Hello my neighbors! I really hope you enjoyed the video. This one was incredibly hard to make- editing, filming, revisiting the time in my past I escaped. But it was somehow so much fun, thank you so much for hearing my story and supporting me 💕💕💕
@@valryeredMaybe coming from her background,it was harder for her to identify that? I'm not trying to shame our dear lady!! But I actually thought this sponsor was a "bit" at first! Maybe she couldn't turn down the financial help from a sponsor? Who knows,but I was a bit disappointed...I really enjoy her content.
I’m Christian but it’s obvious that people make these “God wants you to see this” type of videos to guilt people into views and no one should be guilt into viewing these things, especially to very naive people they make these videos to make people feel like “bad Christian” if they skip or just bad people in general and that’s a major problem
@@trixIsHere1 EXACTLY! Like there was literally this mega church pastor that was asked about the verse that Jesus said "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle for a rich man to get into heaven" and the mega church pastor replied "all things are possible with God" LIKE WHAT 🤨
Im not religious due to my own trauma from religous family and churchs but I try to respect people, but its when people try to use fear mongering or shaming to elevate themselves is when i have an issue. I respect those like you who seem to understand religion is ones choice and you can support them but never shame them for a differnt religion, or not believing in anything.
@@9ekoblick They’re the TikTok version of a chain letter. Where chain letters flat out say “If you ignore this and don’t send a letter on, you’ll suffer bad luck forever!”, the religious TikToks just imply you’ll go to hell if you skip it.
Her husband giving her an apron instead of the ticket to Greece she asked (and that he can give her) is a clear message : why would you want to travel ? Stay home woman, and serve me
@@emmahancock8911 From the context, I think you're right. She said "*my* egg apron" and recognized it immediately. That implies that it's something she already owned, he just threw it in a box and gave it to her.
One thing my mom taught me was "Be nice to missionaries". Because a lot of the time, these "missionaries" are sent out because their church knows that some people will be rude and mean to them for being missionaries, and that will make the missionaries believe more the doctrine of "everyone outside our church is evil and sinful". So, on the random days where a Mormon or a Seventh Day Adventist would come to our door, my mom would say "Well we already belong to a church that we're happy with, but would you like a glass of water?" Being kind and understanding to people who are in oppressive religions shows them that the "outside world" isn't horrible and terrible. And that can help them realize they don't need to be in those groups.
This is amazing ! I did this once and the guy still was yelling at me even though I was nice and understanding . it’s completely brainwashing . I agree
Mormonism/ Latter Day Saints and Seventh day Adventists are quite different. Very different. But it’s good that your mom taught you to be kind to others. It’s honestly the bare minimum in this world. Differences do not need to set us apart.
This happened with my older sister, she was a teen at the time. There was a man from a Mormon church, advertising his church, he was old and frail, and it was hot out. She let him into our house, gave a glass of water and I think tylonel, and she just sat and listen what he said. She was like thank you, but my family and I are catholic, and he was very grateful just getting a glass of water. I was playing with my legos I was like five at the time. Flash a few weeks later, we got a knock again, this time it was two girls from the same Mormon church. And these girls happened to be his granddaughters, they wanted to thank my sister bc he was old and he actually passed away not too long after. Kindness and understanding works in mysterious ways. And the girls were appreciative what my sister did for their grandfather.
Many individuals I know who have shifted their focus towards Christianity (or any other similar religions) seem to have experience a decline in their personal expression. Take my former classmate, for instance, she was once vibrant and enthusiastic about fashion and makeup, but now she has abandoned those interests and lets her self go. Those who had embraced non-traditional spiritual paths or moved away from organized religion appeared to be thriving. A notable example is the transformation seen in many from my community, who have both improved physically and mentally, they’ve begun to embrace their individuality, dressing well and confidently navigating life.
honestly, its kind of beautiful how your family stuck together through the entire journey of leaving the church, and that you still believe in god, like. a lot of times families get broken apart by stuff like this, but y'all stayed together ;n;
For people talking about Scentbird…not everyone knows about the founder. It wasn’t until I researched into the company that I found out about it. Likely, Salem trusted this company as they quite literally sponsor almost every other popular UA-camr. Let’s not take away from the impact of the video and quite literally her own personal trauma, as she likely didn’t know.
Thank you for this. I've been gone for so long, and I'm truly never online unless I make videos- I feel SO blind sided by my team and sponsor. I truly didn't know anything about this at all. Neither did the people on my team or other fellow UA-camrs who've been sponsored by them. I feel so taken advantage of all over again. This video was supposed to be about my trauma and me being very open and vulnerable about my journey- yet everyone can only focus on this mishap where I was taken advantage of. I hope everyone can look past this, and focus on my story. This is not how I wanted to return onto UA-cam, I cried making this video. And now I'm in tears once again. I hope people can spare me patience, grace and mercy. I am so proud of myself and this video that took me so much courage to make. I hope my main message will get through. All love 💕
@@_salemtovar_absolutely deserving of grace and patience. It can be hard to keep up on that stuff, especially when you have a team that is helping with sponsors
@@_salemtovar_love your content and I just commented about it as well but it looks like someone already told you. Definitely want you to get your bag, but sadly scentbird has to be the way they are. I’ve used them in the past myself before I knew as well. 🫂
@@_salemtovar_I don’t know about scentbird but there are a lot of sketchy sponsors out there that sponsor a lot of UA-camrs. Very big and popular UA-camrs too. If people are harsh on you for this they should judge all the others taking these sponsorships. It seems like this is a bigger issue in the whole UA-cam community. I won’t judge you because then I would have to judge so many more people that like you probably have no idea what’s going on either😅 I find your video very interesting so far and I’m glad you are back! Don’t let this stop you:)
I actually started tearing up when Penny said that your dad would pray to God to please forgive him for whatever he may have done wrong to make his family poor, omg 😭
@@FloatingSpark this video was so hard to film for everyone involved... definitely brought back a lot of painful memories ....thank you for your kind words and for watching! 🙏🩷
My mom stopped going to church for over a decade and felt she lost her connection with God because she was kicked out of the church for divorcing my dad. He cheated on her all the time.
THIS and I'm not an accountant. 🤣 Seriously, if churches were made to pay taxes, we could have a decent health care system, or decent public transport.
@@carlycchapman Wth this is such a bad take. The healthcare system is beyond well funded, anyone working in it knows. If anything we should be defunding most of these programs.
@@Mandelasmind No, it is not. Coming from a small southern town, there are so many areas near where I live that had subpar healthcare and rundown health facilities.
My issue is the guilt, the classism, racism, lies, money laundering and the forcing others to think about Christianity with the "DO YOU WANNA GO TO HELL??!??!?" brother ew
as a christian, i was so scared to click on this video. i've been a fan of your channel for a while and didn't want to hear you being rude about christianity (ofc there is alot of problems in the church, but the people who go to church should not be attacked or anything), however it was was easily one of the best videos i have watched in a very long time. i have found in my journey that my convictions are not always what the church tell me they should be and are deffinatly not the same as everyone else's, and i completely agreed with everything you said in this video. i'm so glad you and your family found peace from your past church, and thank you for sharing such an empathetic, honest and true message.
I'm glad there have been several women in their 40's and 50's telling their stories about how they didn't protect themselves financially and ended up ruined by divorces and no financial or job skills. Hopefully their voices are being heard and women who want to stay home take their advice.
@@cvelasquez8041 There was a woman who shared her story about how she was struggling financially & on the verge of homelessness because she divorced her abusive millionaire husband and he and his rich buddies did EVERYTHING to make her life hell after that. Like she didn’t want any of his money or assets, she just wanted out of the marriage even though she dedicated like half of her life to serving him. The husband could’ve left her alone and moved on but somehow he wanted to torment her after divorce and started spreading lies, finding out where she applied for jobs or sabotaging her career if she did get a job etc. She said that just like the Ballerina Farms woman, he never spent his insane wealth on anything she wanted, always kept her busy with labor at home (even though they could easily afford help) and she was warning women that marrying rich or being a SAHM is not at all the dream life these influencers have been trying to sell. She was constantly telling the viewers that the Ballerina Farms woman will be in serious danger if she is ever even able to divorce that man. I wish I could find those videos again and donate to a GoFundMe or something for her. It was so ominous and heartbreaking…
I remember watching a video and what this women said stuck with me. “If he makes all of the money, your security/future is contingent on him always loving/wanting you” Relying on someone for security in life is not safe, it’s not romantic, it’s reckless.
@@bubble_gum_witch Well 1. not every woman is in a privileged enough position to have been set up with the ability to support herself. Just cause you were able to get education and equal opportunities in a free country don’t mean that’s the norm around the world. And 2. Not every woman wants to be self reliant and support herself. Some women were raised with traditional values and want to lead that life.
@@cassadilla.s4052 So then accept the risk you are willingly putting yourself in. It does not erase the existance of the damn risk. It's is inherently risky to rely on a man for money. No amount of "i HaVe TrAdItIoNaL vAlUeS" is going to change that. PLUS, you dont need education to have a job. Even just having minimum wage job and gaining experience is fcking crucial in case you ever need to fend for yourself. It is valuable.
Um.This video 🦆ing rocked. It was so refreshing seeing two Mexican women just vibing and reminiscing, showing each other love and familial support, and speaking about such intense shared experiences. I don't have enough Latina creators to follow and relate to, so I really loved seeing this one
As a person who converted back to Christianity after being an atheist, it’s crazy how some churches are not biblical at all. A lot of people lost the plot of the whole faith and misrepresenting it
Totally agree. As someone who has found the faith in my teen years, I feel that these non-biblical churches can be extremely damaging to the authenticity of a church as how god meant it to be. I think it also can deter so many people from the faith completely due to the misrepresented ideas of the word.
@@somethingidk3729 Please answer, what made you covert back to Christianity? I too, used to be an extreme Christian. As I started to open my mind, I realized the many things wrong with religious extremism. So, i turned atheist. But i was angry at not only toxic Christians but at myself for believing such things so I used to then start to hate on Christians and other religion. I dont do that anymore. I dont want to do that anymore, because i want to heal. But, i kinda feel an urge now to go back to Christianity, but without the toxicity
Seeing you so comfortable with your sister, speaking spanglish and talking about your childhood gave me a sense of comfort I can't explain. Literally my hispanic ass feels so happy rn 😭💖
🦆This video hit me very deep because I had a very similar upbringing, I missed your videos a lot and I really love that this was the one you decided to come back with ❤🦆
@@beatricelebrun I wanted to comment this exact thing, being Latina, Christian in California I completely relate and I see this video as so many people around me. The way they talked together made me feel like I was yapping with an hermana from church 😭 🤍
I remember following Penny back when she started nursing school. I haven't seen all three sisters until now. I also didn't know Penny had a baby! So much has changed. I loved this video. Thank you for sharing vulnerable moments.
Hey Salem. I know that social media has made us all feel unattractive, however, i think your natural bare face is beautiful. You as a person are beautiful, and i think it just shines through you even when you aren't feeling beautiful and wearing makeup. Also, I grew up with a Southern Baptist pastor as a father, and the religious trauma is so real. You aren't alone, girl❤️
Hard agree! I don't think attractiveness is really all that important and Salem seems awesome in the ways that truly matter but also...she's just stunningly gorgeous without makeup as well.
@@rosebud7645 omg I'm in tears reading your comment, thank you so much for your kind words 😭🩷 you guys always know how to lift me up, and I hope I can do the same for you 🩷 so glad you survived and you're healing 🙏🏽
@@_salemtovar_ you're very pretty with and without makeup (: i'm not religious at all but i deeply appreciate you and your sister sharing your experiences, thanks so much for sharing
@@rosebud7645 to me, the BIG money in these mega churches is the most sickening. The Pentecostal church I used to go to would make us feel guilty for not committing to a tithing when we were literally living in poverty.
@@_salemtovar_ of course, girl. I think one of the biggest things we can do for others in this world is validate their experiences, and I think many of us have found that through your channel. I'm so happy you felt that this community you've created was safe to share your trauma.
You could also be a Christian woman and stay home both are fine a few women staying home is not gonna reverse anything with the strong hold of feminism nothing to be worried about.
Idk if we’re going back in time or if these voices are louder bc they have a platform. A lot of these cults include a requirement to recruit and social media is a great way to do that so they are just in our faces making that content. Lmao
Idk if we’re going back in time or if these voices are louder bc they have a platform. A lot of these cults include a requirement to recruit and social media is a great way to do that so they are just in our faces making that content. Lmao
As a person who lives in a Christian neighborhood, these people on tiktok are so annoying. Real christians will not shove their religion on your face. I know so many lovely christians, also, glad u got out ♡
They’re not shoving religion down anyone’s face lol. You’re allowed to swipe past all these post. The Bible states to spread the gospel. Not hide it, keep it to ourselves
Everyone is different not all christians are the same obv. Some need christ in their life because they have gone through trauma. Others may try to recruit and spread the good news. Thats why each person in the bible had different paths and different journeys on doing good things for the greater good of God! God is not a punishing God, he literally wants you to get out of depression, anxiety, and fear! He wants you to feel good for YOU. I hate that people make christianity into a thing where its about order and punishment, like nooo 😂 its much more than that. ❤
Question for you, does the bible not mention spreading the gospel? Also, did it not mention the persecution of christians because of that? Its in our spirit to spread the good news to people.
While I’m on my faith journey (grew up Pentecostal) I never questioned whether or not God was real but for me I always had an issue with how people seemed to USE God to manipulate/or fear monger,guilt or pressure people to do or be something. Unpacking the idea that suffering and sacrifice and ideas of my self esteem being tied to one’s devotion to God. I was glad that I met lots of level headed people and practical Christians that were and are still extremely kind people. But it’s a lot I’m unpacking…
For me as a Christian my self esteem is tied to my identity in Christ and being a child of God that when no one loves he still loves me and would die for me as he already did (Jesus) things are different for everyone. so I pray you find a stable place for your self confidence/esteem to exist 😊
I feel you man. For people, religion is not about believing in God but simply a means to control and have power over someone like a god. That’s why it’s always wise to stay educated about it.
Yeah youre right but i do feel like feeling guilty is good. If they are preaching to you and you start feeling guilty because you may be doing something bad, the message is speaking to you and thats where you start to improve. Not for people, but for God. Because God loves you
@@GLY_pankeekiI think the difference is if you do something and immediately feel bad about it, or if you feel bad about it after thinking it over, then it’s probably something bad that you shouldn’t have done. But if you don’t feel bad about it until someone else tells you that you’re supposed to feel bad, it’s probably something that’s perfectly fine but they’re trying to manipulate you.
21:00 I just want to say thank you for sharing this with us. Your story and religion are both very personal things, it takes strength to make that public and you have done it with appropriate seriousness without losing your humor. I hope everyone who will or has seen this takes this opportunity you’ve given us to learn from you and your sister’s experiences.
