Religious Trauma

[JOYCICLE 654]

I am delighted that this now has a name !!!!!!!!!!  Some of you may  enjoy this article and others may not care a bit but I have come to believe that very many mental afflictions were brought on by idiot religious teachings meant to scare people to death .   

 

http://valerietarico.com/2013/03/26/religious-trauma-syndrome-is-it-real/

[KH84 42]

I am intrigued by this. I have realized a while back that some of my anxiety is part of the religion I was brought up in. Most of their teachings are about the end of the world and preparing for it and scaring you that it's right around the corner.

Even now that I'm not In the religion, if one of my family members starts talking about how close the end is I automatically get anxious.

[jonathan123 2368]

An interesting article, but we have to be careful. Because some people distort religion and the idea of a God does not invalidate it. Many millions find faith to be of great comfort and have been helped enormously by this belief.  I am not of a religious persuasion. By that I mean not the sort of religion that is practised by orthodox Christians.  In the article most people who contributed seemed to be blaming religion for their problems when it is their misunderstanding that is the cause. The fact that 99% of so called believers have misinterpreted what was said by the founders of religions, and have carried out atrocities and caused mayhem, has escaped their attention. The fault surely lies with the person and not the belief. If we distort something due to our being misinformed and made to be fearful about something that should be of help, who's fault is that? It is a fact that in Catholicism there is less of a problem with anxiety than any other religion.( I am not of any religious persuasion). Why? Because they can go to a priest and confess their so called 'sins'. They relieve themselves of a mental burden and ask forgiveness. They say confession is good for the Soul and it certainly seems valid. After all what do we do on this site that makes us feel better? We talk to each other and seek comfort. If TRUE religion does that that then who are we to criticise? The teachings of any Master, if sound psychologically, must be of value. The message of Christ, if properly understood and not distorted to create a power base, are words of Love. Because, throughout the ages, people have distorted those words to their own ends does not invalidate them. We are in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Would the author of the article condemn the Salvation Army, for instance, who tour our cities at night distributing food and shelter, disillusioned  fanatics? They have deep religious faith and believe they are acting from love in the name of their God. Have they been brainwashed and suffer mental breakdowns? Hardly. Religious teaching has been abused, distorted, misinterpreted and made to appear ugly in the name of power. This has, in many cases, caused mental problems, but then so it has with a baseball or football fanatic who resorts to violence against an opposing team. That does not make the sport bad.  

How many of us feel, as I do, that there has to be something beyond all this rubbish and nonsense that we call life? Is this it? The greed, acquisitiveness, fears, violence. Is this it? It is this that causes the mental breakdowns not True belief. Because someone was made fearful in their childhood by some religious misinformed fanatic, do we condemn all belief? Anything, good or bad, can be distorted and made to be idiotic.

We were told not to live this way; to Love one another but have we taken note of that? Well, look around. Christan fights Chritian. Muslim fights Muslim. Non believer fights non believer. What has any of this got to do with a man who is reported as saying, "Do unto others as you would have others do unto to you". "Love one another".

The article made some valid points but was also full of distortions and misunderstandings.  But it will give food for thought.     Jon.

[JOYCICLE 654]

Jon,, this is amazing and true   "" It is a fact that in Catholicism there is less of a problem with anxiety than any other religion.( I am not of any religious persuasion). Why? Because they can go to a priest and confess their so called 'sins'. They relieve themselves of a mental burden and ask forgiveness. They say confession is good for the Soul and it certainly seems valid. """

 

In many of the 'charismatic' faiths ( probably more so in the US)  the people are driven and controlled by fear.  One tiny slip up, a little lie that a child would tell, and they may be doomed for eternity to hell and that is a big , big burden on a psyche.  I totally agree it is not the religion itself but the people interpreting it and leading the way. The bible is just a book but some people have made it come alive in the minds of others and what they see terrifies them for ever.  

[jonathan123 2368]

I totally agree, Joy. The fear of God is sometimes the main cause of anxiety in a child and an adult. Many have this idea of hell fire and damnation thrust upon them so that they grow up full of the fear of punishment. I agree, the Bible is just a book and I have no time for the Old Testament which is but a history of a certain race and is full of a vengeful God who 'smote' his enemies whenever they crossed him. But the wisdom contained in the New Testament, if properly understood, can help a lot in anxiety. I say understand because it is the lack of understanding that causes the problems. Believers worship a man who did not want to be worshiped and said so. It is the words spoken not the man. Many Christians would not agree with that statement and I respect their views, but to worship this terrible effigy of a man nailed to a cross is wrong. Religion, belief should be an uplifting experience not a miserable one. Thanks Joy for showing us this article; as you said, many would not agree but complete agreement in religious matters isn't going to happen, ever.      Jon.