Girl at the End of the World by Elizabeth Esther

Includes reading group discussion guide and interview with the authorFrom the Trade Paperback edition. To leave.In her memoir, readers will recognize questions every believer faces: When is spiritual zeal a gift, and when is it a trap? What happens when a pastor holds unchecked sway over his followers? And how can we leave behind the harm inflicted in the name of God without losing God in the process?By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Girl at the End of the World is a story of the lingering effects of spiritual abuse and the growing hope that God can still be good when His people fail. Not until she was grown and married did she find the courage to attempt the unthinkable.

Trained in her family-run church to confess sins real and imagined, she knew her parents loved her and God probably hated her. If I can preach on this street corner and withstand the heckling of sinners, I’ll show everyone I’m ready to be a martyr for the Lord.

A story of mind control, the Apocalypse, and modest attire.Elizabeth Esther grew up in love with Jesus but in fear of daily spankings (to 'break her will'). by Elizabeth Esther Girl at the End of the World My escape from fundamentalism in search of faith with a future (a summary by Pat Evert) Brainwashed I am ready to die for Jesus. I know hundreds of obscure nineteenth-century hymns by heart and have such razor sharp 'modesty vision' that I can spot a miniskirt a mile away.Verily, verily I say unto thee, none of these highly specialized skills ever got me a job, but at least I'm all set for the end of the world. Remember you can support Seminary Dropout by clicking the “ Support” tab above.I was raised in a homegrown, fundamentalist Christian group-which is just a shorthand way of saying I'm classically trained in apocalyptic stockpiling, street preaching, and the King James Version of the Bible. Subscribe/Rate/Review Seminary Dropout in iTunes Girl at the End of the World: My Escape from Fundamentalism in Search of Faith with a Future(affiliate link) Note: There are some parts of this interview that you probably don’t want your kids to hear. How she finally left the group, but couldn’t bring herself to leave God. In her first book ‘Girl at the End of the World’, Elizabeth writes about her life growing up preaching on the streets, unable to hold hands with boys, and rehearsing an escape plan in preparation for the apocalypse. A commune, a strict dress code and leaders who went unchecked & unrestrained, it’s all there. Many of us grew up in a somewhat more conservative environment than the one we live in now, but Elizabeth Esther grew up in an actual cult. Esther effectively uses dialogue and description to paint a compelling picture of her life as a child, teenager, and young married woman living under the Assembly’s authority. Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed The strongest sections of Girl at the End of the World come in the first two-thirds of the book.

Girl at the End of the World by Elizabeth Esther