I was accidentally pulled into a pentacostal cult but I already had an alert mind about these extremists. Long story short, I convinced my mother to get out of the church when we were shamed for giving 20pesos(just a couple of cents on dollars) during the tithes and offering. I remember the pastor saying "God loves us equally, and by giving him our riches on earth, he shall reward us more in heaven. So if you see your worth in heaven the same as this 20 pesos, then so be it. But god will always bless you more the more you sacrifice in his sake. He says this while looking at my mother, that time really radicalized me. We were so poor, but mother always found ways to gather money just to pay for the fare to get to that church.
theres literally a verse about a couple coins a poor widow gives is worth more than a rich mans surplus wtf. a real "more equal than others" sitch, gross
@@youbetterstanloona6717 that seems like he’s kinda calling himself God bc God is not the one receiving the money the PASTOR IS 😅 this whole thing is so wrong in so many ways 😭
I was going to watch a sermon and the pastor had a 2000 dollar Gucci sweater on like NOPE if U are humble and Love God u don’t need that expensive sweater
@@jenniferibarra7737 yknow if someone wanted to spring for some really swank merino wool sweater, i can kinda respect that (still cant be 2k tho, jesus christ). something really quality that'll last and work well. but gucci? really??? brands for brand alone are so dumb. especially so in church, that pastor is trying so hard to argue that a camel can fit through a needle
Yalls church stories are so funny yet so heartbreakingly relatable😭😭, when you mentioned Disney being "del diablo", I had to pause cause I was so shook someone else had experienced that omg. I thankfully left my own cult (still an on going church in Mexico) when I was 10 yrs old, pero, ppl really don't understand how intense it all is unless you've (unfortunately) experienced it. Thank you for sharing your story and for talking about such a nuanced topic ❤️🩹
I know a couple girls who gave up their dreams of being ballet dancers (they were in the top of their class) at 18 and went off and got married basically because of their religious backgrounds. Not forced but definitely influenced
I was pressured to withdraw from ballet class by my bible teacher when I was still in primary school. "Glory is for God, not sportspeople and dancers. God created music for the purpose of worshiping him." (Followed by weeks of guilt tripping and misquoted scriptures about idol worship and how man cannot lead other man).
Its genuinely so awful. Ballet is my entire life. I grew up in a religious town, but thankfully it never got to this amount of extremism. It may just be that I’m aroace, but I could never imagine having to give up what is basically my entire life. I feel for those poor girls.
So.... You know how they felt? You know not all women are easily influenced and maybe Hanna wanted the life she has, rich on a farm, wining beauty pageants married to a millionaire... Just saying.
Didnt even wrap the egg apron in a nice box with a bow and card and tickets to Greece tucked inside 😢 just literally gave her an unwrapped shipping box
Apparently, he didn't even order it. She did but the package got lost or something, he got a hold of it and offerred it as her birthday present. Its jaw-dropping what an awful husband he is.
@@lvnkhn 16:28 The minute before this is worth watching, but the actual thing is here. She had been asking him for tickets to Greece for FOREVER, and instead she got an egg apron that (I believe) he simply recovered from the postal service… Reminder that HIS FATHER OWNS AN AIRLINE, so tickets would have literally been free and inconsequential even if he wasn't a multi-millionaire
@@modkip25 We have acquaintances where the father is a millionaire and he gave his daughter and her husband, for a christmas present... a garlic press (you know the thing that you squeeze your hand with). As a "joint present". I'm not a materialist but FFS. Better to give nothing at all but love, than something so pathetic that proves how little you care.
I loved this video thank you guys! But as a queer person I will say that when someone with extreme beliefs starts threatening my safety (like a coworker who said I deserved to have my rights taken away or another one who cornered me and said I was going to hell) that’s when I lose my empathy and start looking out for myself. I totally agree that being hateful towards these people is not the answer but I also believe that is only for when you are in a place to be kind and understanding.
some people are just hateful as a person and use religion as an excuse to be mean, so i agree with you. and some people are just misguided and don’t actually hold hate in their heart for anybody
I've always been taught that being a true Christian means that we don't judge anyone and we should love everyone and how we treat others is what truly what matters. It breaks my heart that anyone is criticized for who they love. I'm so very sorry that you were ever treated this way. Much love to you.
Girl..girl.. everything about this I enjoyed. The length of the video, you and your sisters dynamic, your family story, but most of all, you were transparent about your experience and your beliefs. My favorite kind of UA-camrs are those who are transparent and continue to share their unperfect journey growing closer to God. Perfect is for Jesus only. I was raised Pentecostal, rebelled, and later turned non-denominational christian. God is good! 🙏🌻
@@PepperSaltCurlz aweee! Love this. Thank you so much for watching and supporting me and allowing me to be open and vulnerable 🩷 although my story is one that's confusing and complex, God still remains good in my life 🙏
I'm a christian, and I really don't like when 'christians' use god for views, I came to christianity after having a very personal conviction with christ, The church almost shoved god out of my life completely with how pushy people can be there, I was shamed for not having read the entire bible at the age of 8.. I WAS 8 and had dyslexia, (I mainly read a comic book bible,) I still almost fall for the guilt tripping videos but thankfully I'm more secure in my relationship with christ now ;-;
I’m agnostic but I relate to you on that guilt tripping stuff 😭 my stepmom is an evangelical christian and really scared some crazy things into my brain that I still sometimes feel guilty of even thought I’m not even christian 😭
@@fugitive_ I'm so sorry that happened to you, I personally have stayed away from churches until my mum finds a good one, So many people use guilt tripping and manipulation to get you to 'believe' in god when no one can (or should) force you to believe anything
She may have been diabetic with a low blood sugar and needed a Pepsi. The symptoms of low blood sugar can include dizziness and excessive sweating, lethargy, etc and you see all those things happen in these "deliverances." Lol
This was so so beautifully said. As a Christian myself, I too find myself being so cringed at the “western Christianity” influences or charismatic types. Like you said, not everything is demonic or spiritually twisted! I like my nails done, makeup done, smelling good, hair done, looking cute and not letting those things define me because I know Jesus and I love him cause he loved me first! But like you said, it’s important to also be reminded that those people also need grace too, they just like I have been before, are under the impression that it’s their works, not Jesus work on the cross. ❤ Thank you for making this video girl!
Your works do play a part in where God will put you tho ,you can't claim to love Jesus, but at the same disobey his word and commandments and be of the world . Our actions do matter very much .
This reminds me of some of the famous fitness influencer who claims to be a born again Christian but never refunded the woman she scammed their money back for the fitness plans or held accountable I pray for her but she still always never holds herself accountable
I also used to wear makeup, do my nails, etc. But, the Lord began convicting me of vanity, and of hiding who He made me behind hair dye and cosmetics. When we change our appearance like that, we are denying who we are in Christ, and creating a whole new identity. I hope you begin to pray about these things.
@@justimani4 where is the commandment that says “no nails or hair done or makeup?” I’m almost certain the word says to not value these things more than wisdom and a quiet and humble spirit though, that I will give to you. But If looking presentable, not in worldly and lustful way, is considered anti Jesus then I need to see that in scripture in the New Testament. Again, works are only produced by faith, not out of being guilty and feeling condemned. Sure, we need to make sure our hearts in the right spot with these things and if they are, then what’s the problem with them? I get your point but we don’t need to act like we can’t look presentable or feel good about ourselves to prove our love for Jesus. We prove our love for Jesus by accepting and acknowledging his work on the cross and letting the Holy Spirit sanctify us as we renew our minds daily in his word. This is why I said not everything is spiritual or needs to have some demonic spirit attached to it. This whole world is in ruins if we’re being honest and telling people that you can’t look nice doesn’t save souls from eternal damnation, the love of Jesus does and brings us to a Godly sorrow and repentance. Just my thoughts.
@@andreahoover7153 no one said YOU CANT look nice dude I don’t know where you got that from my comment . Wear your lashes nails and whatever you love so much if feel that’s all that makes you look good lol. If you feel compelled to keep your things then do so 🤷🏻♀️ You are however very wrong on the not all things are spiritual?? This world is run by lucifer himself and he is in EVERYTHING because this is his domain . Literally everything we do and engage in is run by Lucifer whether you like it or not . Thats very foolish way of thinking but we can’t be surprised cos most Christians dont focus on achieving peak spirituality and opening their eyes to more than just the physical to see the deception and evil that is everywhere and in everything including food even 🤣🤣 There’s tonnes of devil workers who got saved who also talk about how ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING is spiritual you should really look into spirituality with Jesus more . Most of y’all talk to God not with God and then spread serious misinformation because you can’t see what’s truly going on.
Thank you for making the video; i know it had to be difficult in places. My parent is a evangelical cult leader; definitely is narcissistic and more than definitely struggles with spiritual phycosis on the regular. The scary thing that i dont see discussed enough is that: in the right situations one person's delusions can spread to a group. While in a state of phycosis a person is not able to fully acess their reasoning and logic. it also can heavily affect memory. Most people within a cult are victims who may not have the information tools or ability to escape without a gentle patient helping hand. That is why it is super important to be at the minimum respectful to the people that come to your door. You never know if you could be the wake up call that leads to getting them out. Being kind could save a life.
I'm at the Ballerina Farm portion and my heart lowkey broke for her when I saw her dancing and she got an egg apron. I don't know that lady, but I truly hope she's okay
@lydiaj7492 Look, I want her to get tickets to Greece too. I want to see her be a Ballerina but I do think it is unfair for you to imply her husband is abusive and he never gives her the things that she wants and is miserable with her life based off of one youtube short. You, and everyone else who has a mouthful to say, are not in their lives. All we are going off of is a biased article and a UA-cam short. All I'm saying is at least keep an open mind about it
As a ballet dancer I want to add, your career as a dancer is time wise very limited. Most dancers retire at 35 years old and change careers, if they don’t go into teaching. It is not a life long career like most jobs. She decided to choose a more sustainable route. That doesn’t mean she is unhappy. Everyone has dreams, I also thought dance would be play always a big role in my life but it hasn’t in the end, because I chose to study instead. I think it is unfair that everyone deems her a victim and her husband a villain. She chose that life for her and the makes the best out of it for her.
@@thepineapple8434 I agree completely. I've also heard that pregnancy and giving birth can really alter or even stop a ballerina's career. I can't imagine she wanted to wait until 36 or older to have kids, so I'm sure she would have gone down a different path early on in her adulthood and still wouldn't be a ballerina even if she didn't marry Jet Blue junior.
Idk, I didn't see her dance in the video because I wasn't watching, but when I heard she was asking for a Greece trip and she got an egg apron, I did start raging just a little while I worked. He could have at least got her a little more than an apron! I know in LDS they teach you to not be materialistic, but come on. You can give a little more appreciation than that.
As a religious person, I think ANYONE who builds a whole platform on “giving people God’s messages” completely misunderstands the Bible. I see my relationship with God as something personal and I don’t want anyone to feel pressured into that by so-called Christians that just want to be holier than thou. Religious and influencer are two words that shouldn’t be combined
A relationship with God is personal, however the bible makes it clear that followers of Christ will spread the gospel message to others and shine as a light to the world (a light isn't very bright if it dims itself around others) if you're a Christian, i hope you start sharing your faith with others. There's so many scriptures that highlight the importance of this. You don't have to be forceful, just share your faith and inspire hope in others.
@@TheNinjapancake14 you’re right, 100%, and I definitely could have worded myself better. I mean that someone profiting off of God or the Bible leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
@@juanesia7512 Yeah I'm not religious and I do get that it's in the bible but it's weird for people to make fear mongering content on their pages to try to convert someone. There's nothing wrong with trying to convince someone, but it's so weird to try to scare people into it, you know?
@@ALLURISTIC I understand what you mean. Fear is kinda inevitable in a way though 😂 the bible paints a picture that if we don't live for God and turn from sin, we will inevitably go to hell. There's not too many pretty ways to get that message across, unfortunately. I do think Christians shouldn't necessarily lead with fearing others into believing though.
Thank you for being so vulnerable in this video. I was raised Evangelical and while it wasn't this extreme, I was definitely brainwashed starting from the age of 3. I was forced into a value system that I was too young to understand. My position as a girl was enforced that I was lesser, a sinner, I was a temptation, and that women were not intellectual or holy enough to lead a family. I left the church when I was 16 and have never looked back. As a nonbinary lesbian, I will be dealing with the damage the church caused me for the rest of my life. I'm so happy you have a healthier relationship with God now.
Girl, your sister is so funny omg 😂😂 I know trauma is hard but ya'll made it more easy to digest. Also your sister definitely talks with that Mexican accentó 😆😆
I was a nanny for a Mormon family for years, and towards the end of me working for them their aunt and her husband moved in with them and their own 4 kids. I asked why to one of the children and they said their Uncle heard God and God told him they needed to. He claimed he could speak to God. It scared me really bad because clearly he was unwell.
I’m an ex-Mormon. “God told me” it’s such a common manipulation tactic. Especially because the Mormon church teaches that men can receive “revelation from god” for their family or the people they have been designated leader of (for example, the bishop gets revelation for their ward, the prophet gets revelation for the whole church)
@@DiMagnolia This is why I left the LDS church. I had a roommate that claimed “God talked to her” saying that I had something in my room that I shouldn’t. Dumb broad went through my entire room. That whole church is a wild mess.
I’m so happy I have come across you! My family is Hispanic and we were also in a Pentecostal cult! We had dues we had to pay and they would come to our house if we missed a day. Hair veil if you had short hair or highlights to cover your shame. I’m so glad many others understand this trauma as sad as it is
Girly pop you may not like your natural look but I think youre absolutely gorge wo the makeup! The makeup is just the cherry on top. Love yourself! Bc we love u!
Thank you for sharing your story ☺️ I grew up as a cradled Catholic and told that this was the only way. As a young adult, I had a lot of resentment towards my church and religion in general because I couldn't rationalize how could my abusive relatives go to church and preach kindness and forgiveness and leave those church doors to do terrible things in closed doors. Now that I've moved away for good, I was blessed to have met my husband, who went to a prominent bible university where he learned historical context and dissected the Bible down to the language it was originally written in. He met me at my worst. I was so angry with the world and he helped dismantle a lot of the flawed teaching I grew up with, and helped me process so much. He taught me contextualization and the difference between faith and religion, and how people will cherry-pick and weaponize the Bible for their own agenda. I'm so grateful for this community and your candid approach to this subject. Thank you again ❤
Glad you’re looking at it positively , cuz it can really damage people the way hypocrisy is :( I grew up Christian in general & was more rationale as in finding the context of things , and less the spiritual at times. But then becoming catholic, I understood it much better . I’m sure by looking at the history, you’ll see Catholicism has a great and good influence on the faith since lots of these practices come from us . The context of scriptures comes from the saints and church fathers - big hint on finding the context. The reason they’re considered as saints is because of their contribution to understanding/demonstrating scripture. Helped me look at it a different way.
I'm so glad your husband could help you heal and process your past! I went to university to study theology and English and it helped me grow so much and heal a lot of conflicts too. I grew up catholic, but also in a circle of friends who where metal heads, punks and rockabillies. I was always torn, but the scientific approach at uni helped me a lot. I teach RE at highschool now and my mantra is "To love the church is to criticise the church". I've found that open and critical dialogue about faith, doctrine and our conscience has helped a lot of students too. My faith isn't blind and I will criticise my church where we fall short, because a church made up of humans will always fall short. That means we need to hold our leaders accountable.
