Has anyone grown up with an obsession of their parents' that put strain on and/or caused dysfunction in their childhood/youth? (see details)
I just came across this article by some poor soul whose father took Ayn Rand’s philosophy and ran the family with it. I feel for people who grew up in families where the parents were in cults, were obsessed with new Age, religion, philosophy, etc. and made the mistake of letting it affect or take precedence over how they raise and treat their kids.
Did any of you have such an experience growing up? Or have you known anyone who has? And how did you, or they, turn out despite it all?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
9 Answers
Sadly, yes, I have witnessed this. My sister married a man whose father is the most opinionated person I have ever met, and his beliefs are completely warped. Both of his sons seem to have been influenced by him. One son wrote a letter to the editor of The Washington Post explaining why he felt that the Holocaust was a work of fiction. My BIL appears to like going off on a tirade about African-Americans.
The jury is still out as to whether it trickled down to the next generation. I did come across a picture one nephew drew of a KKK group in action, and it made my flesh crawl. It now seems that he is able to form his own opinions, including ones that go against his father’s beliefs.
@Pied_Pfeffer Sad when it is transmitted down the family line. But it tells you so much about human nature and our minds, doesn’t it?
@everephebe That counts completely. Religion completely influenced the way my parents brought me up, and how they lived their lives…for example, my mother constantly put my father through the ringer every night of my youth, and they fought all the time, but would not get a divorce because they felt it was against God’s sacrament of marriage. I know they would have had a chance for individual happiness had they been able to separate for a while.
You have to learn to keep the good and toss out the bad. Lots of people are born into families which have a very legalistic approach to christianity. At some point, you have to come to the realization that christianity is all about God’s love, and not about some great list of things “Thou shalt not do!”
@CaptainHarley Good to hear a Christian who knows what religion is truly supposed to be about.
Thank you. I had to take a long, long journey through several different belief systems before I came to this realization. My step-mother was a dyed-in-the-wool legalist who came very close to totally turning me off to any and all belief. : (
I was never in a situation like that, and I am extremely thankful that my parents never talked about religion or politics. It made for a great way to explore myself and the world and come to my own conclusions, something I will always cherish.
@cbloom8
You have very wise and patient parents. : )
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
