Ugggh Nadia every word of this hit every cell of my soul. I know we’ve already talked about this so you know I had a similar experience to you, but my gosh you’ve described it all so perfectly. Xxx
“It’s one of hierarchy - always linked to something people made up”
The truth the heart instinctively knew and the mind must come to in its own way, herein presented plainly and simply. One can only concur, or defer..I must choose the former.
Every single word...Nadia, I'm reading this with tears because you describe so beautifully everything I have felt on my awakening having been raised in a high control religion. Leaving cost me my family. Literally. That's the price I have paid for my authenticity. Shunned and cut off. Your words, "letting go felt like dying" could not be truer. With heartfelt thanks - I feel less alone having read this.
I am so so sorry you lost your family John. How heartbreaking. And I hope you can rebuild life with the family you choose. ❤️ Thank you for letting me know how this impacted you. I write, so that we all feel less alone.
As someone who grew up in Catholic Italy, I feel every single word and I agree with you. I sang my freedom song at the last confession before my confirmation ceremony (oh the irony!). In a moment of extreme vulnerability and trust I told the priest that I wasn't sure that God was really there, or at least not there for me. The priest told me doubting God was a sin and gave me zero explanation and 10 Hail Mary's. Needless to say that was the end
Well written, Nadia! Thanks for sharing this. I come from a family where I have seen my parents following religious practices blindly and I have been questioning those since childhood. I still don't take part in any traditional religious practices and even praying to god. I can't wrap my head around it.
I am not an atheist I think.. because I do beleive that there's something unexplainable and supernatural that goes on in this universe.. some energy(ies) which is present.. I believe in that. Don't know which religion is that 😅
Also, I loved how you set the boundaries at the beginning of the post. :)
Married into it and embraced it to be liked. Finally broke free and now I mourn the loss of a sizable amount of my life. But I have peace of mind for the rest — so I suppose that’s something. So happy you made it to the other side.
I experienced religious trauma (was raised Jehovahs Witness and was disfellowshipped at the age of 21). It destroyed my sense of self for a very long time and sent me down a spiral of addiction and self-abuse. Reclaiming my own spirituality after going through a religious crisis of conscience has been one of the most liberating and fulfilling aspects of my life to date. Thanks for the beautiful read, Nadia. Solidarity. ✊🏼
I am so sorry for the pain you have been through Kelly. I am so glad to hear you have been able to find a path that brings you peace. So glad we are not alone!
I am grateful for every challenge I’ve experienced because it taught me who I really am. And I’m so grateful to be able to process it all (now at least) in an environment where others truly get it. Thank you for your beautiful words. They touched my heart.
So glad to have read this brave and insightful piece! My father was a Lutheran minister, and my childhood revolved around the church and the faith, and for as long as I can remember I was terrified of going to hell. It was a constant worry that guided so many of my decisions and behaviors, and despite my best efforts I continually fell short of the expectations I set for myself and felt hopeless and doomed. But I could see that my peers, who were not burdened by my anxieties, were enjoying their lives so much more than I was, and my jealousy and self righteousness made me feel alienated from them. Ironically the compulsory theology classes I had to take at my Lutheran liberal arts college provided the hammer and chisel that destroyed the whole edifice of my faith and my fear. And I have often said the same thing that you have written here—the truth has set me free.
Ugggh Nadia every word of this hit every cell of my soul. I know we’ve already talked about this so you know I had a similar experience to you, but my gosh you’ve described it all so perfectly. Xxx
Thank you my friend ❤️So glad we can understand each others experience!
Thank‘s for speaking directly out my heart
So happy to ❤️
Just finding your blog and this post along with others are speaking to me, resonating so deeply. Thank you. I'll be referencing this post many times.
Thank you so much for reading and resonating with my words Tasha! Deeply grateful to share this space with you!
“It’s one of hierarchy - always linked to something people made up”
The truth the heart instinctively knew and the mind must come to in its own way, herein presented plainly and simply. One can only concur, or defer..I must choose the former.
Thank you for being here and for your kind support 🙏🏼
Every single word...Nadia, I'm reading this with tears because you describe so beautifully everything I have felt on my awakening having been raised in a high control religion. Leaving cost me my family. Literally. That's the price I have paid for my authenticity. Shunned and cut off. Your words, "letting go felt like dying" could not be truer. With heartfelt thanks - I feel less alone having read this.
I am so so sorry you lost your family John. How heartbreaking. And I hope you can rebuild life with the family you choose. ❤️ Thank you for letting me know how this impacted you. I write, so that we all feel less alone.
As someone who grew up in Catholic Italy, I feel every single word and I agree with you. I sang my freedom song at the last confession before my confirmation ceremony (oh the irony!). In a moment of extreme vulnerability and trust I told the priest that I wasn't sure that God was really there, or at least not there for me. The priest told me doubting God was a sin and gave me zero explanation and 10 Hail Mary's. Needless to say that was the end
I am so glad that was it for you :) Spared yourself many years of trauma!
Well written, Nadia! Thanks for sharing this. I come from a family where I have seen my parents following religious practices blindly and I have been questioning those since childhood. I still don't take part in any traditional religious practices and even praying to god. I can't wrap my head around it.
I am not an atheist I think.. because I do beleive that there's something unexplainable and supernatural that goes on in this universe.. some energy(ies) which is present.. I believe in that. Don't know which religion is that 😅
Also, I loved how you set the boundaries at the beginning of the post. :)
Thank you for reading and sharing this with me ❤️ Yeah when it comes to this topic I always have to do this, because people go WILD in the comments.
Married into it and embraced it to be liked. Finally broke free and now I mourn the loss of a sizable amount of my life. But I have peace of mind for the rest — so I suppose that’s something. So happy you made it to the other side.
I feel you. All of it. You are not alone.
I experienced religious trauma (was raised Jehovahs Witness and was disfellowshipped at the age of 21). It destroyed my sense of self for a very long time and sent me down a spiral of addiction and self-abuse. Reclaiming my own spirituality after going through a religious crisis of conscience has been one of the most liberating and fulfilling aspects of my life to date. Thanks for the beautiful read, Nadia. Solidarity. ✊🏼
I am so sorry for the pain you have been through Kelly. I am so glad to hear you have been able to find a path that brings you peace. So glad we are not alone!
I am grateful for every challenge I’ve experienced because it taught me who I really am. And I’m so grateful to be able to process it all (now at least) in an environment where others truly get it. Thank you for your beautiful words. They touched my heart.
“I can’t say if I was a ‘good person’ when I believed in god. Was it real kindness or was it the result of fearing punishment?” so real tho!
Right?!?
So happy for you, and grateful that others get to experience relief from your words ✨🪷
Thank you Jasmine. Grateful for your warm words ❤️
So glad to have read this brave and insightful piece! My father was a Lutheran minister, and my childhood revolved around the church and the faith, and for as long as I can remember I was terrified of going to hell. It was a constant worry that guided so many of my decisions and behaviors, and despite my best efforts I continually fell short of the expectations I set for myself and felt hopeless and doomed. But I could see that my peers, who were not burdened by my anxieties, were enjoying their lives so much more than I was, and my jealousy and self righteousness made me feel alienated from them. Ironically the compulsory theology classes I had to take at my Lutheran liberal arts college provided the hammer and chisel that destroyed the whole edifice of my faith and my fear. And I have often said the same thing that you have written here—the truth has set me free.
Thank you so much for sharing a part of your story. I am so glad not to be alone in this. And so glad to hear you are free too ❤️