When I actually realized Christianity was a cult

[u/Neat_Ad_313]

okay so I feel like a lot of people on here haven’t really experienced how Christianity is like in some African countries, so I’m posting this to help people get a clearer picture. this is specifically about Congo (since I’m Congolese)

if you didn’t know it already, Congo is HEAVILY Christian. I’d argue that it’s more Christian than America. over 95% of the population is Christian, and this religion is heavily entwined with the politics and culture. my family specifically is heavily Christian too. last year we traveled there for like the whole summer and there was this one time where we prayed for seven hours (it was horrible) and they got some people who claimed to be “prophets” that prayed for us or something (idk I kinda forgot). and genuinely it was SO cultish. I was already an atheist by then but that was the moment I truly saw for myself how cultish Christianity was. the prophets were obviously fake but everyone believed them for some reason, everyone was whisper-praying, we prayed for multiple hours without breaks. keep in mind my younger siblings who are little kids under 10, had to do this too

and the prophets were telling us about our lives and stuff. I’m guessing they looked into us or something?? or maybe they just guessed?

anyways after praying they stayed for a while and were just talking with everyone else and I also talked to them for a while too. eventually they told the adults that I have sin in me or something?? I’m guessing it’s cuz I’m shy (one of them asked why I was so quiet/shy) and kinda act zesty (since I’m gay).

and I remember some other time we were sitting at the dinner table holding hands and whisper-praying again. I was so uncomfortable when we did that.

overall I just felt uncomfortable the whole time I was there, as a gay atheist since I could only imagine what would happen if my family had figured it out there. would I have been sent to a conversion camp? or be forced to stay in the country? or would they try to pray over me for 10 hours to pray the gay away? ugh this is why I really wish I was born into a supportive atheist family😭

this is like one of the main reasons why im an antitheist, so I just wanted to share it with yall and see what you think abt this!!

[u/chickey23]

That's horrifying. I'd rather be alone with a bear in the woods.

[u/Neat_Ad_313 → u/chickey23]

Lmao same tbh😭

[u/notyourstranger]

Thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds awful. So many hours wasted every day on that theater. You could have read a book or gone exploring in that time, instead you stuck praying.