Here's what I always think of when it comes to cases like Salem's broken leg and ignoring help: The Family Guy episode where Scotty's parents know he has cancer but won't take him to the doctor because they're Christian scientists. And Lois pretty much says to them, "Did you ever stop to think that maybe these doctors and treatments are God's way of answering your prayers?"
@@Rosalie-k3v but what messages tho? I Saw many people do interesting points, people who read the bible and point out of deeply messed up many messages are, like the whole story of god telling in the Book how to get slaves, how women are treated in many of these books,...
@@yodacaron9027 a lot of quotes from the bible are extemely out of context. We also have to remember a lot of the books of the Bible are parables from a period long before our time. And just as we can know literature and jokes from the 2000s are wrong we can also acknowledge certain universal truths from their message. Its the lessons you learn. True believers dont cast hate on those different from us because God loves you as you are. I believe we're supposed to come as we are. A person's journey and relationship with God is their own, and to condem someone because they dont follow your rules is also wrong. Only Jesus judges according to the Bible and he only judges those who have evil hearts. Doesnt say anything about gay, if you dont go to church every Sunday, etc. I think many people forget that God is Love not judgement. Your heart is what is seen and known by Him. Not your mistakes or lessons you did or didnt learn on Earth. But thays my understanding and journey with Christ. I cant speak for yours, but if you accept, God bless you.
@@TiaraClarese ah, well i personaly think context doesnt justify some things that are said, a d that the words of god should have wrong in them no matter when they were writen, or we have to admit that god is not perfect then. As long as you use your fate to be better i guess that's okay, but i also think brushing the bad things the bible says under the rug and say it's not sexist or homophobic is quite bad, we gotta be honest 😅 i personaly can't believe in those, i'm an agnostic and i don't think i'll ever be a believer for a lot of reasons. Tho i truly hope if your god is real they are as good willing as you say they are, even if that would go against many things the bible contains.
I'm so glad I came across this video! The Pentecostal Churches of the late 90s and early to mid-2000s were out of pocket. I grew up in the Pentecostal church, and remember the Pastor locking the doors and saying that no one was leaving until more tithes were paid (even after the money collection plate was passed around like 2 times). I remember visiting Pastors from other churches always wanting to lay hands on church members, or claim that someone had a spirit. I totally feel where y'all are coming from.
Same boat! Minus the demanding tithes part. My dad used to be a head usher in our church and he told me there was a lady at our church who was notorious for falling out while being “slain in the spirit” or whatever 😅😂 and doing the UTMOST. He told me that during one service, she was really “feeling it” and essentially threw herself and somehow broke her arm or wrist lol.
I grew up almost exactly the same; I was a "miracle baby", pentecostal within latino churches and white churches, told i'd be a prophet and leader and stayed within the church till about age 19 or 20. Once I finally met friends outside of church I immediately realized how insane it all was; the non religious people were not judgemental or psychotic...it felt like i'd lived my whole life underwater. I turned my whole life around, studied science and technology and ended up going from being 100% ignorant about the world to getting a great job in a field i liked. The stuff in those churches was terrifying. we're talkin folders of pdf files...some of whom were on the SO registry who were working with kids...the church defending the iraq war and south african apartheid...fleecing and stealing from poor people...the further i get away from it the more terrifying it is that all those people i knew are still stuck there getting fleeced. magical thinking spreads like a virus to the poor and desperate and is the perfect exploit, biological and unchanging from generation to generation.
One thing they are right about is that God has a gift for you. I know that that church strayed you away but dont forget that God is real and he has plans for you.
Seeing Salem talk about her religious upbringing honestly reflects my own journey so much. It’s so nice to see someone who genuinely tries to understand all walks of life and be loving while talking about it.
@@Sbella.b883 I agree with you. I was brought up very religious and it took a heavy mental toll on me and I have an anxiety problem now. But I still like to talk to people about their religious experiences and hear basically what helps them sleep at night, through who they believe. I feel like each time I talk to someone about their religious experience, it heals little parts of me that were so hurt, and it heals the parts that were in such a heavy dark place in multiple points in my life.
As an educated Chicana I have to say...I fucking LOVE you and your sister! The way yall speak on your experiences is so intelligent, thought-provoking, hilarious, and articulate. Yall are badass af.
She had already ordered the egg apron herself. He intercepted it when it came home and gave it to her. I hope she makes the most of the life she's stumbled into, and that her children are never turned against her.
That explained why she said “My egg apron”, instead of “An egg apron”. She was t surprised by it. Did that husband of hers do anything special for her?
Agreed. I hope her sacrifices for her family are seen and acknowledged by her kids at least. Many women who marry well often sacrifice themselves for their new environment.
I was born at a time when getting married, having children and staying home was the expectation for women. I watched the world change before my eyes as the Women’s Liberation movement and young women began to rebel against that tradition, then saw a world where women struggled to have both a family and career. I saw a world that has gone from making working mothers feel guilty to making stay at home mothers feel guilty. What I see now is a broken world. Young people who don’t understand how hard the rights that they feel they are entitled to have been fought for by previous generations of women.
Who the hell is making stay at home mothers feel guilty? People are still making women who work feel guilty, they aren’t taken as seriously at work and experience constant harassment, and if they have children they’re called bad mothers no matter what they do and how hard they try. Not to mention most married women who work have to work a ‘double shift’ where they do their 9-5, then come home and do all the unpaid childcare and chores because their husbands aren’t picking up the slack. There’s research on this. How many times have you heard people praising fathers for ‘babysitting’ their offspring or ‘helping out’ in their own household?
@@ladymacbethofmtsensk I think that's what OP was getting at. We're so caught up now in the tug-of-war ahh expectations of women expecting us a million things, that seeing us regress to what some women idolize as an "easier" time is disheartening to someone who would've seen generations fight for the rights and lifestyles we have today. Stay at home mothers ARE being shamed, because women can't just be one thing. They need to have a job and girlboss, they need to be beautiful at all times and never age, they have to get married and have kids, they have to do all of the work raising those kids and keeping the house kept up WHILE having a full time job. It's no wonder some women are like "I just want things to be easier. It seemed eaiser back then" while not understanding what it was truly like a few decades ago.
@@ladymacbethofmtsensk Why are you expecting pay to take care of your own children?? Men have no problem slaving away in the corporate world for their families, this sickness started when everyone wanted to start mixing the gender roles. Also, fathers do stay home nowadays to take care of their children, you probably don't hear about it because those are typically very wealthy families.
Your video really touched me because I'm currently in a hard place of trying to convince my family, especially my mother and sisters, that I don't need a husband, and that I want to work. It doesn't mean that I don't want those things, just that I'm not going back home after my studies waiting for the "good husband" to take me. Sometimes I have trouble seeing the line between the extreme and faith, and it is hard when you are afraid to talk about it because you might be considered as a sinner. And they will hate the sinner, not the sin. I still remembered when I asked question about something that was said, they told me "the jews asked a lot of questions and that's why their people have been punished by god" 💀
@@dayanapierce8467 thank you for sharing what you're going through. You are allowed to choose yourself and still love God. Not many people will agree, but boundaries are important- and you're valid 🩷
We’re all sinners so matter what but Christ paid for them on the cross. The second you believe in him (trust in him alone) you have been saved and will not lose that salvation. It is a free gift it is simple you do NOT need to change your lifestyle / stop sinning to be saved.
Wow… I think you should live life for yourself and not let people’s opinions decide for you how you should live your life. Sometimes you have to set strong boundaries with loved ones and if they love you they will respect them.
I'm an atheist and I wasn't raised in a cult, but I grew up in a typical Eastern European Orthodox family and I know myself how religious people can be vile, mean, aggressive and lying, which all violates their basic religious dogmas. Or how they lose their minds and start believe in esoterics and similar stuff, which also violates their own religion. Or how many times they use Orthodox Christianity to prove their ridiculous or hateful believes (for example, hating LGBT, beating women and children is okay, because "my religion says so"). Many of them haven't even read any page of the Bible, they only listen to their other religious relatives or their local priests, who are definitely not people you would trust to. What also made me dissapointed in Orthodox Christianity is that the patriarch of my country has his own mansion, Rolex watches and different expensive cars, while common believers live in financial instability or in complete poverty! For these reasons, I became an atheist through aging and I'm sad that my country became very crazy about religions and gained many religious cults since the fall of Soviet Union. Of course, I can't throw away my religious upbringing and I will always remember religious events I spent with my family, but I learned that I can be kind and helping to people without the religion and just live my life. "Teach a fool to pray to God, and they will break their forehead".
Same here, eastern/central europe but a catholic upbringing! I'm an atheist cause I never believed in anything, even though i was raised on catholic beliefs. It can be so toxic. Thankfully most of the people in my life who are catholic are also very normal about it, but ive heard some unsavoury things said by the priests during mass 👍🌝 Also, as a person who simply won't believe in anything of the religious sort, its very weird for me to hear people say things (that are definitely just coincidences or purely science based) and thank the "Lord" for his work. I cannot comprehend believing in something all-powerful that seemingly controls everything that happens in every person's life and the only thing that interests me in religion is the architecture that it brought 🫡 Absolutely not against anybody who believes, but I'm against hating other humans for reasons not even stated in the bible/any other religious text and trying to convert people to the cults, cause thats what religion is to me 🫡
Every thing in life has its toxicity. Jesus loves you and although I know it’s hard to see, there are people who love the Lord and people! The things you all named are just sinful. We all fall short, but when men or women continue in that walk, they are hurting the overall commission and God will hold them accountable for that. If they do not turn from their ways and repent. I will pray that God will show himself mighty in both of your lives. Don’t give up on Him, bc of humans that missed the mark! Much love! ❤
@@RhyanNicole .... That's exactly what i was talking about. Youre not letting people live as atheists and only see them as "people who strayed from god's light that need help". Trying to convert people to your religion isnt good either and im sure god would rather see us live happily like this rather than lie to ourselves 👍
@@komitarz I’m not trying to convert you. You stated your opinion and I stated mine. I apologize if you feel like I attacked you. It was not my intention.
Was just wondering where Salem had been. I miss my Sunday night insomnia-into Monday morning depression videos that make things a little more enjoyable. Glad to see you’ve returned!
As a 13, they/it lesbian who is in a pentacostal family, my life is hell, i want to just end this nightmare. My parents somewhat accept me and let me wear makeup and have nails but they force me to go to church and we've fought countless times how it affects me emotionally just the tought of going there and the tought of my other family members finding out i'm gay and abandoning me. I don't have a roblem with Christianity I just don't want beliefs to be pushed down my throat because "I'm too young to know what I want to believe in". Please for the love of all that's holy, if you're a parent reading this, listen to your kids, i know you think you're doing smt good for them but they know what they're feeling more than you think.
My sister is gay, and I hope your parents really love you like my parents love us, because they accepted her and left the church about 2 years later. One of their big reasons for leaving was how gay people were talked about, and they started imagining my sister. One preacher said it was better to be dead than gay, and it was my dad's last church service. I hope everything goes well for you, but remember, if you are unhappy now does not mean you will be unhappy in the future. Just hold on! You have a lot of life in front of you ❤
Oh honey, I just want to say that you are absolutely perfect the way that you are. It will get so much better. There is a whole world of wonderful people out there ready to accept you and love you and be your found family. My daughter is 13 and she’s a lesbian too and I couldn’t be more proud of what a wonderful person she is. I’m proud of you too, please hang in there. Sending you comfy mom hugs. ❤
Thank you for this. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and grew up in the pentecostal church. I have alot if scars. I have had mental health issues from it, even now as a nearly 38 year old woman. The programming runs deep, and im just now getting out from underneath it.
57:46 this moment here gave me so much peace, you have no idea Salem. Thank you for saying that. I personally don't know what i believe in yet or if i believe in anything at all, i just know I don't want to be judged about being my true self and live a peaceful, fulfilling life. I really needed to hear this, thank you, you're an amazing person and im glad your journey has brought you here. 🦆💗
🥺🩷 I really needed to hear this comment today. Thank you for your support, and I hope you know you are absolutely loved and accepted 🙏🏽take it one day at a time
You do not need to change your lifestyle to be saved. Christ paid for all sins on the cross and the second you believe in him (trust in him alone) then you have been saved, God will not judge your sins (send you to hell) because through Christ you are seen as righteous. It is a free gift. You cannot lose salvation either.
This is an incredibly detailed video and I've related so much to it. My Catholic grandmother forced me to become right handed as a child because writing with your left was demonic and taboo. Well, now I'm ambidextrous which is neat, but it still feels sad to think that people let their fears control their actions so much that they even force those fears onto a toddler. I still have some trauma from that.
@@robotunicorn6462 i’m not Catholic, but still Christian, and nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about being left handed being demonic. it’s a shame that so much of religious extremism has been spread from wanting to control others by fear (not saying that’s what your grandmother was doing, i don’t want to assume anything onto your family member). I’m so sorry for that experience and the trauma it caused you 💜
Girl, this video is sending me. As someone who came from a pentecostal church and upbringing. I always questioned religion. Side note, your bare face is flawless!!!!! Love the slick back hair style too. Giving 90s fashion model
Thank you for sharing your story. The last part of the video about understanding people's struggles from different perspectives and learning to be more empathetic was so beautiful. 🦆❤️
I used to be religious, but the more I explored my religion, the more sceptical I became. I do not have empathy for these people because they never had empathy for me and my family. I believe everyone should have the freedom to live life on their own terms, as long as it does not cause harm to others.The issue with religious extremists is that they're trying to make their way of life the law. I don't have empathy for people trying to control my life.
@@WhatFadesAway understandable. I think its great some people , like salem she has a beautiful soul, have empathy for them and its totally logical given their past etc but i think its also totally fine to be angry or just not have empathy for these people because they still have a lot of responsibility, they hurt people, they spread hateful message and we shouldnt give them all the forgiveness they want but we should still hold them accountable for the part they played in reinforcing hurtful rethoric and the hurt they directly caused to people. Honestly i have both, i understand where they might come from and i would be happy if they came to redemption but at the same time i hold them responsible for the hurt they played a part in, they are not innocent little lambs, they are human with nuance so i totally understand your stance on this !
Salem your approach to people trapped in religious coercion is so kind, sane and heartwarming. I know lots of people that have gone through this kind of trauma and that understanding and kindness is what can really get them out of whatever high-control bullcrap they're in. Also your sister is so sweet, loved to see you both sharing a cute moment.
