Hairdresseronfire

The Hare Krishna community actually had some really lovely elements. The food is delicious and the clothes they wear are so colourful and cheery. There's also a sense of community that comes from it, everyone is thought of as either your brother, sister, auntie or uncle (because we're all 'children' of the guru.) They also have really beautiful songs, and meeting up with people once a week is nice.

But it's also really patriachal. Women and children are thought of as the property of the husband, and wives address their husband as 'Prabhu' which translates as 'master.' So women are taught to be submissive and do what they're told, and not really think too much. They also want women to always cover everything up as to not encourage lustful thoughts of men. And there's a lot of shame around menstruation, it's thought of as dirty and when you're on your period you aren't allowed to touch anyone else, cook food or do worship.

I just started to question a lot of their beliefs. They told me that the sun was closer than the moon, which I could see with my own eyes wasn't true. They also sat on the floor to eat and wouldn't use cutlery, which I just thought was stupid. It was a lot of little things, I think they just wanted an obedient little krishna girl and I wasn't really that.

One time my half brother and I were annoyed at my mother so we should get revenge on her.

We first decided we were going to dig a really deep hole and trap her, but after about 10 minutes of digging we realised that wasn't going to work. We already had a hole, though, so we dug a little bit deeper and then tried to do a shit in it, so she'd step in it. We tried, but we just couldn't go.

Then we realised we had a compost toilet, filled with suitable turds, just nearby. So we got a pair of long sticks lifted some out, then put it in in the hole. We covered it over with sticks and leaves so it just looked like a normal piece of ground.

We then called Mum over 'to show her something,' but she didn't step on it at first and just walked by. So we (super subtly) said 'you should step there!' And then she did, but our covering skills were too good and the sticks held her up above the hole. Then she gave us a weird look and walked away.

I don't know if that's funny, or just a bit fucked up....

No, I'm an atheist, but not very fussed about it. I did go through a Richard Dawkins faze where I argued with all my religious friends whenever religion was brought up, though.

I think it did show me a darker side to religion, the way it can be used to control people. So yeah, I'm a bit more wary.

Nope, I got kicked out when I was thirteen.