[Vlista] Unbreakable Faith Chapter 3

[GaryO]

Hi Everyone,

 

Chpater 3 is now available for your reading pleasure. You will notice an extra warning on this chapter. Please take it seriously.

 

Great Job on the Writing Vance!

 

GaryO

[dkstories]

You know, I really do like the good pastor after this chapter.

 

 

It's not often in life that I get to truly hate someone, where I can believe in good and evil without any shades of gray entering into the picture. The more I get to know the good preacher and see his treatment of Ian, the more I get to experience pure righteous anger and the knowledge that I could gladly kill someone without feeling the least bit of guilt about the act. Even being executed would be worth removing someone like that from the face of the earth.

 

Thanks Vance, for reminding me how good pure hatred can feel.

[Davey]

When I read this chapter the first time I was truly in a state of shock. I seriouslly didnt expect the events that take place to happen. I knew the good reverend was an evil man, but to this extreme I didn't expect.

 

This chapter truly amazed me and I'm so glad I've had the chance to read it.

 

Thank you Vance

[Marco]

Very powerful chapter. I am speachless tho as to what's going on in my mind as I think about what I just read. I can't wait to read the next chapter.

 

Marco

[Kurt]

Yeah... this chapter was... wow. The pastor is such an evil man. Wow could someone do that, and think that it is what 'god' would want him to do. It is... sick. It is... wow.

 

It was a wonderful chapter, one that was expertly written.

 

 

This is why Vance is the greatest Author on the net.

 

Kurt

 

 

 

The above is my opinion. (That was for you Vic. )

[Drewbie]

Ugh his days of numbered I hope.

 

As kurt said, expertly written,

 

Now I need to find a gun, Pastor huntin time

Edited September 22, 2006 by Drew

[Rabble_Rouser]

Another great chapter! I think I can agree with everyone else that I think this chapter removed any glimmer of hope that the Reverend or his wife would have any redeeming qualities.

 

I felt even more for Ian after the library chat knowing that he sought help for his abuse and only got a lecture from the social agencies about tying up their resources from people who really need help.

 

As always, Vance creates stroies that are more thought provocing than anything else I've seen at GA.

 

Steve

[C James]

You know, I really do like the good pastor after this chapter.

It's not often in life that I get to truly hate someone, where I can believe in good and evil without any shades of gray entering into the picture. The more I get to know the good preacher and see his treatment of Ian, the more I get to experience pure righteous anger and the knowledge that I could gladly kill someone without feeling the least bit of guilt about the act. Even being executed would be worth removing someone like that from the face of the earth.

 

Thanks Vance, for reminding me how good pure hatred can feel.

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

Mr. Harris (in Cameron) had at least some good points, but this Pastor and his wife (I refuse to refer to them as parents) are utterly irredeemable. They are also all too believable, as things like that do walk this Earth.

 

I would enjoy it very much if, in some later chapter, said Pastor meets an exquisite and lingering demise.

 

Another great chapter! I think I can agree with everyone else that I think this chapter removed any glimmer of hope that the Reverend or his wife would have any redeeming qualities.

 

I felt even more for Ian after the library chat knowing that he sought help for his abuse and only got a lecture from the social agencies about tying up their resources from people who really need help.

 

As always, Vance creates stroies that are more thought provocing than anything else I've seen at GA.

 

The part about Ian having tried to get help certainly does explain a lot. Unfortunately, even without such a failed attempt, the children of abuse all too often suffer in silence.

 

I was pleased to see Ian open up to Nathan a little, and so now Nathan has no doubt that it is an ongoing situation. I feel that he will be the key to all of this, but I suspect it will be a long and bitter road.

 

In many ways, this reminds me of the early part of "Shane", one of my favorite stories, though this is even darker.

[AFriendlyFace]

Oh man, this was one of the saddest chapters of anything that I

[Ginge_4]

I have been disturbed by this story. I can't say I'm even enjoying the story that much, its too uncomfortable read.

 

It well written as i feel for Ian. I almost pray for Him, to get off his ass and do something. But i also know how all too common of abused children behave, that they should feel lucky for what they have.

 

As a believer in god, i wonder if some the people who preach, are the devil. I hope Ian's so called parents rot in hell. In Cameron Mr Harris is bloody angel compared to these two.

 

I am also hoping that Nathan will be the friend that he needs and not a bed partner. Ian will need someone to guide him to find his right path in life, once the nightmare has begun to end

[Conner]

Yes, that was a particularly difficult chapter to get through. At this point, I'm going to put my faith in the adage..."what goes around, comes around." If there is a hell, the good reverend will one day be a permanent resident...the sooner, the better.

 

As far as Ian's prayer goes, never have I heard one so reverent, so full of humilityand contrition.

