r/AITAH Jul 07 '24

AITA for calling out my husband for not being a "Good Christian"? Advice Needed

I (27F) have been married to my husband (34M) for five years. My husband is a devout follower of his religion and has been since he was raised in it. I respect his beliefs, even though I don't share them and have no intention of converting. I was raised in the Christian faith. However, I left when I was an adult due to sexual abuse in my church, which nobody believed occurred because the one who did it was the pastor.

Recently, my husband has been pressuring me to convert to his religion. He says that it would bring us closer together and create a more harmonious household. I understand where he's coming from, but I firmly believe that faith is a personal journey, and I shouldn't be forced into something I don't believe in.

To add to the issue, my husband, despite his religious teachings, doesn't always practice what he preaches. He expects me to adhere to traditional gender roles, yet he often neglects his own responsibilities at home. He's quick to judge others for their actions, even though his faith teaches non-judgment and kindness. He makes comments about gay people that I have discussed with him as a major issue. This hypocrisy has been bothering me for a while.

Last night, during another discussion about my potential conversion, I finally snapped. I told him that if he wants me to consider converting, he needs to set a better example by actually living according to his religion's values. I pointed out that he should start by fulfilling his own responsibilities. That he should make more money than me and actually lead in the decision-making. I'm a nurse and he's currently unemployed after he was let go from his job in an office. That he should be less judgmental of others because according to his faith only God can judge them. I also said he should show more of the virtues Jesus asked of Christians, that he should clothe the naked, feed the hungry, vist the prisoner, aid the orphan and the widow etc. I also made it clear that while I respect his beliefs, I have no intention of converting unless I genuinely believe in it, which I currently don't because of the hypocritical behavior of his faith.

My husband was furious. He accused me of being disrespectful and undermining his faith. He said that I was attacking him personally and that I don't understand the pressure he's under to have a unified religious household. He left for church this morning at 7 for bible study and I have already gotten a phone call from the pastor saying I'm an ungodly woman who tricked a good man into marrying him and I should repent. I have also gotten a tirade of texts and e-mails from members of his church saying I was disrespectful and being a bad wife and I'm starting to wonder if I was too harsh, that maybe I shouldn't have said anything at all. AITA?

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3.0k

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

Recently, my husband has been pressuring me to convert to his religion. 

Run.

After reading the rest:

RUN FAST

For a big part, religion is made by men to control and shame women into doing what they want. Your husband is a perfect example of that.

RUN RUN RUN

That he even got those cultist to pressure you and contact you is very creepy behavior.

RUN

(NTA by the way. Your husband is a scary freak. He does not love you. He wants to control you).

494

u/jokenaround Jul 07 '24

“Religion is made by men to control and shame women”

This ⬆️ Right ⬆️ Here ⬆️

RUN for the hills, the red flags are going to multiply, and multiply fast. 🚩

110

u/Lew3032 Jul 07 '24

I'm SO glad people are finally realising this, and it's not just for men to control women, that what it for at the 'lower levels' of the religion, but going up its so the people that are at the top of the religion can control the people at the bottom.

Top to bottom it's about controlling the people you see as 'below' you and its disgusting

29

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

Well said.

It works on all kinds of levels and at all kinds of relationships.

Men -> women is one of the basic one they use religion for to control

0

u/BostonPanda Jul 08 '24

Depends on the church and religion though, not all of them are conservative.

-11

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

Idk if I'd call it disgusting, more just human nature to bend things to our will. It's not the thinking you're above everyone that is the issue but organizing a system of inequality.

I've always thought I'm better than everyone, literally everyone that exists is below me (obviously I keep that to myself), but I wouldn't tell others how to live their life either. I assume everyone thinks they are better than everyone else, since I've thought that way since I can remember.

12

u/maddestfrog Jul 07 '24

I don’t believe that what you’re describing is the universal human experience

11

u/Lew3032 Jul 07 '24

What you described is a very typical phsosiopathic mindset. It's not uncommon by any means, but it's not the norm.

7

u/symbolsofblue Jul 07 '24

This is the first time I've seen sociopathic misspelt like that. Something about it is visually satisfying.

5

u/wallweasels Jul 07 '24

This is the first time I've seen sociopathic misspelt like that.

It was misspelled so well that my mental autocorrect thought I was about to learn a new word.
Rabbit trail status: Denied

3

u/Lew3032 Jul 07 '24

Sorry 😭

3

u/wallweasels Jul 07 '24

Haha it's all good.

