I never said religion is the only poison. But I think it's a big one. I think it's a tool used to quiet people down and control them for other purposes. I think it's a set of blinders people wear.

Did I say religion is the only thing poisonous to society? No, I did not. But nonbelievers aren't safe from religion at all.

I guess, as a non-religious person in a religious locale, I've been exposed to a hell of a lot of fanatics then, because when 6 year olds are taught to tell other 6 year olds they're evil or going to hell, that's pretty poisonous. And these are people who most wouldn't think of as fanatics.

Actually, yes, it's religion that it poisonous to society. Every country has its problems with religion infiltrating law. Religion causes the followers to believe they're "better than" and can speak and act with impunity because their god or their book says so.

To me it makes no difference. It is ignorant to kill people for burning a book. Headline should be "Woman Killed For Ignorant and Insane Reason"

Thankfully, we didn't have a big, outward war. And our kids were really, really little. I think they were effected, obviously, because kids are so sensitive. But I don't know that they knew the extent of what happened. I very quickly knew I needed counseling for it and I sought it out ASAP. I think that was key. She…

I guess by asking honestly, and not over-reacting? When my husband had distanced himself from me over a friendship, he didn't see what he was doing as hurtful or emotional cheating. He reacted poorly at first, because to him, no genital contact meant no cheating. Once he saw I really was hurt, he stepped back and…

We are definitely in a better place. He didn't realize how much he'd pulled back from me and invested into the woman from work. I sought counseling and worked through my feelings. My counselor helped me express those feelings to my husband. Part of me staying meant he had to distance himself from her (they work…

Uh, it's what happened. I was mentally and physically abused by a boyfriend in college. He cheated on me, so I had a "reason" to leave that he accepted. Prior attempts to break up had him stalking me until I went back. With a new person for him to fixate on, I was free.

Oh, I was riffing with you, lol!

Agreed. Wouldn't hindsight as foresight be so nice? I'm glad you were able to make it through and past that.

Sometimes I think you're right - people who accuse almost constantly have the guilty conscience.

Thanks. Like I said, I was glad he cheated, lol. My husband was really good getting me through the bad things and helping me feel whole and safe. :)

I guess that depends on what sort of cheating you mean. Sexual or emotional.

This is a really good point! My husband has had other female friends, but only the one friendship truly hurt me. It was all about how SHE acted, and how HE was towards me during the whole fiasco.

Yeah, not all men cheat. I was cheated on before, but it actually was a relief. I was able to get out of the abusive relationship because of the cheating.

THIS. So much! If the shoe were on the other foot, it would be a whole other story. Made me so mad.

That gaslighting shit bugs me to no end. "If you loved me, you would know I'm not cheating." GAHHH!!!

My husband wouldn't be down for another guy joining us, and I wouldn't be down with another girl. Sad trombone.

It's also not always about sex. Having been the spouse who was jealous and upset about the "work wife" my husband had, I knew 10000000% he wasn't screwing her. But he was emotionally cheating. He wasn't talking to me as much about issues/upsets/work and was instead turning to her to talk about all that stuff. For me,…