As a child I was forced to take communion, I found this really disturbing ...was it abuse?

Question

The idea of eating what was supposed to be the flesh of Christ made me really upset and I would still be forced to do it by my parents and by my teachers...I had nightmares about dead Christ and Devil's standing beside my bed and was too scared to open my eyes at night in case I saw them or a vision of Mother Mary lurking in the shadows of my bedroom or looking in through my window.

Answer 1

I remember my confirmation. It was really bizarre too. There were Angels singing in the Upper Balcony and all of the windows in the Church were blown out. Something about the "Thirteen tribes" too. I stood at the podium and said something in Hebrew. There was also two Stigmata and a backwards bloody cross which stood in the back of the church. One of the Stigmata was a young girl hung upside down in mid air. I believe this was a copy of one of the Tarot cards. I guess this is why I'm on Disability and medication now.

http://www.tarotpedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=Hanged_Man&printable=yes

Answer 2

As a parent you have to do some things by force to your child that appear to be harmful on the surface, but when you really understand the truth then you know it was really for good and not evil.

For Example: When a parent takes their child to the doctor for a vaccination shot, usually most children scream and cry and don't understand why their parents would let a stranger inflict pain upon them by force. However, in truth, something good was done the the child for their protection so that they will live long and healthy lives.

Now, I'm not Catholic and I don't believe in the communion becoming the actual flesh and blood of Christ. However, I can see how your parents were concern for you and your spiritual health for eternity. They meant what they did for your good and not for evil.

However, on the flipside some things can be done by force under the disguise of being for good, but in reality it is evil. It takes knowledge and wisdom to discern the difference.

Sincerely,

Mark :o)

Answer 3

This has to be one of the strangest questions I've ever read in this forum. . .and we are seldom in short supply of strangeness around here.

Your parents and teachers were acting out of what they felt were your best interests. You were apparently a hypersensitive child with some serious hang-ups, and I'm willing to bet that religion was only part of the big picture there.

Do I think that making you take Communion was abuse? No, sorry, I don't. You could have talked to your parents, your parish priest, or one of your teachers. They could have helped you with your hang-up and taught you what Communion is all about.

And if push came to shove, you could have simply refused. There were a couple of times in my younger years when I had to look my parents in the eye and say, "I am not going to do this. You can make my life difficult, but you will not change my mind."

And that was in the '60's, long before current crop of child abuse laws and DCFS interventions were available. You had options, but you didn't take them, so you get no sympathy points from this side.

Answer 4

I don't remember ever having this kind of problem formy first communion.

Maybe you should have told someone. Or maybe you were a problem child and your parents and teachers were just tired of hearing excuses.

As the first answer stated - there a lot of things that your parents had you do. Because they were your parents and looking out for your best interest. Were all these things abuse?

Honestly, I have never met a child who had some complex about first communion. Maybe it was the way you were taught - especially if you were Catholic and thinking that Jesus was still dead.

Answer 5

I feel soooooooo very sad that this was your experience growing up. As a small child it must have been very very difficult for you. Especially if you had no one to talk to about your fears and your feelings. And..........you were having to yeield to adult peer pressure when you were scared.

Every faith has good and bad in it. Hopefully as we get older we become wise enough to sort thru the whole religious/spiritual mess that man makes of it at times.

The important thing now is, can you put those fears and experiences behind you, heal the wound those experiences caused, and use it to build on to become the best person you can be and enjoy the life you have on this earth to its fullest.

All we have is today. The past is over and the future lies ahead and we don't know the future, only the present.

Answer 6

i don't know if this can nicely be seen infant abuse, yet i do not imagine that's correct. a baby's body isn't waiting to be a mom's. After the youngster is born, the mummy is way less likely to end college, get a sturdy job, and be able to nuture the youngster. My mom-in-regulation seems after foster little ones. between the youngsters (she's easily of age now) replaced into raped at 13 and her infant is living including her. they're starting up to have a more beneficial useful relationship, in spite of the undeniable fact that the youngster continues to be a reminder of the terrible act. fortuitously, they're in a sturdy homestead surroundings and the now grownup rape sufferer is going to varsity.

Answer 7

In order to take the Lord's Supper, you have to be saved. Communion is a reverent thing that is used in commemoration of the death on the cross which Jesus did for us to save us from our sins. There is nothing scary whatsoever about this. It was done in love by Jesus Christ for us because He loves us. My children take communion also and have no problems with it. Maybe your parents didn't explain the meaning of it correctly.

Answer 8

Parents of all cultures pass on their myths, stories, and legends. Most of them are pretty scary. They are probably designed to scare children away from doing evil or anti-social or dangerous things. If it is abuse, then most parents do it one way or another. All children have nightmares. When we grow up, we understand better what causes them and we take responsibility for our own fears.

Answer 9

You know something? I have my doubts about your nightmares and your feeling disturbed, etc. Unless you had a seriously disturbed family that taught you to be upset at the idea.
Normally, for parents to lead their children to practice the same religion as them is not abuse. For parents to neglect their children is abuse.
They know very well that as you grow up you will make up your own mind. In the meantime you do as the parents do.

Answer 10

I loved taking communion as a child because I loved the grape juice. I'll never forget how excited I was when I found out you could buy it at the supermarket. I think that was around the time I quit going to church.