We don't know exactly what Matthew Murray was going through that led to the Colorado shootings. But he apparently wrote the agonized postings of "Nightmare Child," on ex-pentecostals.com. He was suffering a lot of pain and rage, partly about his upbringing in the church and his continuing frustration with Christians. (Some of this was in May, 2007, when I invited him to contact me for help.)

I think this case raises important issues, and now is a good time to bring these to more public awareness.

1. There is such a thing as religious abuse, and it is traumatic. We're not talking about "cults" in the stereotypical Jim Jones sense. Fundamentalist Christianity is a cult if by that we mean mind control. Teaching small children that they are 1) basically bad and incapable, 2) responsible for the horrible, bloody death of Christ, and 3) in danger of burning in hell for eternity is abuse of the worst kind. Children at an early age do not have the cognitive ability to evaluate this, nor are they given any alternatives. If they are indoctrinated young, the ideas become deeply held assumptions that are very hard to change despite intellectual changes later in life. Hence the secret anxiety and sometimes terror that is too shameful to talk about. (People who convert at an older age are usually in a vulnerable state and the dynamic is similar.)
2. Fundamentalist, authoritarian religions teach that it is a sin to doubt, to question, to think for yourself. This is the most insidious of many examples of circular reasoning that keeps people trapped in the system. Another is the idea that if the religion is not working for you, it must be you that is not doing it right, and the solution is for you to try harder not to disappoint God.
3. Our society (the U.S.) venerates "freedom of religion" along with freedom of speech, and therefore turns a blind eye to toxic teachings.
4. Families are independent and isolated from the larger society and able to create subcultures with tremendous power. Parents behave as though they own their children and have a right to teach whatever they want and also limit outside information.
5. When a person manages to break away from an authoritarian religion, a serious recovery process can be necessary. The fear and anger, depression and isolation can be overwhelming. Our culture needs to recognize this as a real mental issue with resources available.