I just saw on AskReddit a thread about the most traumatizing thing you've ever seen and it IMMEDIATELY made me think of an incredibly traumatizing youth group experience that I had when I was eleven years old (one of the reasons I reference when people ask me why I'm no longer a Christian).

Where I live, most youth start in youth group in grade sex... So usually 11/12 years old.

My friend invited me to go to her Pentecostal youth group for my first time ever.

When we arrived at the church, the building was in total darkness and there were signs on the door.

The signs said something to the effect of; "Due to current laws in our province, this place of worship is CLOSED. Christianity is now ILLEGAL." (note. I live in Canada. This was 1998).

The youth pastor/rest of the youth kids were standing in front of the church, lots of them were crying, sobbing. Parents were standing around confused.

The youth pastor said "Guys, guys! We can't be here gathered like this. We need to get out of here. We need to go somewhere we can be safe."

He went and talked to the parents and they all left and the youth group walked a few blocks to one of our leaders houses. We all had to file into the basement in the complete darkness. We only lit candles in the basement.

We all sobbed. And cried. And sniffled. And the youth pastor kept saying "wow, guys. Wow. To think we're living in this world. All these other third world countries where things have always been this way... And now here it is happening to us. Here are the instructions on how you can stay the strong Christian that you were meant to be. We're all going to be okay! We're going to fight the government! Our God is so big! And so strong! And so mighty! There's nothing he can't do! Including overturning a government!!"

We file out of the house in small groups (don't want to tip off the neighbours abou out illegal Christian gathering) with the youth pastor leaving first (ya know, in case the police were waiting by the door) and we all walk back to the church... Still continuing to sob and cry about the terrible state our world is in, how are we going to live now, THE POLICE ARE COMING FOR ALL THE CHRISTIANS!!!

When we start to get close to the church... We notice the lights are all on. People are inside. The notes on the doors have all been torn down.

The youth pastor is there on the steps waiting for us. He tells us... "Thankfully, what you experienced tonight... Isn't real. Christianity isn't illegal in Canada... YET". And then gives us his message that this was all done to teach us the value of being able to be a Christian in a country that doesn't practice religious persecution.

I had nightmares for many MONTHS following this... Upwards of a year. When I went to therapy as a teenager, this incident came up a few times.

It literally DISGUSTS me, as an adult, that there were MANY adults involved in the planning of this event... And not a single one of them thought it was a bad idea?? They all thought this was a great learning lesson for us!!