Growing up muslim I’m traumatized by religion. My dad used to tell me GROWING UP AS A FCKING KID i would go to hell for LITERALLY every fvking thing i. Everything i did was “wrong” in his eyes. My sister and i are traumatized and we cant believe anything cause i truly believe the problem is how we were treated. We could not do anything like a normal child. As older i got i realized my dad is the first one going to hell lmao. I learned my religion i wanted to know what I’m believing. Let me tell you no one can convince me that god is real. I’m now well educated and i truly believe at this point you can use brain cells
I also came out of a sunni muslim family. But I beg to differ on the existence of God. I do believe He exists, and it is has nothing to do with being well-educated. Science favors the existence of a Creator. There is something called “the fine-tuning argument” in which the variables that allow for human life on earth are so precise (10^20 kind of precise) that if changed by one decimal, we wouldn’t exist. To assert that all things came literally out of nothing is also unscientific. It goes against the laws of physics. Also, evolutionism goes against the second Law of Thermodynamics. Not only that, God reveals Himself to us when we earnestly seek Him. Out of my despair I started searching for answers, and flirted with many religions and ideologies. But none of them did anything for me. I was anorexic, depressed, addicted to coke, self-harming, promiscuous, and suicidal. But when I called out to Jesus He made me an entirely different person. He delivered me from all of these things instantly. And you know the difference between the real God portrayed in the Bible and Allah? Is that we Christians want to obey God because we love Him as our Father. Because He gave Himself so that we should live, we give ourselves to Him. Jesus is my friend, my counselor, my all in all. Don’t dismiss the idea of God just because you were brought up in a toxic environment. We are not meant to just blindly follow whatever it is that our families believe. We are to diligently investigate the Truth. God bless you.
@@adiblatif I kind of followed you until the Real God part lowkey. Because at the end of it, we can't really argue segregating which religion is correct until death. We don't know about the afterlife. To push down on one religion over another, whilst promoting yourself as a "holistic than thou" isn't good either 😕😕. In fact, Islam benefactors as a whole teaches the newer and older generation constantly to be kind, to pray, to seek knowledge and to Believe in Allah. Islam hasn't changed, it's the people promoting it's religion. Otherwise, I cannot speak on Christianity. But yes, I do believe in seeking knowledge, whether it'd be in seeking God, in spiritual belief or both is up to said individual😌.
this is an extremely powerful video and made me see a lot of things in a new light. i was raised in the church but never fell into it and switched to public school in 2nd grade, so i feel like i fell into a mindset of "why dont u guys just get out like i did" so thank u for this
as a devout muslim with both hindu and cristian friends, wat bothers me so much is the amount of extremism, misinformation, sexism and overall hate some religious tiktokers spread just becuz they want to and they can. yk you are not doing a normal religios person any favours by stigmatizing their beliefs shoving everyone in the same box as you or hating on them. the holier then thou attitude helps no one. absolutely no one. they make life harder for the ppl around and and normal religious ppl in general. extemism is never good. its simply dangerous. Edit to add: wanna clarify that good and bad people exists in every faith and extremist groups of every single religion exists. Mainstream media just likes to demonize a select few. Also as for Muslims in Afghan and Iraq tell the US to not bomb their countries and maybe progress will take place those countries are decades behind cuz they were bomed for decades . Humans exist there humans exist here let's not hold ideologies and prejudice that is harmful for them and for us.
I'm a Muslim too, and I understand what you're talking about. I believe we're talking about the Dawah bros here, who are often seen as the most misogynistic and deceitful individuals. That's why I prefer to conduct my own research and study the Hadiths and the Quran independently. In my experience, 99% of the time, the Dawah bros distort the truth and take things out of context. Furthermore, non Muslim women are discouraged from converting to our beautiful religion because of them, and nothing else. In conclusion, I believe that people should be qualified before purchasing microphones.
@@khadijahbegum3546 Muslim here too. I hate any kind of extremism. The dawa bros are sometimes just so ignorant and agressive, I cannot take the seriously. Faith is a personal thing. I find it distasteful to broadcast it on the internet for profit.
It's not just that though it's entire countries- I wouldn't want to join your religion (or any other tbh but especially Islam) because of how easy it is for the extremes to gain control- like Afghanistan and Iran- no offense
@@tash936 i understand what you mean, but that statement is offensive. Its so true that the wrong people keep coming to power unfortunately and that isnt only religious countries but even secular countries that don’t allow people to follow their religions
@@caitlynkraytay yeah you're right- evil people are gonna be evil regardless if they're religious or not- but I find that evil people tend to hide behind religion and it makes it easier to gain control twisting it to their benefit- but I suppose if it wasn't religion it would be something else- it doesn't matter to me right now though because it's the religious people that are taking away my rights (project 2025) so my sentiment stands- I don't want my country to turn into an Christian Afghanistan or Iran- so until my rights are safe and secure Imma feel this way
I absolutely LOOOOOVE this video! I have really been battling with this especially over the last few years and you hit everything right on the head without being disrespectful to anyone’s beliefs one way or the other and explained in a very empathetic way that these people who are pushing out these types of videos are truly just mislead by over zealous rhetoric. Thank you for making this video!
Thank you for sharing all of this with us. It takes a lot of courage to question all you've ever known.... But even more to leave and share with the world what you experienced. So thankful for you. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
My niece has become part of a Christian evangelical church. She is 16; so far this year she missed mothers, Father’s Day, her birthday and was volunteering all summer at their summer camp. She is no longer pro choice and is into purity culture which is damaging on its own. She no longer believes in gay rights, hates trans people and immigrants. Seeing her change so much over the last year has broken my heart. I just miss her. It’s difficult to see how much her heart has hardened.
🦆 I’m not sure how I’ve never came across your platform before but I loved your vulnerability, humor, and compassion while speaking about such a sensitive topic. Thank you (and your sister!) for sharing your story. I’m a former LDS member and hearing your thoughts on the indoctrination religious members face really resonated with me. “Don’t get furious, get curious” is also my new favorite line! Looking forward to your future work 🫶🏼
I loved this video and the way you girls explained things so so much. As a lifelong Christian but also public school student, I didn’t deeply analyze and question my religion until I went to a WELS college. It was actually a couple awesome professors I had that taught me a lot about theology and apologetics, and thus began my deconstruction journey. In the same institution, I was exposed and informed of the culty side of my denomination that I didn’t even know existed. Fascinating stuff. It’s so healthy and important to question things, which is something a LOT of these big Christian influencers seemingly fail to get.
this may sound kind of weird but i feel like if we had more integrity in our Christian churches (“our” because im Christian too) and more people actually taught what’s actually in the Bible and not just what makes them look good, then deconstructing wouldn’t be necessary for a lot of people. this isn’t me looking down on people that deconstruct because unfortunately it’s necessary with the way that some of our churches teach, but ig im trying to say that many churches need to start teaching with integrity and actual theology and not just what they want to hear or what makes their politics look good
I remember being in church as a small kid and finding it so strange that the adults around me weren't practicing what they preached. As i got older i started seeing it even more.. i think the biggest eye opening thing was when my favorite pastor who was the second in my life and i was just beginning to feel comfortable and happy at a church again.. He was victim of untrue rumors.. the people of the church ( they had roles in it weren't just members or attendees) made up a sick rumor that he was cheating on his wife with a far younger woman who just so happened to get a higher role in the church. They didnt like that he was making sure she was getting in her new role smoothly so obviously he was doing something scandalous 🙄 This man was so sweet and wholesome.. and the lies destroyed him. He took his own life in the parking lot sitting in his truck. I haven't been to another church as anything other than a guest since.. I no longer consider myself religious or Christian either. I'm just a human trying my best to live the happiest existence i can. My Aunt and Uncle I fear might be in some kind of cult.. or atleast the very least they're the manipulative type of Christians.. My aunt recently lost her mind at me all because i dont go to church at all.. shes known this 😂 its nothing new .. she was just out to get control over me and it didnt work cause i know her tricks 🙄 She guilt trips, gas lights, shames, and love bombs.. =_=; and she really hates that i dont respond to her anymore 🙃
Yeah I had an experience as a kid where some teen girls had brought a few abandoned kittens in the bathroom to wash them off quickly. The bathroom was practically empty cause everyone was in service. They got kicked out of the church after a few minutes. That surprised me.
Those disgusting people did a very unbiblical thing to that man. The church needs to get better (not just calling people out) but calling them out correctly and making sure they (the ones calling out) are being honest and LOVING. That’s so awful. I’m so sorry.
Thank you for sharing your story Salem, its not always easy to do! I love your message, and I think it can be applied in so many ways (not just religion). This whole video was beautiful, great job!
that for sure wasn't a pastor...pastors don't do that sumofthem just claim the title but as you experienced you certainly saw he wasn't a pastors at all...lol
This video is such a comfort video because I literally went to the through something similar actually and I stopped going when I was 15 years old now I’m 20. I’m not religious at all. I always get shamed for it and always get told that I have to go or else, it’s a constant thing
I’m a Christian. I have been my whole life, and it’s definitely can be a cult. Different denominations and different churches put so much emphasis on every single aspect when what I’ve learned about Jesus, his story, and what he wants is for everyone to treat each other equally and with respect. People who put other people down in the name of Jesus is just using it as an excuse, because the first thing Jesus taught is to love thy neighbor and you love thyself.
Jesus said to love thy neighbor as you I have loved you John 13:34 he does not say thyself. We are to love and respect everyone but not be tolerant and supportive of sin 1 Corinthians 13:4
People who put down people in the name of Jesus are misleading and that is wrong because that is not what Jesus would do he showed mercy and love while also preaching the word of God and Gods truth.
@@Madiiiiiiiii316 here’s the thing. We’re all gonna sin, none of us are perfect and we shouldn’t try to be perfect. There are people who use religion to justify and support their negativity is wrong.
I grew up going to an evangelical christian school... This hits so hard! I finally got to go to a public high school in 11th grade.... When I finally got to meet people with different beliefs, lifestyles, etc i finally started questioning why i believed everything i had been taught. Looking back, i can have empathy for myself and others who believe they are doing the right thing, but it hurts to see how often shame and hate are used as justification to hurt people who dare disagree. Thank you so much for making this, Salem! You are such a beautiful soul
Hello my neighbors! I really hope you enjoyed the video. This one was incredibly hard to make- editing, filming, revisiting the time in my past I escaped. But it was somehow so much fun, thank you so much for hearing my story and supporting me 💕💕💕
Salem, you might want yo check up what the scentbird ceo is up to, because this sponsor is kinda ironic.
@@_salemtovar_ 🦆
the ceo of scentbird is actually super religious and kinda culty LOL so this is super ironic
@_salemtovar_ 🦆🦆🦆
@@valryeredMaybe coming from her background,it was harder for her to identify that? I'm not trying to shame our dear lady!! But I actually thought this sponsor was a "bit" at first! Maybe she couldn't turn down the financial help from a sponsor? Who knows,but I was a bit disappointed...I really enjoy her content.
"I'm not gonna cry for free." MOOD
@@kackie gotta monetize the tears somehow 😂😭
@@_salemtovar_I respect that
I’m Christian but it’s obvious that people make these “God wants you to see this” type of videos to guilt people into views and no one should be guilt into viewing these things, especially to very naive people they make these videos to make people feel like “bad Christian” if they skip or just bad people in general and that’s a major problem
God said we can't be mentioning his name without a reason, and so there doing..
They're lying using god's name.
Did no one read the Bible verse abt how god started flipping tables at the temple bc he didn’t want people to use his likeness for profit?
@@trixIsHere1 EXACTLY! Like there was literally this mega church pastor that was asked about the verse that Jesus said "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle for a rich man to get into heaven" and the mega church pastor replied "all things are possible with God" LIKE WHAT 🤨
Im not religious due to my own trauma from religous family and churchs but I try to respect people, but its when people try to use fear mongering or shaming to elevate themselves is when i have an issue. I respect those like you who seem to understand religion is ones choice and you can support them but never shame them for a differnt religion, or not believing in anything.
@@9ekoblick They’re the TikTok version of a chain letter. Where chain letters flat out say “If you ignore this and don’t send a letter on, you’ll suffer bad luck forever!”, the religious TikToks just imply you’ll go to hell if you skip it.
Her husband giving her an apron instead of the ticket to Greece she asked (and that he can give her) is a clear message : why would you want to travel ? Stay home woman, and serve me
AND HE DIDNT EVEN WRAP IT.
I thought it was literally an egg apron she already owned? I haven't seen the original video tho
The same type of dude that's yelling "your body my choice"
@@emmahancock8911 From the context, I think you're right. She said "*my* egg apron" and recognized it immediately. That implies that it's something she already owned, he just threw it in a box and gave it to her.
Like his daddy LITERALLY owns jet blue they could go for free
One thing my mom taught me was "Be nice to missionaries". Because a lot of the time, these "missionaries" are sent out because their church knows that some people will be rude and mean to them for being missionaries, and that will make the missionaries believe more the doctrine of "everyone outside our church is evil and sinful". So, on the random days where a Mormon or a Seventh Day Adventist would come to our door, my mom would say "Well we already belong to a church that we're happy with, but would you like a glass of water?"
Being kind and understanding to people who are in oppressive religions shows them that the "outside world" isn't horrible and terrible. And that can help them realize they don't need to be in those groups.
This is very true, and your mom sounds like a wonderful person.
This is amazing ! I did this once and the guy still was yelling at me even though I was nice and understanding . it’s completely brainwashing . I agree
Mormonism/ Latter Day Saints and Seventh day Adventists are quite different. Very different. But it’s good that your mom taught you to be kind to others. It’s honestly the bare minimum in this world. Differences do not need to set us apart.
This happened with my older sister, she was a teen at the time. There was a man from a Mormon church, advertising his church, he was old and frail, and it was hot out. She let him into our house, gave a glass of water and I think tylonel, and she just sat and listen what he said. She was like thank you, but my family and I are catholic, and he was very grateful just getting a glass of water. I was playing with my legos I was like five at the time.
Flash a few weeks later, we got a knock again, this time it was two girls from the same Mormon church. And these girls happened to be his granddaughters, they wanted to thank my sister bc he was old and he actually passed away not too long after.
Kindness and understanding works in mysterious ways. And the girls were appreciative what my sister did for their grandfather.
@@Kay-gr8xm think those were just examples of relgions who go door to door often.. not comparing them
"She was young, she was talented, she had everything that it took to be larger than life. And then a man came around to ruin it, as always." MOOD
What ??
@LoonToon24 wondering the same thing.... 🧐
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Many individuals I know who have shifted their focus towards Christianity (or any other similar religions) seem to have experience a decline in their personal expression. Take my former classmate, for instance, she was once vibrant and enthusiastic about fashion and makeup, but now she has abandoned those interests and lets her self go. Those who had embraced non-traditional spiritual paths or moved away from organized religion appeared to be thriving. A notable example is the transformation seen in many from my community, who have both improved physically and mentally, they’ve begun to embrace their individuality, dressing well and confidently navigating life.
@@Tarlyne did you watch the video? she says that.
honestly, its kind of beautiful how your family stuck together through the entire journey of leaving the church, and that you still believe in god, like. a lot of times families get broken apart by stuff like this, but y'all stayed together ;n;
For people talking about Scentbird…not everyone knows about the founder. It wasn’t until I researched into the company that I found out about it. Likely, Salem trusted this company as they quite literally sponsor almost every other popular UA-camr. Let’s not take away from the impact of the video and quite literally her own personal trauma, as she likely didn’t know.
