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Am I wrong?

trigger warning

Hello everyone, I'm sorry if you'll feel a bit uncomfortable with my trauma dumping today, hahaha. So yesterday my mom called me and my sister downstairs to "talk" about our plans in church (just for context, I practically grew up my whole life in this church but I never connected with it). So the reason why she asked us about our goals is because her group shared some of their thoughts on a video that the pastor showed. We call it "fragrance of Zion", so the point of this is to tell your group what you realized from the video. Anyways let's not go deeper on that, so as my mom questioned me and my sister about our goals, she also criticized us for what we're doing wrong that we need to change and she kept targeting me. She said that I don't focus on the sermon/video, I don't smile enough, I don't volunteer much to do anything at the church, I don't preach, and she kept comparing me to my friends at church. Along the way I broke down and said "Do you show me any good examples to follow?". Before I continue on why I said that let me tell you about what happened just last month. My mother kept doing the same routine of criticizing me due to my attitude at church, but she also does things that scared me and made me a bit emotionless and depressed when I'm with her. She yells at me, swears at me, and even threatened to kill me or kick me out of the house. She told me how much she sacrificed for me, which I appreciate because she does spoil me sometimes, but she always hold it against me. When I talk back or do something she doesn't like she makes me remember all of her sacrifices and how she raised me. This started maybe when I was 12 or 13, just to be clear I do some chores at home. I cook, wash the dishes, wash the dishes, and even clean the house sometimes. I did all of this even when I was still in school, but after I cook, wash, clean, and take care of my nephew at night because my sister work at 8 or 9PM and my nephew is a bit of a slow eater my mom always calls me despite when I'm in my bedroom testing and tired. Why? Because she wants water and doesn't want to stand because she's tired and teaching her online students, but even when she has no class and I point it out and gets mad saying that she's tired. The reason why she's tired is because she preaches all day. Yes, that's all she does in the morning till afternoon, I hate this because we're already poor, not extremely poor, but middle poor. She got so many job opportunities in other countries but she refused because "church comes first" this goes the same for my stepfather, he also got a ton of job opportunities in other countries but he rejected because my mom said that church was more important. Our church is like all over the world, but her reason is because at the "last days" she doesn't want to be in another country when god comes. My hatred towards the church began from there because instead of us being middle class with money that we can actually spend on things we desperately need, they prioritize the church and gives all of their money to the church. I told this to my aunt who I'm close with and she understood me because she always believed our church was a cult, she pitied me because she loves me a lot and always wanted to bring me with her. She promised to keep it a secret, but she told my grandma who also loves me and when my mom visited her, she scolded her in front of a bunch of people. This started our first real argument, she told me that how could I betray her and tell someone about her behind her back. I cried and told all of the things I've been holding back and I cried especially at how she threatens to kill me just because of my attitude at church and you know what she said? "And? Do you think id really do that to you?" I told her that that's not the point and her words hurted me and she just dismissed me and told me about how hard her life was when she was a kid and my stepfather jumped in and scolded me too. I felt hopeless and tired so I just apologized. That's why I told her "Do you show me any good examples to follow?" I started off with the same thing I said last time and she told me how I was selfish and self-centered once I told her that I don't believe in the god they were worshipping anymore. I told her that how was I supposed to believe in god if that's how she treated me and do you know what she told me? She said "So? Then don't come anymore", I was heartbroken because she still didn't understand what I was trying to say and I told her that I just wanted her to talk kindly to me and I told her the reason why I couldn't apologize properly or be empathetic is because she never apologized to me even after our first conversation. My stepfather told me if I want them to respect me then I should respect them too, like how am I supposed to learn respect when they never respected me? Anyways I just broke down crying in my bedroom before my sister came to my room and she told me something that I have never heard from this family in my entire life "I'm sorry". I just cried even more because it was the first time someone actually apologized to me in this family. I wasn't the one apologizing, and I guess it just made me so emotional that I cried the entire time we talked. Something about my sister is that my mother did the same thing to her that she was doing to me, my mother even threatened her with a knife before, but my sister told me on how much she envied me for being the favorite and how our mom spoiled me. I started to understand her more and she told me that we should understand our mom because she might have trauma from how she was raised (my grandparents didn't really treat her well and even punished her harshly). I understand that, but does she have to take it out on us? Anyways this was long hahaha, I hope you all can give me your opinions. I'm still a bit emotional and me and my parents haven't talked at all today except for my mom taking my tablet because her laptop was broken and she uses mine. Anyways that's all, I hope you can also tell me if I was wrong or not. Thank you! 🤍

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User Profile: Spiritriver
Spiritriver April 28th

@lovingGrapefruit1391

 No, it does not sound like you are wrong.


