Storytime: The last sermon I sat through was literally a hate sermon.
One of my buddies in grad school talked me into coming to his church for a session one Sunday, and me being mostly agnostic/pagan at the time figured “Ahh, why not? I’m all for you sharing your culture and beliefs with me, I’ll hear it out.”
Shit. You. Not. 20 minutes into the thing… The preacher was talking down the “evils of pride month” and how if you ever feel “ostracized” on your campus for “standing against” the satanic “influences” of the LGBTQ, you always had a “strong community” to turn to here.
If you’re cringing reading this… now just imagine this obviously queer 20s something sitting in the middle of the crowd with this giant rainbow scarf on (it was February) while these aryan karens and nutjobs to my left and right are casually nodding along.
Made a fucking beeline for the door and never spoke to that crazy fucker (or went back to church) ever again lol
Makes me think that the church encouraged people to invite their “heathen gay friends” that week so you would hear the gospel and repent or some nonsense.
And that’s why I left the church. Priest kept drumming up hatred for little zero reason
Been getting more involved with a small non-denominational church over the last few months though. The pastor really steps back when to earth when he gets off the little stage, just back to being a normal guy
I love community and hate hate… There’s no room for hate within me, I won’t let that poison taint me
I’m so, so sorry that happened to you. And I am so glad you didn’t give into the guilt and shame they tried to put on you. Probably saved you a few years of deep fucked up guilt, if not your life.
(I’ve lived it, post religious trauma is real and heavy).
That’s their entire model: making emotional hostages through guilt.
I’ve left that behind a good 10 years now and I’m feeling so much happier but boy it’s been a ride.
I’m still rediscovering life and myself to this day.
Thanks for sharing. Thanks for standing up and walking out of there, hopefully you ignited something in some of them. As hateful as they are, a lot of them are victims, being held there by fear against their will.
Storytime: The last sermon I sat through was literally a hate sermon.
One of my buddies in grad school talked me into coming to his church for a session one Sunday, and me being mostly agnostic/pagan at the time figured “Ahh, why not? I’m all for you sharing your culture and beliefs with me, I’ll hear it out.”
Shit. You. Not. 20 minutes into the thing… The preacher was talking down the “evils of pride month” and how if you ever feel “ostracized” on your campus for “standing against” the satanic “influences” of the LGBTQ, you always had a “strong community” to turn to here.
If you’re cringing reading this… now just imagine this obviously queer 20s something sitting in the middle of the crowd with this giant rainbow scarf on (it was February) while these aryan karens and nutjobs to my left and right are casually nodding along.
Made a fucking beeline for the door and never spoke to that crazy fucker (or went back to church) ever again lol
Makes me think that the church encouraged people to invite their “heathen gay friends” that week so you would hear the gospel and repent or some nonsense.
Nah, the pastor wanted “the gays” at church so he knew which ones he could play tummy sticks with in a motel after service.
And that’s why I left the church. Priest kept drumming up hatred for little zero reason
Been getting more involved with a small non-denominational church over the last few months though. The pastor really steps back when to earth when he gets off the little stage, just back to being a normal guy
I love community and hate hate… There’s no room for hate within me, I won’t let that poison taint me
I’m so, so sorry that happened to you. And I am so glad you didn’t give into the guilt and shame they tried to put on you. Probably saved you a few years of deep fucked up guilt, if not your life. (I’ve lived it, post religious trauma is real and heavy).
That’s their entire model: making emotional hostages through guilt.
I’ve left that behind a good 10 years now and I’m feeling so much happier but boy it’s been a ride. I’m still rediscovering life and myself to this day.
Thanks for sharing. Thanks for standing up and walking out of there, hopefully you ignited something in some of them. As hateful as they are, a lot of them are victims, being held there by fear against their will.