Anxiety

I have become more aware lately of the anxiety that is created by conservative/fundamental churches.  Instead of fostering an atmosphere of love, they create worry and fear.  This is how they accomplish this:

1.  by insisting that Jesus is coming back soon, an urgency is created.  Be good, get ready.  Jesus is coming back soon.  worry- you don't want to be left out.

2.  behave... you don't want him to catch you being bad...

3.  Hell... if you are bad, you are going to hell.  God will torture you for eternity... [how can anyone believe that about God???]

4.  questions are not allowed.  The pastor is always right.  The bible is perfect.  No questions.

5.  no thoughts or feelings outside of the groups dogma can be entertained.  

6.  core message of judgment and hatred for those outside of the group, or those who want to leave the group.

I hope you can see that such an approach to faith is very painful and incites fear and worry.  It instills unhealthy thinking into the minds of people and condemns them to years of mental suffering.

I wish that I had been more forceful in my younger years to help parents understand the damage that is done by high demand churches.  Still today, I see good people falling into these quasi-cults and allowing their children to do so.

All churches are not the same.  All approaches to Christianity are not the same.  

It is ok to question.  It is ok, even normal to have doubts.  God loves you.  Be happy.  Live a happy life and love others.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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Sherri Swanson and I are leading a trip to New Zealand January 30-Feb 12, 2027
If you want to sign up, you can use my host number 17768 or Sherri's 57707
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Sherri Swanson and I are also leading a Canada/New England cruise in September of 2027
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