Sintemalen (2)

Their church strictness came in two categories: DON’T DO THIS and DO THIS

DON’T DO THIS

Do not cut or dye your hair if you are a girl/woman, do not wear long hair if you are a boy/men, don’t visit a hairdresser, don’t wear nylons or pants if you are a women, do not smoke, do not drink alcoholic beverages, do not dance, do not listen to ‘worldly’ music (since satanic), do not attend bars and taverns, do not ask for medical help (unless in severe cases or accidents - since God helps through prayer), do not engage in sex-opposite boy/girl-friendships, stay away from physical education at school (gymnastics, swimming, since you would see half-naked girls/boys), do not have premarital sex, do not have sex just for reasons of pleasure (only for procreation), do not listen to radio and do not watch TV, do not take any contraceptives, do not attend church services other than those of your own community, do not become wealthy, do not wear jewelry, do not strive for higher education, do not engage in idle talking, do not enter a cinema, do not stay in a room together with a person of opposite sex, unless someone else is in the room as well or you are married, …

DO THIS

Pray, read and cite bible verses, confess sins, repent, get baptized, witness the mercies of God, be active in missionary work, pray before eating, wear head-scarves and long skirts in church if you are a woman, sit on the woman’s side in church, sing songs of praise, play an instrument for the honor of God, cook and serve food at community meetings, walk the narrow path, be always afraid of the Antichrist … and of course, eagerly wait for the (imminent) coming of the Lord.

When Susanna’s family moved to another place within Switzerland, it happened that one of their new neighbors was an evangelical (protestant) pastor with his family. This made Susanna feel uneasy. But it should come worse. The house right next to theirs was still empty, until one day … a couple belonging to the already mentioned Evangelischer Brüderverein moved into it … with the effect that now Susanna was directly confronted with her harm-inflicting past and this posed an imminent danger for her wellbeing (as we will see later).


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