Post: #1

this is bound to be a little bit long and disorganized, please bare with me.

i've mentioned here before how my father's side of our family is of the Holdemen Mennonite faith.(think Amish but a little more modern)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_G..._Mennonite
well, today i attended our family reunion. before i get to the story, and my point, i should share a bit of background info.

my father was excommunicated from the Mennonite church 30 years ago. as the wiki article states, he isn't allowed to eat at the same table, give or receive hugs or handshakes from family, etc., but there is still a family bond. my father is very much permitted and encouraged to spend time with the Mennonites, but is effectively "shunned" when around...they speak loudly across the room to him, and there are no "i love you's" when they say good bye, even from his closest family.

i was never baptized into the Mennonite faith, but i grew up around them and learned much about their interpretation of the bible. as a child in my grandparent's care, i had a strict regiment of prayer and bible study forced on me. i began to resent them for preaching a "loving god" to me, but treating my father so badly. due to this, i began studying other religions, looking for answers, and became a heretic in their eyes. ultimately, i became an "atheist"...it was a sin to question.

flash forward to today...

most of the family reunions i've been to on that side of the family have been mid afternoon events(between church sessions, always on Sunday). today was much different. today's "reunion" started at 9:30 am. a small gathering of family(120 souls, self included)met at a privet, church owned school house out in the Kansas countryside. we shuffled into the gymnasium of the 3 classroom building, and the doors were shut behind us. this is where i began feeling a little bit duped. i was directed to the non-Mennonite section of the seating, and told to "get comfortable". there were probably 15 to 17 other non Mennonites along with me, including my father, my younger brother, his wife and 5 yr old step son(who have no clue what the Mennonites are about)and a few others who have also been excommunicated, or who were never Mennonites to begin with.

next, the shit hit the fan. a "guest speaker" began to preach about family foundations, ships getting lost on the ocean, and hellfire and brimstone...all directed at the small patch of us non Mennonites, while the rest of the family nodded their heads in accordance with the "guest speaker". i've never been so embarrassed or ashamed of my "family" in my life. i felt so trapped, and helpless. i have devoted so much of my life to try to understand religion, and to be kind to people of all different beliefs, and here i sat feeling this man's hate pour down on me, in the name of god, without him even trying to understand who i am. i feel so betrayed, so disgusted, lied to, and like a rabbit in a snare.

it was complete and utter BULLSHIT. it did nothing but reinforce my belief that organized religion is a waste of time, resources, and life. i've never hated god, or people who believe in god, but if this is your god, you can all f*ck off.

Post: #2

I would have got up and walked out. Actually I would not have allowed myself to be in that situation in the first place.

Or maybe just sat there flipping the bird to the speaker the whole time with a grin on my face.

Post: #3

until today, i still had some respect for that portion of my family, we normally get along well enough. i'm over them at this point. i would have left sooner but i had to catch a ride there from someone else, it would have been a 60 mile walk back home.

Post: #4

A2k  Wrote:

this is bound to be a little bit long and disorganized, please bare with me.

i've mentioned here before how my father's side of our family is of the Holdemen Mennonite faith.(think Amish but a little more modern)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_G..._Mennonite
well, today i attended our family reunion. before i get to the story, and my point, i should share a bit of background info.

my father was excommunicated from the Mennonite church 30 years ago. as the wiki article states, he isn't allowed to eat at the same table, give or receive hugs or handshakes from family, etc., but there is still a family bond. my father is very much permitted and encouraged to spend time with the Mennonites, but is effectively "shunned" when around...they speak loudly across the room to him, and there are no "i love you's" when they say good bye, even from his closest family.

i was never baptized into the Mennonite faith, but i grew up around them and learned much about their interpretation of the bible. as a child in my grandparent's care, i had a strict regiment of prayer and bible study forced on me. i began to resent them for preaching a "loving god" to me, but treating my father so badly. due to this, i began studying other religions, looking for answers, and became a heretic in their eyes. ultimately, i became an "atheist"...it was a sin to question.

flash forward to today...

most of the family reunions i've been to on that side of the family have been mid afternoon events(between church sessions, always on Sunday). today was much different. today's "reunion" started at 9:30 am. a small gathering of family(120 souls, self included)met at a privet, church owned school house out in the Kansas countryside. we shuffled into the gymnasium of the 3 classroom building, and the doors were shut behind us. this is where i began feeling a little bit duped. i was directed to the non-Mennonite section of the seating, and told to "get comfortable". there were probably 15 to 17 other non Mennonites along with me, including my father, my younger brother, his wife and 5 yr old step son(who have no clue what the Mennonites are about)and a few others who have also been excommunicated, or who were never Mennonites to begin with.

