My parents are fundamentalist Christians and make me go to their church every Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday evening. I am a front desk receptionist at a more laid-back, contemporary church and want to join it. I have tried talking to my parents, and they won’t let me switch churches because they think the church I work at is too “liberal.” My moral conscious will not allow me to accept the teaching at that fundamentalist church (such as: keeping rules to earn God’s favor, KJV-Onlyism, legalism, and advocating of spanking children until their will is broken), which is why I want to switch churches. I also have some very tense relationships with the leadership at that fundamentalist church, and it’s intimidating.

My father is constantly yelling and gripping at my mother and me. In the past, there has been physical abuse, while the tongue-lashings stay constant even now. I am concerned for my mom’s well being, in particular (although I’ve never seen him get physical with her). CPS was involved a few months ago when I walked into work and a pastor of the church I work at noticed I was having a hard time walking (because my dad had punched me in the face repeatedly and threw his 300+ pound frame on me while I was on the ground- and it was over the whole church thing), so he filed a report but CPS closed our case.

Can my parents force me to go to their church? Can I just leave on Sunday mornings and go to the church I work at? What should I do if my dad gets physical again with me? What resources are available for my emotionally damaged mother?