I know several girls from the strict Pentecostal world who have talked about suidcide. The preacher guy I was engaged to once told me of how he was pondering suicide one night because he couldn't get the Holy Ghost or speak in tongues. The next night he went to revival, took off his class ring and "received the baptism." At the time I thought this was normal, but I know now that it just isn't. While I was serving my time in the movement, my best friend told me how she wanted her whole funeral to be planned out and that she wanted me to be her administrator. It was like she thought God was going to kill her or something because she could never measure up to the standards. She stayed beat down all the time.

I think the biggest cause for the suicidal thoughts (at least the cases I have been exposed to) is because of all the hard preaching and the focus on the devil. How many times have we heard hell fire and brimstone and the "devil is out to get you" sermons? Of course you are going to be depressed when this is as close to encouragement as you ever get in these churches. Focusing on evil is enough to make anyone want to die.

My mom even said that when she was a teenager she wanted the rapture to take place so all her family and church people would be left behind and she could wear pants. It's like these young people just want to be put out of their misery any way possible. It's so sad.