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Originally Posted by newday7121
I say, trust the Lord lean not to your own understanding and a direct path is what we pray for. Forgive, move on. If necessary bring this part of you into therapy to discuss. I don't think a T can make your religious decisions, but the man thing is personal forgiveness. In the Bible showing you how none of us are perfect but also removing yourself from a toxic situation, church included. It is ashamed especially for those who grew up with religion and hold those ones to higher standards. I can understand how that would have you shaken but get yourself back out there, there are plenty of churches doing the right thing!
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Sorry newday, you are missing the point.
It's not just about church and/or other believers. It is the teachings and the core values of religion/s that are damaging.
My sense of self/of identity/of self-worth is more than stifled due to growing up in an environment that kept telling me:
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You're bad. All human beings are bad. And in dire need of redemption. Don't trust your own understanding - put your trust in the Lord. Don't trust your feelings, since the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.
Your needs and desires don't count. YOU don't count. Put others first, and above all: Jesus.
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For the first 20 years of my life I suppressed all independent thoughts and feelings, because the tensions would get too big (>> cognitive dissonance). It took a huge personal crisis and a massive "leap of faith" to leave the faith behind and to hope against all odds that there would be a life worth living somewhere out there.
So please don't tell people here to forgive, to believe, that they havn't found the
true xtianity/faith yet, that there is a
right church somewhere out there. That is not helpful.
Like OneInABillion, for me those faith systems are manmade manipulations, in order to control, to gain/preserve power and influence, to keep people in their place and to keep them submissive and obedient.
We don't want nor need to be proselytized or re-converted.