From there it devolves into compulsive self hatred for not being perfect.

[@grace-4072]

damn you make such a good point. this is rly thoughtful

[@Emcostanza]

Ex Christian here, thought crime was “real”. Even being angry at someone I was told is “murdering them in your heart”

[@firewalkwifme]

Literally the reason I have OCD 😒😒😒

[@phantomvampyressshadowkiss4690]

I feel bad for girls born into fundie religion. That religion is such a brainwashing women oppressing cult . They literally make women feel and believe everything is their fault in their life problems and marriages. I feel bad for all women in that and hope they can all get away

[@FeministCatLadySpinster]

Waaaait. Paul went to Parents Guide... for himself? Isn't that for parents to see if something is appropriate for their kids? Edit: How can Paul consider himself a film critic of any sort if he has to so severely limit the films he can watch...?

[@caitlinhouse5808]

Lol! He has no internal guide for discernment! All external sources. He's someone who would be very easy for say... idk... a system to control him???

[@ericb9252]

Paul would blush at the sight of a woman's shoulders

[@somik-i3x]

Well if Paul is like other christian fundemanlist husband (so incapable of doing chores like an adult), I am pretty sure we could consider him to be a child.

[@ericb9252]

​@@somik-i3x Oh, you know he does NOTHING around the house

[@somik-i3x]

​@@ericb9252Paul is just Morgan first child not his husband.

[@nekovalley]

“Over-romanticize love” is one of the most objectively ridiculous things i’ve ever heard

[@beyondallmeasure]

As a former fundamentalist, it is taken years of therapy to get out of the shame/anxiety spiral I was raised in.

[@michellemagana402]

Same!

[@stephaniewebb6827]

Yup! Me too. And it’s so hard to be around ppl in it because you see why they don’t and they then just think you are sinning more or just going to hell. Meanwhile we are the healthiest we’ve ever been.

[@lovingmydoctor3366]

Same I’m a few months in the process of deconstruction

[@monkeybonez]

Being indoctrinated as a kid gave me crippling OCD. Could finally live again when I left that religion

[@dobetterwithchristian4472]

Same 💚

[@emericswitch2718]

It's funny, this really made me think about my childhood and how my parents taught me to think of these things. I was offered alcohol at lunch from a young age (never wanted any), told to go out with friends as much as I wanted and enjoy myself (without getting too severely hurt), taught that weed and other light drugs were okay so long as I was in a safe place with people I trusted, and my parents spoke quite openly (though not explicitly) about sex. The result? As an adult, I rarely drink, don't smoke, I've never cared at all about drugs, and I've never been interested at all in porn. My brother is quite similar. Hearing it described as simply as "banning sugar makes kids crave it" is a great explanation for this.

[@writeonshell]

This was how my mother raised me. Due to trauma, there was a wild time in my teens it wasn't *quite* as effective as it may have been but in general I never really went off the rails like some friends I knew with stricter parents. The hilarious thing is my now husband's parents had a purity culture view on life and we were long-distance when we were teens. We would stay at my mum's house, sleeping together (in both senses of the word) and then we'd start at his parents house and not even be allowed to be in the same room together alone... so we'd go for a drive on their property to catch up. It never stopped us, just forced us to find other solutions. I've used the same logic with my daughter (now 17), it's actually a joke between us that one day we'll find an alcohol she'll actually like 😂 My rule after she hit her teens has very much been: it's your body and your life so you can set your own rules but do it safely. I'd rather her at home having safe sex or drinking under supervision than God knows where without a safety net.

[@somik-i3x]

@@writeonshell So your husband parent thought you only can have sex in a bedroom ? This is kind of despressing and funny at the same time.

[@bmoe4609]

Yea I didn't get none of that, but I tried wine disgusting. Don't smoke, I do watch porn but it's great so lmao

[@someonerandom8552]

My parents were the same. My father used to use the old school cold/flu remedy of a bit of Brandy when I got sick though. He mixed it with lemonade so it wouldn’t taste awful for me and it might have inadvertently given me the taste for it. Oops! Had frank open discussions about sex, STDs and the like. So I never felt weirded out by it nor did I ever hesitate to seek help for any questions about my body and indeed was always quick to ensure my own health growing up. I tried cigarettes once out of curiosity but ehh. Didn’t like it. I will admit to drinking unhealthily. But that’s probably more so the really bad habits I developed whilst being bored out of my mind during the lockdowns in my country lol Granted drinking alcohol was always somewhat encouraged by my elders around me, but it was always done with safety in mind as well when I was young. Honestly whilst on the surface it seems rather a “loose” style of parenting, it actually enabled me to be honest with my parents. Even if getting into trouble was a potential outcome. I never felt like I had to hide anything from them. In contrast to some of my friends with super strict parents who would rely on me for cover lol. More than once I had to step in when they obviously crossed their own limits.

[@Ticket2theMoon]

I escaped a 14 year abusive marriage only to later realize that I was in a terrifyingly similar relationship with the church. So I escaped that too, and I'm working with a therapist and using content like this to process it all.

[@2121bassplayer]

i've always said (as someone who was abused in the church and from a family where multiple generations were abused in the church) part of the reason churches aren't so quick to point out abuse in relationships is because if their congregants can recognize abuse they may start getting ideas about their church or faith being abusive too

[@Nelia2705]

​@@2121bassplayer very fair point I'd think!

[@abbsterftw]

I just find it interesting that Paul is hung up on the "raunch fest" aspect and not the explicit violence or horror elements. Those are far more present than the sex scenes

[@somik-i3x]

Violence is less offensive for a fundemantalist than sex. Maybe they think God approve violence.

[@WhatWouldLubitschDo]

I’ve always wondered why Americans censor sex above violence, but maybe it has *everything* to do with the type of religion that influences everything in this country.

[@marian96ful]

I also don't know why the magic/fantasy part doesn't bother him either. I was never allowed to watch anything like that because of the magic

[@catsmom129]

@@GalaRed-DeliciousAmbrosiaor possibly NC-17

[@premierebuerger4553]

So true I thought he was going to talk about the violence not sex lol

[@athenatheshewolf]

Whenever I see Paul, he always looks like he's on the verge of snapping. The human embodiment of a shaken up soda can. His eyes, body language, and those veins continually popping put me on edge. 😬

[@amberinthemist7912]

Oh he for sure has violent tantrums on a regular basis. And Morgan has to apologize for setting him off. I've known too many religious men like him.

