Over the weekend I went looking for more books to read. Last week I found the History of Early Christianity and have been enjoying reading through that. This weekend I found the book Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome. This is not a mockery of PTSD, or other trauma-related issues, but seemingly a mirror into something I have witnessed over the past 16 months. That bad religion creates real, lasting traumatic injuries to the heart, mind, and soul of its victims.
People inside the systems mock these comments and dismiss them, which is a sad similitude to the early scandals of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic church. Victims were mocked, blamed and discredited, yet, when the truth is revealed, it is a real and terrible thing to behold. The same is for the PTSD of bad religion, known as Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome.
The book, written by Reba (Rebecca) Riley is a glimpse into her recovery from the damage of bad religion. I hadn’t read ahead, and in truth, I’m writing this having only made it to page 21. I’m already in shock.
Reba starts this account in a bar, after having a bad stretch of luck with her car. She explains a chronic illness that wracks her body with pain, but through it, all her focus is on this internal struggle of faith, the loss of faith, the damage of the past opposing an internal desire to find faith again…
Her story is much like the hundreds of other stories I’ve read, listened to, spoken to and with directly, and experienced. Church hasn’t damaged Reba, Bad Religion has. And after nearly one and a half years focusing on this study, the most common reference, is Charismatic, Fundamental Pentecostals.
One of the Most Damaging Churches in Modern History
The miracle of the story is that the bartender who Reba opens up to about her bad luck just so happens to have attended the SAME church Reba did as children and were able to recount some of the painful memories and the lifelong trauma it had caused them.
My first clue was page 14, in Chapter 1 when Reba was collapsed in her closet sobbing for what her life had become and internally, she continued to hear this small voice telling her that she couldn’t fix her body, but she could fix her faith. And she goes on to say;
“But most of all, I cried because I wanted to fix my spirit but I didn’t know how. It’s not like I could return to the faith of my childhood: the speaking-in-tongues, falling-on-the-floor, believe-it-all-or-belive-it-none gospel with a firey hell for everyone who didn’t buy in to Christ.”
That’s a Pentecostal Sunday night service. The more you jabber in tongues, the sweatier you get, the more convulsing, twitching, rolling and shouting you do, the more holy ghost fire there was. If you had lost your voice Monday morning, you croaked out, “I’m not sick, it was GREAT church!”
It was what I have labeled Emotional Hyperventilation. Sunday night service looked more like a mosh pit than reverence, and its mirrored by nearly every cult, including Voodooism, Hindu cults (think Rajneeshperum of the 1980’s), Witchcraft and other more occult styled systems in the form of worship, loss of bodily control, incoherent speech, bodily spams, etc.
I’m not trying to be disrespectful (entirely) to peoples beliefs, but me included, this church system known as Pentecostalism (big word, we’re focused on the cult style, Oneness Pentecostal like systems) have damaged more people internally than I’ve witnessed in other church systems, but the others are likely just as damaging, and to be honest, I haven’t witnessed many others.
By page 20, Reba drops the bomb.
“The Pentecostals of my childhood would have called my reaction to church demonic posession.”
You see, just like the Vatican, when initially confronted with the damage done, they victim-blame and put up defenses, but I’ve now spoken to hundreds of said victims and they all tell the same story. Reba said that visiting churches caused her severe trauma and hives.
“From spousal telepathy, I knew Trent was thinking about a similar churchy announcement I’d made five years prior, back when we were still dating. After that church visit, he’d found me passed out on my couch, covered in Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome-induced hives, mumbling Benadryl-induced incoherencies about hating praise bands and preachers.”
Now, this book is known for taking a humorous look at the reality of the trauma Reba suffered. But it should be found ironic that the God who does NOT give us a Spirit of Fear, is supposedly worshipped by people who constantly use FEAR to control people and thus, damage them.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].” – 2 Timothy 1:7
I must highlight again that Spiritual Abuse is real, it has affected a lot of people, and the worst part about it, is that it is literally shutting the gates of heaven to people who need solid, loving faith.
That First United Pentecostal Church sign indicates something a lot of Christians believe, that you must accept Jesus. What the sign doesn’t tell you, is that accepting Jesus requires absolute obedience to the pastor, paying your tithes, adhering to their strict dress laws, not swimming in public with the opposite sex, women not cutting their hair or wearing makeup, or being in public in shorts, wearing pants, etc.
Further, it is a religion that cuts people off. As Reba said, it’s a “Believe-it-all-or-believe-it-none” system and they turn on those who don’t believe it.
This week I had a person tell me that they had lost half their family to this system. Recently, a mother confessed that her son threatened not to allow her to see her grandchildren for not attending this type of church.
It’s a system of hate, and it is truly traumatic to those who have suffered at the hands of it. Just as much as physical abuse traumatizes its victims for years, and a life to come, so does PTCS.
We need to be aware of it, talk about it and drag people out of the pits of it! Reba, in sharing her story, has done a part of just that and I hope people will take the time to read the book and be encouraged to share your own story.
19 Responses
Very good truth brother. I wholly agree with your view of this group.
And you had me concerned at one point. At one point, I thought you were saying that hell is not the destination for those who reject Jesus, (which it is of course). But further reading clarified that you were talking about the error of believing hell awaits those who don’t comply to the standards of pentecostals.
(Big difference).
Thank you for your continued shedding light on a dangerous cult brother.
Hey Lee! Sorry for the confusion there, glad you caught the meaning.
