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Community => Religion and Philosophy => Topic started by: rageaholic on January 07, 2012, 06:07:49 pm
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This is a subrant of religious phrases that piss me off only it involves mind games Christians play to keep others in line.
Christians have a tendancy to assume to know your thoughts and intentions. Go onto any youtube video on someone's deconservation story and you will find several comments claiming to know why they deconverted. They were angry at god, they didn't have enough faith, Satan has blinded them from the truth, bullshit, bullshit, and even more bullshit. Some take it to a new level by claiming to know that "deep down you know that you will be judged which is why you've posted this video". This is especially annoying because when you're a deconvert, you still have those deapseated fears, but are trying to look at things from a rational view. Do they give a rational answer? NOOOOO. Like the cowardly fuckers they are, they feed on people's fears and insecurities!
It's bad enough when anyone attempts to read your mind and play armchair psychologist. Like assuming that if someone is unemployed, it's because they don't want to be employed and are not trying hard enough (even though there are no fucking jobs). Christians just take it to a new level and use their stupid bible to come up with reasons why someone left the faith. Since they can't prove shit, they resort to mind games, fear, guilt, and manipulation. And then they have the gall to wonder why people are so angry at Christians? MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GODDAMN MIND GAMES AND MENTAL TORTURE!
Oh and speaking of mental torture, how about the way the extreme fundies use Satan and god to create paranoia in someones mind? If anything contradicts their faith, it's SATAN! All opposing arguements come from the debil and all arguements in favor come from god. And since the whole faith is built on a "personal relationship with Christ", you don't know which thoughts are Satan's and which come from god and only have some old book and people's interpration of it to rely on. No wonder so many religious people end up insane.
I'm sure there are many more mind games, but those are the big two that piss me off the most. Feel free to add your own and remind me of others.
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This is a subrant of religious phrases that piss me off only it involves mind games Christians play to keep others in line.
Christians have a tendancy to assume to know your thoughts and intentions. Go onto any youtube video on someone's deconservation story and you will find several comments claiming to know why they deconverted. They were angry at god, they didn't have enough faith, Satan has blinded them from the truth, bullshit, bullshit, and even more bullshit. Some take it to a new level by claiming to know that "deep down you know that you will be judged which is why you've posted this video". This is especially annoying because when you're a deconvert, you still have those deapseated fears, but are trying to look at things from a rational view. Do they give a rational answer? NOOOOO. Like the cowardly fuckers they are, they feed on people's fears and insecurities!
It's bad enough when anyone attempts to read your mind and play armchair psychologist. Like assuming that if someone is unemployed, it's because they don't want to be employed and are not trying hard enough (even though there are no fucking jobs). Christians just take it to a new level and use their stupid bible to come up with reasons why someone left the faith. Since they can't prove shit, they resort to mind games, fear, guilt, and manipulation. And then they have the gall to wonder why people are so angry at Christians? MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE GODDAMN MIND GAMES AND MENTAL TORTURE!
Oh and speaking of mental torture, how about the way the extreme fundies use Satan and god to create paranoia in someones mind? If anything contradicts their faith, it's SATAN! All opposing arguements come from the debil and all arguements in favor come from god. And since the whole faith is built on a "personal relationship with Christ", you don't know which thoughts are Satan's and which come from god and only have some old book and people's interpration of it to rely on. No wonder so many religious people end up insane.
I'm sure there are many more mind games, but those are the big two that piss me off the most. Feel free to add your own and remind me of others.
I think this belongs on the "Religious Phrases You Hate" thread.
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"Since when were you under the impression...that I'm NOT Satan?"
I should try that some time.
Rapture Ready was fond of being superficially nice to me. Until I disagreed with something, or maybe a swear word slipped out. Then I was being an incredibly rude guest. As the Legion was intent on emphasizing after they made an excuse to proseltyze to me & I logically slapped their shit. Around the same time I got banned, they were sure to talk about how they planted the seed because they loved me, or were my friends, or whatever. If I don't call people I've known for 13 years my friends, what makes you think you have any business claiming that title for yourself? You don't even E-mail me.