[@kezia8027]

@@amberinthemist7912 while I understand why you've said what you've said - there are plenty of problematic things about paul without assuming things we don't have evidence for. Making claims for which there is no actual evidence will only minimize the credibility of the actual problematic behaviour he exhibits. To be clear I'm not saying he DOESN'T get violent, I'm just saying that as far as I'm aware, there is no evidence of this, whereas there is plenty of evidence for other atrocious, controlling, problematic behaviour, without adding in behaviours based on our personal judgements. Not to mention, that making claims he is violent when there is no evidence, will only serve to weaken any evidence that could come forward in future, because then they can point at all the comments that are untrue, and make a blanket statement claiming they're all just making up lies to make him look bad, which would distract from/discredit this hypothetical future evidence.

[@amberinthemist7912]

@@kezia8027 Good thing I'm not giving testimony in court or claiming to have first hand evidence. Based on his behavior and my life experiences I believe there is a 0 chance that he doesn't regularly thrown tantrums that he blames on external factors like his wife's behavior. That is part and parcel to his religion.

[@kezia8027]

@@amberinthemist7912 if you would prefer to just 'dunk' on people you disagree with rather than actually caring about doing what you can to improve the situation then that's your prerogative. It is unfortunate that even taking a moment to think critically about how your actions can affect those around you, and the world at large is asking too much. Personally I'd prefer to take actions that improve people's lives rather than imagining situations that allow you to feel superior to others.

[@kezia8027]

@@amberinthemist7912 your actions only serve to perpetuate these situations, and alienate those who need the most support of all.

[@sarahmoreland5388]

I literally laughed out loud when you said “I think there’s a lot of things that Paul doesn’t comprehend”

[@virtualprimatologist]

The self surveillance is truly debilitating when you already have anxiety. I didn't even go to a super fundamentalist church when I was younger but the self loathing was so real because I liked to read fanfic and watch TV that wasn't up to P&M's purity standards

[@rowanquynn9964]

I remember hearing the story about the husband who had a p**n addiction who smashed his computer and cellphone so he could stop sinning. And every time I so much as thought about sinning I felt like I couldn't have nice things if they might lead me to even consider sinning

[@Uneclipsed]

I don’t usually feel sad for Paul, but… stuff like this makes me so sad for him. making yourself suffer doesn’t make you a good and moral person. This level of self-policing and hyper vigilance can’t be good for them. Edit: annnd my sadness is gone. Lol

[@rishaa682]

you think he means this? you dont think he’s a grifter?😂

[@kezia8027]

@@rishaa682 unfortunately I do believe he, and many others do actually believe this. I don't believe he is consistent, or that his rules are actually as strictly enforced or as beneficial as he claims, but I do believe that he believes. He just buries his head in the sand when anything that could possibly contradict his world view is threatened. tbh acting like these people don't exist is only going to make the situation worse. These people DO exist, they DO believe this, and mocking/ridiculing/saying that they are faking it, only gives them further ammunition to say "the rest of the world is wicked and will try to lead us astray, so don't even try to examine anything people say that disagrees with your beliefs" This is a common tactic for many of these types of groups - mormon missionaries for example, are told before they go door to door, that the rest of the world hates them and needs saving, and that people slamming doors in their faces, or yelling at them or being rude, are evidence that the world is a "wicked, sinful place' and that only 'we' are the good ones, so we have to save everyone else from themselves!"

[@kate4781]

​@rishaa682 I grew up in fundamentalist Christianity and know many people who think like him.

[@camillemitchell301]

The Bible says you must deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow the Lord. That does involve some discipline. But if you don't view the Bible as the ultimate authority then you wouldn't understand.

[@hanatemonstas4485]

⁠​⁠@@camillemitchell301The Bible is not an idol. This breaks the 2nd commandment. But if you don’t read the Bible with discernment, you wouldn’t understand.

[@Hair8Metal8Karen]

"It's worth the sacrifice of not watching Twilight" was honestly one if the funniest things I've heard in my life! I cackled so loud 😂😂😂

[@emo_penguin420]

Woof. They didn't have to want me to develop anxiety, watching Paul and Morgan interact gives me the same panicked feeling as being trapped on a road trip with a couple that's passive aggressively bickering the whole way 😭

[@insomniac_mind776]

Same here. I wouldn't want to be trapped in the same car with them, that sounds like hell

[@loraleepooley3669]

Right??? They’re so icky and they don’t even seem to like each other. They seem sour and like they’d be a real drag.

[@loraleepooley3669]

Childish couple. And man what a lot of rules.

[@charlotte31415]

I am so uncomfortable whenever I see them. It just seems like Morgan HATES Paul.

[@someonerandom256]

In other words, a road trip with my parents, although that was more my mother passively aggressively trying to argue with my father while calling him passive aggressive for refusing to be baited...

[@lkqgirl3121]

As a 19 year old gal raised fundie who was recently diagnosed with an aniexty disorder, i really appreciate you speaking out against those sort of attitudes. Im tired of church telling me to be not anxious and then making me anxious about sin/hell and im tired of how the media is just fear, fear, fear all the time. It can be exhausting to live in a fear-crazy world as a person basically born fearful.

[@grace-4072]

i rly appreciate your phrasing , born fearful. i struggle with anxiety too and i’m sorry you are facing that my friend! I’m glad you have found Mickey cause she’s mentioned a lot of things that have helped me manage my own anxiety. I hope ur able to treat yourself gently and kindly and im sending u the best of wishes n love

[@vsgreenie1]

i feel like that's one of the major contradictions of fundamentalism, they're constantly fear-mongering about how the "enemy" is out to get Christians, yet they don't want people to be anxious because anxiety isn't pleasing to god. how is someone supposed to stay calm if they believe they're being targeted? how is it possible to be a "good" Christian by their standards without letting the fear of hell dominate your life?