Thank you for this. I've been gone for so long, and I'm truly never online unless I make videos- I feel SO blind sided by my team and sponsor. I truly didn't know anything about this at all. Neither did the people on my team or other fellow UA-camrs who've been sponsored by them. I feel so taken advantage of all over again. This video was supposed to be about my trauma and me being very open and vulnerable about my journey- yet everyone can only focus on this mishap where I was taken advantage of. I hope everyone can look past this, and focus on my story. This is not how I wanted to return onto UA-cam, I cried making this video. And now I'm in tears once again. I hope people can spare me patience, grace and mercy. I am so proud of myself and this video that took me so much courage to make. I hope my main message will get through. All love 💕
@@_salemtovar_absolutely deserving of grace and patience. It can be hard to keep up on that stuff, especially when you have a team that is helping with sponsors
@@_salemtovar_love your content and I just commented about it as well but it looks like someone already told you. Definitely want you to get your bag, but sadly scentbird has to be the way they are. I’ve used them in the past myself before I knew as well. 🫂
@@_salemtovar_I don’t know about scentbird but there are a lot of sketchy sponsors out there that sponsor a lot of UA-camrs. Very big and popular UA-camrs too. If people are harsh on you for this they should judge all the others taking these sponsorships. It seems like this is a bigger issue in the whole UA-cam community. I won’t judge you because then I would have to judge so many more people that like you probably have no idea what’s going on either😅 I find your video very interesting so far and I’m glad you are back! Don’t let this stop you:)
Religion and cults are also something I find interesting specifically so yay (not yay that cults exist but yeah you know what I mean😆)
I actually started tearing up when Penny said that your dad would pray to God to please forgive him for whatever he may have done wrong to make his family poor, omg 😭
@@FloatingSpark this video was so hard to film for everyone involved... definitely brought back a lot of painful memories ....thank you for your kind words and for watching! 🙏🩷
I agree. It seems he was truly a man after God but got mislead by people wanting to use and manipulate. 😢
That and the skirt story broke my heart😢
That broke my heart...
My mom stopped going to church for over a decade and felt she lost her connection with God because she was kicked out of the church for divorcing my dad. He cheated on her all the time.
The way I gasped when you showed up bare faced..girl ur GORGOUSSSS like fr glowing
@@dropinarte I know she is sooo beautiful fr
seriously. her skin is amazing
Fr
My issue with religion as an accountant and an atheist is that they don’t pay taxes and have the loudest voices in law making.
THIS and I'm not an accountant. 🤣 Seriously, if churches were made to pay taxes, we could have a decent health care system, or decent public transport.
THISSSS
@@carlycchapman Wth this is such a bad take. The healthcare system is beyond well funded, anyone working in it knows. If anything we should be defunding most of these programs.
@@Mandelasmind No, it is not. Coming from a small southern town, there are so many areas near where I live that had subpar healthcare and rundown health facilities.
@@Mandelasmind Where do you live that the healthcare system is like that?
My issue is the guilt, the classism, racism, lies, money laundering and the forcing others to think about Christianity with the "DO YOU WANNA GO TO HELL??!??!?" brother ew
brother yuck
Yeah and as far as i know hell and heaven only exist in people's minds so...
@@lug358 well hell isn't in the bible anywhere
@@WhichDoctor1it actually is it’s called Sheol :)
Brutha eugh
as a christian, i was so scared to click on this video. i've been a fan of your channel for a while and didn't want to hear you being rude about christianity (ofc there is alot of problems in the church, but the people who go to church should not be attacked or anything), however it was was easily one of the best videos i have watched in a very long time. i have found in my journey that my convictions are not always what the church tell me they should be and are deffinatly not the same as everyone else's, and i completely agreed with everything you said in this video. i'm so glad you and your family found peace from your past church, and thank you for sharing such an empathetic, honest and true message.
@@beeslittlemoments yeah me too I was super scared but hearing their experience it was a cult.
@@rosettekalombo3072 yeah deffinatly so many things were completely off about it and deffinatly cult like...
@@beeslittlemoments mostly religions are cult sweetheart
The worst part is them MAKING MONEY ONLINE whilst telling other women “yOU DOnT nEeD tO mAkE moNEy” 😒
I'm glad there have been several women in their 40's and 50's telling their stories about how they didn't protect themselves financially and ended up ruined by divorces and no financial or job skills. Hopefully their voices are being heard and women who want to stay home take their advice.
@@cvelasquez8041 There was a woman who shared her story about how she was struggling financially & on the verge of homelessness because she divorced her abusive millionaire husband and he and his rich buddies did EVERYTHING to make her life hell after that. Like she didn’t want any of his money or assets, she just wanted out of the marriage even though she dedicated like half of her life to serving him. The husband could’ve left her alone and moved on but somehow he wanted to torment her after divorce and started spreading lies, finding out where she applied for jobs or sabotaging her career if she did get a job etc.
She said that just like the Ballerina Farms woman, he never spent his insane wealth on anything she wanted, always kept her busy with labor at home (even though they could easily afford help) and she was warning women that marrying rich or being a SAHM is not at all the dream life these influencers have been trying to sell. She was constantly telling the viewers that the Ballerina Farms woman will be in serious danger if she is ever even able to divorce that man. I wish I could find those videos again and donate to a GoFundMe or something for her. It was so ominous and heartbreaking…
Right? They have privilege and try to take it off other women that are religious. Making them feel like theuly are "bad eomen" for earning money.
Right? Submit to your husbands and don't make your own money- unlike me. 🙄
Going to hell for “being poor”, that’s something Nicki Minaj would say
@@BlondieBisquit93 LMAOOO I'm not gonna say nothing cause the barbz gonna get me😭😂 BUT- that's too accurate
@@_salemtovar_ it is innit
She would never say that
@@DreamNationZz it’s the same energy as “broke ppl should NEVER laugh”
@@BlondieBisquit93yes XDDD
So many insights here but “I’m not gonna cry for free” was an unmatched bar
"i was in a cult" was the perfect way to describe leaving religious extremism
@@toyafan thats how jinger duggar put it
Yessssss!!
@@nomanejane5766 i honestly forgot about the duggars. i had no idea she left lmao
one thousand likes on ur comment !!
ena shinonome pfp in the wild
I remember watching a video and what this women said stuck with me. “If he makes all of the money, your security/future is contingent on him always loving/wanting you”
Relying on someone for security in life is not safe, it’s not romantic, it’s reckless.
That’s why you have to be very diligent about who you choose to live that life with.
@@xelazigadenus no, that's why you have to be able to support yourself, especially as a woman
@@bubble_gum_witchperiod 💯
@@bubble_gum_witch Well 1. not every woman is in a privileged enough position to have been set up with the ability to support herself. Just cause you were able to get education and equal opportunities in a free country don’t mean that’s the norm around the world. And 2. Not every woman wants to be self reliant and support herself. Some women were raised with traditional values and want to lead that life.
@@cassadilla.s4052 So then accept the risk you are willingly putting yourself in. It does not erase the existance of the damn risk. It's is inherently risky to rely on a man for money. No amount of "i HaVe TrAdItIoNaL vAlUeS" is going to change that. PLUS, you dont need education to have a job. Even just having minimum wage job and gaining experience is fcking crucial in case you ever need to fend for yourself. It is valuable.
Um.This video 🦆ing rocked. It was so refreshing seeing two Mexican women just vibing and reminiscing, showing each other love and familial support, and speaking about such intense shared experiences. I don't have enough Latina creators to follow and relate to, so I really loved seeing this one
As a person who converted back to Christianity after being an atheist, it’s crazy how some churches are not biblical at all. A lot of people lost the plot of the whole faith and misrepresenting it
Totally agree. As someone who has found the faith in my teen years, I feel that these non-biblical churches can be extremely damaging to the authenticity of a church as how god meant it to be. I think it also can deter so many people from the faith completely due to the misrepresented ideas of the word.
Exactly! It's very crazy and it's wrong, some preachers like Voddie Baucham promote things that contradicts what Jesus said. Absolutely ridiculous!
Exactly!
@@somethingidk3729 Please answer, what made you covert back to Christianity? I too, used to be an extreme Christian. As I started to open my mind, I realized the many things wrong with religious extremism. So, i turned atheist. But i was angry at not only toxic Christians but at myself for believing such things so I used to then start to hate on Christians and other religion. I dont do that anymore. I dont want to do that anymore, because i want to heal. But, i kinda feel an urge now to go back to Christianity, but without the toxicity
@@Cyrel.9101ikrrrrrr, that’s y people need to discern
Seeing you so comfortable with your sister, speaking spanglish and talking about your childhood gave me a sense of comfort I can't explain. Literally my hispanic ass feels so happy rn 😭💖
🦆This video hit me very deep because I had a very similar upbringing, I missed your videos a lot and I really love that this was the one you decided to come back with ❤🦆
Same 😭
I'm black and don't speak a lick of spanish but was feeling every word. lol
@@beatricelebrun I wanted to comment this exact thing, being Latina, Christian in California I completely relate and I see this video as so many people around me. The way they talked together made me feel like I was yapping with an hermana from church 😭 🤍
I remember following Penny back when she started nursing school. I haven't seen all three sisters until now. I also didn't know Penny had a baby! So much has changed. I loved this video. Thank you for sharing vulnerable moments.
Hey Salem. I know that social media has made us all feel unattractive, however, i think your natural bare face is beautiful. You as a person are beautiful, and i think it just shines through you even when you aren't feeling beautiful and wearing makeup. Also, I grew up with a Southern Baptist pastor as a father, and the religious trauma is so real. You aren't alone, girl❤️
Hard agree! I don't think attractiveness is really all that important and Salem seems awesome in the ways that truly matter but also...she's just stunningly gorgeous without makeup as well.
@@rosebud7645 omg I'm in tears reading your comment, thank you so much for your kind words 😭🩷 you guys always know how to lift me up, and I hope I can do the same for you 🩷 so glad you survived and you're healing 🙏🏽
@@_salemtovar_ you're very pretty with and without makeup (:
i'm not religious at all but i deeply appreciate you and your sister sharing your experiences, thanks so much for sharing
@@rosebud7645 to me, the BIG money in these mega churches is the most sickening. The Pentecostal church I used to go to would make us feel guilty for not committing to a tithing when we were literally living in poverty.
@@_salemtovar_ of course, girl. I think one of the biggest things we can do for others in this world is validate their experiences, and I think many of us have found that through your channel. I'm so happy you felt that this community you've created was safe to share your trauma.
You can be religious and a working woman. It makes me sad we are going back in time with all the hard work we’ve done for woman’s rights 😢
@@daisy6323 fr my moms a Christian woman and she works (I’m also Christian)
You could also be a Christian woman and stay home both are fine a few women staying home is not gonna reverse anything with the strong hold of feminism nothing to be worried about.
@@Madiiiiiiiii316no way I didn’t know that. Obviously that’s not the point.
Idk if we’re going back in time or if these voices are louder bc they have a platform. A lot of these cults include a requirement to recruit and social media is a great way to do that so they are just in our faces making that content. Lmao
Idk if we’re going back in time or if these voices are louder bc they have a platform. A lot of these cults include a requirement to recruit and social media is a great way to do that so they are just in our faces making that content. Lmao
the thought of pulling up to heaven and just being handed a seafood boil is so hilarious im in tears
As a person who lives in a Christian neighborhood, these people on tiktok are so annoying. Real christians will not shove their religion on your face. I know so many lovely christians, also, glad u got out ♡
Facts!
I work near a cluster of churches and everyone coming out of there is always really rude
They’re not shoving religion down anyone’s face lol. You’re allowed to swipe past all these post. The Bible states to spread the gospel. Not hide it, keep it to ourselves
Everyone is different not all christians are the same obv. Some need christ in their life because they have gone through trauma. Others may try to recruit and spread the good news. Thats why each person in the bible had different paths and different journeys on doing good things for the greater good of God! God is not a punishing God, he literally wants you to get out of depression, anxiety, and fear! He wants you to feel good for YOU. I hate that people make christianity into a thing where its about order and punishment, like nooo 😂 its much more than that. ❤
Question for you, does the bible not mention spreading the gospel? Also, did it not mention the persecution of christians because of that? Its in our spirit to spread the good news to people.
While I’m on my faith journey (grew up Pentecostal) I never questioned whether or not God was real but for me I always had an issue with how people seemed to USE God to manipulate/or fear monger,guilt or pressure people to do or be something. Unpacking the idea that suffering and sacrifice and ideas of my self esteem being tied to one’s devotion to God. I was glad that I met lots of level headed people and practical Christians that were and are still extremely kind people. But it’s a lot I’m unpacking…
For me as a Christian my self esteem is tied to my identity in Christ and being a child of God that when no one loves he still loves me and would die for me as he already did (Jesus) things are different for everyone. so I pray you find a stable place for your self confidence/esteem to exist 😊
I feel you man. For people, religion is not about believing in God but simply a means to control and have power over someone like a god. That’s why it’s always wise to stay educated about it.
Yeah youre right but i do feel like feeling guilty is good. If they are preaching to you and you start feeling guilty because you may be doing something bad, the message is speaking to you and thats where you start to improve. Not for people, but for God. Because God loves you
Christianity has become a fear mongering religion.
@@GLY_pankeekiI think the difference is if you do something and immediately feel bad about it, or if you feel bad about it after thinking it over, then it’s probably something bad that you shouldn’t have done. But if you don’t feel bad about it until someone else tells you that you’re supposed to feel bad, it’s probably something that’s perfectly fine but they’re trying to manipulate you.
21:00 I just want to say thank you for sharing this with us. Your story and religion are both very personal things, it takes strength to make that public and you have done it with appropriate seriousness without losing your humor. I hope everyone who will or has seen this takes this opportunity you’ve given us to learn from you and your sister’s experiences.
I was accidentally pulled into a pentacostal cult but I already had an alert mind about these extremists. Long story short, I convinced my mother to get out of the church when we were shamed for giving 20pesos(just a couple of cents on dollars) during the tithes and offering.
I remember the pastor saying "God loves us equally, and by giving him our riches on earth, he shall reward us more in heaven. So if you see your worth in heaven the same as this 20 pesos, then so be it. But god will always bless you more the more you sacrifice in his sake.
He says this while looking at my mother, that time really radicalized me. We were so poor, but mother always found ways to gather money just to pay for the fare to get to that church.
theres literally a verse about a couple coins a poor widow gives is worth more than a rich mans surplus wtf. a real "more equal than others" sitch, gross
@@youbetterstanloona6717 that seems like he’s kinda calling himself God bc God is not the one receiving the money the PASTOR IS 😅 this whole thing is so wrong in so many ways 😭
I was going to watch a sermon and the pastor had a 2000 dollar Gucci sweater on like NOPE if U are humble and Love God u don’t need that expensive sweater
@@jenniferibarra7737 yknow if someone wanted to spring for some really swank merino wool sweater, i can kinda respect that (still cant be 2k tho, jesus christ). something really quality that'll last and work well. but gucci? really??? brands for brand alone are so dumb. especially so in church, that pastor is trying so hard to argue that a camel can fit through a needle
In my cult they would shame us by making lists with our names and how much we’ve given that month and place it where everyone could see
"THE QUEEN IS BACK" we all yell in unison
@@rinku_yay hi queeen!!!