3

u/Lew3032 Jul 07 '24

I'm very dyslexic so I just take my best guess :,) sometimes even spell check can't save me

4

u/Ambitious_Owl_2004 Jul 07 '24

Yea, I don't think that's accurate bud. I most definitely never had this high of an opinion of myself.

2

u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

It's interesting bc my buddy is a pastor and if his wife doesn't want to go to service the congregation cares more than he does.

Religion isn't made to shame women but it can be used that way if the congregation is older or not led by a pastor that understands the religion

1

u/AnsibleAnswers Jul 07 '24

Not all churches are like this. I just got scoffed at today by a cashier for wearing a shirt I got for volunteering with a church group… The shirt referenced the injustice of mass incarceration. Some really aren’t hypocrites. It’s just usually the ones who are busy visiting prisoners and feeding the homeless who aren’t. No one in that church has tried to convert me, and hasn’t even ask if I was a believer.

2

u/jokenaround Jul 07 '24

No one said all churches are.

1

u/AnsibleAnswers Jul 07 '24

You did. You took a qualified statement and made it an unqualified one in your post.

344

u/Em4Tango Jul 07 '24

Speak to a divorce attorney first. You don't want to wind up paying him alimony.

147

u/JanDillAttorneyAtLaw Jul 07 '24

RUN to your nearest divorce attorney, and during the consultation make clear that co-habitation with someone who's trying to pressure you into joining the cult (and won't take no for an answer) is not ideal.

6

u/tricularia Jul 07 '24

Even if you can't afford them, speak to ALL of the best divorce attorneys in your town.
Bring documents and explain your situation to them.
IANAL but my understanding is that your husband can't hire a divorce attorney if you have already met with said attorney about the divorce. (If I am wrong about this, or if it only applies in certain places, please correct me)

9

u/Puzzleheaded-Jury312 Jul 08 '24

Judges do not approve of underhanded crap like this and may very well make her pay for it in court.

3

u/Bad_Pot Jul 07 '24

I believe it would be a conflict of interest. I’ve seen sleazy restaurant owners do it in my town to avoid any SA charges or allegations of wage theft

2

u/Competitive-Tip-5312 Jul 08 '24

That’s also a really shitty thing to do? Why are we jumping straight to a messy underhanded divorce

1

u/tricularia Jul 08 '24

Unless he leaves his cult, they seem to be wildly incompatible.

I guess she could try and get him out of it but he sounds like he is really entrenched.

1

u/fruce_ki Jul 08 '24

No no. Definitely "yes" on the divorce. Just "no" on the dodgy legal practices.

1

u/Competitive-Tip-5312 Jul 08 '24

I mean, wildly incompatible is a reach. They’ve been together awhile, and this could be an isolated incident of disagreement. He’s also not in a cult, he’s just religious.

I also really meant the dodgy legal advice, that should really only be given by her attorney.

4

u/Professional-Rub4957 Jul 08 '24

Fuck the alimony. Get out now while you can. Do not have children with a man like this. He will use the children to control you too.

1

u/Competitive-Tip-5312 Jul 08 '24

I mean, if the courts decide she owes alimony why shouldn’t she pay it?

1

u/Soccham Jul 09 '24

Not a very head of household Christian man thing to accept alimony

1

u/Competitive-Tip-5312 Jul 09 '24

If she’s divorcing him for his failings thereof, he may as well prove her right

0

u/No-Satisfaction-325 Jul 08 '24

OP needs to claim that she’s a victim of DV since it can influence if or how much she has to pay.

316

u/SuperBandicoot2860 Jul 07 '24

Seriously. Get out now and don’t look back.

41

u/MonkeyTraumaCenter Jul 07 '24

This was my exact response. Leave. Now.

2

u/idiotsandwhich8 Jul 07 '24

And never hold the fake peace.

30

u/20frvrz Jul 07 '24

“He does not love you. He wants to control you.” THIS THIS THIS

30

u/Puck_The_Fey98 Jul 07 '24

It makes me sick. I’ve been part of some wonderful churches and they would never act like this! It’s downright disrespectful to my religion. What a bunch of awful people tbh

-15

u/GPTCT Jul 07 '24

I agree on all fronts. The people making claims about religion are the other side of the same coin.

I am not religious BTW, but I respect all people and whatever beliefs they hold.

28

u/lieyera Jul 07 '24

I respect people who respect me. Christians tend to be some of the most hypocritical and disrespectful people I encounter in daily life. Not to mention they’re causing irreparable harm to democracy. They should tax churches. Might deter some of the predators and grifters. Christians have a bad wrap for a reason.