[@ShimmerBodyCream]

I don't know if this scripture will help you, but fear is the opposite of love says the Bible itself. I thought that might be a helpful little brain hack as you're trying to overcome the hurt people have done. ❤️ "18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

[@peyton3364]

Same here. I’ve struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember and after getting diagnosed at 17 my mom started sending me Bible studies for anxiety and telling me that it was because I didn’t have a good enough relationship with God and that I needed to pray and read my Bible more to fix it. It’s so hard to get away from the fear once it’s been introduced

[@melissashiels7838]

When I was a fundamentalist Christian, I think I was encouraged to put my anxiety in the drivers seat and call it God. Monitoring my thoughts, "seeking God's face" about what job/college/hobby I should pursue, purity culture. It was all anxiety in one form or other.

[@thecreditsconductor7298]

I’ve never thought about it that way but that’s exactly what it was for me too!

[@dinosaysrawr]

I am reminded of how Jeanette McCurdy decided that her OCD had to be the Voice of God as a child.

[@tonilee1013]

Oh my gosh you're exactly right!

[@DragonflyandTheWolf]

"as a male, I have to be on guard." This married man really thinks that if he sees one naked person he will lose control of himself and. . .what? Is he afraid of getting turned on?

[@maryeckel9682]

And why do they have trouble with a married couple watching sex scenes together? That's so weird.

[@ab6525]

As a former fundamentalist, the switch from "taking thoughts captive" to just acknowledging that negative thoughts come and go and I can control how I respond to them, was just a massive relief. It's hard to fully describe the intense anxiety and fear that comes from being afraid of every peice of media and every world view that isn't explicitly Christian.

[@JasmineTea127]

Mickey I laugh so hard at the faces you make when they talk. It reminds me of watching something wacky with your bestie. "Feeling the need to have explicit approval by an outside source in order to feel allowed to do things as an adult is very much a function of these oppressive and authoritarian religious groups." So true.

[@tonilee1013]

Yeah one of the most surprising things after leaving religion was that the things that are now "allowed" aren't even a big deal anymore

[@amygreen9662]

This kind of restriction sure didn't help Josh Duggar.

[@loraleepooley3669]

Good one

[@motorcitymangababe]

Adding onto the idea of purity culture as Halloween candy- I also feel like there is a built in effect of restricting in that the inevitable binge is then used not only as an excuse to punish or shame, but an example of how the "Halloween candy" is just as bad as you were warned, so you are led to restrict even more.

[@orionsbow9898]

Being in this culture definitely made my anxiety disorder worse to the point where I still can't step into certain churches without having an anxiety attack. It's something I'm still trying to work through my religious trauma

[@TheSightOfTheStars]

❤ I'm in a very similar boat. Sending you love and light on your journey of healing.

[@Neotokyorider]

"I checked the parents guide" I lost it at that one. You're a grown damn adult man.

[@Neotokyorider]

"I'm a little bit of a film critic" Bruh, you have to check the parents guide before you watch films. There's no way he's been able to watch enough movies to have any authority on films lmao

[@SilentSong123]

@@Neotokyorider honestly I don't know how he could be a film critic if he can't handle anything sexy honestly. I'm aroace and even I can handle sex scenes in shows bet he couldn't even handle nostalgia critic

[@monkeybonez]

Many flavors of Christianity (and other religions) are very set on and designed for keeping the followers perpetual children, on some levels.

[@cosmicqt9647]

The term "freedom in Christ" always confused me, even when I was a Christian. They said it meant "freedom from sin", but all I've ever witness is 24/7 hypervigilince and varying degrees of bondage. We're free from sin, but always have to be on the lookout and have our guard up? Our "armor on"???". Nothing about that speaks freedom to me.

[@LouisaWatt]

The advice that I’ve heard from more normal Christian parents is not to censor kids too heavily (apart from regular age-appropriate ratings) and just… talk to your kids. If they feel like they can have a less judgemental conversation with their parents, and go to them for sound advice, it’s beneficial overall for other life situations and the parent/child relationship.

[@NotSoCivilEngineer]

16:50 Not gonna lie, this bit from Morgan was initially giving me “If you or a loved has suffered from mesothelioma, you may be entitled to financial compensation.”

[@morganellenedavis]

Mickey, from the bottom of my heart -- thank you for the work that you're doing. Time and time again your channel has been a wellspring of validation, clarity, affirmation, and hope for me as I have worked to deconstruct my toxic relationship with religion. Keep on keepin' on!

[@stephaniewebb6827]

Me too!!

[@feliciasjoberg9886]

Morgan: "...falling into sin" FALLING INTO SIN? As an atheist, WTF DOES THAT MEAN??

[@somik-i3x]

I think it mean seeing a woman shoulder ? Not sure if it's the shoulder or ankle.

[@2121bassplayer]

"falling into sin" pretty much means youre going down some slippery slope towards depravity because you compromised on a rule in some way, at least that's how i would say the phrase is usually used

[@mandyb2245]

This hits really close to the bone for me, because I was raised this way. Well, not quite as strict as it, but I used to go to a church that taught this in spades. The church shamed my mom out of watching her favorite soap operas and made her stop reading Danielle Steel, because they're "sinful". The youth group tried to get me to assign to myself an "accountability partner", which is basically someone my age who would hold me accountable for my deeds and thoughts. Even when I was a conservative Christian that rubbed me the wrong way and I never got one.

[@tasheenarose]

I was a fundie/evangelical for ten years (been out for almost the same length!) and this was me. The anxiety I had was through the roof, thinking I was going to drop the ball at any moment. It peaked when I mention a show I watched (and like) and another Christian was like ‘Oh, you watched THAT’ just dripping with judgement. It makes you feel unworthy and that you can’t trust your own judgement. I’m still working on all this shit in therapy. Glad I got out of that cult.

[@averywillow4327]

TLDR: I would love to hear a discussion on the process of learning personal moderation. Context: your comment about not being restrictive about candy got me thinking, I am not able to have sugar chewy candy in my house without eating it all, I'm not sure why but I eventually just gave up buying it bc that is easier than getting on a sugar rollercoaster. It's really my only thing, I can have chocolate and won't binge, I can buy sugar free candy and be fine. By contrast, I have a friend who struggles with addiction in general and is in recovery - there are things that I can easily do in moderation that she has to avoid bc it will spiral for her. it seems that in general, intuitive eating is good, but perhaps there is wisdom in knowing yourself and modifying according to your needs?