 

So Ian's survival appears to be in Nathan's hands. I hope Nathan realizes that simply going to the authorities is not going to work. Ian will only deny any wrongdoing on the part of his parents. It could in fact make matters worse for Ian. Someone needs to see the actual damage to his hands.

 

So what will Ian do?

 

Conner

[Centaur]

Wow - that was quite a chapter!

 

I can completely understand some of the comments above as people talk about how uncomfortable they felt as they read it. Vance warned us (sufficiently, in my opinion) that this would be a violent story. I would not recommend to this to everyone, that's for sure.

 

However, I do find Vance's stories to be well written. Sometimes he makes me uncomfortable (the scene in chapter 3 that everyone knows about is at the top of that list), other times he makes me frustrated and I yell out loud as I'm reading, and other times he has made me laugh and feel good deep down. I consider that a very successful author - the full range of emotions brought out to bear.

 

I certainly hope Unbreakable Faith will feel like Shane (at the end). I think all of us grew attached to Shane, as hard as the story was to read for the first several chapters, because he was such an underdog that you wanted to scream for him to catch a break. I feel like Ian might be in the same boat here. He is really in a bad spot, and like Shane, he doesn't really feel deserving of anything else than the situation he's currently in. That breaks my heart.

 

I grew up in a religious household, albeit nothing like what we're reading here. I think Vance is doing a great job of tackling a serious issue here - the temptation to cross the line with religious fervor. It's way too common in today's society, and there are too many kids out there who suffer because of it. The alienation, abuse, and tremendous sadness that overzealous people cause is just too hard to watch.

 

Having said that, we all know plenty of relgious people in our lives that are healthy about their faith and are wonderful people. The ones who go "over to the dark side", so to speak, are thankfully in the minority (at least I hope so).

 

Anyway, great story Vance - as always. I can't say it's easy read, but it's compelling. I look forward to Ian finding a way out of the dark tunnel he's stuck in right now.

 

My best,

 

Centaur

Edited September 28, 2006 by Centaur

[Conner]

Another thought occurs to me. Perhaps we haven't seen the worst yet. Reverened shithead hasn't discovered that Ian is gay.

 

 

I'm not sure I could handle anything worse than what we've read so far.

[Marco]

OK, after a full 24 hours, I am still speachless as to my thoughts about Ian's situation. I can say that I really appreciate Vance for sharing this story with us. To me, it showcases his great talent. I wasn't shocked by what I read as I know first hand that there is immense cruelty and injustice happening in the name of religion. That however did not stop the almost steady river of tears that streamed down my cheecks as I read each word.

 

I hope this makes sense to some one else. I'm not sure even this post expresses what is going on in my mind. But the tears that once again are trickeling down my face.

 

Marco

[ex52tech]

I don't know how you do it Vance. The power that your stories have are second to none. Write 4 quick, I need to see Ian get someone to help him.

 

I think that the good reverend is not evil, but seriously mentally ill. You would have to be to treat another human being that way. His psychosis has lead him to believe that he IS GOD, he already knows that Ian's prayers are not good enough to be heard, and the way he controls Ian, the isolation and torture, the cable has snapped on this guys elevator. The Reverend is totally deranged. Iam just surprised that no one in the church hasn't caught on to this already, how could you as a member of this congregation just sit there while he strips his son naked and beats him in a church service. I am afraid the good reverend and I would be dancing right then and there.

 

And this woman, what plannet is she from that she could let this boy suffer this kind of degradation, and physical abuse, and not even show a glimpse of having a heart..................Well then again my ex-wife is a teacher so I guess I can see the connection.

 

Well I've been in shock from the beginning, really good Vance.

 

Ex.

Edited September 24, 2006 by ex52tech

[KaraC]

This chapter had me frothing at the mouth. I was so angry and yet so sad. I think the part that killed me the most (other than the nailing to the cross) was when Ian had to sit in his room by himself while other kids were having fun, and watch it. I think Vince communicated the sense of isolation Ian was feeling really well.

 

I think that the good reverend is not evil, but seriously mentally ill. You would have to be to treat another human being that way. His psychosis has lead him to believe that he IS GOD, he already knows that Ian's prayers are not good enough to be heard, and the way he controls Ian, the isolation and torture, the cable has snapped on this guys elevator. The Reverend is totally deranged.

 

I wish the explanation for his behavior was that easy or rational, but it's really not. I'm thinking "the good reverend" suffered some serious psychological and physiological abuse as a kid as well. After all, abuse is the "gift" that just keeps on giving.

 

It's despicable and really heartbreking that Ian has to go through this, and my only hope is that his "parents" get what's coming to them.

