Have you ever been harassed for leaving a church?

Question

I hear that sometimes people get 'black listed'. What is this all about. Has anyone ever had a bad experience leaving a church because your views changed? Just curious.

of course we get harassed for many things in life but I'm talking about religion/church specifically.

jenn_ : is your story a true one? That would make me bitter if I were Brit.

starsha: that sounds like mormons, creepy..

Answer 1

I think it happens more in a small town than it does in a larger place with multiple places to worship. It happened to my good friend, Brit.

Brit was tired of the hypocrisy and all of the political games, especially that certain families' children were treated better, given more prizes or parts in plays, simply because their families had been living in the town for forever and were well-connected to other well-connected families. Since she was living in a small town at the time, these people owned all of the businesses, controlled the local job market, and also controlled what happened in the church. Brit decided to leave the church for a while, thinking that she just needed a break and would go back when she had cooled off.

People who used to be nice to her at chuch suddenly refused to speak to her in public. All sorts of rumors began about Brit that painted her in a very negative light. Because of the rumors, more people refused to socialize with her out in public. She then had trouble getting a job in town and eventually moved away to find work and go to college. It was a very disillusioning experience for her.

She goes to a Mega church now and is only slightly involved (before she was always very involved in the church, especially the youth programs and choir).

It wasn't so much an outright harassment as it was a slowly evolving cold shoulder from people she used to be very close to.
Peace,
Jenn

Answer 2

I've also have had some interesting experiences with churches, religious groups, people of spiritual authority in my life. After many years with disappointments and joys, I can offer what little advice coming from my own life.... We learn as we go... and in any group of people you are going to find agreeable and difficult people. We all don't think or function the same way. That's ok. And the reason that that's ok is because you have a choice to change what you do, even if you can't control or change others. And there are very few of us that don't come with faults. It's so easy to see faults in others, and not in ourselves.... and that doesn't mean that I think you or your sister are wrong. I'm just trying to take you a little further along a line of thought. Just stay with me a bit. There is a lot of life and what we do that is a choice... and it especially becomes a choice if we can reflect on our actions and then improve, not just reacting to situations in the same ways we usually do, but doing something different, or possibly even better the next time we have the opportunity, or are faced with a similar difficulty. If our actions do not serve us or others... we can create a space for change within ourselves. And whether it's a positive change or a negative change is also a choice. So, it's not what other people are doing, saying or the way that they look at you. Change comes from within you. And that takes a lot of strength. So, be strong.... as much as you can be. I also have a question. Why would you let one church, or one group, make such an impression that they would sway you from attending or investigating any other avenue of worship or spiritual practice? Also, in what ways does your anger benefit you or your sister, or others? So, love your sister and, if you can, try to love others too.... and I also apologize for the long description. But, please, hear me out too (I read all of your question...) It is curious. But that may not be your job, to fix them. Work on your own heart, use your mind, and realize that much of humanity, what comes our way, or what we see in the world may be a disappointment. But you... you can be different. You already see that there should be a difference. Be that. Be better than that. Be that difference. And don't give up on your heart. Don't ever let anyone make you give up on your heart. Be the best you can be and then grow beyond this situation, this difficulty in your life. Step past this difficulty with personal dignity and a humble, yet strong heart. That's what you can do. Believe in your own good heart. And you can find the strength to forgive others, because sometimes they don't even realize what they are actually doing to others, or to themselves. Live by your own good actions. Become better and better. I support you in your good sense and good self.

Answer 3

Uh... In a christian church, I haven't heard of anything like that. If "Blacklisted" is for real, then the church sounds pretty disfunctional, and there would be reason to leave, in my opinion.

Depending where you heard this, I could guess that the message got pretty mucked up before it reached your ears. The world tends to do that against churches, particularily christian beccause that's where the devil attacks. It could be something more along the lines of a prayer list, or something like that so the chruch wouldn't completely lose contact with the people who leave. I don't know the whole story though.

Answer 4

My church, fortunately, wouldn't do that. If you leave, you can always come back (or not, it's your choice). However, I do know some people who got disfellowshipped from the Jehovah's Witnesses, and two who got excommunicated from Baptist churches. Also, a close friend of mine got excommunicated from a Pentecostal church for being gay, and is now an Episcopalian. In those cases, the people didn't leave the church; the church left them, so to speak. My girlfriend is thinking about leaving a religious group she's involved with, and I'm hoping that she doesn't experience any backlash from it.

Answer 5

No but I get harassed by Satan's secret society at work and abroad a lot. In fact they tried to force me into there Secret Satanic Society and I refuse to join. They have continually harassed threatened and many other ways to torment me. This organization says it worships/accepts all Gods and says it has no religious affiliation which is totally a lie. This organization is into the deep secrets of Satanism which is witchcraft/Demonic forces. No lie the New World Order. The free Masons are builders of more than buildings. What do you get when you put the Masons the mafia and Wicca together? You get a (sick,sick, sick) family reunion. A precursor to the second coming of Jesus Christ as written in the Bible. Do you get it?

Answer 6

Yep but I must follow God not man so it didn't matter. I'm still friends with some of the more progressive thinkers in their congregation but they fear leaving it because of the certainty of being black listed. If only they knew the freedom of thinking for yourself and they joy of discovery when your not being spoon fed what to think.

Answer 7

The only church I heard that about was the mormon church, not really black listed, but harrassed into coming back into the fold. I can't get rid of the mormon missionaries, I had my name removed from the church, but not my son, so now they are after him. My Parents told me I was going to hell and that they really are christians.

Answer 8

Don't we always get harassed when we leave others to do our own thing?

We can't even leave a party early without saying that one of the kids is sick or something like that.

I see what you're saying, but it's not something exclusive to religion.

Answer 9

Nope, not yet anyway, but I still appear active to most bc I still attend the church, I just no longer believe at this point. So maybe if/when I decide to up and leave all together, this would happen. But really is this something God would want us to do to eachother?

Answer 10

No, everyone was very understanding of my leaving the church. I am still very close to many of them.