Re: prepare njc rc

[sl . m]

Yup, I have similar memories. I was told by parents that god was everywhere, saw everything, knew everything. To my 4 year old mind, that meant he was in the bathroom when I went to pee, was everywhere in the bathroom, including in the toilet, so when I peed, he was looking up at my bare bum. That terrified and humiliated me. Sounds funny now, but it wasn't at the time. And there were many other similar things I was told, all of which frightened me. I agree that teaching children things like this is nothing short of child abuse - particularly telling them that they've been bad, and that there's a god - a huge, all-powerful all-seeing monster figure who will love you if you're good, but might send you to hell if you've been bad, so you better make sure you don't die tonight, and in case you might, you'd better beg him to forgive you before you go to sleep. That's a dreadful thing to say to a child.
Sarah




Colin wrote:
I recall only too well the fear instilled in
me by nuns and priests who taught me as a child. How fear and
accusations of badness that were thrust upon any child that dared
question the validity of their words. To do this to children is nothing
short of abuse. There was no reason and no love and only the strong need
to appear to have power and control.