[MayaMys]

This chapter was shocking...and I feel completely emotionless for not crying. I feel like the cross scene could have been more shocking, but I'm happy it wasn't. I know other authors that would have described the feeling of every needle going in, and exactly what type of pain it was similar to...just to drive home the point. I'm somewhere between being grateful that Vance didn't do it, and also a bit cheated, because I didn't feel completely there with Ian.

 

 

The Good Reverend is a real piece of work. I definitely agree that he has a god complex. Which is amusing, considering he himself should be God-fearing, which he is very much isn't. As a person who wants to work with Sociology and Psychology in their future, I really would like to get insight to his past. See what made him become such a sadistic, selfish, over-confident monster. At least with Shane's dad, it was more simple to understand. He was probably abused as a child, and became a bully because of that, especially because he became so unsuccesful as he grew up. But then, look at the Reverend. He has a succesful career, a lot of desciples who come to hear his word, and no matter how much all this got to his head, I can't possibly see how he still has that much anger left in him to nail his "son" to a cross for praying. Maybe he was just looking for an excuse...but what's the reasoning behind it?

 

I'm also wondering how The Good Reverend, and his Humble Wife managed to keep their son so completely detached from real life. You know what I was in my school reading list so far, living in the US and in Canada? (I'm Ian's age) Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill a Mockingbird, Douglas Adams, The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, The Adventure's of Huckleberry Fin, and so many more that gave me the idea of what a normal family life is, what abuse unjustness are, and what being a bad kid is not. Cleaning your room not carefully enough is not a bad thing, and I see absolutly no way in which Ian's loving parents could have stopped him from reading those books. How could Ian have not gotten a good idea of what a normal family is, while having read those books? I hope Vance explains how Ian got so brainwashed. Also, telll me how anyone could get away from reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Anne Frank's Diary.

[NaperVic]

You're killing me Vance. As someone said, this chapter was quite shocking. It was difficult to read that nailed at the cross section.

 

I remember watching news clips from the Phillipines where men would be nailed on the cross like Jesus was to prove their catholicism . But unlike Ian, these guys were volunteers.

 

Thanks!

 

Vic

[AFriendlyFace]

You're killing me Vance. As someone said, this chapter was quite shocking. It was difficult to read that nailed at the cross section.

 

I remember watching news clips from the Phillipines where men would be nailed on the cross like Jesus was to prove their catholicism . But unlike Ian, these guys were volunteers.

 

Thanks!

 

Vic

WOW

 

I actually think Ian's parents would have a great deal of control over what Ian reads, especially since they so effectively control both his home and school environment. Plus, I'm sure they could just say, "that's just in books!" or something.

 

Just my thought though

take care all,

Kevin

[Anna]

I'm also wondering how The Good Reverend, and his Humble Wife managed to keep their son so completely detached from real life. You know what I was in my school reading list so far, living in the US and in Canada? (I'm Ian's age) Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill a Mockingbird, Douglas Adams, The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, The Adventure's of Huckleberry Fin, and so many more that gave me the idea of what a normal family life is, what abuse unjustness are, and what being a bad kid is not. Cleaning your room not carefully enough is not a bad thing, and I see absolutly no way in which Ian's loving parents could have stopped him from reading those books. How could Ian have not gotten a good idea of what a normal family is, while having read those books? I hope Vance explains how Ian got so brainwashed. Also, telll me how anyone could get away from reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Anne Frank's Diary.

 

I think it is very believable that Ian didn't know what other families were like. His mother worked at the school he went to and monitored everything he did and got reports from his teachers. Plus his father beat him for everything thing he thought Ian did wrong. Who wouldn't be afraid of that man? When you've got that much control over anyone using fear, it's easy to make sure they don't see anything in the outside world if you don't want them to. And if I recall, his parents didn't let Ian read or participate in anything they thought wasn't appropriate. So, I don't think they would let him read any of those books because all of them I'm sure have something to do with rebellious children that his parents would think were heathens.

 

Anna

 

P.S. I love you "big brother"!!!

[Billy17]

Hi Vance,

Wow, I did take this story very serious. I know for a fact children go through what Ian suffered. I saw it first hand, my friend was beat by his god loving dad. I stopped believing in any god then and I will never believe in it. Thankfully my friend was taken from his parents. I never saw him again. That makes me sad but it's worth it for him to be free of that horrible life. God is an outdated idea that no longer has a place in this world. People have been killing each other for thousands of years in the name of their gods. It's time we all understand the waste of life that is the fault of those who force their beliefs onto others. Tonight look out at the millions of stars and many millions more planets that are out there. Can anyone really believe we are the only world that has life. There must be many, many more worlds that have life and they were no more created by a god than ours was.