THE QUEEN IS BACKKKK
THÉ QUEEN IS BACK
OMG A MOAA
@@ahyani1228 HELLO FELLOW MOA
Yalls church stories are so funny yet so heartbreakingly relatable😭😭, when you mentioned Disney being "del diablo", I had to pause cause I was so shook someone else had experienced that omg. I thankfully left my own cult (still an on going church in Mexico) when I was 10 yrs old, pero, ppl really don't understand how intense it all is unless you've (unfortunately) experienced it. Thank you for sharing your story and for talking about such a nuanced topic ❤️🩹
I know a couple girls who gave up their dreams of being ballet dancers (they were in the top of their class) at 18 and went off and got married basically because of their religious backgrounds. Not forced but definitely influenced
I was pressured to withdraw from ballet class by my bible teacher when I was still in primary school.
"Glory is for God, not sportspeople and dancers. God created music for the purpose of worshiping him." (Followed by weeks of guilt tripping and misquoted scriptures about idol worship and how man cannot lead other man).
@@alrighttumbleweed4782 did you end up withdrawing or did you keep going despite all that pressure?
Its genuinely so awful. Ballet is my entire life. I grew up in a religious town, but thankfully it never got to this amount of extremism. It may just be that I’m aroace, but I could never imagine having to give up what is basically my entire life. I feel for those poor girls.
So.... You know how they felt? You know not all women are easily influenced and maybe Hanna wanted the life she has, rich on a farm, wining beauty pageants married to a millionaire... Just saying.
@@alrighttumbleweed4782damn I went to a convent and did ballet there from primary to sixth form
Didnt even wrap the egg apron in a nice box with a bow and card and tickets to Greece tucked inside 😢 just literally gave her an unwrapped shipping box
Apparently, he didn't even order it. She did but the package got lost or something, he got a hold of it and offerred it as her birthday present. Its jaw-dropping what an awful husband he is.
@@modkip25 R U KIDDING ME!!! This poor excuse of a husband 📉📉📉
wait where in the video did she mention this I put this video on as background noise
@@lvnkhn 16:28 The minute before this is worth watching, but the actual thing is here. She had been asking him for tickets to Greece for FOREVER, and instead she got an egg apron that (I believe) he simply recovered from the postal service… Reminder that HIS FATHER OWNS AN AIRLINE, so tickets would have literally been free and inconsequential even if he wasn't a multi-millionaire
@@modkip25 We have acquaintances where the father is a millionaire and he gave his daughter and her husband, for a christmas present... a garlic press (you know the thing that you squeeze your hand with). As a "joint present".
I'm not a materialist but FFS. Better to give nothing at all but love, than something so pathetic that proves how little you care.
I loved this video thank you guys!
But as a queer person I will say that when someone with extreme beliefs starts threatening my safety (like a coworker who said I deserved to have my rights taken away or another one who cornered me and said I was going to hell) that’s when I lose my empathy and start looking out for myself.
I totally agree that being hateful towards these people is not the answer but I also believe that is only for when you are in a place to be kind and understanding.
some people are just hateful as a person and use religion as an excuse to be mean, so i agree with you. and some people are just misguided and don’t actually hold hate in their heart for anybody
I've always been taught that being a true Christian means that we don't judge anyone and we should love everyone and how we treat others is what truly what matters. It breaks my heart that anyone is criticized for who they love. I'm so very sorry that you were ever treated this way. Much love to you.
Girl..girl.. everything about this I enjoyed. The length of the video, you and your sisters dynamic, your family story, but most of all, you were transparent about your experience and your beliefs. My favorite kind of UA-camrs are those who are transparent and continue to share their unperfect journey growing closer to God. Perfect is for Jesus only. I was raised Pentecostal, rebelled, and later turned non-denominational christian. God is good! 🙏🌻
@@PepperSaltCurlz aweee! Love this. Thank you so much for watching and supporting me and allowing me to be open and vulnerable 🩷 although my story is one that's confusing and complex, God still remains good in my life 🙏
I'm a christian, and I really don't like when 'christians' use god for views,
I came to christianity after having a very personal conviction with christ, The church almost shoved god out of my life completely with how pushy people can be there, I was shamed for not having read the entire bible at the age of 8.. I WAS 8 and had dyslexia, (I mainly read a comic book bible,)
I still almost fall for the guilt tripping videos but thankfully I'm more secure in my relationship with christ now ;-;
that's heartwarming to hear that you've secure your relationship with Christ
Bless you my sibling in Christ, very happy to hear your closeness to god ❤
I’m agnostic but I relate to you on that guilt tripping stuff 😭 my stepmom is an evangelical christian and really scared some crazy things into my brain that I still sometimes feel guilty of even thought I’m not even christian 😭
@@fugitive_ I'm so sorry that happened to you, I personally have stayed away from churches until my mum finds a good one, So many people use guilt tripping and manipulation to get you to 'believe' in god when no one can (or should) force you to believe anything
God bless you!
Wow I had no idea Penny was your sister! I grew up watching her curly hair care videos, and now in my 20s I watch your videos. It’s a small world.
“I need… a Pepsi” 😂 girl just had a deliverance and the first thing she thought of was a Pepsi 😂😂😂😂
@@_lavvy_sage that took me out 😭
@@lonely_starship same, I was cleaning while watching but had to stop to catch my breath.
She may have been diabetic with a low blood sugar and needed a Pepsi. The symptoms of low blood sugar can include dizziness and excessive sweating, lethargy, etc and you see all those things happen in these "deliverances." Lol
😂😂😂 burst out laughing because it’s absolutely not what I was expecting 😂😂
I cackled 😂😂😂😂
As someone who grew up in a wild and religious family… I sensed this long ago in the early years. And I feel so validated now thank you.
💕 i see you! and you are loved
@@_salemtovar_ you’re the best ❤️
I grew up Pentacostal!!!! I’m so glad someone’s finally speaking up about this denomination.
THE FACT THAT I WAS SUBBED TO PENNY FOR YEARS AND I HAD NO IDEA THAT YOU GUYS WERE SIBLINGS HALLLLPPP
@@winkwonk32 SAMMEEEEEEEE
Must be a crazy day for yall
@@winkwonk32 same i’m gagged
Saammeee 😍
LITERALLY WAS SO SURPRISED??
This was so so beautifully said. As a Christian myself, I too find myself being so cringed at the “western Christianity” influences or charismatic types. Like you said, not everything is demonic or spiritually twisted! I like my nails done, makeup done, smelling good, hair done, looking cute and not letting those things define me because I know Jesus and I love him cause he loved me first!
But like you said, it’s important to also be reminded that those people also need grace too, they just like I have been before, are under the impression that it’s their works, not Jesus work on the cross. ❤
Thank you for making this video girl!
Your works do play a part in where God will put you tho ,you can't claim to love Jesus, but at the same disobey his word and commandments and be of the world . Our actions do matter very much .
This reminds me of some of the famous fitness influencer who claims to be a born again Christian but never refunded the woman she scammed their money back for the fitness plans or held accountable I pray for her but she still always never holds herself accountable
I also used to wear makeup, do my nails, etc. But, the Lord began convicting me of vanity, and of hiding who He made me behind hair dye and cosmetics. When we change our appearance like that, we are denying who we are in Christ, and creating a whole new identity. I hope you begin to pray about these things.
@@justimani4 where is the commandment that says “no nails or hair done or makeup?” I’m almost certain the word says to not value these things more than wisdom and a quiet and humble spirit though, that I will give to you. But If looking presentable, not in worldly and lustful way, is considered anti Jesus then I need to see that in scripture in the New Testament.
Again, works are only produced by faith, not out of being guilty and feeling condemned. Sure, we need to make sure our hearts in the right spot with these things and if they are, then what’s the problem with them?
I get your point but we don’t need to act like we can’t look presentable or feel good about ourselves to prove our love for Jesus. We prove our love for Jesus by accepting and acknowledging his work on the cross and letting the Holy Spirit sanctify us as we renew our minds daily in his word. This is why I said not everything is spiritual or needs to have some demonic spirit attached to it. This whole world is in ruins if we’re being honest and telling people that you can’t look nice doesn’t save souls from eternal damnation, the love of Jesus does and brings us to a Godly sorrow and repentance. Just my thoughts.
@@andreahoover7153 no one said YOU CANT look nice dude I don’t know where you got that from my comment . Wear your lashes nails and whatever you love so much if feel that’s all that makes you look good lol. If you feel compelled to keep your things then do so 🤷🏻♀️
You are however very wrong on the not all things are spiritual?? This world is run by lucifer himself and he is in EVERYTHING because this is his domain . Literally everything we do and engage in is run by Lucifer whether you like it or not .
Thats very foolish way of thinking but we can’t be surprised cos most Christians dont focus on achieving peak spirituality and opening their eyes to more than just the physical to see the deception and evil that is everywhere and in everything including food even 🤣🤣
There’s tonnes of devil workers who got saved who also talk about how ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING is spiritual you should really look into spirituality with Jesus more . Most of y’all talk to God not with God and then spread serious misinformation because you can’t see what’s truly going on.
Thank you for making the video; i know it had to be difficult in places.
My parent is a evangelical cult leader; definitely is narcissistic and more than definitely struggles with spiritual phycosis on the regular.
The scary thing that i dont see discussed enough is that:
in the right situations one person's delusions can spread to a group.
While in a state of phycosis a person is not able to fully acess their reasoning and logic. it also can heavily affect memory.
Most people within a cult are victims who may not have the information tools or ability to escape without a gentle patient helping hand.
That is why it is super important to be at the minimum respectful to the people that come to your door. You never know if you could be the wake up call that leads to getting them out.
Being kind could save a life.
Im sorry the minion on the cross got me 😂
Fr the blasphemy is crazy but a minion are you fr right now 💀
I'm at the Ballerina Farm portion and my heart lowkey broke for her when I saw her dancing and she got an egg apron. I don't know that lady, but I truly hope she's okay
@@NishiNish5678 She won't be ok until she escapes that man and his extreme control 😢
@lydiaj7492 Look, I want her to get tickets to Greece too. I want to see her be a Ballerina but I do think it is unfair for you to imply her husband is abusive and he never gives her the things that she wants and is miserable with her life based off of one youtube short. You, and everyone else who has a mouthful to say, are not in their lives. All we are going off of is a biased article and a UA-cam short. All I'm saying is at least keep an open mind about it
As a ballet dancer I want to add, your career as a dancer is time wise very limited. Most dancers retire at 35 years old and change careers, if they don’t go into teaching. It is not a life long career like most jobs.
She decided to choose a more sustainable route. That doesn’t mean she is unhappy. Everyone has dreams, I also thought dance would be play always a big role in my life but it hasn’t in the end, because I chose to study instead.
I think it is unfair that everyone deems her a victim and her husband a villain. She chose that life for her and the makes the best out of it for her.
@@thepineapple8434 I agree completely. I've also heard that pregnancy and giving birth can really alter or even stop a ballerina's career. I can't imagine she wanted to wait until 36 or older to have kids, so I'm sure she would have gone down a different path early on in her adulthood and still wouldn't be a ballerina even if she didn't marry Jet Blue junior.
Idk, I didn't see her dance in the video because I wasn't watching, but when I heard she was asking for a Greece trip and she got an egg apron, I did start raging just a little while I worked. He could have at least got her a little more than an apron! I know in LDS they teach you to not be materialistic, but come on. You can give a little more appreciation than that.
You and your sister are so gorgeous! I hope you get that show because y'all are hilarious and great storytellers!
As a religious person, I think ANYONE who builds a whole platform on “giving people God’s messages” completely misunderstands the Bible. I see my relationship with God as something personal and I don’t want anyone to feel pressured into that by so-called Christians that just want to be holier than thou. Religious and influencer are two words that shouldn’t be combined
A relationship with God is personal, however the bible makes it clear that followers of Christ will spread the gospel message to others and shine as a light to the world (a light isn't very bright if it dims itself around others) if you're a Christian, i hope you start sharing your faith with others. There's so many scriptures that highlight the importance of this. You don't have to be forceful, just share your faith and inspire hope in others.
Every person is an influencer in a way. Influence doesn’t have to mean force.
But I get what you mean.
@@TheNinjapancake14 you’re right, 100%, and I definitely could have worded myself better. I mean that someone profiting off of God or the Bible leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
@@juanesia7512 Yeah I'm not religious and I do get that it's in the bible but it's weird for people to make fear mongering content on their pages to try to convert someone. There's nothing wrong with trying to convince someone, but it's so weird to try to scare people into it, you know?
@@ALLURISTIC I understand what you mean. Fear is kinda inevitable in a way though 😂 the bible paints a picture that if we don't live for God and turn from sin, we will inevitably go to hell. There's not too many pretty ways to get that message across, unfortunately. I do think Christians shouldn't necessarily lead with fearing others into believing though.
Thank you for being so vulnerable in this video. I was raised Evangelical and while it wasn't this extreme, I was definitely brainwashed starting from the age of 3. I was forced into a value system that I was too young to understand. My position as a girl was enforced that I was lesser, a sinner, I was a temptation, and that women were not intellectual or holy enough to lead a family. I left the church when I was 16 and have never looked back. As a nonbinary lesbian, I will be dealing with the damage the church caused me for the rest of my life. I'm so happy you have a healthier relationship with God now.
Girl, your sister is so funny omg 😂😂 I know trauma is hard but ya'll made it more easy to digest. Also your sister definitely talks with that Mexican accentó 😆😆
I was a nanny for a Mormon family for years, and towards the end of me working for them their aunt and her husband moved in with them and their own 4 kids. I asked why to one of the children and they said their Uncle heard God and God told him they needed to. He claimed he could speak to God. It scared me really bad because clearly he was unwell.
I’m an ex-Mormon. “God told me” it’s such a common manipulation tactic. Especially because the Mormon church teaches that men can receive “revelation from god” for their family or the people they have been designated leader of (for example, the bishop gets revelation for their ward, the prophet gets revelation for the whole church)
@@DiMagnolia
This is why I left the LDS church. I had a roommate that claimed “God talked to her” saying that I had something in my room that I shouldn’t. Dumb broad went through my entire room. That whole church is a wild mess.
knowing how much of Mormon history is just creepy men justifying their gross behaviour with "God told me" this makes me so sick
“Barney was the devil” almost made me choke on my pasta LMAOOO
I’m so happy I have come across you! My family is Hispanic and we were also in a Pentecostal cult! We had dues we had to pay and they would come to our house if we missed a day. Hair veil if you had short hair or highlights to cover your shame. I’m so glad many others understand this trauma as sad as it is
Girly pop you may not like your natural look but I think youre absolutely gorge wo the makeup! The makeup is just the cherry on top. Love yourself! Bc we love u!
