25 Comments
User's avatar
Kevin Lawrence's avatar

Ah. I know this story all too well. We're you remembering First Baptist Hammond?

Kevin Lawrence's avatar

Wow. Your story is exactly the same as far as it goes. The preachers son was the youth paster and had relations with a teenager and left the church and led a questionable life there after. Now, after the preacher passed, yes, the son-in-law got the job. He too, diddled a teenager. At least two, maybe three leaders of the church went on to be convicted pedos.

It's hard to wipe that slime out of your memory.

Notes from the Hill's avatar

You can't make this stuff up. And that it happened in more than one place is horrifying. Glad you got out of there. It's unbelievable this is what your 10% was supporting right?

Notes from the Hill's avatar

Apparently they were all over! This one was in Elizabeth NJ

Laura B Writing in the Shadows's avatar

I'm so glad you're getting your life back after...after being raised in church, I'll never call myself religious again... it messed me up... I found spirituality that works for me, and it sounds like you may be able to do the same🖤🫂

Notes from the Hill's avatar

Yes I know it was those people but you can't help but be super cautious with anything religious afterward.

Laura B Writing in the Shadows's avatar

Oh, I don't go near ANYthing religious

Rachael Brash's avatar

This!! This has also been my path. So much church talk today. I have a whole rant on religion….for me, I’ve found nothing on the traditional path makes any sense at all. I’ve been to churches like this and I promise I left feeling like it was a cult.

Laura B Writing in the Shadows's avatar

I believe it 100% is a cult.

Rachael Brash's avatar

It sure felt like it. Although, no offense to anyone Catholic at all, but, my experience wasn’t much different there. I had to separate from the whole system. Because I realized it was exactly that….a system.

Laura B Writing in the Shadows's avatar

💯

Freeta's avatar

As a woman who also grew up in a very small town and a pastors daughter at a conservative church that line about being untouchable really hit home. I got into some dangerous situations while on missions because I believed it was either gods will for me to die or not. Great stories but crazy beliefs for sure

Robert Lorenz's avatar
Shadow Pursuit's avatar

Thank you for telling your story. It echoes the too-common themes of organized religion, especially the more extreme sects (which I experienced much of as well). The "backsliding," the false narratives, demand for money regardless if it makes you homeless, victim blaming, corruption, and tithers legitimately believing these crazy things because they do it in such a persuasive way and approach you at such a vulnerable time. They choose very select scripture and interpret it however is most convenient to them, then tell you their interpretation is indisputable fact. And then we eventually find out the leaders never bought the BS in the first place and were just using you for money and to hide their crimes behind false piety. I'm glad you found your own way to believe that feels right and gives you independence of outside influence 🐦‍⬛

Sara da Encarnação's avatar

Nothing is dangerous in the right hands, but in the wrong hands, everything is.

Hina Gondal's avatar

Wishing you best of luck,you are amazing 🕊️

Leo thee Lemon's avatar

That sounds rough. 2026 is going to be an amazing year. Hoping the best for you.

Kevin Lawrence's avatar

"That's My Preacher!" Was the cry of the sweet women in college.

Even after 40 years and discovering spirituality in nature, I still suffer a little bit.

Fiona Bridges's avatar

Thank you for sharing 🫂

Notes from the Hill's avatar

I've been meaning to for a while today it just spilled out lol!!

Hawtorn V. Rabot's avatar

I feel much the same and know many situations personally like this.

You're not weird.

Notes from the Hill's avatar

I love that you think that but I'm pretty weird!! :)

Hawtorn V. Rabot's avatar

You might be weird, but not because of this.

Dave Boyko's avatar

Thank you for sharing, it’s important to hear this.

Notes from the Hill's avatar

They always seem to prey on the vulnerable. It's hard to escape. There's pressure.