[@CorwinFound]

I got super lucky with my kid, 14 years old now. He just happens to love vegetables. But his dad and I (both struggle with weight) did a couple things very purposefully. The words "healthy" and "treat" were never used. We always made sure there were diverse foods on the plate. He was never forced to eat or finish anything. And as he got older instead of talking about any food being negative or positive we talked about things like sugars and protein as components of different foods. At 14 his relationship with food is incredibly healthy. He'll try anything. He actively works to balance his food. He never (or very very rarely) eats past satiation. I'm sure much of this is dumb luck but I'd like to think we at the very least didn't pass on the negative mindsets around food that both his parents have.

[@loraleepooley3669]

Yeah I have a bit of a weight problem and an addiction to baked goods and chips. I know that sounds silly but if I want to keep my weight stable I have decided to not keep those foods in my home. If I want a small bag of chips I will go buy it. But then I’m done. For me it’s cause and effect. If I eat too much of my favorite foods I gain a lot of weight. It effects my blood pressure, fatty liver, etc etc. I do what works for me. Everyone is different.

[@jadelinny]

You could look up a recent edition of the book "Intuitive Eating" by Tribole and Resch (they are the ones that coined the phrase way back in the when). I would recommend reading the whole thing and getting all the reasons and examples rather than trying to go it alone (based on this youtube comment). But essentially, the goal is to retrain your brain that chewy sugar candy IS allowed, and it's NOT special or restricted. The way you do this is to let yourself have it in the house and eat it whenever you want. This can be a really scary step, and it's easy to freak yourself out because you've been trained that it is wrong. And most likely you will eat a large amount of it at first. But eventually your brain gets used to the new way of thinking, and the cravings wear themselves out. (Once again, I would recommend reading the whole book, as they have tips and strategies and encouragement. For instance, they say that MANY people feel that this could never possible work for them, but that they have come out the other side.)

[@averywillow4327]

HI​@@jadelinny - thanks for the book recommend! My personal context is a bit different. I have a bunch of health issues that have lead to trouble digesting and sometimes experience extreme drops in blood sugar. I also lose weight more easily than gain and if I find myself losing quickly I will 100% switch to the easy calories. But on a normal day, if I were to think about eating candy, the thought isn't, "I can't, that's bad!" it's simply that I remember what it's like to shake and not be able to do anything until I get my blood sugar stable. I think my reaction that lead to my comment was 2-fold. 1) I found it super fascinating to hear Mickey compare the fundie fear of moral corruption to disordered eating and thought the underlying thought process could make an interesting video. and 2) sometimes when people talk about intuitive eating it can come off, well, as black and white thinking. I suspect that comes from the fact that so many people need to hear it that it can get summarized at everyone needs to hear it. Because of this, I would also love to see a nuanced video discussing the underlying fear/avoidance that intuitive eating is trying to address. Again, thanks for the book recommendation and hope you have a great week :)

[@jadelinny]

@@averywillow4327 Yes, for eating disorders (as opposed to just disordered eating) and health issues related to food, people should seek professional help instead of just reading a book! And yes, "intuitive eating" is kind of a buzzword on the social medias, but most of the content is just using the phrase and shows little evidence of actually understanding what the original authors were talking about.

[@vikkiikki1226]

I really think they do want all women in a constant state of panic.

[@desiadaven]

Omg Mickey. This describes my childhood so much. I am exmormon and there is literally a verse in the book of mormon that gets quoted a lot and members are encouraged to memorize it: "The natural man is an enemy to God and has been since the fall of Adam." The natural man is interpreted to mean any "appetite" people have... food, alcohol, sex, could be anything. How harmful is that?!? Thank you for being so validating and calling out the nasty when and where you see it! Every dection of this was amazing.

[@amberinthemist7912]

Yep. That lined burned a hole through my mind as a child. Totally warped my views and made me hate myself.

[@desiadaven]

@@amberinthemist7912 oh I am so sorry. That line definitely echoed in my head a lot too. It is so destructive.

[@Boatyboatyyy]

It matters so much what other people do because they feel personally robbed. They cannot convince themselves inside that it’s worth it for it’s own sake, and constantly seeing other people being happy with their choices and making human connections shows how they are so wrong. Luv u Micky

[@TiredKnitter]

Lately I've been thinking about why I enjoy content focused around deconstructing as someone who has never been religious. I've also recently started ED treatment, and your parallel about restriction hit home for me and I think may be why I find this content comforting. It criticizes the ED voice without being so direct that it's overwhelming. Thanks for always giving me something to think about.

[@onceuponamelody]

You know, it's surprising how much you can respect your partner and yourself when you realize that other humans are worthy of basic love and respect and start treating them that way - instead of viewing everyone through a narrow religious lens. Not cheating on your partner comes surprisingly easily when you realize they are a fellow human and not here to just serve you.

[@JeddtheJedi]

22:16 I was a film critic and still write about film. The attitude Paul is talking about is a terrible one for anybody approaching film with the intention of appreciating and understanding it to have. The movies you watch are not always going to be comfortable. Sometimes they'll challenge you. It's your prerogative to stay away from things that you feel might be retraumatising or triggering, but art can often be a great way to confront and process challenging issues and to see the world through other perspectives. Film critic Roger Ebert wrote, "For me, the movies are like a machine that generates empathy". Empathy seems like something Paul actively wants to avoid.

[@honeylis7]

I just started seeing a new therapist last week after seeing one for several years and just not feeling like she "got" me or was helping. I won't lie and say that your videos didn't help me find someone who gelled with me more and whose approach I really like. Listening to your videos helped me verbalize what I need from a past-trauma, post-religious, post-purity culture, deconstruction kind of view. THANK YOU Mickey!!!

[@angelarice8418]

I think it would be very difficult to navigate a healthy marriage with these prurient anxieties. If I were that scared of my own sexual thoughts, how would I feel about my partner watching TV without me? There would be unnecessary secrets, unexpressed opinions, quiet resentments etc. Uncomfortable.

[@ruthc.5414]

I found the sex in the Witcher to be super focused on both partners and mutual pleasure and attraction. It was not able uncomfortable in any way for me as a woman (who used to be VERY Christian). Sex scenes like the ones in the Witcher show how sex, something that we've been told is wrong; can be beautiful, mutual and very hot. Not sinful but beautiful. The author of the Witcher is in favor of women having bodily autonomy, a theme that appears often in the show. This idea is very opposed to how Paul and Morgan seem to think and therefore I can see how they would find it threatening.