I’m now in my 60’s, & grew up in this religion, watching what was preached, not lived out in the home (my Father was a Pastor); how I despised the restrictions, for I wanted to be like other girls & wear makeup, pretty dresses, & just have some fun. TV was sinful, movies, makeup, wearing pants, etc., etc., but I witnessed great dysfunction in my family, including adultery by the one who was ” preaching”. Rebelled, left home at 16, and spent many years out in the “wilderness”. Thankfully, I now have a relationship with the living Savior, and have spent the past 30 years in the Word, listening to many teachers, outside the Pentecostal religion, but it breaks my heart to see so many in my family still there & shunning those who do not adhere to their rules.
Bonnie –
Many blessings to you and thank you for commenting! I love your comment as it illustrates what Legalism robs children of, and adults – individualism – the ability to enjoy the simple and non-sinful pleasures of life, such as jewelry, makeup, movies, etc.
I had to share your message with my wife who has remained ‘IN’ even after I left. Words like yours are so effective in showing people that you can still live for the Lord, victoriously, without all the rules and regulations of legalism.
Blessings,
Is she saying she read her husbands mind? which is a scary thought..not knocking her book or anything but man if she read minds that would mean divination. I heard of spouses almost knowing everything their spouse is thinking or feeling.some people play that off as that people get to know people after years of marriage but to know whats on someone mind all lot seems like the enemy..I understand about people operating in gifts in a local body of believers but to always know to me borders on demonic..
“From spousal telepathy, I knew Trent was thinking about a similar churchy announcement I’d made five years prior, back when we were still dating. After that church visit, he’d found me passed out on my couch, covered in Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome-induced hives, mumbling Benadryl-induced incoherencies about hating praise bands and preachers.”
I was raised since birth in an assembly’s if God Pentecostal religion. Twice service on Sundays, bible group on wed, thought Sunday school, youth group Fridays, and band practice Thursday’s. All this with national swimming training 9 times per week, surflifesaving weekends, and working to pay board since the age of 14. I’m unhappy, have many mental illnesses, and since my parents showed no affection, never told me they loved me, my mentally ill mother telling me that everyone else (including my whole family) was wrong and against me, not being able to grow up with tv as it was worshiping a false idle, being told the carebears were evil, …….help!!!
Pentecostal are the most hypocritical and judgemental people in the world! I am happier being a ‘dinner as I help, respect, and accept more than I ever got being pushed to the floor, and talking jibberish (to be accepted) by an ungiving and judgemental cult. My family now disowned me as I have made my own choices in life. While those have been bad…it’s very difficult to make the right ones when you’re taken to ‘outreach’ in Hindley street (Adelaide) when you’re a child and are brainwashed into believing that that’s normal and everyone else is wrong and going to help when the rapture comes! CULT!!!!!!!!!! I NOW LIVE WITH PTSD, MAJOR DEPRESSION, BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, OCD, AND THE REST OF THE FUCKED UP SHIT RESPECTIVE TO THIS 16 YEAR ‘NORMAL UPBRINGING!
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Howdy! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
We are pentecostals not a cult this is all fake
The #1 indicator that someone is in a cult is that they claim to not be in a cult but have no way to support their denial.
I encourage all comments on this page, and even love opposition and challenges. I would just encourage you to find a way to define why it is not a ‘cult’ and intelligently articulate that reasoning. Otherwise, to the wider world, this kind of statement simply proves that it is indeed, a following with sycophantic followers.
Amen, let the ignorant be ignorant the word says in Corinthians!
some genuinely great info , Gladiola I found this.
Pentecostals are not a cult that is the holy ghost read the bible yall
Pentecostalism has infected a lot of the non-denomination churches now. You would not know this from the pulpit but begin to experience it when gathering in small groups. Jesus is just not enough for people influenced by this toxic religion. They need a second baptism, they need tongues in order to experience the power of the Holy Spirit, they need to have authority over illness and the list goes on and on. The work of Jesus is not complete or enough for this religion or their sister religions. They do more harm than good for Gods kingdom.
It’s healthy to frequently re-examine what your religion is telling you and do an in depth Bible study from the scriptures to find good solid truths. You might be shocked at what you find you have been following all this time.
You can really know the truth about if your church is a cult when you try and leave. All the horrors begin then.
I have seen a lot in Pentecostalism more than I would really like to remember. My father was the son of a Pentecostal Preacher and when he got married was not a Pentecostal. When my Grandfather passed away then somehow he became involved with Pentecostalism. My mother was raised Baptist and did not want any part of it. However, as time went on she relented because he rode her case and started going with him to Church. Before long she quit going to the Baptist Church and she became a Pentecostal. When all of this happened my life changed no more wearing shorts, no Cub Scouts, no Boy Scouts, no Little League baseball either. I thought that I would have a great normal life but it seems that it went away like a puff of smoke. This started many years of trauma I could not play sports, no movies, going to the fair, and watching TV. I was made to believe everybody in the World was UnGodly and that only Pentecostals were to be the only ones to really associate with. To me now this almost sounds like a Cult but I was so young and naive what could have I had done. There are a lot of manipulative people in Pentecostalism so be careful and take everything they say with a grain of salt.
i just want to say this is simple and right on after i started to qustion what my bible what was being taught i got shut down and told it was the devil. time and time again they would use the word of God to justify one and condom someone else time and time a again i got bullied and push around what drawed the line for is when i went to the pastor and asked to be set free from the chruch he start forword told me that i had to attend and anohter chruch
of the same organiiztion becouse if i didnt then i would be following a faluce phrofit i thought to my self how can anyone be like that i mean i been feeling like i didnt belong there for a while see a while back i had sent my bro a text and was condoming someone and i used scripture to justify what i was doing and he pointed out that i was staring to become part of the hate that was being taught at the pentecostal chruch now that i have left i feel like a big weight has been lift no one from the chruh will talketo me now and wife and two girls are still going there my wife was raised there her grandpa was the pastor for years theres no hope she will ever leave but that ok i can use my time with my girls to break the cycle