next, the shit hit the fan. a "guest speaker" began to preach about family foundations, ships getting lost on the ocean, and hellfire and brimstone...all directed at the small patch of us non Mennonites, while the rest of the family nodded their heads in accordance with the "guest speaker". i've never been so embarrassed or ashamed of my "family" in my life. i felt so trapped, and helpless. i have devoted so much of my life to try to understand religion, and to be kind to people of all different beliefs, and here i sat feeling this man's hate pour down on me, in the name of god, without him even trying to understand who i am. i feel so betrayed, so disgusted, lied to, and like a rabbit in a snare.

it was complete and utter BULLSHIT. it did nothing but reinforce my belief that organized religion is a waste of time, resources, and life. i've never hated god, or people who believe in god, but if this is your god, you can all f*ck off.

sorry that happened to you as a former fundamentalist christian i am used to the fire and brimstone treatment
i was an agnostic leaning towards atheist for a while and then i discovered the metaphysical interpretation of the bible and other holy books,
that along with meditation has helped to appreciate and understand a lot more of how these teachings have been corrupted by the literal letter of the law interpretation,

if i was you i wouldn't put myself through the mental anguish of attending any more of these bash-a-thons

i hope the best for you

Post: #5

freebyrd  Wrote:

A2k  Wrote:

this is bound to be a little bit long and disorganized, please bare with me.

i've mentioned here before how my father's side of our family is of the Holdemen Mennonite faith.(think Amish but a little more modern)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_G..._Mennonite
well, today i attended our family reunion. before i get to the story, and my point, i should share a bit of background info.

my father was excommunicated from the Mennonite church 30 years ago. as the wiki article states, he isn't allowed to eat at the same table, give or receive hugs or handshakes from family, etc., but there is still a family bond. my father is very much permitted and encouraged to spend time with the Mennonites, but is effectively "shunned" when around...they speak loudly across the room to him, and there are no "i love you's" when they say good bye, even from his closest family.

i was never baptized into the Mennonite faith, but i grew up around them and learned much about their interpretation of the bible. as a child in my grandparent's care, i had a strict regiment of prayer and bible study forced on me. i began to resent them for preaching a "loving god" to me, but treating my father so badly. due to this, i began studying other religions, looking for answers, and became a heretic in their eyes. ultimately, i became an "atheist"...it was a sin to question.

flash forward to today...

most of the family reunions i've been to on that side of the family have been mid afternoon events(between church sessions, always on Sunday). today was much different. today's "reunion" started at 9:30 am. a small gathering of family(120 souls, self included)met at a privet, church owned school house out in the Kansas countryside. we shuffled into the gymnasium of the 3 classroom building, and the doors were shut behind us. this is where i began feeling a little bit duped. i was directed to the non-Mennonite section of the seating, and told to "get comfortable". there were probably 15 to 17 other non Mennonites along with me, including my father, my younger brother, his wife and 5 yr old step son(who have no clue what the Mennonites are about)and a few others who have also been excommunicated, or who were never Mennonites to begin with.

next, the shit hit the fan. a "guest speaker" began to preach about family foundations, ships getting lost on the ocean, and hellfire and brimstone...all directed at the small patch of us non Mennonites, while the rest of the family nodded their heads in accordance with the "guest speaker". i've never been so embarrassed or ashamed of my "family" in my life. i felt so trapped, and helpless. i have devoted so much of my life to try to understand religion, and to be kind to people of all different beliefs, and here i sat feeling this man's hate pour down on me, in the name of god, without him even trying to understand who i am. i feel so betrayed, so disgusted, lied to, and like a rabbit in a snare.

it was complete and utter BULLSHIT. it did nothing but reinforce my belief that organized religion is a waste of time, resources, and life. i've never hated god, or people who believe in god, but if this is your god, you can all f*ck off.

sorry that happened to you as a former fundamentalist christian i am used to the fire and brimstone treatment
i was an agnostic leaning towards atheist for a while and then i discovered the metaphysical interpretation of the bible and other holy books,
that along with meditation has helped to appreciate and understand a lot more of how these teachings have been corrupted by the literal letter of the law interpretation,

if i was you i wouldn't put myself through the mental anguish of attending any more of these bash-a-thons

i hope the best for you

thank you. technically, i'm not exactly an atheist. my god is mother nature. i try to live in harmony with my environment. i won't be going to anymore "reunions"

Post: #6

A2k  Wrote:

this is bound to be a little bit long and disorganized, please bare with me.

i've mentioned here before how my father's side of our family is of the Holdemen Mennonite faith.(think Amish but a little more modern)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_G..._Mennonite
well, today i attended our family reunion. before i get to the story, and my point, i should share a bit of background info.

my father was excommunicated from the Mennonite church 30 years ago. as the wiki article states, he isn't allowed to eat at the same table, give or receive hugs or handshakes from family, etc., but there is still a family bond. my father is very much permitted and encouraged to spend time with the Mennonites, but is effectively "shunned" when around...they speak loudly across the room to him, and there are no "i love you's" when they say good bye, even from his closest family.