[@kristien2010]

When I first watched the show it took me a little off guard, but then I was like, "OK this isn't bad." Only one I reacted to was the one after the djinn, & honestly it made me laugh. Of all the ways I've seen sex shown, it's definitely one of the more healthy ones.

[@CorwinFound]

The self-control over inbound media is a protective tactic. My sister is hardcore born again Evangelical Christian. Sure, she doesn't watch violence or sex stuff (although she LOVES true crime) but it isn't really about staying PG. It's about keeping certain ideas out. I tried to get her to watch Our Flag Means Death. Comedic, cartoon violence, no nudity, sex implied rather than shown. But she wouldn't watch it because it shows queer love. The reality is if she watched it and empathized with the characters would she be as able vote and actively advocate for anti-LGBT as easily? No. Seeing queer people as fully human and no better or worse than anyone else would seriously call into question some core tenets of her religion. It's very difficult these days to maintain a fundamentalist mindset when media shows diversity of thought to such a level. So these people are required to create a bubble around themselves, very purposefully and with full knowledge of what they are doing. While at the same time justifying it completely and unquestioningly. Very much 1984 double-think.

[@SilentSong123]

Hmm my twin is similar although she's currently on a Disney ban cause she hates magic and anything LGBTQ related and oddly enough she enjoys true crime it's very weird I've been wanting to see Our Flag Means death but I can't find it anywhere but I've seen enough reactions to know a bit about Bonnet and Blackbeard and I already adore them she got mad when I started singing We don't talk about Bruno cause of divination it's so stupid

[@CorwinFound]

@@SilentSong123 Our Flag Means Death is on (HBO) Max but very easy to find on Putlocker etc. And the new season is starting Oct 5!!! I'm so excited. And I feel the frustration with your sister. Especially trying to censor your singing. I'm trans masc and showed up at my sister's place wearing a shirt that said, "Penis is a state of mind." She said to me, "It's offensive to wear that shirt around me because you know I'm against that ideology. How would _you_ feel if I wore a shirt that said 'Jesus Saves' to your house?!?" My response was somewhere along the line of, "Why would I ever care?" And then pointed out that she wore church and religious gear around me all the time and not once had it elicited a comment from me. That kind of struck her speechless. I've noticed that religious extremists always seem to assume that everyone else wants to censor and control others as much as they do. Which is rarely the case.

[@SilentSong123]

@@CorwinFound my phone can only allow for so many apps I wish it was on Netflix and yeah it's annoying how much Christians have to sensor everything. But what I find odd is everyone gets mad when I cuss but I heard my uncle do it all the time it's such a double standard. And yeah my sis wears religious shirts all the time and I've never once said anything.

[@Minakie]

Their approach is really funny to me. I'm not even religious but, as an aro-ace who never saw anyone naked in my entire life, I was in complete and utter SHOCK the first time I watched Game of Thrones. I grew up watching sex scenes on TV but, for the most part, stuff is just implied and you don't actually see much. Game of Thrones just had such a high amount of full nudity (especially in the first season) that I went through a period of time questioning if maybe I'm also sex-repulsed because it was so jarring to me that it would legit make me sick to my stomach at first. But, unlike these people, I chose the exact opposite approach and decided the cure was "exposure therapy" and just kept watching. When season 2 aired I was so used to it that I was just like "Oh right, there's nudity in this show, I forgot" and I'd have no reaction to it anymore; to me, they were just nude people, nothing special about it. So yeah, the fact they're telling people not to watch "sinful" content is a great way to just not teach people any form of self-control. Better keep the Halloween candy away from them as well.

[@tiggerpup_nz]

Game of thrones sex scenes and nudity also died down a LOT until near on non existent in the final season.

[@ashleyhall6098]

Plus Game of Thrones sex scenes were designed to bring up strong emotions of disgust or horror. Porgan would incinerate on the spot.

[@ChristopherSadlowski]

I didn't watch the show but I did read the books, and the sex scenes were pretty intense even in written form. Like...the sex was basically another form of violence in the books. It was rough to read, and I'm a sexual person. OMG Chris, "sexual person"? Is that even a term you dunder head? Anyway, there was an artistic point to the sex in the books so it wasn't just gratuitous to be shocking. I'm happy that you found a way to see a naked human body and not have strong negative reactions that were bothering you. We are all naked under our clothes after all; it's weirdos like P&M who make such a huge deal about it that makes nakedness into something it's necessarily not.

[@davidchess1985]

That these two feel qualified to give anyone advice about ANYTHING is perpetually maddening...

[@corvidae_s]

I use the parents guide to vet movies for my very christian mom 🤣 Sometimes I'll read it to her and she'll decide if she wants to watch the movie despite the warnings or not.

[@hanatemonstas4485]

Putting the parent on parents guide lol

[@AChickandaDuck]

Probably my biggest regret from being raised in a fundamentalist religion is the years I spent struggling with perfectly normal sexual feelings. It truly does feel like you’re at war with yourself and it’s ultimately such a waste of mental energy.

[@jojojarvey]

I just started postgrad at a religiously affiliated school as someone going through deconstruction and still working through my trauma and triggers. I can not explain how relieving these videos are for me. They soothe the part of me that misses religion (as my school not so subtly shoves it down our throats). But the truth is, my religion is what hurt me in the first place, and then offered fake comfort for the wounds it inflicted. Being able to have someone compassionately reinforce why I left and chose to heal is so lovely. Thank you.

[@raven_moonshine39]

That pause at 25:27 after reading "non-religious" followed by the condescending tone about "holding Christians to a higher standard"...I don't know why, but that made me prickle so much. I guess just after watching snark channels for so long where they're so open and welcoming to their religious viewers and are always careful to say, "remember, I'm not making fun of you, I'm making fun of these individuals" and here's Paul barely able to get through one comment from a non-religious viewer who's actively agreeing with him. Like, oh my god he must be just a delight to know in person 🙄

[@Schu0086]

I love hearing Aaron’s commentary in the background, lol. You guys are the best. Paul and Morgan seem to have doubled down on their fundamentalism after being humiliated on Shiny Happy People. They can’t accept that their opinions are unhealthy or damaging and instead are saying “yes, this is correct, the world is just attacking us for being Christians”. A little self reflection from them would go a long way, but that’s too scary.

