If you think the sin, you committed the sin...

[cynatnite]

This is what I was taught growing up in an ultra-Christian household. I remember being scared of my own thoughts as a child.

I remember praying, "God, please don't let me blaspheme by accident."

I know it's stupid, but this is the kind of shit that I was raised with on a daily basis. It's partly why it was so hard to break from the programming.

[FiveGoodMen]

1. Yup. Make you feel guilty for things you can't even control.

But that's their god-story anyway.

He makes seven BILLION people -- just counting the ones who are alive now -- and NOT ONE of us pleases him.

...HE made us...

...HE's disappointed with ALL SEVEN BILLION of us...

...But he's not taking any responsibility -- it's OUR FREE WILL.

(If we really had the ability to live up to his expectations, then a few of the seven billion would. But the bible makes clear that no one ever does. It's a rigged game.)

It should really be a crime to tell a child something like that.

[defacto7]

2. Proverbs 23:7

As a man thinks in his heart, so is he—Withhold not correction from a child—Be not among drunkards.

What a crock of shit.

[Warpy]

3. Unless you're male and fantasizing about sex

Then the woman whose face you hung on your fantasy committed the sin, whether or not she has a clue.

So said the nuns. No wonder I left.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. You aren't serious????

Nuns taught that to you? Now, I realize that some Muslims believe that all sex crimes and all lust are the fault of the woman, but Catholics? That is so primitive that I don't know what to say about it. Are they really still teaching that shit?

Like I don't have enough of my own sins!!!

[Warpy]

7. Serious as a hanging judge

Males can do very little wrong in the Irish Catholic church. All the sin is shoved onto women.

It's why all we Irish who have stomped off in disgust have nothing but utter contempt for that church and its dogma.

And nothing but compassion for the people who are still mired in it.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. Well, it sounds like a dandy religion for men.

Can't figure out why all woman wouldn't tell them to go fuck themselves.

[Warpy]

9. Well, they do, actually

every time they refill their birth control prescriptions. Also, I doubt any priest has heard a female over the age of 10 confess to being an "occasion of sin" to some man she saw leering at her.

Nuns no longer teach that particular party line, either, which is the main reason Rome is furious with them. "What? Make men take responsibility for their own filthy minds? Never!"

[trotsky]

4. I still remember, growing up Lutheran...

after going through the magic spells that forgave us of all our sins for that week, thinking, "Oh, I'm sin-free! I hope I can make this last!" and then 5 seconds later thinking of the girl I had a crush on and lusting after her cute butt and switching to "Well, I made it 5 seconds this time. Not bad!"

So yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about.

[peace13]

10. You were lucky to get the five seconds.

My Lutheran pastor told us that even upon receiving communion we would have sinned before we knew it so technically we were never 'sin-free'.

I was totally wanting to be in control of myself at 16 so the second I received communion I swore in my head, at the alter. I felt comfort 'knowing' the crime I would be charged with! Too funny to think back on. What a pity that religion could not afford more comfort. It's goal is to control the masses and the pastors, priests, ministers and popes do a fine job of it!

[Apophis]

5. I remember learning in Sunday school that if I "checked out" a girl

I was committing adultery against my future wife.



I left religion shortly after that.

[Iggo]

11. Oh yeah, huh!

I forgot about that.

Vague memory of Sister Gustave telling me back in the 60's that by the time I committed a sin, I'd already sinned 3 or 4 times.

Wow. Blast from the past. (On the unfortunate side, that poor woman looked exactly like Sgt. Carter, and of course being seven year olds, we giggled until the paddles came out. Good times...)