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I used to be an evangelical Christian who regularly attended a couple of Auckland churches circa 2003-2012ish.
I always questioned why things were done a certain way, esp in regards to women, rainbow community, family in leadership, distribution of money, tithing.
I always questioned why things were done a certain way, esp in regards to women, rainbow community, family in leadership, distribution of money, tithing.
I left after becoming disheartened that a church I was attending had fancier and newer video broadcast equipment than the national media company I worked for.
But my pain started long before then. Ideas about women, sexuality, how to behave, how to present yourself...
But my pain started long before then. Ideas about women, sexuality, how to behave, how to present yourself...
coded into language such as "the spirit of excellence" and "God's will for our nation", were presented as healthy and true. We were told our questioning minds were Satan trying to tempt us, and that we had to help God save unbelievers, because they're SO BROKEN without Him.
Yes, I still have my faith. Just. But deprogramming has been HARD. I still judge myself harshly and holding myself up against impossible Christian-based standards, and saying I'm not healed because my faith isn't strong enough etc. If I just believed!
Yes, not all churches, but there are generally little worms of problematic stuff weaved into sermons, bit by bit, which parishioners are not encouraged to question as they come from a man of God, right? https://twitter.com/publicaddress/status/1191501840489148416
Mentalist Derren Brown has been exploring the psychological techniques for years and has some excellent stuff on YouTube about how churches get congregations into particular states (using music and presentations) and then feed them stuff to "build their faith".
I'm sharing because I've seen Tamaki kicking off again, and now this Luxon leadership stuff, and it's important, you know? We need to talk about this kind of thing cos it's right there, impacting so many of us.
AMA if you want to know more, happy to share my experiences.
AMA if you want to know more, happy to share my experiences.