[@Schu0086]

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I personally determine if a church or belief system is dangerous. I have three main thoughts: it is dangerous if the church is constantly talking about sin and hell and demons and Satan, because in those situations they are controlling people through fear. It is dangerous if a church is giving prescriptive guidelines about how to please God through your behaviors, like not watching certain shows or dressing in a particular way, because again this creates fear particularly of “the world” which isolates members from their society and the support that can be found there. And it is dangerous when a church teaches authority structures or submission because it invalidates and disempowers victims of abuse, keeping them trapped in situations that are deeply damaging. I can’t take the way these people are ruled by fear and dogma. They aren’t allowed to think for themselves and want others to be in that same disempowered environment where they have no voice and no choice. Fuck all of that. Jesus was fully against dependency on rules and custom, he was speaking for the disempowered and valuing those people regardless of their personal choices, and that’s why his message lives on. These people want to remove that message because they gain power by hurting others and they are seeking that. Paul and Morgan are complete clowns.

[@eviesholette]

I need "That's not how the human experience works, Paul" on a t-shirt, please. that and "raunch fest" can be your next merch release.

[@rayay248]

I began the process of deconstructing my fundamentalist upbringing about 10 years ago, and even though I consider myself a non-religious pantheist, I still struggle a lot of the issues you talk about in this video. It’s very much a 2 steps forward, 1 step back feeling. I’m making progress every day, though. What worries me the most now are all of the children who are still being indoctrinated into this, like my niece and nephew. It kills me that the best case scenario for them at this point is to eventually begin the long and often difficult road of deconstruction themselves.

[@didograce3531]

Suggestion for merch: bottle of ranch dressing that says “Hidden Valley Raunch Fest”

[@RebrandedMaria]

Really appreciate you so much. Convinced my life would look sooooo different if I had someone like you validating my teenage experience when I was still actively under the indoctrination in the church. Still so helpful. Just wish I got here like 15 years sooner 🤣🙏🏽👏🏽

[@wolfumz]

Yeah. It would be one thing is fundamental gave you this terrifying message and impossible standards, but when you got anxious over it, they were like, "yeah, welcome to the club, dude. We all live in crippling anxiety. It's horrible, but we support you. This is what it means to be faithful. Do whatever weird and asocial thing you need to do to deal with the terror, and we won't judge you. Whatever it takes, we support you." But instead, they act like you're a bad person for having feelings. They send the message there's something wrong witu you, because you're having a totally predictable emotional response to their doctrine. You're supposed to be happy all the time. I sometimes wonder if the early church was more like this, up to the middle ages. There was more wiggle room around being a total weirdo and barely hanging on to society's standards, more of a 'small town' style acceptance of people. Lots of important early figures in Christianity may have had anxiety disorders or OCD, ranging Augustine to Martin Luther. these were people who did not fit into many social expectations of the day... and that was okay. Then again, maybe I'm full of it. This was also an era when you'd get burned at the stake for believing that Jesus was God and had the same essence as God except he was subjugate to God as the son, as opposed to believing Jesus and God were both from the same essence as co equals for eternity. You could get executed over messing that one up. So maybe they were less accommodating than I am imagining.

[@SMcGowan287]

This is just so insanely weird. I can't imagine living my life constantly worrying about what I'm seeing and what OTHER people are doing. Wow.

[@claratalbot7613]

As someone with anxiety I feel like restricting urself leads to making ur anxiety worse. By all means avoid something that may be triggering for u but don't take it to the extreme like Paul and Morgan have done. Now this is just my personal experience so take it with a massive amount of salt but just because I have social anxiety doesn't mean I lock myself in my house and never intract with the world, rather when I go out I have coping mechanics in place that help me keep my anxiety in the passenger or back seat. I do limit myself to a degree but without denying myself the ability to watch or do things I know I will enjoy

[@DanaScully0709]

i was raised in evangelical christianity and my children's church teacher taught us that if we watched shows/movies like harry potter or wizards of waverly place that demons were going to come out of the tv and haunt/possess us. i was around 8/9 years old at the time (and extremely anxious). wizards of waverly place was my favorite tv show, and i knew i wasn't going to stop watching it lol so i would obsessively ask for forgiveness after watching it and pray for god's protection against the demons i supposedly released 🙃 i have since left the religion and am in the process of deconstructing. working with my therapist has helped me not only heal from a lot of the religious trauma but also realize that the church i went to had major cult vibes.

[@Lynsey17]

Honest, what I get from this is that Paul really wants to watch The Witcher and he is frustrated that his self-imposed excessively strict & judgmental morality code doesn't let him enjoy it.

[@janetblake6361]

Morgan mija blink twice if You want out lol she gives me an “over it “ vibe

[@pinkysaurusrawr]

Sometimes you say something that makes me pause my video in shock and really sit with myself for a bit. Having a moment of self discovery right now, thanks for facilitating it

[@shayna1994]

Growing up I always went to the website Plugged In from Focus on the Family (does that website still exist lol?) and it would say negative things even about the most G rated kids movies. But my Mom wouldn't let me watch it without looking at that website 1st!

[@parrotsontheplateau3488]

Oh yes yes yes! I remember this! Yeah ,if they had even brought up a movie , we weren't allowed to watch it. Those guys on plugged absolutely always knew what they were talking about lol. Looking back I think it was so strange that my parents allowed some random person to dictate what happened in our home. Turn your brains off and allow your pastor, elder or some guys from focus on the family do the thinking for you.

[@ZombiePirateLeChuck]

Thank you for all your comments about the restriction because I grew up religious and the repression caused some really unhealthy attitudes and feelings about myself. The sexual repression is crazy wild and im finally starting to unlearn it now with my new relationship. It's hard being okay with being a sexual being after it was such a big deal to never think about sex. Love your content and thank you for tearing down fundamentalists, it really heals my brain to hear how insane their takes are

[@troofinadvertising]

Paul and Morgan's followers went off over the art on the wall. They are so pissed that someone actually loves everyone.

[@charlotte31415]

I just found your channel a couple days ago when you were talking about women being childfree. I love the way you pick apart the mental gymnastics that these people have to put themselves through to be preaching opinions like this.

