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They walk among us (discuss.online)
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[-] InvalidName2@lemmy.zip 12 points 10 hours ago

As a kid, I was targeted by one of the local churches that some of my family members attended at the time. Apparently at some point in early grade school, some of my school peers who went to that church informed the pastor that I believe in evolution. From then on, adults from that church and kids I went to school with coordinated in tandem to ridicule and isolate me -- a literal child.

Far too many of these people are evil to their core. If they'll harass and intimidate other peoples' children, they'll surely cross any other boundary. It's not even about being unintelligent, so many are simply willfully ignorant.

[-] Malyca@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

I went into an Orthodox church as a child with my dad, I'm really tall so I looked grown despite being 12 I guess. I was walking out and evidently you're supposed to face the altar and cross yourself as you leave, walking backwards so your back isn't to the church. I didn't do that and this lady freaked the fuck out, grabbed me by the ear and dragged me back into the church screaming about respect. My dad was just standing there laughing at me. She yelled for a good 10 mins. Made me leave properly, including not crossing myself "like the Catholics", then left. I only knew that way because I'd been in the States up until then and only visited one Catholic church with a friend lol. It scared me so much that I get emotional flashbacks, complete with anxiety attacks, any time I enter a church now. It gave me lifelong fear of religion and churches. I don't understand how an adult can think this is in any way helping.

this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2026
523 points (100.0% liked)

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