Can church be bad for your health?

[coadie]

Originally Posted by ILG

I suppose someone could have PTSD if, say, they were in a church that coerced them to marry, cast devils out of them all the time, turned people and family members against each other or something like that.

Is there anything more tramatic than someone else being chosen to be the organist?

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Aquila

So... I think most of us agree that someone can suffer from PTSD from negative experiences in church.

Would it be wrong to try to strongly encourage this person to attend a church given their situation?

Originally Posted by nahkoe

I don't know. I'm being very strongly encouraged to go and it's not necessarily bad. Hard, definitely. But I can see in a different situation where it may not be so good.

I don't really know or understand all of the details of your situation, nahkoe, but I for one really do think that it is at least possible for someone to get to get something that is at least similar to PTS from church conflicts.

One time I had a lady so mad at me that she hollered at me until she could no longer stand on her own. She was subsequently hospitalized. This was because I "walked away from her." Seriously. I didn't want to stand there and argue and she literally burnt out a fuse when I walked away.

There was another time when I was "interviewed" by a local Police Captain with "Federal agents" popping in and out because of something a pastor I was associated with had said publicly. I could go on, and it does get rather nasty... but that's not particularly helpful.

We demand a deep emotional commitment from the people who participate in our services. We should not be surprised when we see deep emotional responses to what's going on. My own biggest PTS type shock came when I discovered that this whole "church thing" is really just a game many of our leaders play to secure their incomes.

I actually believed all this stuff at one time ("anointed ministry" and all of that). It took some pretty good shocks to change my mind.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by coadie

Is there anything more tramatic than someone else being chosen to be the organist?

Well, that's not traumatic. That's just a little hurt to one's pride.

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by coadie

No pitty party.
God's grace is sufficient.
No more whining.

Can I make a suggestion? I just read through this thread and found some really good information. Good thread, Aquila. This needs to be talked about.

However, there's one exception to the good information, and this is where the suggestion part comes in. Everything's great except for this idiotic stuff Coadie is writing. Dude, you're ruining a good thread. Could you either mosie on over to another thread, maybe something where people are complaining about Obama, or maybe you could say something SO extremely moronic, like last time, and get yourself banned again.

We concerned AFF citizens would really appreciate it. May bountiful conservative/republican/tea party blessings be yours as you move on.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

Can I make a suggestion? I just read through this thread and found some really good information. Good thread, Aquila. This needs to be talked about.

However, there's one exception to the good information, and this is where the suggestion part comes in. Everything's great except for this idiotic stuff Coadie is writing. Dude, you're ruining a good thread. Could you either mosie on over to another thread, maybe something where people are complaining about Obama, or maybe you could say something SO extremely moronic, like last time, and get yourself banned again.

We concerned AFF citizens would really appreciate it. May bountiful conservative/republican/tea party blessings be yours as you move on.

You just don't want coadie's cold dank fingers in that mop of hair of yours, do you Smythe?

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by pelathais

You just don't want coadie's cold dank fingers in that mop of hair of yours, do you Smythe?

Oh, perish the thought. I worked hard on this hair, but really, I'd prefer his cold, dank fingers not be anywhere near me, period.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by deadeye

I fear that AFF is giving me PTSD....

Is masochism a sin?

[coadie]

Originally Posted by ILG

Well, that's not traumatic. That's just a little hurt to one's pride.

Now you are talking major trauma.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by pelathais

I don't really know or understand all of the details of your situation, nahkoe, but I for one really do think that it is at least possible for someone to get to get something that is at least similar to PTS from church conflicts.

My "I don't know" was about encouraging them to go to church, not about the PTS stuff. I know that I have been hurt to the point where I would likely not be going anywhere if the choice were entirely up to me. I do have panic attacks in church, I avoid interaction with people. I don't want anything to do with Christians, for the most part. The only thing that keeps messing with this is the Christians I'm living with right now. They do encourage me to attend church, if you want to call it encouragement. It's expected that I and my family will be there, and they provide transportation so we can be there. But they're also providing a safe place for my family to just sit for awhile.

I wish people realized how badly they can hurt someone and how easily this can happen.

[ILG]

Originally Posted by coadie

Now you are talking major trauma.

Why not address real PTSD in church people rather than making fun of people who get their nose out of joint.