Have to say though girls, and I'm not having a go. But because of my personal experience with faith healing and all the rest of the crap that went on the majority of people do know the bible very well. But in these sorts of cults ( churchs) people are so brainwashed and so frightened to question anything that they end up believing everything the leader says. If anyone does question it they will be told they're going to hell. It amazes me that most of these people are highly intelligent but have gotten so beaten down and have quite literally had their minds controlled that they will believe anything! It's frightening especially when its someone's faith!
This is so true pinky!
I was brought up in a Baptist church - not very strict, but not exactly lenient either..
My Dad was brethren (they take a very very literal translation of the bible, really strict and would ex communicate anyone who disagreed with any of the elders..) and my mum salvation army.
A lot of churches do use their elders and preachers to "brainwash" their congregations, I've seen it! Children are taught from a young age to fear God and that if they don't believe in him then they are going to hell.
A personal example, although slightly off topic as not to do with faith healing would be my own Family.
My parents were young when they met (Dad 16 and mum 20), and basically DTD despite not yet being married. My mum ended up pregnant with me. The elders of the church wanted them to be ex communicated (disowned from the church, friends and family) but memeber of the church stuck up for them and they were allowed to stay on the condition that they married. They were told, that if they didnt marry as soon as possible, they would doom MY soul to hell. (WTF i know) My parents at the time being so young, never questioned this, and tied the knot. (my dad had JUST turned 17)
I was taught from a young age that the penalty for any sin would be hell, unless God decided to forgive me...
My parents after consulting the bible decided some of the views of the church we were in were warped and corrupted and We moved church when I was 4...
Parents went on to have 4 more kids, and were heavily involved in all church activies...
By the time my mum was on her fifth baby, she was physically and emotionally drained, and felt like she had put all her efforts and time into the church, and not enough into her family. She asked for help, and a break from her what she was doing but was just told that "God would provide, god would heal". She kept going and nearly suffered a mental breakdown.
We decided to take a break from church to evaluate what we really believed and what we had been scared, or forced and herded into believing.
After being involved in the same church for nearly 15 years, growing up with people there, all my friends...when we left, everyone just called us heathens, and told us we were doomed to hell...
Growing up in that environment now I don't know what I really believed and what was just fear. Thats why this program really enraged me.. I know what it's like to stand in a praise gathering and be moved by the music, and the holy spirit (if thats really what I felt) and it makes me so mad that people are being exploited once in this vulnerable state
x
Sorry for the rantish post there, just really felt i had to share that! x
Thank for listening girls...Haven't spoken to anyone really about this! x