I have fallen into a Blackmailed Religious trap. Can't get rid of the church now.

Very Long thread but very interesting for atheists/agnostics to read

For the past 5 years, i attended a very famous (albeit cult) church for 5 years it has been oblivion with that church. I Left my family church after 20 years two years ago because i was going to uni. I left Christianity a year ago and i feel a little better in my mental health.

Go backwards a bit, i was attending this society in my first year of uni, a very crap cultist where the members are emotionally abused by the 'leader'. I hated it and fell out with all of them. I was still a christian and i thought about the famous church in my hometown. It was an hour and half away from the uni so i went one drunk summer and i built a rapport with the pastor (who is the same age as me).

However as usual with churches i visit, i have poor social skills, can't socialise to save myself so i tried leaving SEVERAL times just like what i did back in my hometown. Whilst i believed they had forgotten about me (i hadn't attended in 8 months as i identified myself as agnostic), i received a call this week that the pastor wants to start the church in my uni town and that there was an event this Sunday. I said 'i will come to see the event, but you know i'm not a christian anymore'.

Fast forward to today, i went to the event and my gosh i felt annihilated. Basically the pastor blackmailed me saying 'You know God is real, why u lying' and then went on to say on an Exorcism he performed on me in the beginning of the year explaining 'if you was pretending, i will be pissed off' and later went on to say quite bluntly 'either attend a few Sundays to receive a change & if you don't change within these few Sundays, get out'

Yes i was sort of pretending of that exorcism, but what choice did i have? Pastors of Pentecostal faiths loves forcing it. Another reason why religion is false. I don't know what to do anymore, i'm actually upset because i made a vow never to attend to church and now i have fallen into this trap. What can i do?

Spoiler

dont go

It's not right. Nobody can force religion onto you. Do what you want. In your heart you know you aren't a christian so there's no point in pretending to be. Don't care about what other people might think. :wink:

Your health should always come first! :h:

Reply 3

Sammylou40

No one can do it for you. I'm a Christian but I have never ever had any experiences like you've had. I'm sorry that you e gone through this. The pastor is clearly not a good man.
If you want to go to church then you need to look round carefully and do some research first.
If you don't want to then don't. You don't have to take their calls
Whatever you decide to do then probably Pentecostal churches aren't the right fit for you.
If you need to talk you can pm me anytime
All the best

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

Original post by scott.thomson239

dont go

Yeah i don't want to go.

But ****, soon later this year or early next year, the church will have a new branch right at my uni town. It's then i'll be really upset.

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

Original post by Faeeza.Ifti

Your health should always come first! :h:

Even though my own parents hate me because i left christianity, i don't care what they think and i certainly don't care what people think of me (since they all see me as mentally ****ed). i can't pretend to be a christian, i agree with you.

I'm just a lonely **** who go churches because church people are wack. i just need a life.

Reply 6

Maker

I find it hard to take this seriously.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Original post by Maker

I find it hard to take this seriously.

why?

What you think this is a joke? the fact i'm kind of lost and fighting a bipolar-like thoughts of Christianity and agnosticism?

Reply 8

Maker

See a doctor if you have mental health problems and stay away from religious people who will only mess with your head.

Reply 9

AmmarTa

I had similar issues with the mosque and this guy who my dad kept calling believing I was possessed because I had a nervous breakdown. Next thing you know I'm older and everyone in that community ostricises me because of it. I was blackmailed by my family to go until last year where I bluntly refused to go and there was backlash but it was only temporary. So glad I made the right decision.

Reply 10

Anonymous #1

Original post by AmmarTa

My dad called me satanic and screamed at my face :frown:

. Still haven't recovered. My mum even called me right now screaming at me saying 'Go back to God'.

How is it with you and your family? You don't believe in islam anymore?

Reply 11

AmmarTa

Original post by Anonymous

My dad called me satanic and screamed at my face :frown:

. Still haven't recovered. My mum even called me right now screaming at me saying 'Go back to God'.

How is it with you and your family? You don't believe in islam anymore?

My brother had similar issues and they kicked him out. I don't believe but I pretend to at home to appease them. I plan to tell them after I finish uni (i.e. after I'm financially independent from them)

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

i'm still very worried...

Reply 13

Abyssal

Original post by Anonymous

My dad called me satanic and screamed at my face :frown:

. Still haven't recovered. My mum even called me right now screaming at me saying 'Go back to God'.

How is it with you and your family? You don't believe in islam anymore?