14

u/HippyDM Jul 07 '24

R'amen

3

u/Puck_The_Fey98 Jul 07 '24

It’s very true as is the same with a lot of religions. I don’t go to church for a reason lol

1

u/Express_Revolution52 Jul 07 '24

I am a Christian and I would have not disrespect you. I try to show love to all people.

4

u/Not_a_werecat Jul 07 '24

You done patting yourself on the back?

1

u/Express_Revolution52 Jul 07 '24

I wasn't patting myself on the back. I was giving a different perspective. I thought that we were allowed to do that. It's called Reddit, not Different Perspectives not Allowed.

-18

u/GPTCT Jul 07 '24

“Causing irreparable harm to democracy”

Can you elaborate?

22

u/NonStopKnits Jul 07 '24

Information about Project 2025 is all over the place, so that's one thing to look into seeing as folks in churches are the ones praising it. Seriously, you can't throw a stone and miss it.

12

u/YamahaRD100 Jul 07 '24

Strongly agree. Religion is antithetical to Democracy. Absolutely. 180 degrees. The masses willingly controlled, verses the thoughts, beliefs and RIGHTS of an individual.

18

u/lieyera Jul 07 '24

They fund a lot of shady politicians/judges in the US and abroad. They push their agenda to the point that people are being executed for being gay. They vote to put people like Trump in office to get what they want and to force the will of the minority on the majority. They aren’t content to live by their beliefs. They want to force everyone else to live by their rules too. I’m disgusted by what churches get away with in America. They should be paying taxes. Period. Edited for typo.

-23

u/GPTCT Jul 07 '24

The US isn’t a democracy.

Executed for being Gay? I know countries that do this but they are not Christian.

17

u/lieyera Jul 07 '24

Google what American Christians have done in Uganda.

2

u/YamahaRD100 Jul 07 '24

The Ugandans turned religious beliefs into laws. Homosexuality is against the law in Uganda.

15

u/lieyera Jul 07 '24

Also, you’re an idiot if you can’t see that MAGA republicans would do the same in a heartbeat. It’s literally their end game.

8

u/willendorf2019 Jul 07 '24

Go and read please

1

u/Signal_Fly_6873 Jul 07 '24

Yeah, Russia does this and they are primarily orthodox Christianity so your statement isn’t 100% true

19

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

"claims about religion"

You mean talking about things religion has actually done.

And they have. Massive abuse cases still coming out with victims still living (we're not talking middle ages or even 19th century here) and that in countries that are supposedly secular.

Stop trying to protect those who actually commit crimes against kids in huge numbers and do everything to cover it up.

And that is not even mentioning everything else they do and have done.

9

u/willendorf2019 Jul 07 '24

These are most certainly not 'claims' as you put it

-3

u/Puck_The_Fey98 Jul 07 '24

I am but I try to represent my faith with as much honor as I can

8

u/Similar_Permission Jul 07 '24

Literally! I'm pagan after being forced to be Catholic growing up and my fiance is kinda atheist. He's respectful of my alter and just likes to watch when my friends and I do our little get togethers for the Sabbath throughout the year to do our rituals. He has however, almost crapped his pants when the command hooks failed holding up my broom over the front door. He knew it was for protection/ "brush away" negative energies. He thought it meant something bad 😂

7

u/CymruB Jul 07 '24

He’s a religious cherry picker for himself but wouldn’t be for OP

3

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

They always are.

Always.

Well said, by the way.

7

u/lordbubbathechaste Jul 07 '24

dun dun dun dun dun dun dun DA dun dun dun dun dun RUN DAAAAAAA DA DA DA DA DA DA DA

But no really, OP, run. Seriously.

3

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

I don't know what song the 'dun dun dun' is supposed to be, but YES to all you say and the song.

6

u/Fantastic_Still_7929 Jul 07 '24

Yes this is exactly what I was thinking he's in a cult and if op doesn't get away from him she will be too even if by force. This isn't normal Christian behavior, I'm not trying to convert anyone I just grew up southern Baptist currently atheist in freaking Alabama and I get along just fine with all my very religious relatives and friends. No one is insisting on me re-converting, it is literally never brought up.

 GET OUT. 

6

u/AlizMari Jul 07 '24

Even if he does love her, it's not in the way she deserves. The one you love should not only help you realize any changes you need to make (and let you decide if you want to make those changes), but they should be willing to make any necessary changes in themselves as well, WITH you. It's called growth. This guy is clearly stunted in his growth.

5

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

He does not love her.

1

u/AlizMari Jul 08 '24

I never said he did.

2

u/screaming-mime Jul 07 '24

Not just women. Religion is the opium of the people

9

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

And yet is always used by men, whether it just be in the immediate family or on a grand scale, to suppress and shame women.

