An Essay you all might like...

[Beautiful_Dreamer]

http://www.internetmonk.com/broken.html

I really think you all should read this essay. From what I am hearing, many of us here have been in or around churches/groups who seem to think that if we were really 'good' Christians, than we would not have depression or not have any of the other problems in our lives that we have, that 'normal' people do. I really like this essay because it said what I already knew to be true-that this is never promised but what was promised is that we wouldnt be alone.

To give some background, the Internet Monk is a Southern Baptist minister who also teaches at a Christian school. He was raised as a fundamentalist Christian and while he is still very much a Christian, he has no problem pointing out the errors he has seen in his upbringing, the Church, and in the world. He is definitely not someone who expects you to check your brain at the door, which I found very refreshing. I really needed to know that there were other Christians like this.

http://www.internetmonk.com/homexz.html

A list of the best essays he has are listed at this link above. Enjoy!

[ex-shep]

Good read. I like his iconoclaticism. Might be comforting for those who have been in spiritually abusive situations.

[Kerrin]

:)
what an excellent "read". I'm going to use some of this, referenced of course, in the letter i am composing for our "old" church leadership and the poor burdened souls who drag themselves along every week, waiting to receive that un-attainable "promise", (that maybe , one day they'll be acceptable in this lifetime if they keep trying; and God forbid, they have a fault or "fall" down).
Thanks, Kerrin ;)

[Beautiful_Dreamer]

I love the Internet Monk. On the regular site, internetmonk.com, they have a list of his blog entries and also a link to his essays. I love his essays because he is not a fundamentalist but yet he is still strong in his faith and talks to people like they have a brain. He has no patience at all for people who misuse faith and mistreat people with it.

I wrote him a note asking what he thought of spiritual abuse or if he had heard of it but he hasnt written me back yet. I have also sent links to this and other sites with information. I don't know that a lot of people who have not 'been there' know that this can happen.

[Kerrin]

. He has no patience at all for people who misuse faith and mistreat people with it.

I wrote him a note asking what he thought of spiritual abuse or if he had heard of it but he hasnt written me back yet.

Hope he writes back love to hear what he says. It's time to stand up and be corageous enough to Not tolerate the abuse the church inflicts.
That's just not me yet, Like the lion in "Wizard of Oz", don't know where my courage is!! :)
Kerrin