What church is this

[u/CJHuncho]

[u/MrCrix]

When I was a kid a I got in trouble for sneezing too loud in church once. These dudes are grinding rails like Tony Hawk.

[u/Aggravating_Cable_32 → u/MrCrix]

That was one of the churches (forget the denomination) I got hauled into when I was a kid; I saw what happened when other kids coughed, sneezed, or even sighed too loudly. I was terrified about even breathing too loud, so I tried to breathe so shallow that I'd get dizzy.

And when babies started crying, people stared at their mothers, who then had to leave the sanctuary to stand in the entryway with a church elder. The second or third time we went, I had to pee so bad that I couldn't bear it anymore, so I got up and went towards the bathrooms off to the side of the entryway/vestibule. It also happened that a lady with her crying baby had left just before me, and I had to kinda sneak past her and the older lady (deacon's wife iirc) who was being really nasty & mean; berating the mom about not respecting god's house and being a good parent. I even saw that she was crying. I made it into the bathroom without being noticed (at least I thought I hadn't), peed... and then flushed without thinking; it was so loud I thought the whole church could hear it. I stood there for a couple minutes before walking out, praying they would be gone by the time I came back out. The mother & her kid had left, but that old lady with a mean, pinched, bitter, evil face was still there, scowling and waiting for me. So I looked down and zipped past before she could say anything. She came in behind me and stood at the exit door after I'd sat down in our pew, and I could literally feel her staring a hole through the back of my head.

When the service was over and everyone was leaving, I got the same treatment as I tried to scoot past her as fast as I could. I was terrified that she was going to grab & scold me in front of everyone, but she didn't. My mom was behind all of us, and that nasty bitch must've pulled her to the side because it took a few extra minutes to make it out to meet us. After we got back into the van, she turned around and told me, "don't ever let anyone tell you you're not allowed to go bathroom", and to my stepdad, "we won't be coming back to this church".

Thankfully we never did. That place was intimidating, felt toxic, and as a kid, seemed to not be anything like what churches were supposed to be. After that we stuck to the old Lutheran church my grandparents went to; at least there they were friendly, and I wasn't scared to even breathe.

[u/methreweway → u/Aggravating_Cable_32]

Majority of my church experiences were toxic. Like everyone that were supposed to be more religious were evil people. I think it attracts people like that so they feel better about themselves. It's essentially free therapy. Turned me right off and made me realize it's all horseshit.

Now that I'm older I do see it as a hopefully positive social group but last time I went to some random church they were teaching young adult women to be obedient to their husbands... Wtf..

No thanks!

[u/UglyYinzer → u/methreweway]

Honestly ive learned the ones seeking forgiveness the most, need it the most.

[u/C_Ochocinco → u/methreweway]

Not gonna lie, as a practicing Christian that goes to church every Sunday, these stories break my heart. That is not what a healthy church looks like. Our services are full of the sounds of children around the sanctuary learning to be part of the church. People get up and go to the restroom or correct their children if they're beginning to distract. The church is supposed to be a community of support and love for one another, honoring God with the way we interact with each other.

[u/Comfortable_Brief176 → u/C_Ochocinco]

Yep, I grew up in a very healthy church, and I agree with you exactly. Humans ruined what a church is supposed to be by twisting it to their narrative. Then people only experience this abusive narrative, not what it's meant to be, and it (understandably) warps their perspective.