Of course, in both Western and Eastern societies the majority of people are affiliated with a religion and many are content with that association; for many it adds meaning and a spiritual element to their lives, even if only in a very limited way. And I do not deny that many present-day Christians are caring and peaceful people who identify particularly with Jesus' message of love. This is the true core of the original Christianity that I fully support. What I am highlighting in Unplugged is my personal experience in which orthodox religious teachings - that differ greatly from Jesus' message of love - have had harmful consequences, that I have suffered from for much of my life. I wish to bring this negative effect of religious indoctrination out into the open, and to help others who have suffered in the same way.

I will be doing this emotional and spiritual purging in front of you, as suggested by my guidance, to provide a vivid example of a way out of any abuse history through writing, sharing and open expression. I am a strong proponent of journaling as a method of cleansing one's soul and getting in touch with the deeper meaning of one's life. I have also discovered that journaling connects me with my Source, something my childhood religion deliberately obstructed while it was busy brainwashing me into its perverted view of the world.

If you suspect you were a victim of childhood religious abuse you may find comfort here in this ongoing discourse: a place to rest, be affirmed and have your abuse feelings validated. I am taking dead aim at the Roman Catholic Church because they were my abusers. Your religious background may be different, but your heart will know whether these words have value for your efforts to heal yourself and be free of their well orchestrated psychological tyranny.

It may seem hard to believe, in this day and age, that sacred cows still exist and we hesitate to take them on. This, despite the mounting evidence that religions in particular are complicit in acts of violence, murder and sexual abuse including the physical, emotional and spiritual abuse of children. Hard to believe, but the facts, both current and historical tell the whole story. In this series I am not concerned about historical facts so much as I am focussed on "experience." Your experience, my experience and that of everyone adversely affected by their native religion is what I aim to elucidate.

The only way we victims of Religious Abuse can heal is to be focussed on our feelings of pain, loss and abandonment and how each of these arose as a result of religious abuse. Permission to feel and to express those feelings in a safe manner becomes our path to healing. If such an approach can help sexual, physical and emotional abuse victims, then it will most certainly help us heal the toxic effects of religious abuse.

In order to do this we have to slay a couple of their main weapons at the outset. One of their claims will fall along the following lines: "They, the religious representatives of any particular religion, did it for our own good," or "They were called by God to do His work," or "How could you challenge me, I work for God after all." The second argument they may profer will be taken from the reactionaries of the 80s and 90s who were being confronted for the perversions they inflicted on their children. One set of parents invented what has become known as "false memory syndrome." What a nice ring, don't you think? Well, there is no such category in the manual of mental illnesses and personality disorders that psychologists and psychiatrists regularly address. But the phrase has entered the jargon associated with abuse. Religious leaders already know that if you repeat a lie often enough, it will become regarded as a truth by some elements of the population.

Don't be fooled! What you remember and feel has a basis in reality. Feelings are not something that can be invented. They come as a reaction to our daily intercourse with family, friends and yes, abusers.

These people do not work for God, they work for own own pathetic ego and the egos of individuals who set up those religious mechanisms to control individuals beginning with their childhood. They are the perpetrators of this poison you and I are about to get rid of.

The stage is now set. Let us get on with the work of ridding our bodies and spirits of this poison these organizations and their faithful zealots infected us with.

"You, our former abusers, are welcome to join us, if you wish to undertake your own healing. But your excuses, your feeble attempts to return culpability to your victims will not be tolerated. If you think you have a case, then start your own blog. This service is for healing only."

Now is the Time!

Over this past weekend I as fortunate enough to read an essay by Jimmy Carter who was announcing the rejection of his childhood religion because of their position on women's rights. This same weekend I saw a rerun of Boston Legal where the issue of the day was a woman's lawsuit against the Boston Catholic Church authority who were refusing her admission into the priesthood.

Enough is enough! This essay is likely the beginning of a new book for me, one that has been writing itself since I first arrived on this planet.

I dedicate this essay and subsequent book to the abused child within me, the part of me that was shamed, guilted and bullied by a religion that claimed to know what was best for me.

As already mentioned, I grew up surrounded by extended family who were equally afflicted with the same disease of which I have spent a lifetime purging myself. I call it a disease because of all the challenges I was confronted with as a child, this particular exposure left me with the deepest wounds which have been the source of my greatest psychic pain.

Since my whole family was afflicted with this disease, there was nowhere for a young boy to turn, nowhere to obtain an outside view. We children were regularly warned about exposing ourselves to the wider protestant community and how their religion was totally wrong. It had to be, because only our religion could be right.

