Suffer the Children

• Did you grow up in a fundamental religion such as Christian, Jewish, or Muslim?
• Were you taught to fear the wrath of God?
• Were you depressed as a child—a depression that follows you today?
  
  

This book is a must-read if you answered yes to any of these questions. You are not alone. Millions of good people suffer the lingering effects of a childhood steeped in fear and self-loathing. Regardless of your current beliefs (believer, agnostic, atheist), you will see yourself or someone you love in these pages.

Suffer the Children: From Fanaticism to Mental Illness starts with the author's own evangelical journey, complete with speaking in tongues, dancing in the spirit, faith healing, and casting out demons. While the traditions of her church may be different from your religious customs, the adverse outcomes on mental health may be the same. More importantly, Ms. Eastwood queried over 200 people about their childhood experiences. She asked each to rate the degree to which they felt loneliness, shame, or childhood depression, The results are not scientific, but they do shed light on common difficulties often experienced by kids in church. For example, 34% of survey takers reported significant to extreme depression from age six through twelve, much higher than the 2.5% reported by some researchers in the general population. Furthermore, fifty percent of respondents said they suffer from current clinical depression as adults.

This book is not a condemnation of any religious faith. The issues she raises are as relevant to Jews and Muslims as to Christians. However, it does question the techniques used to dominate and train children within religious organizations. Ms. Eastwood asserts that raising children steeped in fear creates anxiety, loneliness, shame, and depression. This depression often follows the child into adulthood.