Many in the children's rights community are concerned about my religious health, though far fewer than before. I am a unique religious traumatic, in the sense that I can understand both the perspective of an atheist and a Christian, while still holding the perspective of a conservative Christian. Benign religious trauma, in information parental format.
An example of a verse that troubled me is Proverbs 13:24
He that spareth the rod hateth his son, but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Ultimately, in literal application, we are speaking of a clearly spelled-out legal procedure when an adult son, over the age of majority, is convicted of a crime, and sentenced to death. The Mosaic Law went by a many warnings system, meaning that the religious authorities simply noted in a docket all the offenses a lawbreaker was engaging, and the ceremonial whipping of an adult son by his father, for perhaps the abuse of his grandchildren, cemented the fate of the abusive father. Justice was come, and at that time the authorities knew, like predestined fate, that the abuser would be quelled, meaning burnt alive, stoned, and/or hung and blootlet. Criminals were either righteously crucified on the third day by nails, or by ashes/dust next to the cross. A crucifixion scene was set up for three days, as a trembling example to the community to get straight, "or I could be next"...NO judge would sign off on any sort of punishment of anyone under the age of majority, as children were exempt. Ultimately, the rod of correction was a symbol for law and order, much like calmly and gently stating to a teenager "if you do that as an adult, you might arrested".
None of this information phases me. I didn't know how to read the Bible, which was why I had a religious trauma. I simply went on pro-spanking websites, as I'm the type of guy to hear out the other side, in order to discredit them or plagiarize them. I was terrified of them sending me to Hell, yet at the same time not literally believing in Hell. It was "what if" gaslighting. On top, there was no legal recourse for children, and it made me paranoid, meaning PARANOID, meaning PARANOID. Justified paranoia, with your abuser, the pro-spanking parents, hovering over me, with me ashamed of reaching the magic age of 18 while others before me didn't experience that grace yet - the most magic birthday you could ever have! You get to get your parents arrested, for real, for real, for real, if they do something! Only, I still expect a cop to laugh at me if somebody abuses me - and the pedophile label might be why.
Ultimately, it wasn't fear of what I read in the Bible, but fear of reading the Bible, which is what I can attribute to Satan and not God. Religious fear and undue guilt comes from Satan, not God.
Ulitimately, I just want you to know that there is nothing wrong with having religious trauma, but I do not have the same collective trauma you have. That may make me an outsider on some things, and I accept that. I have accepted that long ago. Accept that I accept that. I think most people here have.
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