Unmasking the Church's Dark Side

Yesterday I did a cartoon about a woman leaving a church. The people inside the church are thinking she's backsliding. She's thinking she's growing.

She was leaving the church because it was the only way she could continue on her journey.

But people leave the church for other reasons too.

Like because they can no longer bear being told to believe nonsense. 
Or they're fed up with its irrelevance.
Or they're disgusted by its greed.
Or they're tired of narcissistic pastors. 
Or they realize the church doesn't actually care for them.
Or they can no longer agree with excluding or discriminating against LGBTQ+ people.

Behind the Church's Welcome Sign

But one of the biggest reasons people leave is because they've been spiritually abused by the church.

Some just leave because they don't want it anymore.
Some leave because they have no choice and are forced to.
Others are kicked out.

What's amazing is that the church can boast about and even have a reputation for being awesome while at the same time we hear reports of serious allegations of abuse.

This is a huge problem. A very real one. And I know hundreds if not thousands of people who have experienced it.

Have you been abused by the church?