[@HolldollMcG]

One of the most important things I learned when leaving my cult was to mind my own fucking business. And honestly, life is better now. For myriad reasons, but on this point particularly, I'm so much happier now that I don't judge other people constantly.

[@feliciasjoberg9886]

Speaking of "allowed" media: Jehovah's witnesses deemed Michael Jackson demonic and satanic after "Thriller". It was banned and my mom learned of his music when he died! FIY, like a year later, Jackson apologized in JW's Awake May 22nd 1984

[@tiffaniejewett6795]

The idea that the sex content in The Witcher is “severe” is wild to me.

[@sarahneubert3377]

I think they would love twighlight. It’s all about saving yourself for marriage. The only “sexy” scenes are super implied. And after they are married. That was why fan fiction like 50 Shades of Grey was written 😅

[@amberinthemist7912]

Well the author is a mormon and the whole series was basically an anti abortion rant, so that makes sense.

[@JunAlex86]

Not only does this over-analysis of media make fundies act very restrictively in their consumption of media, but I think that they add to how certain things are commodified in their lives and relationships. Since they can't view anything remotely sexual, now their marriage has to be the main outlet that they experience or retain any satisfaction or exploration. It's like only being able to eat your own homemade meals and nothing else whatsoever.

[@jdbrown9380]

The infantilization of adults in these controlling religious institutes is mind-boggling. While I appreciate the opinions of other adults I am not going to a website geared towards parents regulating their child’s viewing habits to dictate what I watch. It’s so icky.

[@stephaniewebb6827]

I grew up in this type of environment and I heard this A LOT about being careful about sex and what we were watching. We did grow up to be adults with the emotional maturity of children/teenagers and I've seen it with many many people. A friend of mine posted something recently about how we "sin" less when we don't believe we are "sinners". And it's true. I have less anxiety about these things since deconstructing and have been healing and growing from this religious rhetoric. And it's so easy to see how much this has affected people and the church. Everyone is so surprised by the porn addiction and sexual assaults in the church but this type of culture actually creates it and they don't understand because they refuse to believe that they are the ones perpetuating it.

[@pbandpudge]

This brings up unsavory memories of policing every little thing I did when I was growing up but I'm glad I'm free of this bs mindset Literally every time I hear them say anything it makes me want to run and keep running until I'm literally as far away from that toxicity as possible

[@kpoplover1901]

I havent watched the whole video yet, but the point you made in the beginning in regards to restricting oneself/policing how we act and feel which breeds anxiety, is hitting the nail on the head for me in regards to even something as small as cursing. I grew up in a cultural, super traditional, racist, and elitist christian community. We were raised to be prim and proper and to hold our tongue, especially in large groups/around adults. I don't curse often at all, I will more frequently say: crap, damn, damn it. And that's about it. Saying fck, btch, *sshole, is SO difficult for me because I feel like i'm doing something WRONG even though with my personality (obnoxious, outgoing, social when comfortable) would lead you to think that I would more freely speak/curse. I'm honestly trying to "up my quota" so I feel more comfortable cursing in front of others lmao and just feel comfortable in being who I am without constantly changing words or censoring myself. I'm not trying to curse like a sailor, but letting myself be comfortable even saying the word shit would be nice lol

[@graceleathers5970]

I have been deconstructing for about 4 years now and your videos are so helpful to me. I am very passionate about psychology and becoming a more emotionally mature person. I suffer from depression, anxiety, OCD and have some PTSD, so I appreciate understanding how these beliefs can effect our minds. I have had lots of therapy btw, big fan of real individualised therapy!

[@jessicaa3641]

I will be saying "raunch fest" at every opportunity I get

[@MagyarLincoln]

It's this culture that played a major role in me developing OCD. People like Paul and Morgan have no idea how much they hurt others by propagating these ideas!

[@salemcrow5078]

honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't care either. Because even when you can tell them "doing this hurt me" it's always some shit like "well, you must have been doing it wrong" or "that's the enemy trying to get in your head." It's like they're entirely incapable of truly listening to you.

[@G-L-O-R-I-A]

When Paul says “I’m not touching it,” he’s not talking about the movie, folks.

[@justice_jacobs]

We love you, Mickey!!

[@sonyagrace1918]

If I tell you not to think about a pink elephant, you're gonna think about a pink elephant. When thinking about sex becomes something sinful, it's all you think about and feel guilty for doing so. Sigh...

[@Abcity92]

Oh my man. This video describes my parents to nearly a T. I wasn't allowed to watch that show called Charmed, because of the witchcraft in it, and my dad forbade me when I about 10. I still snuck and watched it XD. And recently I had a huge fight with my mom about swimsuits, and shes the type who who grew up with the same mindset as P and M and I refuse to listen and live by her mindset just to make HER more comfortable; and no doubt in my mind both my parents had severe anxiety around these types of shows. Thank god I live alone.

[@julieblair7472]

Your face in between them on the couch is KILLING me. VERY good choice.

[@OleanderRainbow]

The fact that nudity in Oppenheimer is more of a concern than the fact it's about the creation of the atomic bomb terrifies me. Now if y'all excuse me, I'm gonna watch Bullet Train. Because Aaron Taylor Johnson's adult film mustache is the facial hair of freedom.

[@Elle_Riley]

more than ever thinking about black sails explicitly saying 'know no shame' and flint's dragon speech 🥺🥺 (not to mention the conniption paul would face from the nudity watching the show 💀☠) "This is how they survive. You must know this. You're too smart not to know this. They paint the world full of shadows... and then tell their children to stay close to the light. Their light. Their reasons, their judgments. Because in the darkness, there be dragons. But it isn't true. We can prove that it isn't true. In the dark, there is discovery, there is possibility, there is freedom in the dark once someone has illuminated it."

[@R0291-l1l]

also i'm sorry but i the way Morgan speaks and what she says just rockets me back to middle school in my small TX town ruled by the cult-y church and how girls used to talk to me and around me about G-d. Like it was totally alien from how they talked about anything else and made me feel so uncomfortable. Anyone else?