I grew up in a cult-like environment. My parents were hyper religious, extremely judgmental, and although they never admitted it, profoundly hypocritical. There were also mental health issues, such as narcissism, bipolar and schizophrenia. They were able to act okay enough in public that others saw them as upstanding citizens.


Suffice to say, I never connected with the church that held them in such high esteem.


People can be religious acting, know Scripture backwards and forwards, and in my opinion, be further from God than an atheist. Therefore, I believe that your reluctance to connect with that church, is evidence that you are quite likely closer to God than those around you. My impression is that your sister feels the same way.


I believe it's okay, and often quite helpful to apologize, even when you are right. Even when you are right, it's possible to offer an honest apology for how your words affect the other person's feelings.


Kindness in the presence of unfairness is also possible, and there is at least a remote chance that it can be helpful.


It's possible to have compassion and empathy for someone who is behaving badly, especially when focusing on how they are feeling rather than their words.


Angry and unreasonable words can be based on fear for another person's well-being, even if they’re 100% wrong about what they think that person should be doing.


It sounds like your circumstances call for a huge leap in both discernment and emotional maturity to a level that's even beyond that of a great many adults. This is especially true because it doesn't seem likely that your parents are going to make significant changes.


Ironically, my mom prepared me to a great extent for my future in caring for dementia patients. She used to follow me around screaming and cussing relentlessly. I left home when I was 15. About six months later, I started making short visits. As soon as she started acting out, I would leave. After a while, she came to understand, if she wanted me around, she'd have to behave a bit better. At some point in the future, you might have the same advantage with your mom.


As I said earlier, you are not wrong. Now, the question is how to best survive until you are independent.


I'm glad you have your aunt for support. It sounds like your sister is on your side as well.

2 replies
User Profile: lovingGrapefruit1391
lovingGrapefruit1391 OP April 28th

Thank you, so much. I might sound a bit cheesy, but I'm starting to feel very emotional even though I'm not an emotional person because I feel very understood and validated. I never thought that a stranger could make me feel cared and understood for especially since our situation is a bit similar. And about my faith in God that you commented. I don't think I trust the God we believe in more than the church because the God we believe in is a person claiming to be one. I'm not sure if I'm really just brainwashed or just accepting it because I have no choice, but thank you for giving your opinion and letting me understand that I'm not in the wrong. I've always thought that I was wrong when I try to speak up and caused me to be a bit s****dal, but I've never truly done anything beyond imagining. Thank you again and have a wonderful day!

1 reply
User Profile: Spiritriver
Spiritriver April 29th

@lovingGrapefruit1391


 Thank you very much for validating my effort to help you feel validated. Regarding my comment about your faith, I believe you are closer to the truth, therefore closer to God. Many churchgoers believe that God is a person, but because God is so much more than a person, those who identify God as a person are nowhere close to understanding the true nature of God. By understanding that God is so much more than your church's understanding of Him, you are closer to understanding more of His true nature.


When Jesus said one must be "as a child" to enter the Kingdom, I suspect that He was talking about being both humble and receptive to discovering a level of truth that's far more profound than what human interpretation of Scripture can offer. After all, those who are like our parents might just as well be saying "this is what I believe and I'm sure God agrees with me, therefore you must be absolutely wrong." The truth is, humans can only do their best to understand, yet still be open to learning, inspiration, and experience that may reveal something we previously believed to be wrong.


I believe that someone who has looked at Scripture and believes they have it all figured out, is delusional and very likely has lost track of Scripture’s core message which centers on love and forgiveness.


Another concept that churches rarely support is that of establishing a personal relationship with the Divine. The reason for that is the belief that if a person has such a personal relationship with God, they would have little interest in attending church. I think in large part, they are right.


When I was a kid, I just kept quiet about my beliefs, and let them assume that I was agreeing with them. I had the example of my older brothers who challenged what the church was saying, and it did not go well for them. I learned a lot about what not to do by observing my older siblings.


I think what I considered to be conditioned beliefs are those that felt as though they were "always there" and unquestionably true. I think that's comparable to your reference about being brainwashed. In fact, I believe either definition works. That early childhood conditioning is probably unavoidable, and sadly it often instills not only erroneous beliefs, but also such things as fearfulness, insecurity, guilt, low self-esteem, along with assumptions about society such as racism. On the other hand, very positive conditioning is also possible. For example, through role-play and demonstration, I helped my children develop empathy from the time they started talking.


I have faith in your faith because your heart is in the right place.

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User Profile: cheerfulKiwi1776
cheerfulKiwi1776 April 30th

@lovingGrapefruit1391

Look. I have a situation at my house which is about this thing. About the whole church thing. So I understand you. Also my house is toxic and I understand you as well at that part. 

I dont know if that can help but you can just send me a text here as I m a listener if you want and maybe we can talk there? 

Please take care and be safe. Also, dont give up.🫂