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: faith
Growing up fundamentalist and queer
By Eleanor Skelton When part of your identity is considered to be a sin, it’s easy to ignore how deeply it shapes who you are. I’m bisexual and non-binary. This means that I experience attraction to people who identify as male or female or neither. It also means that I don’t particularly feel like aContinueContinue reading “Growing up fundamentalist and queer”
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”
The Most Important Insight I Gained after Deconstructing
Photo: Image by Felix from Pixabay By Celestine Alderwood Upon leaving a lengthy, highly conservative relationship with my children in tow, I began rethinking my beliefs. This was only possible after we found safety and freedom. I remember feeling grateful to the higher power we were taught to believe in. Still, a flood of emotionsContinueContinue reading “The Most Important Insight I Gained after Deconstructing”
Statement on the “Let Us Prey” documentary covering abuse in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement
By Vashti Initiative Staff The Vashti Initiative wants to announce that we are offering support for anyone who is processing their experiences in light of Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals, a new two-part documentary from Investigation Discovery that aired Nov. 25 and 26, and is now available on various streaming platforms. “Let UsContinueContinue reading “Statement on the “Let Us Prey” documentary covering abuse in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement”
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”
Being female in the IFB: wife and mother
Photo: Image by eloigomez from Pixabay By Rebekah Palmer I remember when I was a little kid playing with my sibling and our friends, either our perspective of family life or using Barbies and dolls to act out family life by calling it “playing house,” I announced that I probably wouldn’t have sex until IContinueContinue reading “Being female in the IFB: wife and mother”
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.”
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