What's a child to do? These adults should know better, shouldn't they? Well, it turns out they didn't. These so-called adults were still children themselves when it came to their religion and they were caught in the same web we, as the next generation, were being dragged into.

I am currently 64 years of age, a trained psychologist with 3 degrees, including a PhD in Counseling Psychology. I also have over 25 years experience as a practicing therapist providing counseling, consulting and therapy services to individuals, families and corporations. The more education and experience I obtained, the more readily I could see through the lies and fabrications that my religion had steeped me in as a child.

The religious representatives of my day included nuns and priests. We received our regular dose of Catholic exhortations on Sundays as we were force marched to listen to the latest installment of "nothing makes sense but believe it anyway." And through the week we had the more subtle versions that were identified as education. For some reason I have never indicated on my resume that I could rattle off an endless list of questions and answers from the Catholic Catechism.

Catholicism's religious authorities traded on guilt and shame. Most people think fear is the world's most powerful negative enforcer. Not completely true for Catholics. Guilt and shame were the currency of the day, and fear of course played a part after those main buttons had been installed. The Catholic Church operated at a different level, tying fear to guilt and shame for an extra level of control over their flock.

Those two clubs were used everyday to club us children into submission. They had already done their job on our parents, who were now well patterned to sacrifice their offspring to the same unchallenged lies and misrepresentations of God's Holy Truth.

There is a category in Psychology identified as "Learned Helplessness." This comes as a result of constant battering, guilting, shaming and belittling of any of us who wouldn't comply with "the rules" quickly enough. This was tantamount to poisoning the well, in this case, the well of freedom and truth. Once you were saturated with the poison, psychologically speaking, then they would offer you their version of God for your salvation. Great system!

I had the audacity to question why I needed a Savior in the first place? Well, when you're born into Original Sin (read "defective" by their standards) then your whole life becomes a commitment to seeking redemption through the formulas they provide you with. Talk about ruthless compliance. When you sinned, which you did everyday, you could seek some redemption in the confessional. But how do you confess Original Sin?

And that's where this story begins. Original Sin is a lie. And any church or religion based on that foundation is also a lie!

The Catholic Church is a lie from beginning to end. It advances itself as a harbinger of truth when really it is a business run by authoritarian types who use its main tools of guilt and shame as their principal method of subduing the population they want to control. First they make you believe you are born a sinner and then offer you their brand of salvation which includes regular attendance at church, financial support of the organization and compliance with their definitions of sin versus goodness. This is Learned Helplessness in a nutshell. Catholic Church authorities abuse and poison you, then offer you a way out (salvation) that requires you to financially support them, your abusers.

Doesn't that sound like the Stockholm Syndrome? First they take you hostage and then suggest you can have certain freedoms as long as you comply with their prefabricated formulas of seeking redemption and acceptance. Fearing the devil and outright damnation, what's a hostage to do? Especially a child? I did what we all did, accepted their authority and complied.

Let's summarize, shall we. First, you are born into Original Sin = lie #1. Then you must seek salvation, through Catholicism's methods only = lie #2. God, who is perfect, and by that definition should only create perfection, screwed up with you and that's why you need to be molded = lie #3. The Catholic Church, who infected you with this poisonous conception of yourself, now offer themselves up as the key to your salvation = lie #4. You are not to challenge this authority = lie #5. You are never to doubt or question any of their teachings = lie #6. The Catholic Church truly represents Jesus Christ and all His teachings = lie #7. And the list goes on.

The truth is the Romans crucified Christ and the Roman Catholic Church has trampled all over his body. There are many more lies we can attribute to the Catholic Church and these will be well documented in succeeding chapters.

This is particularly hard to write about because my guilt and shame buttons are setting off alarms left and right. Those buttons are still somewhat alive at the moment and are reacting to these words. I'm strong enough at this point to let that happen because I know this purging will be convulsive at times. The inner me, the one who truly knows the truth, is guiding me along and providing all the necessary encouragement to see myself through this process. Each word, each phrase, each sentence touches that wound inside me. As with any infection, I know there will be painful times as I squeeze this religious pus out. I will withstand the pain so that I can finally be rid of this poison.

My steeping in the poison well of Catholicism drove me to Psychology like a dried out thirsty traveler to an oasis. For a time, psychology became my new religion because it offered insights into my pain and suffering, and gave me tools that did not require unquestionable abdication of my own power. I could now choose psychology as a way out of my personal dilemmas. I had no choice in regards to the religion in which I was poisoned.