So, I guess a related one is plopping bullshit down in your field of view (101 Scientific Facts of the Bible, Essay on why Atheists are Insane, etc.), then getting all passive-aggressive whenever you debunk it.
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You want to know mind games? Here's mind games.
Every wednesday night, in "Non-Denominational" Youth Group in a Pentecostal Church, the person at the keyboard plays a tune just right that it makes you emotionally vulnerable. You've been singing, emotions are incredibly high, and you're "in it". They call it "being full of the spirit" but that's bullshit.
And the youth pastor calls you on stuff. Calls you on being a sinner. On thinking naughty thoughts. On masturbating. On everything. Even if you haven't done any of that, you feel guilty about it. Guilt tripping after guilt tripping after guilt tripping.
You "realize" that you've been a horrible Christian. That you've made Jesus sad. That you've disappointed God. And your parents. You realize that your friends online are sinners, and plan to evangelize to them, AGAIN, when you get home and at the computer. To save them from their sin. Because you care so deeply about them that you're panicking that you won't see them in heaven.
But first, you have to take care of your own business. "Convicted by the spirit," you go up to the altar, "showing your bravery in coming forward", and confess of your sins again and become born again again. You cry. You want to turn over a new leaf. You just want to be good.
...Now, imagine that happening, almost every Wednesday night.
It's a wonder I still have any friends from that time period.
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Let's talk about spending seven and a half hours being evangelized to - and that's what they explicitly called it (http://www.netusa.org/) - as part of a mandatory requirement to get confirmed. Where you're given a list of every commandment and ways that it could be interpreted - how wishing someone harm was breaking "thou shalt not kill", how masturbation and lustful thoughts were adultery, how wanting more than what you currently had was coveting. And then you have to go to confession, crying, because you've broken all of them. Having other people, only a bit older than you, give testimony about how they used to be ignorant of Catholic teachings until they learned what they meant and so grew in their love of Christ and how God loves you even if you're a terrible, terrible person, you sinner who's going to Hell.
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*hugs youngerSmurffette*
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I imagined to get through things without very many major guilt trips in this way. The worst part was regular confession. There are only so many times you can go in with nothing worse to say than “haven’t shown optimal respect to parents†before even that begins to make you feel shitty.
Though there was this one time where I went into confession and began stumbling over my words. Out of nowhere and without any other sort of clue, the priest guessed that I was trying to confess to masturbation. Maybe that’s a bit too revealing on his thought processes.
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*hugs youngerSmurffette*
I want a hug, too ;_;
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*hugs youngerZachski*
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/me hugs young Zachski and young Smurfette
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*hugs young Smurfette as well*
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Oh, great. Emotions. I'm out of here!
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Let's talk about spending seven and a half hours being evangelized to - and that's what they explicitly called it (http://www.netusa.org/) - as part of a mandatory requirement to get confirmed. Where you're given a list of every commandment and ways that it could be interpreted - how wishing someone harm was breaking "thou shalt not kill", how masturbation and lustful thoughts were adultery, how wanting more than what you currently had was coveting. And then you have to go to confession, crying, because you've broken all of them. Having other people, only a bit older than you, give testimony about how they used to be ignorant of Catholic teachings until they learned what they meant and so grew in their love of Christ and how God loves you even if you're a terrible, terrible person, you sinner who's going to Hell.
Man, after readind both yours and zachski's stories, it makes me glad that most of the mind games came from comments and scary websites online. I don't know how I would have survived living in a fundie household with all the guilt since even with everyone telling me fundamentalism is wrong, I was still scared shitless of hell.
Anyway, the idea of "thought crimes" is another lovely mind fuck. Thoughts don't hurt anyone, but we're supposed to feel guilty about them anyway. It totally warps your view when thinking angry thoughts is the same as actually fucking killing someone. And don't get me started on the sin of "lust" (that's an entirely different thread). In those "how to be saved" directions, one of the steps was to convince yourself that you deserve to go to hell. I almost believed it too since I continued looking at this stuff on what horrible people we all are and how we don't deserve to live.
I could go on and on, but the entire idea of original sin and how we are all born evil, combined with the threat of eternal torture, is mental abuse. In fact, it was reading an article comparing the Christian god to an abusive partner that opened my eyes to how fucked up the whole thing was.
