Monday, January 13, 2014

Rebbeca's Story About Her Life Growing Up in the Church as a Pastor's Daughter and Then Leaving the Church




Here is another interesting interview on Troy Fitzgerald's web site, Secular Safe House, about the daughter of a COG pastor and what it was like growing up in the church and then to leave the church.

Coming Out Conversations – Episode 9
Rebecca shares what it was like growing up as a pastor’s daughter in the cult, her experience attending the cult’s Ambassador University when the massive doctrinal changes of 1995 occurred, and her and her husband’s time teaching at a school in Sri Lanka for a year after graduation on behalf of the church’s educational and cultural foundation. Upon returning to Canada after being in Sri Lanka for a year, they entered the ministry pastoring their own congregation.

She then discusses how her and her husband rediscovered their passion for Sri Lanka and returned there to start their own school in that country, which they’ve now run for 11 years, despite having amicably divorced. She shares how she ultimately came to believe religion’s various concepts of God were unfounded, how she came to leave the church, and her current views about God.

Besides the non-profit school in Sri Lanka that she and her ex-husband operate from Canada, she also has her own counseling and coaching business and discusses how she came to realize her passion for counseling during the interview.

Rebecca is interviewed by Troy Fitzgerald, founder of Secular Safe House and author of Cults and Closets: Coming Out of Chaos. For more about Troy’s coming out story, check out his blog articles: How an Atheist Can Be Saved and Closets are for Coats.

7 comments:

Charles said...

I knew Troy when he was in Texas, and he was a typical stuck up pastor's kid. It's nice to see that he has apparently made a turn-around -- at least in how he treats people.

Troy Fitzgerald said...

Where in Texas, Charles? Which congregation?

Charles said...

That would be Houston E.

Sorry Troy, no dis-respect meant -- I don't believe you are stuck up. That was 20 years ago. And I know you have suffered a lot, as did your dad.

Head Usher said...

Thanks Troy. Another insightful interview in which we are privileged to understand how one more person has been forced to deal with Armstrongism, found it lacking, and has since managed to transition into a successful life without it. Mene mene, I guess. Is the handwriting not on the wall for Armstrongism and it's bogus god? All that's required is just a few more stories not unlike this one to be written by those remaining people who haven't yet woken up and made the transition. Tick, tock...

Michael said...

Charles wrote:
"I knew Troy when he was in Texas, and he was a typical stuck up pastor's kid."

People change in big ways when they enter real society. I shudder to think of how self-righteous and idiotic I must have seemed as an AC student. Anyone judging me based on that time period would have been left with that impression.
COGdom of course fosters a belief of "specialness", and it tended to come out in person's personalities.

Anonymous said...

Often, in the weird world of Worldwide, ministers' kids couldn't figure out how to act and react. Our dads got ordained, and suddenly we were on parade. If we were shy and repressed (because of all the spankings at home), instead of suddenly having a big outgoing personality, people kind of drew the wrong conclusions. I just wanted it all to go away, no special privileges, no higher standards, just to be me and be normal. I never saw myself as being an extension of my parents' spiritual aspirations.

Troy Fitzgerald said...

Charles, I don't recall a Charles in Houston E off the top of my head, certainly not in my peer group. Are you my age? In what way did I mistreat you? I was in Houston E from the age of 19-22. If I ever treated you with anything other than kindness, please accept my apologies. I've never been accused of treating people poorly when I was in Houston or being "stuck up" and have always tried to treat people with kindness and respect. I was actually extremely insecure and self-conscious when I was younger. I have my weaknesses, but being mean has never been something I've been accused of. It's very hurtful to read such a comment. I'm sorry your impression of me at that age was so negative and I'm sorry you felt the need to express it publicly over 20 years later. All the best.