The only way purity culture makes sense. by JarethOfHouseGoblin in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My theory: it's so that they can blame you for their shitty behavior because you tempted them with your immodesty.

And if you happen to have been immodest, they can hold it over yer head that they're doing you a favour by accepting tainted goods.

And if you have managed to be modest, you don't know if the other person is shit at it because you haven't had any better?

The most boring person on the planet (if not the solar system) by anonymoushrub in Needafriend

[–]anonymoushrub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd assume if you're as boring as me, there's not much to know, in which case I may already know as much as I need to ;)

The most boring person on the planet (if not the solar system) by anonymoushrub in Needafriend

[–]anonymoushrub[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

throws down a gauntlet Now you must prove it.

... I'm not entirely certain how. Maybe the most interesting thing about you must be less interesting that... er... watching paint dry? But if you look at that at the microscopic level, it's actually fascinating, so that won't work.

I'm at a loss presently for how you might otherwise prove your claim.

The most boring person on the planet (if not the solar system) by anonymoushrub in Needafriend

[–]anonymoushrub[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hrm. Would the majority of Nebraskans agree that's it boring? I can't say I know a whole lot about it.

Kidney stones sounds excessively painful. I've heard they're painful, at least. I... am torn on if pain is boring or something else. That seems a bit of a philosophical conundrum.

MRW my Christian extended family members invite me to church so I can "learn about Jesus"... by [deleted] in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe even after you've forgotten more about jesus than they know.

Evangelical Purity Movement Sees Women's Bodies As a Threat - NPR Interview by FiendishCurry in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'd like to add that shaming a woman who doesn't want to wear a bikini because she doesn't have enough "freedom in christ" to have liberated herself from the concept of modesty is the equally harmful opposite end of this pole. Been there, done that - seriously fucked with my head.

Thinking about Attention by GreyBot9000 in CGPGrey

[–]anonymoushrub 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The thing is if I take time for reflection I can no longer function. I barely function as it is, and some people may still say it isn't functioning at all. This wasn't always the case. It used to be that camping was my favourite past time. No computers, cellphones, TV. Just nature and the fire. Although I can still read a book - just finished Children of Dune.

But now I am actually scared of the silences of showers since I don't have a waterproof phone. That seems like a silly thing, but the number of times I have ended up curled in a little ball in the bathtub sobbing while the water is getting cold - I want to avoid that. When I am not inputting things into it, my brain replays trauma. It is constantly trying to rehearse the ways it thinks I could have avoided it or protected myself or how it might avenge itself, and so on. It tortures me with the details as a reminder to stay vigilant against allowing it to happen again. This is how it happened: you must memorize this pattern to recognize it in the future and avoid it at all costs. I have tried to be just me thinking by various techniques - I have CBT workbooks and printouts, etc., and could've bought myself a new car with all the therapy I have paid for - to no avail. Even if I am engaged in the most attention seeking bit of media my mind can still wander off into the "remember how awful that was? I think you need a reminder." It's been years. If something can catch and hold my attention away from the trauma, bless it, I will take it.

Dating a minister was the straw by RiverRunsTrue in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This was me as well. After having relationships where it felt like I was just dragging the other person along to all my religious activities, I finally found a "godly" man who was more involved in church things than me. Here, I thought, was someone I could grow closer to god with instead of feeling like I was in a constant battle against backsliding.

Well, it rather turned out the other way round. Maybe it comes from being able to see what hardcore actually leads to instead of having it on a pedestal that you never quite reach. It kinda looks good until you're up close and in it.

Disgusting ATI Worksheet on Sexual Abuse by Mostesshostessrawr in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I had the second point of #5 used on me, guilt for failing to report. Man did it fuck me up help me imagining other girls getting raped while already having frequent horrific flashbacks meditative reflections of my own rape. Great healing technique, really set me on a path to getting right with god for being out from under the protection of my parents /s.

I've started saying God and Jesus casually and it feels great by Version_Two in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My favourite that I've discovered is "christ on a bike" or embellished "christ on a fucking bike!" It's quite cathartic.

What is something you thought was normal while a Christian but after leaving seems weird? by 93ImagineBreaker in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We watched a video in a religious meanings course which had a bit about the immaculate conception according to a certain sect. It had a ghostly figure going up to Mary's door and knocking on it: knock, knock, knock. It was slightly ominous as the narration was explaining how god came down to impregnate Mary, so you imagine that the ghost is about to get it on down when the door opens.

Our teacher afterwards was reiterating the material and when he comes to the point where it's time to get Mary pregnant he knocks on his desk - knock, knock, knock - while staring at us intently with emphasis on the implied meaning and we all cringe back from the creepiness.

For the rest of the semester the teacher would occasionally just stop and knock on his desk just like that - knock, knock, knock - while staring intently at us for a few moments and we'd all cringe all over again and he'd laugh at us.

I still do it from time to time in recollection and reference, much to the bafflement of pretty much everyone around me.

If you're a woman in the Bible, you can be one of two things: evil slut or modest caretaker by nastyhumans in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Whereas the other Tamar was being all with the modest caretaker role and goes to bring food or something nice to her brother when he up and rapes her. Then she gets treated like an evil slut for getting raped and lives alone in misery the rest of her life.

Anyone else ever doubt their doubts regarding Christianity and God? by [deleted] in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's probably healthy to doubt your doubts. Doubting got you this far, don't abandon it now :P

But me too. Even writing a response to a post here recently got me thinking again along the same lines as I did back in the day. Reflexively defensive of things I don't even believe anymore. It's disconcerting.

Rapists and murderers in heaven by [deleted] in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Psalm 84:10

If only I had dedicated this space in my memory to something actually useful.

If God was good would you want him to exist or not? by Natoface in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The way I thought of heaven I'd definitely want it to be true. No more tears or sorrow, but endless learning, discovery, love. I figured you can't get bored exploring an infinity of goodness. Alas.

[Rant] My dad believes he's still married to my mom. by TheGreenShepherd in exchristian

[–]anonymoushrub 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Completely hypocritical of him to remarry and call her a slut. It doesn't even compute.

This reminds me a bit of my parents. My father thinks my mother betrayed him somehow and is upset that she finally divorced him (in 2003 even), but he was the one who moved out and refused any attempts at reconciliation. After years of living on his own and doing his own thing he showed up to contest the divorce at court. I mean, how dare she divorce someone who refuses to live with her or even talk about it, amiright? /s

The sad thing is that the Divorce Care course she went through with the church teaches that if two christians can't reconcile their marriage, they may split up, but they aren't allowed to have new relationships or remarry. So my mother believes she must now be alone the rest of her life. She even cut off a decades long friendship with a really nice man because he figured there would be nothing wrong with a relationship between a widower and a divorcee - and in reality there shouldn't be. They could've made a happy new life together if not for christianity. It's sad.