I Grew Up Religiously Oppressed. Here’s How I Overcame The Brainwashing & Reclaimed Myself, And My Faith.
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Meet Hannah, 37. She shares how growing up in an extreme religious environment shaped her identity and twisted her relationship with her faith.
“I was raised to believe that obedience was holiness, that questioning was rebellion, and that my worth was tied to how quiet, modest, and unquestioning I could be. Every part of life was filtered through a strict religious lens—what I wore, who I spoke to, and even what I thought. For years, I didn’t know where my beliefs ended and the brainwashing began. I was scared of disappointing God but terrified of disappointing my community.
“As I got older, the cracks in the foundation became impossible to ignore. I started asking questions and found strength in curiosity instead of shame. I didn’t lose my faith—I just stopped letting it be used against me. I built a new version of belief rooted in compassion, not fear. It was painful and lonely, especially as I had to cut ties with my community and some family members, but I know God understands.”—Hannah James, Salt Lake City.
Content retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/relationships/i-grew-up-religiously-oppressed-here-s-how-i-overcame-the-brainwashing-reclaimed-myself-and-my-faith/ss-AA1C9ZKB.