i was never baptized into the Mennonite faith, but i grew up around them and learned much about their interpretation of the bible. as a child in my grandparent's care, i had a strict regiment of prayer and bible study forced on me. i began to resent them for preaching a "loving god" to me, but treating my father so badly. due to this, i began studying other religions, looking for answers, and became a heretic in their eyes. ultimately, i became an "atheist"...it was a sin to question.

flash forward to today...

most of the family reunions i've been to on that side of the family have been mid afternoon events(between church sessions, always on Sunday). today was much different. today's "reunion" started at 9:30 am. a small gathering of family(120 souls, self included)met at a privet, church owned school house out in the Kansas countryside. we shuffled into the gymnasium of the 3 classroom building, and the doors were shut behind us. this is where i began feeling a little bit duped. i was directed to the non-Mennonite section of the seating, and told to "get comfortable". there were probably 15 to 17 other non Mennonites along with me, including my father, my younger brother, his wife and 5 yr old step son(who have no clue what the Mennonites are about)and a few others who have also been excommunicated, or who were never Mennonites to begin with.

next, the shit hit the fan. a "guest speaker" began to preach about family foundations, ships getting lost on the ocean, and hellfire and brimstone...all directed at the small patch of us non Mennonites, while the rest of the family nodded their heads in accordance with the "guest speaker". i've never been so embarrassed or ashamed of my "family" in my life. i felt so trapped, and helpless. i have devoted so much of my life to try to understand religion, and to be kind to people of all different beliefs, and here i sat feeling this man's hate pour down on me, in the name of god, without him even trying to understand who i am. i feel so betrayed, so disgusted, lied to, and like a rabbit in a snare.

it was complete and utter BULLSHIT. it did nothing but reinforce my belief that organized religion is a waste of time, resources, and life. i've never hated god, or people who believe in god, but if this is your god, you can all f*ck off.

Why did you not stand up and proclaim they are hypocrites and walk the f*ck out?

Post: #7

A2k  Wrote:

until today, i still had some respect for that portion of my family, we normally get along well enough. i'm over them at this point. i would have left sooner but i had to catch a ride there from someone else, it would have been a 60 mile walk back home.

Oh.

Well. It's over. Find your own spirituality. Spiritual relationships are always one on one.

Post: #8

LoP Guest  Wrote:

A2k  Wrote:

this is bound to be a little bit long and disorganized, please bare with me.

i've mentioned here before how my father's side of our family is of the Holdemen Mennonite faith.(think Amish but a little more modern)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_G..._Mennonite
well, today i attended our family reunion. before i get to the story, and my point, i should share a bit of background info.

my father was excommunicated from the Mennonite church 30 years ago. as the wiki article states, he isn't allowed to eat at the same table, give or receive hugs or handshakes from family, etc., but there is still a family bond. my father is very much permitted and encouraged to spend time with the Mennonites, but is effectively "shunned" when around...they speak loudly across the room to him, and there are no "i love you's" when they say good bye, even from his closest family.

i was never baptized into the Mennonite faith, but i grew up around them and learned much about their interpretation of the bible. as a child in my grandparent's care, i had a strict regiment of prayer and bible study forced on me. i began to resent them for preaching a "loving god" to me, but treating my father so badly. due to this, i began studying other religions, looking for answers, and became a heretic in their eyes. ultimately, i became an "atheist"...it was a sin to question.

flash forward to today...

most of the family reunions i've been to on that side of the family have been mid afternoon events(between church sessions, always on Sunday). today was much different. today's "reunion" started at 9:30 am. a small gathering of family(120 souls, self included)met at a privet, church owned school house out in the Kansas countryside. we shuffled into the gymnasium of the 3 classroom building, and the doors were shut behind us. this is where i began feeling a little bit duped. i was directed to the non-Mennonite section of the seating, and told to "get comfortable". there were probably 15 to 17 other non Mennonites along with me, including my father, my younger brother, his wife and 5 yr old step son(who have no clue what the Mennonites are about)and a few others who have also been excommunicated, or who were never Mennonites to begin with.

next, the shit hit the fan. a "guest speaker" began to preach about family foundations, ships getting lost on the ocean, and hellfire and brimstone...all directed at the small patch of us non Mennonites, while the rest of the family nodded their heads in accordance with the "guest speaker". i've never been so embarrassed or ashamed of my "family" in my life. i felt so trapped, and helpless. i have devoted so much of my life to try to understand religion, and to be kind to people of all different beliefs, and here i sat feeling this man's hate pour down on me, in the name of god, without him even trying to understand who i am. i feel so betrayed, so disgusted, lied to, and like a rabbit in a snare.

it was complete and utter BULLSHIT. it did nothing but reinforce my belief that organized religion is a waste of time, resources, and life. i've never hated god, or people who believe in god, but if this is your god, you can all f*ck off.

Why did you not stand up and proclaim they are hypocrites and walk the f*ck out?

i have severe social anxiety as it is, i was outnumbered 100 to at least 1...and i would have had a very long walk ahead of me.