@@brieanastraiton3665 🥺🩷 tysm
Thank you for sharing your story ☺️ I grew up as a cradled Catholic and told that this was the only way. As a young adult, I had a lot of resentment towards my church and religion in general because I couldn't rationalize how could my abusive relatives go to church and preach kindness and forgiveness and leave those church doors to do terrible things in closed doors. Now that I've moved away for good, I was blessed to have met my husband, who went to a prominent bible university where he learned historical context and dissected the Bible down to the language it was originally written in. He met me at my worst. I was so angry with the world and he helped dismantle a lot of the flawed teaching I grew up with, and helped me process so much. He taught me contextualization and the difference between faith and religion, and how people will cherry-pick and weaponize the Bible for their own agenda. I'm so grateful for this community and your candid approach to this subject. Thank you again ❤
Glad you’re looking at it positively , cuz it can really damage people the way hypocrisy is :( I grew up Christian in general & was more rationale as in finding the context of things , and less the spiritual at times. But then becoming catholic, I understood it much better .
I’m sure by looking at the history, you’ll see Catholicism has a great and good influence on the faith since lots of these practices come from us . The context of scriptures comes from the saints and church fathers - big hint on finding the context. The reason they’re considered as saints is because of their contribution to understanding/demonstrating scripture. Helped me look at it a different way.
I'm so glad your husband could help you heal and process your past! I went to university to study theology and English and it helped me grow so much and heal a lot of conflicts too. I grew up catholic, but also in a circle of friends who where metal heads, punks and rockabillies. I was always torn, but the scientific approach at uni helped me a lot. I teach RE at highschool now and my mantra is "To love the church is to criticise the church". I've found that open and critical dialogue about faith, doctrine and our conscience has helped a lot of students too. My faith isn't blind and I will criticise my church where we fall short, because a church made up of humans will always fall short. That means we need to hold our leaders accountable.
Here's what I always think of when it comes to cases like Salem's broken leg and ignoring help:
The Family Guy episode where Scotty's parents know he has cancer but won't take him to the doctor because they're Christian scientists. And Lois pretty much says to them, "Did you ever stop to think that maybe these doctors and treatments are God's way of answering your prayers?"
As a catholic I’m extremely proud to have someone as respectful as you to have this kind of conversation.
Okay but literally why do you believe in this? Honestly the more i learn about it the mess it makes sense that anyone would find it okay.
@@yodacaron9027 i dont advocate for these kinds of cults but I really feel aligned with the message that the Bible conveys
@@Rosalie-k3v but what messages tho? I Saw many people do interesting points, people who read the bible and point out of deeply messed up many messages are, like the whole story of god telling in the Book how to get slaves, how women are treated in many of these books,...
@@yodacaron9027 a lot of quotes from the bible are extemely out of context. We also have to remember a lot of the books of the Bible are parables from a period long before our time. And just as we can know literature and jokes from the 2000s are wrong we can also acknowledge certain universal truths from their message. Its the lessons you learn. True believers dont cast hate on those different from us because God loves you as you are. I believe we're supposed to come as we are. A person's journey and relationship with God is their own, and to condem someone because they dont follow your rules is also wrong. Only Jesus judges according to the Bible and he only judges those who have evil hearts. Doesnt say anything about gay, if you dont go to church every Sunday, etc. I think many people forget that God is Love not judgement. Your heart is what is seen and known by Him. Not your mistakes or lessons you did or didnt learn on Earth. But thays my understanding and journey with Christ. I cant speak for yours, but if you accept, God bless you.
@@TiaraClarese ah, well i personaly think context doesnt justify some things that are said, a d that the words of god should have wrong in them no matter when they were writen, or we have to admit that god is not perfect then.
As long as you use your fate to be better i guess that's okay, but i also think brushing the bad things the bible says under the rug and say it's not sexist or homophobic is quite bad, we gotta be honest 😅 i personaly can't believe in those, i'm an agnostic and i don't think i'll ever be a believer for a lot of reasons.
Tho i truly hope if your god is real they are as good willing as you say they are, even if that would go against many things the bible contains.
Penny had a baby?!?! Congratulations 🤍 good to see you two together
I'm so glad I came across this video! The Pentecostal Churches of the late 90s and early to mid-2000s were out of pocket. I grew up in the Pentecostal church, and remember the Pastor locking the doors and saying that no one was leaving until more tithes were paid (even after the money collection plate was passed around like 2 times). I remember visiting Pastors from other churches always wanting to lay hands on church members, or claim that someone had a spirit. I totally feel where y'all are coming from.
Same boat! Minus the demanding tithes part. My dad used to be a head usher in our church and he told me there was a lady at our church who was notorious for falling out while being “slain in the spirit” or whatever 😅😂 and doing the UTMOST. He told me that during one service, she was really “feeling it” and essentially threw herself and somehow broke her arm or wrist lol.
I grew up almost exactly the same; I was a "miracle baby", pentecostal within latino churches and white churches, told i'd be a prophet and leader and stayed within the church till about age 19 or 20. Once I finally met friends outside of church I immediately realized how insane it all was; the non religious people were not judgemental or psychotic...it felt like i'd lived my whole life underwater. I turned my whole life around, studied science and technology and ended up going from being 100% ignorant about the world to getting a great job in a field i liked.
The stuff in those churches was terrifying. we're talkin folders of pdf files...some of whom were on the SO registry who were working with kids...the church defending the iraq war and south african apartheid...fleecing and stealing from poor people...the further i get away from it the more terrifying it is that all those people i knew are still stuck there getting fleeced. magical thinking spreads like a virus to the poor and desperate and is the perfect exploit, biological and unchanging from generation to generation.
One thing they are right about is that God has a gift for you. I know that that church strayed you away but dont forget that God is real and he has plans for you.
Miracle baby my foot😂
Seeing Salem talk about her religious upbringing honestly reflects my own journey so much. It’s so nice to see someone who genuinely tries to understand all walks of life and be loving while talking about it.
@@Sbella.b883 I agree with you. I was brought up very religious and it took a heavy mental toll on me and I have an anxiety problem now. But I still like to talk to people about their religious experiences and hear basically what helps them sleep at night, through who they believe. I feel like each time I talk to someone about their religious experience, it heals little parts of me that were so hurt, and it heals the parts that were in such a heavy dark place in multiple points in my life.
As an educated Chicana I have to say...I fucking LOVE you and your sister! The way yall speak on your experiences is so intelligent, thought-provoking, hilarious, and articulate. Yall are badass af.
Hearing the Spanglish come out with your sister made me happy, y’all have the best energy ❤
33:44 “I need a Pepsi” is so real 😂😂😂😂
She had already ordered the egg apron herself. He intercepted it when it came home and gave it to her.
I hope she makes the most of the life she's stumbled into, and that her children are never turned against her.
That explained why she said “My egg apron”, instead of “An egg apron”. She was t surprised by it. Did that husband of hers do anything special for her?
Agreed. I hope her sacrifices for her family are seen and acknowledged by her kids at least. Many women who marry well often sacrifice themselves for their new environment.
@@Tyrannosaurus_Wrexx Probably not. 🙄
I was born at a time when getting married, having children and staying home was the expectation for women. I watched the world change before my eyes as the Women’s Liberation movement and young women began to rebel against that tradition, then saw a world where women struggled to have both a family and career. I saw a world that has gone from making working mothers feel guilty to making stay at home mothers feel guilty. What I see now is a broken world. Young people who don’t understand how hard the rights that they feel they are entitled to have been fought for by previous generations of women.
Who the hell is making stay at home mothers feel guilty? People are still making women who work feel guilty, they aren’t taken as seriously at work and experience constant harassment, and if they have children they’re called bad mothers no matter what they do and how hard they try. Not to mention most married women who work have to work a ‘double shift’ where they do their 9-5, then come home and do all the unpaid childcare and chores because their husbands aren’t picking up the slack. There’s research on this. How many times have you heard people praising fathers for ‘babysitting’ their offspring or ‘helping out’ in their own household?
@@virginiaviola5097 feminism is about equality and having choices. Anyone shaming stay-at-home moms for their choice is not feminist
@ the government, especially conservative governments
@@ladymacbethofmtsensk I think that's what OP was getting at. We're so caught up now in the tug-of-war ahh expectations of women expecting us a million things, that seeing us regress to what some women idolize as an "easier" time is disheartening to someone who would've seen generations fight for the rights and lifestyles we have today. Stay at home mothers ARE being shamed, because women can't just be one thing. They need to have a job and girlboss, they need to be beautiful at all times and never age, they have to get married and have kids, they have to do all of the work raising those kids and keeping the house kept up WHILE having a full time job. It's no wonder some women are like "I just want things to be easier. It seemed eaiser back then" while not understanding what it was truly like a few decades ago.
@@ladymacbethofmtsensk Why are you expecting pay to take care of your own children?? Men have no problem slaving away in the corporate world for their families, this sickness started when everyone wanted to start mixing the gender roles. Also, fathers do stay home nowadays to take care of their children, you probably don't hear about it because those are typically very wealthy families.
Yall are spilling gravy!!!! This is awesome your eyes are open and you share it with the world in love and maturity
22:10 “I’m not gonna cry for free.” - The wise words of Penny
Your video really touched me because I'm currently in a hard place of trying to convince my family, especially my mother and sisters, that I don't need a husband, and that I want to work. It doesn't mean that I don't want those things, just that I'm not going back home after my studies waiting for the "good husband" to take me.
Sometimes I have trouble seeing the line between the extreme and faith, and it is hard when you are afraid to talk about it because you might be considered as a sinner. And they will hate the sinner, not the sin.
I still remembered when I asked question about something that was said, they told me "the jews asked a lot of questions and that's why their people have been punished by god" 💀
@@dayanapierce8467 thank you for sharing what you're going through. You are allowed to choose yourself and still love God. Not many people will agree, but boundaries are important- and you're valid 🩷
@@_salemtovar_ thank you ❤
We’re all sinners so matter what but Christ paid for them on the cross. The second you believe in him (trust in him alone) you have been saved and will not lose that salvation. It is a free gift it is simple you do NOT need to change your lifestyle / stop sinning to be saved.
If you can, run. That's not fair for you if it's not the life you want for yourself
Wow… I think you should live life for yourself and not let people’s opinions decide for you how you should live your life.
Sometimes you have to set strong boundaries with loved ones and if they love you they will respect them.
🦆 thank you for sharing your story! Sending you lots of love and healing for those papercuts. You are loved 🥰!
I'm an atheist and I wasn't raised in a cult, but I grew up in a typical Eastern European Orthodox family and I know myself how religious people can be vile, mean, aggressive and lying, which all violates their basic religious dogmas. Or how they lose their minds and start believe in esoterics and similar stuff, which also violates their own religion. Or how many times they use Orthodox Christianity to prove their ridiculous or hateful believes (for example, hating LGBT, beating women and children is okay, because "my religion says so"). Many of them haven't even read any page of the Bible, they only listen to their other religious relatives or their local priests, who are definitely not people you would trust to. What also made me dissapointed in Orthodox Christianity is that the patriarch of my country has his own mansion, Rolex watches and different expensive cars, while common believers live in financial instability or in complete poverty! For these reasons, I became an atheist through aging and I'm sad that my country became very crazy about religions and gained many religious cults since the fall of Soviet Union. Of course, I can't throw away my religious upbringing and I will always remember religious events I spent with my family, but I learned that I can be kind and helping to people without the religion and just live my life.
"Teach a fool to pray to God, and they will break their forehead".
@@peachesandcream22 oh now i‘m interested! In which country did you grew up? :)
Same here, eastern/central europe but a catholic upbringing! I'm an atheist cause I never believed in anything, even though i was raised on catholic beliefs. It can be so toxic. Thankfully most of the people in my life who are catholic are also very normal about it, but ive heard some unsavoury things said by the priests during mass 👍🌝 Also, as a person who simply won't believe in anything of the religious sort, its very weird for me to hear people say things (that are definitely just coincidences or purely science based) and thank the "Lord" for his work. I cannot comprehend believing in something all-powerful that seemingly controls everything that happens in every person's life and the only thing that interests me in religion is the architecture that it brought 🫡
Absolutely not against anybody who believes, but I'm against hating other humans for reasons not even stated in the bible/any other religious text and trying to convert people to the cults, cause thats what religion is to me 🫡
Every thing in life has its toxicity. Jesus loves you and although I know it’s hard to see, there are people who love the Lord and people! The things you all named are just sinful. We all fall short, but when men or women continue in that walk, they are hurting the overall commission and God will hold them accountable for that. If they do not turn from their ways and repent. I will pray that God will show himself mighty in both of your lives. Don’t give up on Him, bc of humans that missed the mark! Much love! ❤
@@RhyanNicole .... That's exactly what i was talking about. Youre not letting people live as atheists and only see them as "people who strayed from god's light that need help". Trying to convert people to your religion isnt good either and im sure god would rather see us live happily like this rather than lie to ourselves 👍
@@komitarz I’m not trying to convert you. You stated your opinion and I stated mine. I apologize if you feel like I attacked you. It was not my intention.
Was just wondering where Salem had been. I miss my Sunday night insomnia-into Monday morning depression videos that make things a little more enjoyable. Glad to see you’ve returned!
As a 13, they/it lesbian who is in a pentacostal family, my life is hell, i want to just end this nightmare. My parents somewhat accept me and let me wear makeup and have nails but they force me to go to church and we've fought countless times how it affects me emotionally just the tought of going there and the tought of my other family members finding out i'm gay and abandoning me. I don't have a roblem with Christianity I just don't want beliefs to be pushed down my throat because "I'm too young to know what I want to believe in". Please for the love of all that's holy, if you're a parent reading this, listen to your kids, i know you think you're doing smt good for them but they know what they're feeling more than you think.
My sister is gay, and I hope your parents really love you like my parents love us, because they accepted her and left the church about 2 years later. One of their big reasons for leaving was how gay people were talked about, and they started imagining my sister. One preacher said it was better to be dead than gay, and it was my dad's last church service. I hope everything goes well for you, but remember, if you are unhappy now does not mean you will be unhappy in the future. Just hold on! You have a lot of life in front of you ❤
Also we were pentecostal too (no makeup, skirts, no jewelry, et. cet)
@@shaydawn7376 Lucky, my parents are too religious and loyal to their beliefs to do such a thing, I wish you and your sister the best though
Oh honey, I just want to say that you are absolutely perfect the way that you are. It will get so much better. There is a whole world of wonderful people out there ready to accept you and love you and be your found family.
My daughter is 13 and she’s a lesbian too and I couldn’t be more proud of what a wonderful person she is. I’m proud of you too, please hang in there. Sending you comfy mom hugs. ❤
@@MKUltra42 you're a wonderful mom, I respect people like you so much♥️
Thank you for this. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and grew up in the pentecostal church. I have alot if scars. I have had mental health issues from it, even now as a nearly 38 year old woman. The programming runs deep, and im just now getting out from underneath it.
