Please, reply if you are mostly sympathetic about this.

I reserve the right to agree to disagree with anyone. I am not bashing Christians so if anyone thinks I am, that is *not true*. I have never shared this with anyone except my mentor and he feels I need to *break that silence*.

Mods may edit this, but I hope it does not get deleted.

I need to break some silence and shame about being abused by people who have abused their religion.

thanks.

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TRIGGER ( talk of religion and spiritual abuse/verbal abuse/brainwashing)

I was locked in a toy box when I was 8 or 7, to be "exorcised", by some older girls babysitting me.

I was dragged to confession when I was 8, for "f*rting". The priest actually got angry at the abusers. The abusers kicked me all the way home (retaliation) like a rock (from church afterward).

A girl babysitting me, told me that I had "horns growing out of my head" and that everybody could see them, except me, my mother, my aunt, and other "heathens".

I was told by same girl (and her mother) that i was the "Devil's Daughter" and that no one could ever love me.

I understand now this was verbal abuse and "spiritual abuse".

Anyone been thru something similar?

Even as an adult, I am scared of Christians (have to keep telling myself they are not all abusive or mean or intolerant) because I am afraid they will hate me or curse me or accuse me of blasphemy.

I am *not* against them. I know at least 2 ppl in my life that were Christians that were nice to me. *This is part of my process of trusting Christians that are not abusive*. For me, the way to break that cycle and that fear is to talk about what happened to me.

thanks,

Carol