I believe there are ideologies that are objectively pernicious to humanity. I believe there are sets of beliefs that are inherently incompatible with life itself, and to me, the clearest example of this is evangelical Christianity.
Before children are old enough to understand death, they are taught to fear hell. Before they understand sexuality, they are told their bodies can lead them into sin. Doubts and normal questions typical of a young age become rebellion. Intrusive thoughts become irrefutable evidence that their spirits are corrupted. Evangelical Christianity creates constant anxiety because they are taught that danger is always present and God, God is always watching.
No child should ever be subjected to this horror of a religion. Making a mistake no longer means they did something wrong. It confirms what they were taught from the beginning: Something is wrong with them. Anger, doubt, curiosity and sexual feelings can all become evidence of a corrupt heart.
There is a difference between feeling guilty and living with shame. Guilt tells you that you did something bad. Shame convinces you that you are deliberately bad. Evangelical Christianity teaches people that sin is not just something they do. It is part of who they are.
A 2026 study published in the Journal of Religion and Health surveyed 378 adults from Christian communities. Religious struggles were strongly linked to suicidal behavior.
This is what happens when people are taught that suffering reflects a spiritual failure. A depressed person is not given compassion; they are told they need to read more scripture. Someone with anxiety is told to trust God. A person experiencing intrusive thoughts may be told they are under demonic attack. This is just madness; it’s senseless cruelty.
People learn not to ask for help. Why would they if they are yelled at and ridiculed when they do? They are told they are weak, sinful or ungrateful. They may even feel guilty for wanting to die because suicide has also been presented as an unforgivable sin.
Girls are taught that their bodies are temptations and that their worth depends on remaining sexually untouched. They are not even allowed to develop an identity since being a pure girl becomes their identity.
Perhaps the deepest damage is the destruction of self-trust. Parents and pastors become prosecutors. You are not safe, not even in your own thoughts.
If you are a victim of this kind of upbringing and, to this day, suffer from anxiety, depression and an identity crisis, I tell you: It’s not your fault. No human is born bad. No thought is evidence of sin. You are just a person trying to survive. I feel love for you just because you are human, and so am I.
