Photo: Image by StockSnap from Pixabay By Jonathan Grisham I woke up this morning in a panic. I had another dream reminiscent of the cult I left so many years ago. It’s been so long, why does this still bother me? I’m sure if you have left a cult- like church, this feeling resonates asContinueContinue reading “Surviving Religious Abuse Led Me to Advocacy”
Tag Archives: christianity
What child labor taught me to believe about myself
Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Mary Nikkel’s Substack. It was originally published on June 12, 2025. By Mary Nikkel I was trudging through a slurry of chemicals, holding a metal rod with a razor blade attached to the end, when my 11-year-old legs gave out. I slipped, landing on hands and knees in theContinueContinue reading “What child labor taught me to believe about myself”
Stop, Drop, and Heal
Photo: Image by misterfarmer from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Karl Forehand’s blog. It was originally published on January 22, 2024. By Karl Forehand Seven or eight years ago, we began what most people call deconstruction. Laura was silent about it because I was a pastor, and she did not want to interfereContinueContinue reading “Stop, Drop, and Heal”
Statement on Duluth Vineyard’s response to sexual abuse
By Vashti Initiative Staff While we are saddened to learn of another case of abuse in a religious setting, we applaud Duluth Vineyard for their swift and appropriate response. It is always difficult to hear allegations from within your own community, but the protection of victims and prevention of further harm should be of utmostContinueContinue reading “Statement on Duluth Vineyard’s response to sexual abuse”
Sorry Paul, My Body Belongs to No One
Photo: Image by Vlad Aivazovsky from Pixabay Content note: marital r*pe, coercion, assault By Amber Schultz “Ladies! Remember, when you get married — your body is now your husband’s to do with and honor as he will.” “I am so thankful that the pastor sheltered and protected his daughter’s mind and purity. When we married,ContinueContinue reading “Sorry Paul, My Body Belongs to No One”
I found true peace walking away from the church
By Lydia Joy Launderville What is peace? If you asked me as a fundamentalist, I would have answered “a peace of that passeth all understanding,” which because it was far beyond understanding, I never truly did, well, actually, understand it. I never felt peace in abuse. I never had piece of mind either. I justContinueContinue reading “I found true peace walking away from the church”
Too Many Tulips
Photo: Image by Pexels from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Ida’s blog. It was originally published on June 30, 2023. By Ida Growing up, I was introduced to Calvinism. A theological belief system within Christianity, Calvinism was founded by John Calvin, a Protestant Reformer. Calvin’s teachings can be summed up in theContinueContinue reading “Too Many Tulips”
They Told Me I Would Never Be Happy. They Lied.
Photo: Image by phfilipposarci from Pixabay Editorial Note: The following is reprinted with permission from Laura Launderville’s blog. It was originally published on July 31, 2023. By Laura Launderville I recently attended a workshop that the nonprofit that I volunteer with hosted. It was a writing workshop and I had never done one before. So I didn’tContinueContinue reading “They Told Me I Would Never Be Happy. They Lied.”
Racism: IFB Style
Photo: Image by LeoNeoBoy from Pixabay Content note: Descriptions of homophobic and racist situations the author was present for during their coming of age years in two Independent Fundamental Baptist churches and their associated schools. By Rebekah Palmer In my childhood church, we used to bring in an evangelist who would preach that anytime aContinueContinue reading “Racism: IFB Style”
How churches use DARVO to condemn LGBTQ people to hell without explicitly saying it
Photo: Image by Christel from Pixabay Content note: homophobia, religious and spiritual abuse By Elora Dodd As homophobia falls out of vogue in the wider culture, Christians may find themselves scrambling to preserve their sense of self as the “Light of the World,” while still condemning the more-than-ever-accepted “homosexuals.” While I was still embroiled inContinueContinue reading “How churches use DARVO to condemn LGBTQ people to hell without explicitly saying it”
The Vashti Initiative 