[@racheld6338]

Ever since leaving a very strict religion I grew up in...I do not wake up with daily guilt, I trust myself and have a positive self image, my depression has improved so significantly it's staggering. It was a hard transition and the best decision I've ever made 😊

[@rosemosebose]

Self policing was so insane for me about what I said as a kid that when I got out of it I started saying things I ABSOLUTELY should not have been saying. It's super fucking embarrassing to admit and I don’t wanna *blame* the Catholic Church for me acting like that but they took away my own ability to cast judgement on what is and isn't harmful to people based on how I think God is harmed by it. Damn. Thanks for doing your thing you're amazing

[@thomasdonaldjacobs7291]

Mickey, I love the new set up with your head between these two. Makes it easier to notice your facial expressions. Pretty sure I made a lot of the same ones listening to this grown ass man describe how he lets parental controls restrict his media consumption.

[@jemmabelle946]

Apparently violence and murder are fine. Can watch all sorts for violence without wanting to go on a murder spree but can't watch a sex scene without crossing boundaries?? Make it make sense

[@ChristAndChristCrucified]

If a murderer or someone who has thoughts of murder is trying to avoid that temptation, then yes watching those things could make it worse. 🤔

[@jemmabelle946]

Basically comparing sexual desire to psychopathy??? Again, makes no sense.

[@ChristAndChristCrucified]

@fax_machineHe has openly admitted he struggles with lusting after other women, so therefore he avoids things that would tempt him to do so, because he believes it could lead to other things, which it does for many people, and he wants to not only be faithful to his spouse, but to God from what I understand. I don’t know him personally, so I cannot say for sure, but if he is being honest about that, that’s a good thing to be honest about our struggles, and weaknesses, even if others openly mock us for them. The person above used an example that makes no sense whatsoever if we are talking about a murderer, same would be for an adulterer, or one that believes they would be tempted to cheat on their spouse, or to commit murder in the case above. We are talking about someone avoiding something that would tempt them to commit an act they don’t want to do, that they struggle with the desire, or have struggled in the past with doing, and they believe is morally wrong, such as adultery. You may not consider watching “pornography” committing adultery on your spouse if you were to use other women in it in place of your wife, but some people do, and it goes against their own conscience. He only mentioned pornography, so I have no idea if he believes it could lead to adultery in person with someone, however he has shared measures he has taken to help him, and shared it with others who deal with a similar issue they want to avoid. It may not make sense to you, but not everyone is the same, and has different struggles, and weaknesses, and get set off more easily by certain things, where others may not. Maybe if we had some empathy, and compassion for those who the video was actually directed to, and meant to help, which is born-again believers who struggle with that particular issue, and desire to avoid temptation for said issue, we would think differently about it. God Bless. ❤️🙏❤️🙏

[@user-mv5zt8qd9l]

​​@@ChristAndChristCrucified And the person being "open" about his apparent struggle with P addiction is still actively prescribing the exact lifestyle that's been demonstrated to cause or exacerbate it to everyone else. That's a problem. You even acknowledge that it's an established pattern in this culture. Do you not see that as a massive red flag?

[@nataliepaad1869]

This!!! My sister and her husband raise their kids this way! The boys have all kinds of sh ooter games they play but my sister made them draw t- shirts on their little mermaid and Aladdin story books because the female characters inappropriately dressed. 🤦🏽‍♀️ And my sister is very proud of the fact that they make this distinction but has zero reasoning behind it.

[@___Emily__]

I’m by no means a Paul…but I do check reviews, synopses, and especially “parent’s guides” before watching new shows and movies because my anxiety makes it extremely difficult for me to go into something new without knowing what I’ll or see or be exposed to. It’s nearly impossible for me to enjoy or finish a show if I’m unsure what the subject matter will generally be. Even though I go outside and live life around other people, which I realize could realistically expose me to any number of things I don’t want to see or hear at any given time, I am able to exact a little more control over what I see and don’t see in my home and that brings me some comfort (for now) so I keep doing it. If that’s something that bothers you, I think it’s totally okay to check first as long as you’re aware of your reasons for doing it.❤

[@starparodier91]

This is such a weird concept to me. My parents never restricted me from watching/playing things (to an extent) and by 12 they didn’t care. My best friend’s mom was the same with her, but we were raised Catholic and went to Catholic schools so lots of our peers couldn’t watch/play a lot of things we could.

[@madybright6136]

“I’m not touching it, I’m not touching it, I’m not touching it!!”

[@R0291-l1l]

wait a minute wait a minute....they're like fundie evangelicals right? why tf is Paul even considering watching something called "the Witcher"??

[@StephanieBogart]

They actually are not fundamentalists. She’s just throwing out a bunch of fancy words to sound important

[@jencendiary]

@@StephanieBogart Incorrect. They have direct connections to multiple fundamentalist christian movements. Kick rocks, apologist.

[@user-mv5zt8qd9l]

​@@StephanieBogart "Fundamentalist a person who believes in the strict, literal interpretation of scripture in a religion." Paul and Morgan are fundamentalists

[@nervousbreakdown711]

This reminds me of when I’d purposely trigger my OCD so I could “test” myself

[@rebekahjacintags3285]

Ope mood lmao

[@MH-wz1rb]

Re: fundies talking like they are in an abusive relationship. They are. I know I was. The fundie God matching a list of narcissist abuser traits exactly was my moment where exit became certain for me

[@timnewman1172]

Did Paul not see a National Geographic growing up??? If he gets "lit" from a TV show, then their marriage has even more issues than we already know about...

[@MischaMischief]

Well, I totally agree with them that watching Twilight is a bad idea. But probably not for the same reasons.

[@CarolineNotCarolynBoyd]

Mickey this was SO helpful for me as someone recovering from conservative evangelicalism and spiritual trauma and finding my spirituality within a more progressive Christian context. What you said at the end to deconstructers was super meaningful to me, but the whole thing was so validating and put into words some of the things I knew were unhealthy for me and my OCD and anxiety that I could never articulate. Thank you thank you thank you.

[@moistestslug5749]

I was raised catholic, but ive more or less moved on and healed from that point in my life. I have a very clear memory of being terrified of sex as a kid, and I also apparently wasn't taught that I had a say in whether I had sex or not, in my delusional kid mind, I believed that the only way I could get out of someday having sex was becoming a nun. I had constant anxiety about it up until I was around 12 years old when I learned (from a classmate) that consent was a thing I could choose not to give