Religious Trauma Syndrome, Tony Beck, Marlene Winell, Part 1 

Yup 44 left church at 20 still suffering now

sakamuk When I left the mormon church, the entire neighborhood did that to me - their kids were told to stay away from my kids because they weren't "worthy." I realized that I had done the same thing to other people who left the church.

I don't have kids yet but I would hate to have my kids go through that. Maybe you can look for a Sunday Assembly group or something so that your kids have someone to play with. I hope you and your kids are fine

+b dog Hope you have sought therapy. Your comment sounds like you may be suffering from PTSD.

you are not alone.

You need to understand deconstruction. It's a really hard thing becoming an athiest. Relating to theist becomes hard. Especially if trauma is involved.

+Khadijah Brown I'm kind of in the same situation. However, just the thought of God triggers a bunch of programmed fears, all the indoctrination is inextricably connected with the idea of God. It's like I'm trying to create a God of my own, which goes against what I was told in my ex fundamentalist christian church, were I was told that there is only one God. I struggle with that, a lot.

Rodrigo Ramirez Not that I would recommend my path, I go to a Mormon Church because I like the people, but have little respect for their leaders. I still believe much of what I learned in Islam, but not the radicalism and misogyny. I think that "The Foundation Trilogy" provides valuable insight into the nature of God. I think there is one God but men try to put it/him into a little box. God is oh so much more than we can grasp.

Rodrigo Ramirez I just finished reading a very fun, happy Science Fiction story at bigclosetr.us/topshelf/book/37845/book-1-stranger-palarand It provides some fruit for thought about the whole God issue.

***** Please let Jesus' own words guide you. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and body. Love your neighbor as yourself. We have no right to condemn another because such judgement is for God only.

Yes! This is what people need to be doing. It's clear to me there is a causal Agent for the universe and all that's in it. The only consistent explanation of exactly what/who this causal agent is is found in the Hebrew Scriptures, something that is wonderfully elucidated by Dr. Hugh Ross of Reasons to Believe. A consistent interpretation of the teachings of the Bible as a whole lead me, and many others, to something entirely different than what Christianity is today...and that is the beautiful message of freedom that God has for us, if only we are willing to accept it. We are not gods who can determine all right and wrong for ourselves, or pull ourselves up by our own "good works", and we are also not meant to live in fear of the Tyrant God that so many Christian doctrines teach, we are meant to live as God intended, despite the fact that we are fallible creatures...FREE, with life overflowing!