My first venture into self-help came at age 20 when I read Norman Vincent Peale's "The Power of Positive Thinking." I didn't know what was wrong with me at the time. All I knew was that life didn't make sense and my parents' view of the world no longer worked. I wasn't strong enough to completely abdicate my membership, but I was strong enough and intelligent enough to begin asking questions and seeking my own answers. It would be another 10 years or so before I could finally shake off those religious shackles and see them for what they were. Outright lies, psychological deceit and abusive control mechanisms!

Dr Peale certainly espoused his own religious flavor, but it never came across as toxic. I felt I could easily reach past that part of his message and retrieve the dominant psychological pointers my aching heart was yearning for. I've read thousands of self-help and personal growth books since then. They each offered their own brand of nourishment that I took to like a duck to water. It felt right. And from that point forward, I trusted that part of me, the inner me, my heart center, to lead me forward on my climb out of the poison well of Catholicism.

My heart is pounding at this point. My whole being is vibrating as I write these words and journal myself back to health in front of all of you who are reading this. I couldn't be any more honest or scared. But that courageous part of me, the still quiet part, says: "move on son, move on, you're doing great."

This comes from my God Self who often speaks on behalf of my wounded Inner Child. He and I know we need this cleansing desperately. We are so close to being completely free, I know this will be our final struggle. My Inner Child and I are coming out kicking and screaming, knocking down the remnants of religious authoritarianism that still carries that original poison. I feel like a young bird, trying to be born, crashing his way out of his shell to reach for freedom and true liberation. This is my final goodbye to Catholicism and Religion in general. I will scrape every aspect of them out of my Heart and Soul and be completely Free of their tyranny. My Inner Child needs this, and my God Self demands it.

The insidious nature of modern Catholicism and all its attending teachings are the venom we must be rid of. Just like an animal who has eaten something bad for them, my inner child wants to throw up everything given to him by the Catholic Church. He is so angry he could easily seek revenge of a physical nature were there not sensible precautions against doing so. I know, I have heard from priest friends and other religious types that at its core, the Catholic religion has a good message. I am also sure that if I rummage through a garbage bin I may eventually find something palatable to eat. Since it is a garbage bin, I simply choose not to eat there.

Our wounded inner child is primitive. When struck by a physical or verbal blow, they immediately want to strike back. That's what you find when you peel away all the layers of indoctrination and psychological defense mechanisms, an angry Inner Child with a serious desire for revenge. Unhindered, that could happen, but most likely not. Why? For the simple reason that we have to develop a sophisticated method of self-assessment guided by our Higher Self to see that damage in the first place. From that vantage point, violence is never an answer.

What does our abused Inner Child want? Just like the animal who vomits the material that would potentially poison him or her, so does this child want to be rid of the lies and manipulations that have kept them a psychological and emotional prisoner all these years. There is life outside of religion and I as a spiritually free individual choose to seek it. I can no longer tolerate the Catholic Church's Stockholm syndrome approach to religious compliance.

This is powerful stuff I write as it comes rushing to the surface. Myself as guardian of my inner world has served notice that all bets are off. "Cry if you must, little child! Scream if you want to! Swear if that helps. Say everything that needs to be said and say it thoroughly. Do not leave one stone unturned." That is my message to him, as his father and main caregiver on this plane. "Your experiences of abuse will be heard and duly noted. Blame for the religious portion of this abuse will be placed where it belongs, on the shoulders of the Catholic Church who, not only sanctioned it, but invented and taught the methodology."

Before I'm finished with this project there will be blood on the floor. There will be gnashing of teeth by the Catholic Authorities and they will want to strike back. But they will do it in a well camouflaged diatribe of intellectual nonsense that will include feeling sorry for such a poor soul as myself. There will be vain attempts at shutting me down. There will certainly be strong efforts to discredit me. To them I say "I've got a PhD, a loving heart and a direct connection to Source who has prepared me for this. Good luck with that."

I know I'm not being thrown to the lions here. I'm being trotted out with all the tools, information and spiritual protection one needs to deal with the coming backlash from the current establishment. If these religious authorities were truly comfortable with their position they would simply ignore me. But they are not, so they won't. They are on tenuous ground that keeps shifting beneath their feet with every move they make, and with the advancing knowledge base the Internet is now offering the entire world. They are off balance in a serious and dangerous way and they know it. Their livelihoods as pretenders to a self-erected religious throne is threatened. Their way of life is about to disappear.

No wonder the Catholic Church is behind open borders in the United States. They need new recruits. And the only place they can get them is from impoverished countries whose population is largely uneducated. An educated population, tired of self-appointed gurus and self-promoting religious authorities, is keeping a watchful eye. The Internet pounces every time they open their mouths, so they retreat into their well developed denial systems to lick their wounds and regroup.

