Yep, I understand that. Fear keeps you in it. Stockholm Syndrome stuff. So many have been hurt by this.
Yes, a lot of people have been hurt by it, and that's why I share my story of renouncing my Christian faith, coupled with the story of the severe abuse and constant bullying I suffered while I was growing up. My story of childhood abuse is intertwined with my decision to renounce my faith. I share my story of leaving Christianity in the hopes that it might inspire others who are considering leaving Christianity, or perhaps inspire people who have already left and need reassurance. I participate in a couple of therapy groups for survivors of abuse, and I share my story of suffering childhood abuse and the reasons why I left Christianity in these support groups.
My stories have inspired other survivors of abuse, but I never coerced other survivors to forsake their Christian faith. I told them that it's possible, and I talked to them about how much my life has improved since I renounced my own faith. I make sure to emphasize that the decision to renounce their faith is entirely up to them, and I let them know that I'll listen to them and offer them emotional support. I've made it my life's mission to support other abuse survivors, and one way I do so is by being open about my experiences.
As I explained in another post (
click here), being a Christian was a terrible experience for me, and now I'm determined to never be a Christian again. To be honest, it was very difficult for me to detox from my Christian faith, and it took me several years to deprogram myself from all the church indoctrination that I had been subjected to while I was a Christian and while I was growing up. I can truly say that letting go of my belief, faith, and trust in God was the best decision that I've ever made for my mental and emotional well-being. My life is so much better now that I'm not a Christian. I don't regret my choice to disavow my faith, despite the difficulty and struggle it took to do it. I now have genuine peace and joy in my life, and that's something I didn't experience when I was a Christian.