I went into an Orthodox church as a child with my dad, I’m really tall so I looked grown despite being 12 I guess. I was walking out and evidently you’re supposed to face the altar and cross yourself as you leave, walking backwards so your back isn’t to the church. I didn’t do that and this lady freaked the fuck out, grabbed me by the ear and dragged me back into the church screaming about respect. My dad was just standing there laughing at me. She yelled for a good 10 mins. Made me leave properly, including not crossing myself “like the Catholics”, then left. I only knew that way because I’d been in the States up until then and only visited one Catholic church with a friend lol. It scared me so much that I get emotional flashbacks, complete with anxiety attacks, any time I enter a church now. It gave me lifelong fear of religion and churches. I don’t understand how an adult can think this is in any way helping.
I went into an Orthodox church as a child with my dad, I’m really tall so I looked grown despite being 12 I guess. I was walking out and evidently you’re supposed to face the altar and cross yourself as you leave, walking backwards so your back isn’t to the church. I didn’t do that and this lady freaked the fuck out, grabbed me by the ear and dragged me back into the church screaming about respect. My dad was just standing there laughing at me. She yelled for a good 10 mins. Made me leave properly, including not crossing myself “like the Catholics”, then left. I only knew that way because I’d been in the States up until then and only visited one Catholic church with a friend lol. It scared me so much that I get emotional flashbacks, complete with anxiety attacks, any time I enter a church now. It gave me lifelong fear of religion and churches. I don’t understand how an adult can think this is in any way helping.