Letter to the Baptists who changed my life
Dear _______ Baptist Church,
It was about 12 years ago that my friend from high school, Leslie, asked me to join her at summer camp with the rest of her church friends. I had never been to a summer camp of any kind, and I thought it would be fun.
I was not a member of any church at the time, so the nightly worship and testimony was new to me. I had fun singing and listening to people speak, but at the end of each service we were led in prayer while everyone was encouraged to go outside and find a councilor to confess their sins to. I didn't participate for two reasons:
A - I didn't know of anything bad I'd done that needed to be discussed and
B - I didn't know anyone there.
All of this was fine until the final night of camp. I remember we were all seated in a large amphitheater and when the end of the service came around, the praying would not end until every camper was out of their seat and giving testimony to one of the adults. Words can not describe how uncomfortable I felt as every child in the place filed out one by one until I was the only person left. While everyone was praying for me to get up, I was praying for it to end. Eventually, one of the councilors came to get me. Surrounded by a group of adult strangers, including the pastor, I was forced to pray and be "saved." Tears streamed down my face as I told them what they wanted to hear. When it was over, I went back to my bunk and cried all night. I was so upset, I couldn't participate in the rest of the evening's activities.
Today, I look back on that night as the single most traumatizing event in my entire life. Every time someone asks me why I'm an atheist, I mention that night and your church.
Religion is supposed to give people peace. It shouldn't need to be forced on anyone, least of all, a defenseless child.
I don't expect anything here will change your practices, but I do hope that you'll consider this communication the next time an outsider (of any age) decides to put their trust in you.
Regards,
Jennifer
It was about 12 years ago that my friend from high school, Leslie, asked me to join her at summer camp with the rest of her church friends. I had never been to a summer camp of any kind, and I thought it would be fun.
I was not a member of any church at the time, so the nightly worship and testimony was new to me. I had fun singing and listening to people speak, but at the end of each service we were led in prayer while everyone was encouraged to go outside and find a councilor to confess their sins to. I didn't participate for two reasons:
A - I didn't know of anything bad I'd done that needed to be discussed and
B - I didn't know anyone there.
All of this was fine until the final night of camp. I remember we were all seated in a large amphitheater and when the end of the service came around, the praying would not end until every camper was out of their seat and giving testimony to one of the adults. Words can not describe how uncomfortable I felt as every child in the place filed out one by one until I was the only person left. While everyone was praying for me to get up, I was praying for it to end. Eventually, one of the councilors came to get me. Surrounded by a group of adult strangers, including the pastor, I was forced to pray and be "saved." Tears streamed down my face as I told them what they wanted to hear. When it was over, I went back to my bunk and cried all night. I was so upset, I couldn't participate in the rest of the evening's activities.
Today, I look back on that night as the single most traumatizing event in my entire life. Every time someone asks me why I'm an atheist, I mention that night and your church.
Religion is supposed to give people peace. It shouldn't need to be forced on anyone, least of all, a defenseless child.
I don't expect anything here will change your practices, but I do hope that you'll consider this communication the next time an outsider (of any age) decides to put their trust in you.
Regards,
Jennifer