I am no longer concerned about how my opinions affect others. I am not out to harm anyone, only tell the truth as it rises in my heart, a heart that was once held captive by the Catholic Religion of my youth. I trust my heart now, more than ever in my life. And surprise, surprise, there's my God Self. I just want you to find yours and open up to that. That was Christ's message to all of us - "The Kingdom is Within" "Trust Your Self!"

Organized religion will get what is coming to them from every direction imaginable. As mentioned earlier, this past week former American President Jimmy Carter announced he was severing ties with his religious organization after 6 decades of loyal compliance. Others are decrying religion as a virus. Just Google "Religion in Decline" and see for yourself.

As the religious ice age of our times, they are in full retreat. Their end is upon them and they are clinging to the marginal underpinnings of their belief system. They will be called to answer for their abuse of children, their disenfranchisement of woman and their outright fabrication of so-called religious principles that were designed solely to support their false claims.

"I am mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" (from the movie - "Network")

Speak your truth! Blog your truth! Join a support group! Find a way to rid yourself of this poison and begin the journey. This website, Trans4mind.com, has every tool you need to engage that process and move from entry level personal awareness to final liberation from all the untruths and false premises you were inculcated with. What is final liberation? When you know that you're being God Incarnate is the same as "To Thine own Self be True."

This New Age that has come upon us and is gaining momentum every day needs clean vehicles in which to anchor God's incoming Light. The Christ within us needs to feel safe in order to open and receive it. She/he needs to know that you are ready to take care of them, a task you could not undertake when you were a child being victimized by your family's religious authority. The God in you is done with that. She/he never wanted to be associated with the pornographers of faith who operated in His name.

The Christ that is now being revealed to us is sickened by their behavior, as am I and most of you reading this. Yes, He speaks through me, as He does through thousands if not millions of souls who are opening to His word right now, none of whom lay claim to any organized religion, including Catholicism.

Are you prepared to journey with me and the many way-showers who are paving the way into this new millennium? It may get rough for a while. We ex Catholics who have been simmering with the toxic effects of shame and guilt for years, if not eons, are ready to boil over. The poison in our systems will be evacuated once and for all. The shame and guilt buttons installed by these religious authorities are being disconnected as I write this. This religious ice age is now in full retreat. You certainly don't need to be an ex Catholic to apply this strategy to your life. If the shoe fits, wear it. Then take care of whatever business your heart reveals as needing your immediate attention.

Such inner work does not benefit from intellectual banter. You must move straight to your heart and adopt all the tools necessary to beget a proper cleansing. The God in You and in All of Us wants to be FREE. So let us do whatever is necessary to bring that about, and let us support each other in our individual endeavors.

Check out our articles on Journaling, Dealing with Feelings, working through Grief and Loss and Lightworker Q&A for some guidance on how to approach this challenge. Your heart will show you what you need.

Trans4mind offers many tools that can help you expand your self-understanding and guide you in healing those wounds associated with religious abuse. Give yourself what you need.

Then support this effort through your much needed donations. Have your money make a real difference for a change, rather than guilding the halls of the Vatican. Whatever you can give will come back to you tenfold in the form of new videos, articles, podcasts and personal growth tools that are being developed and delivered here everyday.

Make an investment in Your Self. Exchange energy with us so we can bring you more of the wonderful gifts that already adorn these pages. Let Trans4mind be your Spiritual Refueling station. Take what you need. And give what you can. If my story helps you, then imagine what sharing all our stories will do for those individuals coming out from under religion's melting ice pack looking for comfort, solace and spiritual direction. That's right! Your story can have a great impact on someone else. Contact me here if you would like to share your story of escape from the suppression of orthodox religion.

Are you ready for this journey? It's going to be exciting. And it will be the most liberating experience of your life. This is your chance to learn what Christ wanted to teach us from the beginning. The Kingdom is Within and We are Gods just waiting to be found.

NOW IS THE TIME!

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Who should use this self-help guide?

• Anyone who wants to learn about their self, and their place in the world!
• Anyone who would rather be happy, than right!
• Anyone who wants to grow, to be more creative, alive, on fire, and excited about their life!
• Anyone who wants more love, prosperity, self-esteem, personal growth, relationship happiness, success and freedom to express themselves and all their gifts.
• Anyone who believes they are here for a purpose and wishes to live that purpose!
• Anyone who's goal is to take charge of their life and master the circumstances affecting them.
• Anyone who believes they create their own reality and wants to grow into the person they are meant to be!
• Anyone who gets excited when learning new things, especially about their 'self' and why they are here!