Mindboggling.

I am always amazed at how adapt religious cults are at recruiting and brainwashing new members.

I will never understand women who volunteer to be chattel.

If they are forced against their will (abducted)
If they are keep isolated from the outside world and have no knowledge of it;

but to sit in church after you turn 18 and accept such blatant disregard for your self worth and freedom, is something I will never understand.

Men are not superior to women.
Women are not superior to men.

We are equal, but very different.

No has the right to own or control anyone.

If you haven't seen the documentary 'Jesus Camp', it will chill you to the bone; you can watch it on YouTube.

when I was pregnant. I didn't want my children to grow up like that. But, it was very hard to leave. They threatened to ostracize me and that was a scary thought because all of my family went there (and for the most part still do). It's difficult to this day knowing that my mother worries herself sick over the state of my soul and feels as if she is a failure. I used to be very angry but now it just makes me sad.

And, it actually gave me a complex regarding women. For some reason, I was more angry at the women than the men, and basically had a hard time forming friendships with women. Then I went to college, met female professors who I realized weren't my enemy, met male professors who encouraged me to use my voice, and that all helped me realize the small rural church I grew up in didn't and wouldn't define me.

I understand why you would by angrier at the women.

I am so very pleased you are doing well !!!!!!!!!!

I am an Atheist and my mother is very religious.

She also worries about my soul, but I don't think she feels like a failure.

I just explained to her that I am at peace with myself and my decisions.

I tell her I do not fear death and for her to not worry about me.

I think she understands.

She still tells me she is proud of me and her love for me has never wavered.

There is more difference between individual males when compared to each other, and individual females when compared to each other, than there is between "men" as a group and "women" as a group.

Men and women are not "very different" at all. Every person is unique.

People that do want to grow up won't like it, or once they decide they do want to grow up, then they will start to not like it. Like teenagers do.

Unless you see evidence that some women are compelled to engage in this because "God said so", I wouldn't get worked up about it.

if it is, than it's nobody's business. It is tricky to determine if it is a choice or not, I suppose.

Bryant

"In heaven there is neither male or female"