COMO A IGREJA EVANGÉLICA ESTÁ DESTRUINDO NOSSAS CRIANÇAS “Relato de um ex-crente”

Summary

The script discusses a personal experience with fear and panic induced by apocalyptic teachings in a Christian evangelical context. It describes how these themes, often introduced during childhood, were used as tools for religious conversion, emphasizing fear of the Apocalypse and eternal punishment. The narrative critiques the way some evangelical groups leverage fear, especially through apocalyptic symbolism, to expand their influence and power, ultimately questioning the impact of such teachings on individuals and society.

Takeaways

• 😴 The speaker recounts a childhood dream involving fear and the end of the world, symbolized by the Apocalypse, which was a recurring theme in their early life.
• 👻 The speaker describes an encounter with a malevolent entity during a religious convention, which instilled a deep fear that affected their childhood.
• 🔥 The fear was later used as a conversion tool, with the Apocalypse being a dominant theme in the speaker's religious upbringing.
• 🌍 The speaker discusses the use of fear and panic as a means to promote a state of social crisis, suggesting the loss of Christian values and the end of the world is near.
• 📖 The speaker criticizes the instrumentalization of the Apocalypse in religious teachings as a tool for conversion, especially within evangelical circles.
• 🏛 The speaker reflects on their experience in Sunday schools and the emphasis on evangelism and the use of the Bible as a tool for conversion.
• 🔑 The speaker mentions that the believer is seen as an instrument of God on Earth, with the ultimate goal of conversion and the expansion of the church's influence.
• 🗣️ The speaker talks about the strategies used for conversion, starting with love and dialogue and ending with fear and the threat of eternal punishment.
• 📚 The speaker highlights that the Bible, and specifically the Book of Revelation, is taught not only as a guide for life but also as a conversion tool.
• 💡 The speaker suggests that the evangelical church's growth is tied to its ability to convert people and incorporate them into its power structure.
• 🚫 The speaker argues that there is no room for 'the other' in evangelical belief, as the focus is on potential believers or those who are already part of the faith.
• 🌐 The speaker contemplates the role of fear and panic in society and how it can be manipulated to achieve conversion, even through absurd symbols or events.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood dream related to the church?

The speaker's childhood dream involved hearing strange noises in the church they attended, hiding under a chair, and then experiencing the world spinning as if the Apocalypse was happening.

How did the speaker's first encounter with a malevolent entity during a convention affect them?

The encounter with a malevolent entity during a convention caused the speaker so much panic that it affected their childhood, making them only feel fear for weeks afterward.

What was the impact of hearing a testimony from an ex-witch on the speaker?

The testimony from an ex-witch, who claimed to have encountered a personified representation of evil in an accident, instilled a deep fear in the speaker that lasted throughout their childhood.

How is the Apocalypse used as a tool in the speaker's religious upbringing?

The Apocalypse was used as a tool for conversion in the speaker's religious upbringing, with the fear of the end times being instrumentalized to bring people into the church.

What role does the Bible play in the speaker's religious community?

In the speaker's religious community, the Bible is seen as the word of God and a tool for conversion, used to regulate the life of the faithful and to incorporate new members into the congregation.

What is the significance of the 'salt of the earth' metaphor in the speaker's religious context?

The 'salt of the earth' metaphor signifies the believers as instruments of God on earth, necessary for maintaining life, and their role in spreading the word of God and converting others.

How are conversion strategies taught in the speaker's Sunday school?

Conversion strategies in the speaker's Sunday school involve learning all possible tools for conversion, with a focus on mastering the sacred text, especially the Book of Revelation, to instill fear and motivate conversion.

What is the speaker's view on the role of fear in the conversion process?

The speaker views fear, particularly the fear of the Apocalypse and eternal punishment, as a primary tool in the conversion process, used when other strategies fail to persuade someone to join the faith.

How does the speaker describe the growth of the evangelical church?

The speaker describes the growth of the evangelical church as a project of power, where the essence is conversion, and the church grows by incorporating more individuals into its congregation.

What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between the evangelical church and politics?

The speaker suggests that the evangelical church seeks to engage with politics to stabilize itself as a political project of power, similar to the historical role of the Catholic Church.

How does the speaker connect the fear of the Apocalypse to the destruction of the world?

The speaker connects the fear of the Apocalypse to the destruction of the world by suggesting that the more the religious text gains force and the idea of the end times becomes stronger, the more panic is sought, potentially leading to the world's destruction by human hands.