Every one of them says "how are you?" And you always have to say "good," even if you're not good. If you say things aren't good, they'll wonder -- aloud -- why you're placing "limits" on yourself or the situation. All things are possible through God and enough prayer. This does not stop … Continue reading everything is always good
Tag: problems
Christian Science Culture and Positive Peer Pressure at Principia College
Back in February, Jonny Sacramanga gave an interview about Leaving Fundamentalism. A section of the interview really jumped out at me, so I bookmarked it with every intention writing a post. In the interview, Sacramanga talks about positive peer pressure in relation to Accelerated Christian Education (ACE). On his blog, ACE is described as a … Continue reading Christian Science Culture and Positive Peer Pressure at Principia College
what I’ve been watching: Coersion for Christ
Kidnapped For Christ Official Trailer the NYTimes piece The Kids Aren’t All Right, and Neither Is the School ‘Kidnapped for Christ’ Investigates a Boarding School via Awkward Moments Children's Bible CHILD COERCION IN PROGRESS via Stop Religious Child Abuse https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=754250287950673
UPDATED: Calling your Congress People on Religious Exemptions
As a general rule, I try not to get involved in politics, but I don't feel that religions should be exempted from anything -- they should pay taxes, they should have to enroll in health care. As Jesus reminded them, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's. Jesus also said "suffer the little children" (Matthew 19:14) … Continue reading UPDATED: Calling your Congress People on Religious Exemptions
Religious Trauma Syndrome: How Some Organized Religion Leads to Mental Health Problems
Christian Science isn’t really into the hellfire, brimstone and apocalypse, but it does manage to instill a deep distrust of doctors/medicine, and some dangerously unrealistic ideas that you can heal yourself through prayer alone — and when that fails, it means you’ve failed, so you have to pray harder… Not a healthy cycle to fall into.
At age sixteen I began what would be a four year struggle with bulimia. When the symptoms started, I turned in desperation to adults who knew more than I did about how to stop shameful behavior—my Bible study leader and a visiting youth minister. “If you ask anything in faith, believing,” they said. “It will be done.” I knew they were quoting the Word of God. We prayed together, and I went home confident that God had heard my prayers.
But my horrible compulsions didn’t go away. By the fall of my sophomore year in college, I was desperate and depressed enough that I made a suicide attempt. The problem wasn’t just the bulimia. I was convinced by then that I was a complete spiritual failure. My college counseling department had offered to get me real help (which they later did). But to my mind, at that point, such help…
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Guest Post: Why religion makes me uncomfortable
The following is a guest post by long-time reader the Vicomte de Chagny. Yes, this is obviously a pseudonym. “And despite the abolition By the current inquisition Of any intuition that they don’t choose, When it comes to God I find I can’t believe that He designed A human being with a mind he’s not supposed … Continue reading Guest Post: Why religion makes me uncomfortable
Final Generation 2
I was inspired by the comments on the previous post to share a little more about my background. Everyone says they were "encouraged to explore and question," my father (selectively) encouraged my exploring and questioning. I did a lot of exploring and questioning, which is of the lovely, and often problematic, things about Christian Science: … Continue reading Final Generation 2
human fabrication & “true” Christian Science
A few weeks ago I was contacted by an author, spiritual healer and counselor in Australia who had come across kindism.org. She writes monthly inspirational news letters, and has recently posted some of them to her website/blog. I found her July message on "True Christian Science" (1) to be rather interesting. She begins with a … Continue reading human fabrication & “true” Christian Science
Christian Science “healing” may take a little while
A little while back the Ithaca Journal ran a piece about Liz Heywood and her experience with Christian Science as a child (1). Shortly thereafter, someone wrote in to the Ithaca Journal with a follow up in-defense-of-CS article, and Ms. Heywood has since added her perspective to the ongoing discussion (2). Ms. Eddy is quite … Continue reading Christian Science “healing” may take a little while
a little honesty, please
I think it is time for the Christian Science community to be a little more honest with themselves (and the public at large). The Mother Church can scoff at the "false" idea that Christian Science forbids it's followers from seeking medical care. The TMC can even let the NYTimes interview some CSPs with their blessing, … Continue reading a little honesty, please
kind-ism 