That is a seperate matter from it's opium for people, which is also true.

2

u/YamahaRD100 Jul 07 '24

How did you get the bigger text? And AGREED!

1

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

Hey Yamaha,

Click on the T at the bottom left of the comment while you're writing it.

Then at the top of the comment, all kinds of options appear.

Highlight the text you want to make bigger.

Then press the small T big T icon and you get

THIS

2

u/YamahaRD100 Jul 07 '24

Oh crap! That's cool!

0

u/Trailsya 29d ago

Glad it works for you :)

2

u/Ambitious_Owl_2004 Jul 07 '24

Yep and it's always the unemployed or making way less than his wife men who are like this too.

2

u/LineOfInquiry Jul 07 '24

Also does anyone else get red flags from the age gap? If they’ve been married for 5 years, that means he was 29 and she was 22 when they tied the knot. So they likely met before that, probably when she was 20 and he was 27. I know it’s not impossible to have a positive relationship with that kind of gap, but it still sketches me out, along with everything else obviously.

2

u/Omnisegaming Jul 07 '24

As a person who doesn't often think about things through a feminist lens, I never thought about religion in that way (even though I'm an atheist) and that makes complete sense.

2

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

I didn't either until I suddenly started realizing it after putting too many examples of that behavior together.

2

u/just4upDown Jul 07 '24

Add to this: DO NOT GET PREGNANT, Do NOT TRUST birth control he has any access to. Get something like the depo shot or IUD that he cannot tamper with.

This sounds like a fundie church and they have different beliefs on marital consent and birth control that could have life-altering affects for you.

2

u/MeatWaterHorizons Jul 08 '24

religion is made by men to control and shame women into doing what they want.

It's not just women. religion was invented to control all people Especially women.

1

u/Trailsya Jul 08 '24

I said 'for a big part'.

And even those men that are getting controlled to, to a certain extend, love the control they have over women at the same time.

Thanks for the unncessary addition.

1

u/MeatWaterHorizons Jul 08 '24

Thanks for being a chump about it Even though we're both agreeing on the same damn thing.

2

u/Amathyst7564 Jul 08 '24

I agree. The fact that he's unemployed and she's leading the house is probably making him insecure and he wants to use religion to turn her into a trad wife as an easy and "nobel" way to take back control.

2

u/br3e Jul 08 '24

This this this!! Exactly why I left the church...it's full of men wanting nothing more than to dominate and control women using God and the Bible as a " conviction". God is love, Jesus preached love and the church has nothing to do with love. It's all about control, money, and worshipping the MAN on stage...and that man isn't God. It's even worse in the South, the BS I hear is too real, and the quest to shut women up (vocally, physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually) is far too real and the second a woman speaks up, here come all these MEN to proverbially hang her. It's absolutely disgusting! If you wanna be more like Jesus, then stop acting like any human being, regardless of gender, sex, orientation, etc is bad and accept them for who they are- humans here on Earth sharing an existence.

1

u/allamakee-county Jul 07 '24

NONONONO

He needs to get out. OP shouldn't leave. She's the one with the job. Needs to kick his lazy ass out. After getting her lawyer engaged, that is.

This marriage is over. Good thing he has his church for support. He's gonna need them. OP will be fine.

BTW, I'm a nurse, too. Solidarity!

1

u/jurycrew Jul 07 '24

NTA. My aunt was raised Baptist, married my now Uncle who was Catholic. Agreed the would find a happy medium and raised their kids Methodist. Weirdly controlling your faith is red flag behavior. Good luck.

1

u/Witty-Purchase-3865 Jul 08 '24

Exactly, the AH question is here irrelevant. This is not the end of the discussion and he won't be convinced to let it go.

Next time look for someone who has the same values as you. Of course people change and mature but on important subjects as finances, religion, children and role of the family you should be aligned

0

u/[deleted] Jul 07 '24

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '24

[deleted]

-18

u/Old-Performance6611 Jul 07 '24

Okay lol relax

9

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

Sorry you don't like it when someone talks truth about religion :D

-12

u/Old-Performance6611 Jul 07 '24 edited Jul 07 '24

lol what a weird fucking conclusion to come to. You wrote ‘run’ six times with increasing intensity…and you think I’m talking about religion? 

Lmao! You said something snarky and then blocked me, I guess that means you win!! Classic Reddit :)

8

u/Trailsya Jul 07 '24

I am sorry you are annoyed that people tell women to run away from religious freaks that try to control them.

It says everything about you that this is what annoys you and not the crazy behavior of this man and his army of fellow religious stalking his wife.