Have you been hurt by religion?

Question

I went to a church for 5 years and finally realized that is had many cult characteristics. It has caused a lot of distrust in my life especially to pastors and any other Christians. have you experienced anything similar? Please share and I am open to any advice you might have. Thanks!

Answer 1

In my opinion everybody has been hurt by religion. I believe religion is mans interpretation of God, and always falls short of His glory.

I went to a prestigious christian music college with a real passion for Jesus, though my personal tutor was a complete b@stard to me. He spent my time belittling me and really crushing my inspiration.
I had numerous confrontations with the leader, who insulted me and disciplined me should I question the leadership. This was not a cult by the way, but a well recognised mainstream christian college.
Though Ive always stuck up for myself, I found myself continually questioning myself inside. I was a wreck of guilt and self doubt. The question always haunted me 'Was it them or was it me?'
It was even harder when I started noticing things about this guy I could really condemn him for, while others thought he was amazing. Though I felt God bring me aside I tell me to pray for him. This killed me as all I wanted was to bring this guy down, it killed my pride, but God changed my heart for him.

Its been some time now, but recently the same guy was busted for stealing money from the college! He was publicly disgraced, Im not saying Im happy because of all the people this affects, though i feel relieved hes gone and God, not me, dealt with it.

So all Im saying is this - Trust your discernment, and pray for them so you dont get bitter. Most importantly learn from their mistakes! Call it what you will, but goes around comes around in this life or the next.

There are so many christian 'fashions' out there, but hold on to the word of God and question things that dont agree with your spirit. Christianity is a simple concept, indulge in Jesus' teaching.
Dont isolate yourself either, its things like this that sharpen us. Sorry its long but I really thought this answer through.

Answer 2

Once you recognize that You need truth then you will also recognize that you always need to test the things people say to you. The modern day problems with people and religion is that most people don't see the need to test what they are being told.
The Bible warns against the teachings of men, as Paul states:
(1 Timothy 4:1-5) . . .However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons, 2 by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, marked in their conscience as with a branding iron; 3 forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith and accurately know the truth. 4 The reason for this is that every creation of God is fine, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is sanctified through God’s word and prayer over [it]. . .

If you were being told the truth then there would not be any hurt. If you can separate God's word from doctrines of men, then you will be,set free, and you will come to an accurate knowledge of truth. (John 8:31-32) . . .And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If YOU remain in my word, YOU are really my disciples, 32 and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free.”
To understand that the bible is the tool you need to use, is the key to gaining life. Dust off your shoes, use your bible, and you will have the happy life that God promises. Rev 21:3,4.
For example read Mathew 5:5, and Psalms 37:9-11,29 Think about what it says, then read Mathew 6:10 ? Is this not what you are praying for? If not it should be? This is what God has promised. No where in the bible does it say : O you won't really die, except when Satan deceived the woman.
If you need scriptural help just ask.
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Answer 3

I totally understand I was involved with the JW's for 10 years and then one day I realised that I was in a cult/high control group and decided to leave. It isn't easy to leave these groups the best advice I would give is to slowly fade away without making a scene. Just accept that you were in destructive group for a number of years and move on. There is no point being bitter about it. Just let go and find a new life without relgion or anyone telling you what to do. If you want to chat further about it please free to message me!

Answer 4

I hear you. i think of that's a crossroads that a lot of people pause at a minimum of as quickly as of their life. for my section, it is easy to on no account make specific of something and provided that the supernatural can neither be disproved or shown, that's no diverse in spite of the actuality that given this actuality we'd say that's unbelievable (yet not 0). besides the indisputable fact that, i understand i don't believe in any god who might punish me for actual doubts in the absence of information. it quite is basically unfair and if it have been actual, i might defy it in any case on thought. If, besides the indisputable fact that, a loving and honest god does exist and not believing in it would rattling us to eternal suffering then it would truthfully supply us greater to artwork on formerly we make the alternative. So the two way i'm not nervous as long as I continuously shop my ideas ethical and open in my seek for actuality. besides i are conscious of it is going to likely be a mutually as formerly you experience completely relaxed along with your selected direction, notwithstanding that's, yet i wish you are able to experience some convenience quickly and that i'm able to assure you which you would be a a procedures wiser guy or woman after this life adventure than formerly (and you're already so clever so because it quite is asserting something! lol) so as that whether you're a Christian or not, life would be far greater perfect. So it is rather well worth the present tension yet I nevertheless experience for you. it is not an relaxing adventure so preserve your self ok? all the basically right. :o)

Answer 5

I can't say I've been hurt by religion. Since I became a born again Christian my life has improved greatly. But I have been in some crummy churches. You were in a bad church. Don't give up on the Lord just because you were disappointed in a particular pastor or church. Pray that God would direct you to a good church. They're out there. But sometimes it takes a while to find the right one for you.

Answer 6

I don't think that you should distrust every christian or pastor that you meet based off of one bad experience... it's like dating. You get your heart broken once, so are you going to never date and be celibate for the rest of your life?? Not likely.

If I were in your shoes, I would start looking into different religions... and each faction within the different religions. Lutherans are different than Catholics, who are different than Baptists, etc etc...... But they're all still Christians. May God bless your searching for the truth!

Answer 7

I don't think you can live in America and not have some negative run with a church. However you're talking about something deeper, having put trust, and faith in a lot of people who let you down, I'm sorry to say it's all too common. I would suggest taking a look at www.lifewithoutwalls.com they're a group that deal with those kinds of woundings. Hope you find peace.

-Red

Answer 8

Yes, I come from a mixed religion family and had problems from both sides. The Catholic Church didn't let me in Catholic school because I had a Lutheran father. The priest called me by my last name but every other child he called by first name. I had a Lutheran pastor tell me I was going to hell because I was Catholic.

I am now Deist. I beleive in God but NO organized religion.

Answer 9

You might have been going to a cult . . . they do exist . . . a lot of them do not know they are a cult.

They are cults because they believe non-truth . . . stuff that does not hold up to the Bible.

If you do not know what the Bible says, you can not know when a cult goes "off the reservation".

Example: atheists are all part of a cult . . . they have not a clue!

Answer 10

I was hurt by several Christian groups. In fact, I was never able to get along with a given Christian group for more than a year or so--they always ended up turning on me for whatever reason, usually related to differing beliefs.

A couple of groups even went after my friends. Emboldened by my experience sparring with them for personal reasons, I fought tooth and nail to keep them away. I'm always loyal to my friends.


Edit: It wasn't just people in those religions that hurt me. It was the institution itself, which tended to declare terrible things about whether I was worthy enough for them, and whether I was good enough, and so on. The people were just brainwashed pawns doing as they were told.