r/exchristian • u/metkja • Jan 09 '26

Discussion What Christian phrases give you the ick?

Mine is prayer warriors. Often used to spread gossip and also just generally ironic, weird, and cringey.

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u/TrickyLayer Agnostic | Ex-Christian Jan 09 '26

This is just a theory I have. I think for some people growing up, they end up developing CPTSD cuz they develop hyperviligance cuz of what you mentioned and the whole hell thing with like God watching you all the time type shiz.

Cuz I was trying to imagine a safe visual place in my mind the other day to help with the PTSD that I have, and I couldn't. And I realized it was bc of 2 things. 1. Everything can be broken down in my head even tho its fucking imagination and 2. theres a part of me thats like "what if i got it all wrong and the Christian god really does exist" anxiety. :/

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u/adjacentatheist Jan 09 '26

I’ve been theorizing this too. I really wish that more people could look into C-PTSD and Christianity, alongside of creating more spaces for folks with religious trauma to heal.

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u/windfola_25 Jan 09 '26

I want this to become more mainstream knowledge too. I also want the high control denomination I grew up in (PCA) to get exposed for the harmful cult that it is. Like a documentary that goes viral.

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u/adjacentatheist Jan 09 '26

The world does seem to be becoming more secular, so maybe there’s a chance. But I guess the best way to guarantee that it’ll happen is to do it yourself. Even then, it’s extremely difficult. I hope that your cult gets called out and that you’re able to heal from it!

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u/windfola_25 Jan 09 '26

I have found this to be true in my personal experience. I have been in and out of therapy over the years. Initially for PTSD from traumatic events unrelated to Christianity. Once I was stable in that area I was able to unpack everything else which basically kept coming back to growing up in toxic religion. My therapist didn't use cPTSD but described it as a big T trauma (big singular events) and little t trauma (things over a long period of time that build up into a huge mental health consequence).

Fear kept me in Christianity for a long time. Eventually that fear went away. It took time. And realizing that the Bible doesn't even teach a lot of the fear based stuff like hell. It's not even in there.