Naive,

IMO, this church comitted a heinous offense against you in working in God's name. Personally, I do not feel comfortable with organized religion due to issues in my past where the church, meaning, the congregation were judgemental, hateful, and non-supportive of those in true need but were different in ways that the congregation would not accept. This led me to much soul searching because the God I knew is loving, kind, non judging, and never forsakes his children. You boyfriend, D, misused the greatest gift from God to us which is freewill. D misused his freewill against you in ways that God never intended. Unfortunately, God does not interfere with our freewill and could not prevent D from robbing you of your precious innocence. I am happy that you have found some peace so that you can move on. That, in itself, is a gift from God. Follow you heart and find a church where you are comfortable. Even interview the minister prior to going, and if you can, share your experience about the rape and beating and how the other church treated you, to gain information regarding the doctrine, teachings, and the support that the new church offers its congregation. If you are at all uncomfortable with what you learn, run like mad and find another until you find the right church for you. I never found a church for me. There isn't one that exists around where I live that teaches what I yearn to learn. So, I found a group of like minded people with whom I practice my spirituality.

For your information, it is a fact that 80% of all Fundamentalists, male and female, believe that it is acceptable for the husband to chastise his wife as he would his children. For you sake, I would steer clear of Fundamentalist churches given the deplorable abuse you have experienced. I would be fearful that such a church would not support you in such a matter, and should you ever share your past, you may be judged unfairly.

Be blessed in you search. It may take that you change religions to find what you are needing. There are many paths that lead to God in addition to mainstream Christianity.

Love and Light,
Peacemaker (Sherri)

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

The above passage is why I became a mystic. I found my true path and am truly blessed with all that is good and of God.