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Ugh, glad I quit when I did. Being a fundie is a LOT more dangerous than lighting a cigarette...
To make a long story short for myself, I used to be in the Morg (LDS church), but the events of 9/13/01 told me it was time to get the hell out. Pat and Jerry's tirade drove me to read the Bible.
And I could no longer worship the monster they call a God. I won't stop others from doing it. But if they try to legislate it, or force it on others, I'll be the first to come running after them.
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And don't get me started on the sin of "lust" (that's an entirely different thread).
Well, all the Cardinal/Deadly Sins are, like this, really emotions inherent to the human condition. As such, it was always my take that they were less sins themselves and states of mind that had to be kept in check due to their ability to lead one into doing something wrong. Of course, it always bothered me how out of this grouping Lust always got special attention. Meanwhile, some of the others even seemed to get a free pass. How often do they talk about “Righteous Anger†after all?
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Was anyone else taught that God can "hear" everything you think whether you want him to or not? And that every thought you have should be dedicated to him 24/7?
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Does it count that when you told a youth pastor about how you felt about being the shortest in the class that God has to have a reason for it but pray for it and you'll get taller and then when you say you have that you must have 'done it wrong' or 'made God upset' that you didn't like 'His plan'?
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Let's talk about spending seven and a half hours being evangelized to - and that's what they explicitly called it (http://www.netusa.org/) - as part of a mandatory requirement to get confirmed. Where you're given a list of every commandment and ways that it could be interpreted - how wishing someone harm was breaking "thou shalt not kill", how masturbation and lustful thoughts were adultery, how wanting more than what you currently had was coveting. And then you have to go to confession, crying, because you've broken all of them. Having other people, only a bit older than you, give testimony about how they used to be ignorant of Catholic teachings until they learned what they meant and so grew in their love of Christ and how God loves you even if you're a terrible, terrible person, you sinner who's going to Hell.
Don't forget craziness about scapulars and making novenas! And how you HAVE to pray the rosary EVERY day or you'll BURN IN HELL!!!
To make a long story short for myself, I used to be in the Morg (LDS church), but the events of 9/13/01 told me it was time to get the hell out.
News Flash: The_L's sweet 16 turns Stormwarden away from God! Details at 11. :P
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Oh hey, another mind game to bring up.
You know how fundies love to pound into people's heads that "homosexuality = pedophilia" right?
Well, I used to be friends with a few kids younger than me. I baby sat for them occasionally. I never once even thought about doing anything to them.
Now that I'm out of the closet, I think back to the fundies that judge people based on that and I become completely paranoid. Not just about my actions, but about my thoughts. Remember, for half of my life, I belonged to a religion where thoughts could damn you to hell.
So, my attempts to censor my own thoughts have created a weird sort of paradigm where the censoring is causing the thoughts. And then I got scared that "Does this mean I'm actually a pedophile!?"
I've never gotten aroused from it, but I've been so terrified of it that I've caused myself quite a bit of mental anguish over it.
Finally, after... 5 years, I finally talked to someone about it. They reassured me that I'm fine, it's just the headgames that Christians play. And now that I've brought it out instead of keeping it to myself, eventually, I'll relax about it.
I'm still nervous and paranoid, but I think it's about time to stop this nonsense. So, I'm going to try to relax now.
Damn, fundie mindgames persist even when you think you've finally gotten them all out...
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zachski, I can only imagine how terrifying that is. I imagine it would be hard enough coming out, but in that kind of environment, AND the fear of hell. Wow...
And I know what you mean about questioning your thoughts. It's bad enough that Christians get you paranoid about sin and all that, but they make you think that you're such an evil person that what ever you do is just to spite god. Because if I decide to masturbate, I'm not doing it for my own pleasure, I'm doing it to offend god! They get you overthinking everything you do to the point of insanity. What helped me snap out of it was this excellent article showing similarities between the Christian god and an abuser. (http://atheism.about.com/od/whatisgod/p/AbuserAbusive.htm)
Unfortunately, the fear was still there and because there are so many different extremes and interpretations of Christianity, I assumed the abusive gods were just extreme versions (another mind game). At that time, I started watching youtube debates involving Christians and they were so good at making you think that their opponents were only supporting views that were contrary to theirs to spite them. Straight and support same sex marriage? I must be doing it to spite Christians and drive them out!
