Can church be bad for your health?

[Praxeas]

Some churches can and have been very unhealthy mentally to some individuals, but not all.

I can see this happening in a church that is very strict and members are constantly under the microscope and performance oriented

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Some churches can and have been very unhealthy mentally to some individuals, but not all.

I can see this happening in a church that is very strict and members are constantly under the microscope and performance oriented

Having come from an ultra conservative church, I can see your point.

I'm astounded with how a given church can be a real fit for some and completely destroy others.

[coadie]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Having come from an ultra conservative church, I can see your point.

I'm astounded with how a given church can be a real fit for some and completely destroy others.

a church doesn't destroy anybody. There can be jerks and toxic relationships.

That Bishop in atlanta can destroy a church. The church can't destroy the boys. The Eddie Long can damage the boys and God can restore them.

I will comment on women. Within women as a group, more of them are "pleasers" and are miserable when they are not working themselves to please others. Mother Theresa was a pleaser to the point of suffering.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by coadie

a church doesn't destroy anybody. There can be jerks and toxic relationships.

That Bishop in atlanta can destroy a church. The church can't destroy the boys. The Eddie Long can damage the boys and God can restore them.

I will comment on women. Within women as a group, more of them are "pleasers" and are miserable when they are not working themselves to please others. Mother Theresa was a pleaser to the point of suffering.

Depends on one's definition of church.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by coadie

a church doesn't destroy anybody. There can be jerks and toxic relationships.

That Bishop in atlanta can destroy a church. The church can't destroy the boys. The Eddie Long can damage the boys and God can restore them.

I will comment on women. Within women as a group, more of them are "pleasers" and are miserable when they are not working themselves to please others. Mother Theresa was a pleaser to the point of suffering.

A church, local church and leadership have infact ruined lives.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Having come from an ultra conservative church, I can see your point.

I'm astounded with how a given church can be a real fit for some and completely destroy others.

It's only a "fit" for others up to a point. Cross some line and you might be branded for life, then other saints start looking down on you and you'll be pretty depressed when you think "I hate this church, but if I go anywhere else Im going to hell".

So you get people that look like they are fitting in but in reality they are depressed.

Case in point, I know of a woman that went to one of those churches and "fit" for a long long time. But then something happened. She felt she could not go to that church because of the Pastor. But she had been spoon fed hate for other churches for so long that she could not bring herself to go to other churches like hers but not as strict. She was taught it was better to backslide than go to "that church"...and she was fine until the incident.

[sandie]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Some churches can and have been very unhealthy mentally to some individuals, but not all.

I can see this happening in a church that is very strict and members are constantly under the microscope and performance oriented

I attended an above mentioned type church. The pastor was not like that, but many of the members were.
I struggled to keep up with the rules and one day in adult Sunday School the teacher said, "if you have things in your life that you shouldn't, God is just putting up with you". Jesus was just putting up with me??? It broke my heart.
I waited until class was over, walked out and didn't come back for several years.
Experiencing things like that has made me to know that Jesus can keep us thru it all!