My family is Catholic. Having visited a Jewish Synagogue, Masjid, and participated in a Tea Ceremony (Buddhist, I think?), I’ve probably poked around at other religions the most. The Catholic school I attended had a Seder at Passover too, though, so clearly they don’t think Judaism’s too odd, and since they took us to visit the Amish, I guess they’re ok with other denominations too. My family all like to visit other denominations’ churches, mostly Baptist for the hymns, though sometimes Methodist too, and I once brought them along to the Quaker Meeting.

Local leaders do not have clinical training, and do not know that shame fuels addiction. They only know to look out for signs of guilt. So people who don’t confess to anything are let through, while people who are afraid they might have done something wrong are told to stop and made to feel horrible about it — through no fault of the leaders themselves. And then if their charges can’t “stay in the strait and narrow” they’re tormented with the knowledge that they’ll be kept from their families in the eternities.

I’m “happy now,” but I find it extremely traumatic and triggering to discuss the abuse I received. I’m very much not alone, as I found out from online support groups and from reading accounts of suicides. Please consider reading about it, so as to be sensitive to the needs of those in your ward or branch who are going through this right now. I could find you some links which won’t attack or challenge your faith if you want.

Sometimes, I have bad thoughts when I see an attractive woman, but I try to keep my thoughts in check, and I do not act on them. I do the best I can to ask God for forgiveness for my sins, so during these interviews, I feel that I’m worthy to enter the temple. I don’t feel that I need to share my thoughts with them, as I am doing my best to avoid them.

Anyway, I’m sorry that you had that experience, but it seems like you’re happy now, and that’s all that is important. Keep your faith in God, try to do the right thing, stay in the strait and narrow, and you’ll be okay.

I was given books to read. I stopped playing online games even though all my friends were there. I nearly killed myself. It wasn’t until I finally broke with the LDS church over ethical and historical reasons that I realized how I’d been abused.In the interests of compassion and tolerance I thought I would provide a bit of perspective on this point that you mentioned. Eid mubarak.

@Steve Dibb- I’ll add more about what I’m reading in the Qur’an on Identica (and as a result, Facebook). I’ll see if I can add some stuff about the Qur’an in the next post.

@Semko- No, I don’t find growing a beard extreme regardless of culture or country of origin. You’re probably in the minority, but that doesn’t mean you’re an extremist.

@Ahmed Kamal- Thank you sir. Happy Eid to you too!

No, I don’t think you’re doing anything extreme, and the participatory stuff I wouldn’t consider affiliating yourself. I’m too tired to go in more detail, but I’d love to chat with you about it sometime.

Also, please post some stuff about the scriptures — not just what you’re eating every day. I’m really curious about those.

Steve