I grew up in an evangelical family and church. Think PTL club and televangelist etc. So much was judgemental and fear based. I rebelled against the system though as I got older. I was the healthy one not the problem. I felt I was though
My sister who is 5 years older and straight as an arrow Christian and student recently told me she felt traumatized by our religious experiences growing up. I was shocked. She internalized it so much. I'm still trying to make sense of it all. I discuss it in therapy. I'm interested to read more of your experiences on this subject. This is something you don't hear about often
Thanks so much, Jane. And that’s fascinating to me that you and your older sister had different experiences and long term effects. That sounds like my brother and me. I think he ditched religion before he was out of high school, but I hung onto the fear and self-erasure until I was well into my forties. And yes, wow, therapy is key, right?! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Definitely sticks with you. Like a leech. When you try to get rid of it, you bleed.
And no embarrassment about visiting PTL! When I was in my 20s, I took my 3 small children to visit Focus on the Family - ugh, it’s the worst! The important thing is that we know better now and we can be there for others when they wake up and see the light.
I make jokes about PTL club it's my way to detach myself if that makes sense. It takes time to relise that nothing was wrong with me because I didn't fit into their very small and specific box
I grew up in an evangelical family and church. Think PTL club and televangelist etc. So much was judgemental and fear based. I rebelled against the system though as I got older. I was the healthy one not the problem. I felt I was though
My sister who is 5 years older and straight as an arrow Christian and student recently told me she felt traumatized by our religious experiences growing up. I was shocked. She internalized it so much. I'm still trying to make sense of it all. I discuss it in therapy. I'm interested to read more of your experiences on this subject. This is something you don't hear about often
Thanks so much, Jane. And that’s fascinating to me that you and your older sister had different experiences and long term effects. That sounds like my brother and me. I think he ditched religion before he was out of high school, but I hung onto the fear and self-erasure until I was well into my forties. And yes, wow, therapy is key, right?! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Meant to add - PTL club, wow - blast from the past!
Oh yes! My family visited there in the 80s. Over the top. I'm embarrassed to admit I was there.
It's so hard though. It kind of sticks with you
Definitely sticks with you. Like a leech. When you try to get rid of it, you bleed.
And no embarrassment about visiting PTL! When I was in my 20s, I took my 3 small children to visit Focus on the Family - ugh, it’s the worst! The important thing is that we know better now and we can be there for others when they wake up and see the light.
I make jokes about PTL club it's my way to detach myself if that makes sense. It takes time to relise that nothing was wrong with me because I didn't fit into their very small and specific box
This was such a vulnerable post. I loved reading every second of it, especially as someone that broke away from a Baptist background.
Thanks so much, Marble. And yes, coming from a Baptist background, you definitely get it.