Family Issues Support Group
Family issues is a huge range that go from minor conflict to major misbehaviour and even abuse on the part of individual members of the family occur. Whether you feel you are in a dysfunctional family or you're dealing with a very specific issue, this is the place to talk about it and find others who might be going through the same thing.
I am not one to completely deny religion. However, as a child I was raised by a religious family that was almost cultist in it's nature. I wasn't sent to public school (or private), or allowed to have friends or acquaintances outside of the church. Religion was held as more important than breath, or even education. My step-mother was very strict on me, she went even beyond the rules of the church they attended to nit pick everything I wore and destroy every shred of self identity that I attempted to establish. As a teenager I jumped into a marriage as fast as I could to get away from them.
Now as an adult, I have tried to go back and establish a somewhat normal relationship with my parents. Sadly, they get up in my face and scream and holler, and proclaim that I am doomed to hell because of my wicked ways. Their use of religion is, in ways, abusive.
Recently, I decided to break off from them completely despite the fact that I yearn for love and acceptance from them that I could never quite get no matter how hard I tried.
It is really hard because I have no social life outside of that which they forced on me, and it has taken a lot for me to gain the social skills to function outside of their world. I feel very alone, and isolated, because without associating with them, or people from their church, I have no one.
Now as an adult, I have tried to go back and establish a somewhat normal relationship with my parents. Sadly, they get up in my face and scream and holler, and proclaim that I am doomed to hell because of my wicked ways. Their use of religion is, in ways, abusive.
Recently, I decided to break off from them completely despite the fact that I yearn for love and acceptance from them that I could never quite get no matter how hard I tried.
It is really hard because I have no social life outside of that which they forced on me, and it has taken a lot for me to gain the social skills to function outside of their world. I feel very alone, and isolated, because without associating with them, or people from their church, I have no one.
Yeah, you could tell them off, but they'd probably just quote the commandments and say to honor your father and mother or something like that.
To use God as a justification to abuse is lower than low.
If they ever judge you again, I'd just say that you'll leave that up to God to decide...
THEIR BEHAVIOUR IS VERBALLY ABUSIVE, I LOVE MY DAUGHTER AS SHE IS, YES I TELL HER ABOUT FAITH BUT LOVINGLY NOT BY SHOUTING , PRAYER IS THE WAY TO GO.
HOPE YOU FIND NEW FRIENDS , YOU CANNOT LET THEM HURT YOU.
LOVE L**
I had this one pastor once that started quoting the Bible on me to try to prove to me that men "owned" women. Ughugh...
I relate to your post. I, too, was raised in a cultish form of religion; and the daughter of a minister. I ached for normalcy daily. Got on my knees pleading that we go for help. But from proud they refused. Wrote trunkloads of letters trying to get a normal human response. But I didn't. My sister died, then my mother and father .. all within a few months .. that was nearly 30 years ago. My older sister lives on the opposite coast. Our views and values are opposite. As she invents her own religion -- and it is foreign to me. I have been an exile truly. And yet .. the church is like home to me and unthinkable to leave it. I believe in the sincerity of God. Not the way He has been misrepresented to me . which is about every way possible. All my childhood and young adulthood is swarthed in mystery. Unanswered questions. He gave me the gift of awareness. Hunger. A strong desire to love and be loved. I made a huge mistake in choosing a man to love. Nearly ... very nearly .. did me in. But here I am with two accomplished daughters and 3 grandchildren. The oldest daughter still bearing pain .. my most diligent efforts couldn't prevent. For that .. I grieve. And sorrow. And pray. "Lord, please pour out Your spirit upon me. And my family." Others chide me at times .. but being sad. They don't understand. Don't comfort me. I understand the dichotomy of reaching out to your parents .. nevertheless .. wanting them to see YOU .. and not a puppet on a string. To still want to do so ..is because your heart is whole .. I have experienced this verse "Your own soul is nurtured when you are kind and destroyed when you are cruel." Stay alive. It's good to feel. All of it. The full range. My fantasy would be .. if in your shoes .. to express what I craved for. Whether or not heard. But what I be so brave? Not sure.
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
"Judge not, lest ye be judged. For as you judge me, so shall ye be judged by the same measure.
Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye.
Peace and the blessing of the Lord to you, dear friend.
--EJ
--EJ
It was the Jews who took away Columbus Day from out calendar to give us off for the two Jewish holidays in our and many other school districts. That is fact.
Do not confuse faith with religion with politics.