They are so good at making themselves look like the poor persecuted victims who are being oppressed by the evil minorities. In reality, they are just spoiled, whinny little kids who are jealous that they have to acknowledge and respect the rights of others. At this point, even if someone was doing something just to spite Christians (provided it's not dangerous), I would completely understand. Their mind games and bullshit are just so infuriating that I think some of these idiots deserve the hate. The only sympathy I have is that maybe they are brainwashed and under the same oppressive system. In that case, they are the victims, but that still doesn't make their bullshit any less bullshit.
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When I was little, I thought every strange noise was the beginning of the rapture. What made it worse was that we lived about half a mile from our town's main train track. When I was a kid the train noises scared me because I thought Jesus was coming back and would leave me.
Then I would hear the train whistle and feel like a huge dumbass.
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A few more.
-Black and white thinking: Fundies are nitorious for this. Everything is black and white to the point of insanity. It's either one way or the other, no in betweens. Morality for instance, they see all sins as equal. The average Joe who tells white lies, commits thought crimes, and stole a candy bar as a kid will go to hell, but a serial rapist/murderer will go to heaven if he accepts Jesus. And since the standard is impossible to adhear to, everyone who isn't a Christian (aka saved) will go to hell. And then there's the extreme afterlife, one is the worst fate imaginable and the other is the best fate imaginable (supposidly). NO in betweens? Especially since reality is far more complex than some black and white morality.
-Everything is a religion: If you don't fully agree with everything they say, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN RELIGION!! Just want to live your life, go to school/work, and not affect anyone? THAT'S A RELIGION TOO!! Every other view is a fucking religion never mind that theirs is the most controlling and demanding. Another form of black and white, all or nothing thinking to gain complience.
-Speaking for God: Christians say God this and God that, you gotta get right with god, do things god's way, ect ect. What they really mean is "do things my way". God isn't doing any speaking here, they are. They may use bible versus to justify what they say, but so do other Christians. Since I hear all this shit about false prophets from these same people, I would rather hear from the big man himself, especially since they aren't a religion, but a "relationship".
Once you see that many of these arguements are based on logical fallacies, the whole thing falls apart.
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See... this is exactly why although I self-identify as Christian, I hate other Christians, and most religions - I consider myself closer to being spiritual. My personal beliefs transcend dogma, holy books, and hypocrites.
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When I was little, I thought every strange noise was the beginning of the rapture. What made it worse was that we lived about half a mile from our town's main train track. When I was a kid the train noises scared me because I thought Jesus was coming back and would leave me.
Then I would hear the train whistle and feel like a huge dumbass.
I saw a 60 Minutes thing on the Rapture and thought that it was real (I was like ten or so). I became strangely paranoid of turning twelve, since that particular documentary said that only devout Christians and children under twelve would survive the Rapture. I didn't know it was a Protestant thing and not a Catholic thing, so I resolved for about a week to pray more and try to go to Confession in case the Rapture struck unexpectedly.
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I saw a 60 Minutes thing on the Rapture and thought that it was real (I was like ten or so). I became strangely paranoid of turning twelve, since that particular documentary said that only devout Christians and children under twelve would survive the Rapture. I didn't know it was a Protestant thing and not a Catholic thing, so I resolved for about a week to pray more and try to go to Confession in case the Rapture struck unexpectedly.
Took me until I was in college to start really finding out more about the “born again†style of Christianity. I was so confused when some kids from the Campus Crusade for Christ gave me a tract. It might have been a Chick tract, even, but I don’t really recall for sure. I just didn’t understand half the content of the thing.
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Just an observation...For being an all powerful entity, Yahweh sure does get butthurt an awful lot. You would think a supreme cosmic being would be as cool as a cucumber. It seems to me that the Christians are worshipping the equivalent of an angry toddler with the power to see you tortured for eternity for not doing exactly what it wants, regardless of how petty.
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Yeah, you’d think omniscience would come with some perspective.