Quote:
Originally Posted by NewLyfeForReal
As I was reading your post wrigh430 a thought occured to me (I'm hoping it helps, please don't take it the wrong way):
Do you think that the people you try to interact with are intimidated by you? You sound like a well articulated, well educated (you work for the federal government), financially stable (you have been willing to pay for counselling services), independent woman who does not engage in risky behaviours and stands up against religious views you do not agree with.
I'm not judging whether you've done "wrong or right" but rather simply wondering whether the way you present yourself to others through actions and words give subtle cues that make them intimidated by you and hence prevent them from wanting to interact with you at a deeper level.
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It wasn't always this way. When I moved into town in 2002 I was liked well enough. I was active in my kids' scout group, coached soccer and t-ball, etc. I enrolled my son in the Catholic school, because as a single parent I needed a school that offered an after school program/daycare because I didn't want to have my kid left home alone after school. Because of that everyone assumed that I was Catholic.
In 2006 when the Catholics figured out that I wasn't attending Mass anywhere, my son and I got the boot. I had to enroll him in public school and we joined the Boy Scout troop with the Methodist Church. I was still in good stead with the public and received some awards, like "The extra miler" and the "skillen award."
In 2008 the community figured out that I wasn't attending church ANYWHERE. The assumed that I was an Atheist and that's when the public shunning started. I was still able purchases goods in town, but not able to talk with anyone socially. When Barack Obama was elected the right-wingers started foaming at that mouth, and with in a year we were being shot at, at work.
In 2010 my ex rounded up the nuns to testify against me in a child support hearing. I lost custody of my son because the my ex insisted on using a new judge in the county I moved to in 2002. The judge agreed with the nuns that my "Professional Life Style" was not conducive to raising children and that my son would be better suited living with is dad and woman number 3, and 4 other kids in a trailer park one county over.
Because my ex refused to follow the decree I couldn't see my son on weekends like the judge mandated. The only way I could see him was at Scouts, so I remained active, but in 2011, since I was being shunned anyway i figured that I would just come out. I attended a Wood badge training that occured over the solstice. I asked for religious accommodations. Rather than grant the occomodations, my son and I were kicked out of the program and even got a letter from the Council saying we were no longer permitted on BSA properties. My son had just turned in his application to become an Eagle; it was denied based on him not doing is duty to god.
Anyway, word got out and now I speak to no one.