What you are referring to, this dilemma of extremes between self deprication and full blown arrogance, is explained by Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I’m not saying you have this, LOL, but the symptoms and manifestations all come from a place of extreme inferiority and a need to regulate poor self esteem, which then flies off the handle into domination, arrogance, and inflated ego. The best example of this disorder would be Yahweh himself. With a model like that, it becomes clear that the “chosen ones” simply mimicked their maker. “Dan” obviously considers psychology as demonic, so I wouldn’t waste my breath explaining it to people like that. Best of luck, as I too am having to catch and delete thoughts that the “Church” approves.

What you are referring to, this dilemma of extremes between self deprication and full blown arrogance, is explained by Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I’m not saying you have this, LOL, but the symptoms and manifestations all come from a place of extreme inferiority and a need to regulate poor self esteem, which then flies off the handle into domination, arrogance, and inflated ego. The best example of this disorder would be Yahweh himself. With a model like that, it becomes clear that the “chosen ones” simply mimicked their maker. “Dan” obviously considers psychology as demonic, so I wouldn’t waste my breath explaining it to people like that. Best of luck, as I too am having to catch and delete thoughts that the “Church” approves.

I read and reflected upon your entire post. I absolutely struggle with this exact same feeling of poor self-esteem due to my own inadequacies as defined by the church.

I am, however, reaching some sort of breaking point in my life wherein I recognize that I needn’t feel shame about who I am. I was born because my parents banged (shudder) and I’ve lived a natural life. This means I’ve had issues and joys both. I’m no different than any other homo sapien that’s breathed this earth’s air. No better and no worse by inherent nature; it is my personal choices and intentions that define who I become. I AM ME… I am not a Christian Mennonite or an athiest or a Hindu or a Buddhist… I’m just another person living my life as well as I can. And that’s okay.

Again, I read your entire post but only started into the comments section. I really have had enough Dans in my life to know that it isn’t necessary to acknowledge him. He accidentally provided a great example in the sex thread but for the most part, it seems he’s just here to fuck with us,. That’s not our purpose here. He doesn’t seem to be contributing anything valuable to our conversations. This is me ignoring him. I hope everyone else will, too.

BTW, I’ve finally joined the de-con on-line community – as LaRosita.

Your point is taken. Yes, the man is certainly a troll, and a very arrogant and insensitive one at that. He has been asked to leave by the site owner on several occasions but is so thick-skinned and deluded that he cannot see what incredible damage he is doing to his cause by his ill-considered crusade. I am happy to use the hanging rope that he so obligingly supplies. He will not feel the noose himself, but it might help someone like Josh recover from the damage which people like him do to others in the name of “love”.

@Quester.

Hello, old friend. You’ve always had nice things to say about my postings on the various forums that we frequent. Thank you. I enjoy your posts also.

I reproduce some of my stuff on my AN Home Page but don’t host a de-con site open to the public. I deconverted over thirty years ago and life has filled up with all kinds of things since then. I was silent until I moved to Gawd’s Own Country ten years ago. If I had not thought my way out of god-belief beforehand I am sure that the shock of what I have discovered here would have done it. I have become increasingly horrified by the depths of human misery and the expanding educational ignorance which appear to be caused in very large part by egocentric government empowered religious groups.

While I have been unable to keep my horror from exploding into print on other people’s web pages, notably those whose intellectual journey parallels my own, I don’t think I am sufficiently prolific on these topics to warrant hosting a site of my own. Maybe this will change.

Thanks for sharing, Rosita. That was well worth reading. Do you have a blog or anything where you share thoughts like these (not necessarily thematically, but as well-thought out and expressed)?