@@pinkinahouseofblue6579 the PCNW church cults are no joke, I hope your healing journey continues to grow stronger 🩷 we got this 🙏🏽
57:46 this moment here gave me so much peace, you have no idea Salem. Thank you for saying that. I personally don't know what i believe in yet or if i believe in anything at all, i just know I don't want to be judged about being my true self and live a peaceful, fulfilling life. I really needed to hear this, thank you, you're an amazing person and im glad your journey has brought you here. 🦆💗
🥺🩷 I really needed to hear this comment today. Thank you for your support, and I hope you know you are absolutely loved and accepted 🙏🏽take it one day at a time
You do not need to change your lifestyle to be saved. Christ paid for all sins on the cross and the second you believe in him (trust in him alone) then you have been saved, God will not judge your sins (send you to hell) because through Christ you are seen as righteous. It is a free gift. You cannot lose salvation either.
“She wants to monetize our past trauma… and I’m like I’m all for it 🤸🏼♀️” that took me ouuuuut 😭💀
This is an incredibly detailed video and I've related so much to it. My Catholic grandmother forced me to become right handed as a child because writing with your left was demonic and taboo. Well, now I'm ambidextrous which is neat, but it still feels sad to think that people let their fears control their actions so much that they even force those fears onto a toddler. I still have some trauma from that.
@@robotunicorn6462 i’m not Catholic, but still Christian, and nowhere in the Bible does it say anything about being left handed being demonic. it’s a shame that so much of religious extremism has been spread from wanting to control others by fear (not saying that’s what your grandmother was doing, i don’t want to assume anything onto your family member). I’m so sorry for that experience and the trauma it caused you 💜
Girl, this video is sending me. As someone who came from a pentecostal church and upbringing. I always questioned religion.
Side note, your bare face is flawless!!!!! Love the slick back hair style too. Giving 90s fashion model
Thank you for sharing your story. The last part of the video about understanding people's struggles from different perspectives and learning to be more empathetic was so beautiful. 🦆❤️
I used to be religious, but the more I explored my religion, the more sceptical I became. I do not have empathy for these people because they never had empathy for me and my family. I believe everyone should have the freedom to live life on their own terms, as long as it does not cause harm to others.The issue with religious extremists is that they're trying to make their way of life the law. I don't have empathy for people trying to control my life.
You described me😅
@@MariaReactsaonYT fr
Your pfp!!😍 magical…..
This is why they have to indoctrinate you as a child.
@@WhatFadesAway understandable. I think its great some people , like salem she has a beautiful soul, have empathy for them and its totally logical given their past etc but i think its also totally fine to be angry or just not have empathy for these people because they still have a lot of responsibility, they hurt people, they spread hateful message and we shouldnt give them all the forgiveness they want but we should still hold them accountable for the part they played in reinforcing hurtful rethoric and the hurt they directly caused to people.
Honestly i have both, i understand where they might come from and i would be happy if they came to redemption but at the same time i hold them responsible for the hurt they played a part in, they are not innocent little lambs, they are human with nuance so i totally understand your stance on this !
Salem your approach to people trapped in religious coercion is so kind, sane and heartwarming. I know lots of people that have gone through this kind of trauma and that understanding and kindness is what can really get them out of whatever high-control bullcrap they're in. Also your sister is so sweet, loved to see you both sharing a cute moment.
I'm at that age where I finally realize "watch this if you love God" type of titles are just for clout and view
fr. it's religious clickbate
Growing up muslim I’m traumatized by religion. My dad used to tell me GROWING UP AS A FCKING KID i would go to hell for LITERALLY every fvking thing i. Everything i did was “wrong” in his eyes.
My sister and i are traumatized and we cant believe anything cause i truly believe the problem is how we were treated. We could not do anything like a normal child.
As older i got i realized my dad is the first one going to hell lmao. I learned my religion i wanted to know what I’m believing. Let me tell you no one can convince me that god is real. I’m now well educated and i truly believe at this point you can use brain cells
@@Angel-rd3mi edi hkaytek w etnaki
I also came out of a sunni muslim family.
But I beg to differ on the existence of God. I do believe He exists, and it is has nothing to do with being well-educated. Science favors the existence of a Creator.
There is something called “the fine-tuning argument” in which the variables that allow for human life on earth are so precise (10^20 kind of precise) that if changed by one decimal, we wouldn’t exist.
To assert that all things came literally out of nothing is also unscientific. It goes against the laws of physics. Also, evolutionism goes against the second Law of Thermodynamics.
Not only that, God reveals Himself to us when we earnestly seek Him. Out of my despair I started searching for answers, and flirted with many religions and ideologies. But none of them did anything for me.
I was anorexic, depressed, addicted to coke, self-harming, promiscuous, and suicidal. But when I called out to Jesus He made me an entirely different person. He delivered me from all of these things instantly.
And you know the difference between the real God portrayed in the Bible and Allah? Is that we Christians want to obey God because we love Him as our Father. Because He gave Himself so that we should live, we give ourselves to Him. Jesus is my friend, my counselor, my all in all.
Don’t dismiss the idea of God just because you were brought up in a toxic environment. We are not meant to just blindly follow whatever it is that our families believe. We are to diligently investigate the Truth.
God bless you.
@@adiblatif name the 12 imams in the quran
@@adiblatif I kind of followed you until the Real God part lowkey. Because at the end of it, we can't really argue segregating which religion is correct until death. We don't know about the afterlife. To push down on one religion over another, whilst promoting yourself as a "holistic than thou" isn't good either 😕😕.
In fact, Islam benefactors as a whole teaches the newer and older generation constantly to be kind, to pray, to seek knowledge and to Believe in Allah. Islam hasn't changed, it's the people promoting it's religion.
Otherwise, I cannot speak on Christianity. But yes, I do believe in seeking knowledge, whether it'd be in seeking God, in spiritual belief or both is up to said individual😌.
@@adiblatifgirl hush, let people be atheists and go their own path in life. Not everyone cares about god and that’s more than ok
this is an extremely powerful video and made me see a lot of things in a new light. i was raised in the church but never fell into it and switched to public school in 2nd grade, so i feel like i fell into a mindset of "why dont u guys just get out like i did" so thank u for this
Needed some positivity this morning and I love that u always end a video on a good note.
💕 tysm :) I hope you have a great rest of your day!!
as a devout muslim with both hindu and cristian friends, wat bothers me so much is the amount of extremism, misinformation, sexism and overall hate some religious tiktokers spread just becuz they want to and they can. yk you are not doing a normal religios person any favours by stigmatizing their beliefs shoving everyone in the same box as you or hating on them. the holier then thou attitude helps no one. absolutely no one. they make life harder for the ppl around and and normal religious ppl in general. extemism is never good. its simply dangerous.
Edit to add: wanna clarify that good and bad people exists in every faith and extremist groups of every single religion exists. Mainstream media just likes to demonize a select few. Also as for Muslims in Afghan and Iraq tell the US to not bomb their countries and maybe progress will take place those countries are decades behind cuz they were bomed for decades . Humans exist there humans exist here let's not hold ideologies and prejudice that is harmful for them and for us.
I'm a Muslim too, and I understand what you're talking about. I believe we're talking about the Dawah bros here, who are often seen as the most misogynistic and deceitful individuals. That's why I prefer to conduct my own research and study the Hadiths and the Quran independently. In my experience, 99% of the time, the Dawah bros distort the truth and take things out of context. Furthermore, non Muslim women are discouraged from converting to our beautiful religion because of them, and nothing else. In conclusion, I believe that people should be qualified before purchasing microphones.
@@khadijahbegum3546 Muslim here too. I hate any kind of extremism. The dawa bros are sometimes just so ignorant and agressive, I cannot take the seriously. Faith is a personal thing. I find it distasteful to broadcast it on the internet for profit.
It's not just that though it's entire countries- I wouldn't want to join your religion (or any other tbh but especially Islam) because of how easy it is for the extremes to gain control- like Afghanistan and Iran- no offense
@@tash936 i understand what you mean, but that statement is offensive. Its so true that the wrong people keep coming to power unfortunately and that isnt only religious countries but even secular countries that don’t allow people to follow their religions
@@caitlynkraytay yeah you're right- evil people are gonna be evil regardless if they're religious or not- but I find that evil people tend to hide behind religion and it makes it easier to gain control twisting it to their benefit- but I suppose if it wasn't religion it would be something else- it doesn't matter to me right now though because it's the religious people that are taking away my rights (project 2025) so my sentiment stands- I don't want my country to turn into an Christian Afghanistan or Iran- so until my rights are safe and secure Imma feel this way
I absolutely LOOOOOVE this video! I have really been battling with this especially over the last few years and you hit everything right on the head without being disrespectful to anyone’s beliefs one way or the other and explained in a very empathetic way that these people who are pushing out these types of videos are truly just mislead by over zealous rhetoric. Thank you for making this video!
Your sister is such a vibe I love her already and the fact your name is Salem and you have been in a cult is so funny to me
Babe, wake up. Salem posted!!
Thank you for sharing all of this with us. It takes a lot of courage to question all you've ever known.... But even more to leave and share with the world what you experienced. So thankful for you. ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
“…indoctrinated to focus more on their careers”
My jaw is on the floor, the irony is palpable.
My niece has become part of a Christian evangelical church. She is 16; so far this year she missed mothers, Father’s Day, her birthday and was volunteering all summer at their summer camp.
She is no longer pro choice and is into purity culture which is damaging on its own. She no longer believes in gay rights, hates trans people and immigrants. Seeing her change so much over the last year has broken my heart.
I just miss her. It’s difficult to see how much her heart has hardened.
Hopefully she learns the easy way
Because
We
All know that
Being anti Pro choice is the worst thing one can be
🦆 I’m not sure how I’ve never came across your platform before but I loved your vulnerability, humor, and compassion while speaking about such a sensitive topic. Thank you (and your sister!) for sharing your story. I’m a former LDS member and hearing your thoughts on the indoctrination religious members face really resonated with me. “Don’t get furious, get curious” is also my new favorite line! Looking forward to your future work 🫶🏼
I loved this video and the way you girls explained things so so much. As a lifelong Christian but also public school student, I didn’t deeply analyze and question my religion until I went to a WELS college. It was actually a couple awesome professors I had that taught me a lot about theology and apologetics, and thus began my deconstruction journey. In the same institution, I was exposed and informed of the culty side of my denomination that I didn’t even know existed. Fascinating stuff. It’s so healthy and important to question things, which is something a LOT of these big Christian influencers seemingly fail to get.
this may sound kind of weird but i feel like if we had more integrity in our Christian churches (“our” because im Christian too) and more people actually taught what’s actually in the Bible and not just what makes them look good, then deconstructing wouldn’t be necessary for a lot of people. this isn’t me looking down on people that deconstruct because unfortunately it’s necessary with the way that some of our churches teach, but ig im trying to say that many churches need to start teaching with integrity and actual theology and not just what they want to hear or what makes their politics look good
SAME, i was in college too when my deconstruction started, philosophy 101 broke me 😂
@@yvettebranch doesn’t sound weird at all! Thank you for sharing, I completely agree.
@@demigreen6495 somehow I’ve never had to take an actual philosophy class- only theology and apologetics😅😅 buut relatable 😂
I remember being in church as a small kid and finding it so strange that the adults around me weren't practicing what they preached. As i got older i started seeing it even more.. i think the biggest eye opening thing was when my favorite pastor who was the second in my life and i was just beginning to feel comfortable and happy at a church again.. He was victim of untrue rumors.. the people of the church ( they had roles in it weren't just members or attendees) made up a sick rumor that he was cheating on his wife with a far younger woman who just so happened to get a higher role in the church. They didnt like that he was making sure she was getting in her new role smoothly so obviously he was doing something scandalous 🙄
This man was so sweet and wholesome.. and the lies destroyed him. He took his own life in the parking lot sitting in his truck.
I haven't been to another church as anything other than a guest since..
I no longer consider myself religious or Christian either.
I'm just a human trying my best to live the happiest existence i can.
My Aunt and Uncle I fear might be in some kind of cult.. or atleast the very least they're the manipulative type of Christians..
My aunt recently lost her mind at me all because i dont go to church at all.. shes known this 😂 its nothing new .. she was just out to get control over me and it didnt work cause i know her tricks 🙄
She guilt trips, gas lights, shames, and love bombs.. =_=; and she really hates that i dont respond to her anymore 🙃
Yeah I had an experience as a kid where some teen girls had brought a few abandoned kittens in the bathroom to wash them off quickly. The bathroom was practically empty cause everyone was in service. They got kicked out of the church after a few minutes. That surprised me.
Those disgusting people did a very unbiblical thing to that man. The church needs to get better (not just calling people out) but calling them out correctly and making sure they (the ones calling out) are being honest and LOVING. That’s so awful. I’m so sorry.
Thank you for sharing your story Salem, its not always easy to do! I love your message, and I think it can be applied in so many ways (not just religion). This whole video was beautiful, great job!
“I’m not okay cry for free” belongs on a bumper sticker 😭😭
When I was 11 I was approached by a “pastor” who told me I’m going straight to H3!! because I was wearing shorts 😒 I was a child!!
@@SA-sb2wh the same thing happened to me!! I was on my way to tennis practice wearing gym clothes. Going to hell for playing tennis 😭
that for sure wasn't a pastor...pastors don't do that sumofthem just claim the title but as you experienced you certainly saw he wasn't a pastors at all...lol
@@NatGMyersOboe omg 😆 😩
@@Kimberly0Kendell fr
Those pastors are not true believers. Continuous self righteous behavior has no place amongst true believers.
This video is such a comfort video because I literally went to the through something similar actually and I stopped going when I was 15 years old now I’m 20. I’m not religious at all. I always get shamed for it and always get told that I have to go or else, it’s a constant thing
I’m a Christian. I have been my whole life, and it’s definitely can be a cult. Different denominations and different churches put so much emphasis on every single aspect when what I’ve learned about Jesus, his story, and what he wants is for everyone to treat each other equally and with respect. People who put other people down in the name of Jesus is just using it as an excuse, because the first thing Jesus taught is to love thy neighbor and you love thyself.
Jesus said to love thy neighbor as you I have loved you John 13:34 he does not say thyself. We are to love and respect everyone but not be tolerant and supportive of sin 1 Corinthians 13:4
People who put down people in the name of Jesus are misleading and that is wrong because that is not what Jesus would do he showed mercy and love while also preaching the word of God and Gods truth.
@@Madiiiiiiiii316 here’s the thing. We’re all gonna sin, none of us are perfect and we shouldn’t try to be perfect. There are people who use religion to justify and support their negativity is wrong.
I grew up going to an evangelical christian school... This hits so hard!
I finally got to go to a public high school in 11th grade.... When I finally got to meet people with different beliefs, lifestyles, etc i finally started questioning why i believed everything i had been taught.
Looking back, i can have empathy for myself and others who believe they are doing the right thing, but it hurts to see how often shame and hate are used as justification to hurt people who dare disagree.
Thank you so much for making this, Salem! You are such a beautiful soul