Some say our country is seeing an increase in young people seeking god. This isn't true, it's another lie. About %27 of people go to church. One day and I hope it's in my life when religions and all their phony gods will no longer exist and then we may be able to start getting along.

Billy

the quote below says much for so called loving gods

Edited September 27, 2006 by youngBilly15

[Ginge_4]

Hi Vance,

Wow, I did take this story very serious. I know for a fact children go through what Ian suffered. I saw it first hand, my friend was beat by his god loving dad. I stopped believing in any god then and I will never believe in it. Thankfully my friend was taken from his parents. I never saw him again. That makes me sad but it's worth it for him to be free of that horrible life. God is an outdated idea that no longer has a place in this world. People have been killing each other for thousands of years in the name of their gods. It's time we all understand the waste of life that is the fault of those who force their beliefs onto others. Tonight look out at the millions of stars and many millions more planets that are out there. Can anyone really believe we are the only world that has life. There must be many, many more worlds that have life and they were no more created by a god than ours was.

Some say our country is seeing an increase in young people seeking god. This isn't true, it's another lie. About %27 of people go to church. One day and I hope it's in my life when religions and all their phony gods will no longer exist and then we may be able to start getting along.

Billy

the quote below says much for so called loving gods

 

I hope your friend is living a good life but how do you know he wasn't like Ian where he was adopted or in foster care like Ian parents are in this story. This is a sad story so far, but it also happens where the authorities get it wrong because the people that are adopting are supposedly good people.

 

Until there is proof you cannot say whether there are other civilisations in the universe you are only making an assumption that there must be because we are here on this planet. there are 8 or 9 planets in our galaxy yet we know that there is only life on Earth.

 

Not all people that believe in whatever God they believe in, means you have to kill in their names and we all don't preach to others what other should do or believe in. it will be a sad day when people do stop believing in a higher authority, it gives comfort and hope of a better life to a lot of people like Ian

[Gandalf]

Wow, When I read Tyler and Shane I thought you presented child abuse in a way that showed great insight into an area I was familiar with. They were very painful stories with lots of tears on my part. I really liked Cameron and I guess it was better written in some ways but this really returns to the stomach wrenching of your earlier works.. ugh and wow Pax. Steve

[Lugh]

I'm also wondering how The Good Reverend, and his Humble Wife managed to keep their son so completely detached from real life. You know what I was in my school reading list so far, living in the US and in Canada? (I'm Ian's age) Uncle Tom's Cabin, To Kill a Mockingbird, Douglas Adams, The Diary of Anne Frank, Anne of Green Gables, Tom Sawyer, The Adventure's of Huckleberry Fin, and so many more that gave me the idea of what a normal family life is, what abuse unjustness are, and what being a bad kid is not. Cleaning your room not carefully enough is not a bad thing, and I see absolutly no way in which Ian's loving parents could have stopped him from reading those books. How could Ian have not gotten a good idea of what a normal family is, while having read those books? I hope Vance explains how Ian got so brainwashed. Also, telll me how anyone could get away from reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Anne Frank's Diary.

 

 

Interesting... every book you mentioned as been on the banned book list at one point or another. I would think that the arguement could be made that if enough "christians" disapproved of a book to get it on the banned list then that is good enough for the Good Reverend and his wife to keep Ian from reading it. I would suspect his reading material was not only carefully screened but the intended lessons were literally beat into him at home from his 'father's' perspective, even if it was incorrect.

 

Just a thought,

 

Lugh

[Billy17]

I hope your friend is living a good life but how do you know he wasn't like Ian where he was adopted or in foster care like Ian parents are in this story. This is a sad story so far, but it also happens where the authorities get it wrong because the people that are adopting are supposedly good people.

 

Until there is proof you cannot say whether there are other civilisations in the universe you are only making an assumption that there must be because we are here on this planet. there are 8 or 9 planets in our galaxy yet we know that there is only life on Earth.

 

Not all people that believe in whatever God they believe in, means you have to kill in their names and we all don't preach to others what other should do or believe in. it will be a sad day when people do stop believing in a higher authority, it gives comfort and hope of a better life to a lot of people like Ian

 

You're right I don't know what my friend's life is like now. I do know the authorities did not get it wrong about his dad. Getting away from him was a good thing and I do hope he is in a better home.

 

You mention the other planets in our galaxy. I was talking about the millions of planets that are in our and other universes. It is only arrogance to think earth is the only life sustaining planet.

 

True, not all people who believe in a god preach. I do disagree that it will be a sad day when gods are no longer believed in. Anything good that happens is always credited to a god but when something bad happens it's always the fault of humans. Sounds to me like a large corportation who knows it's product harms people but keeps quieat about it. When it becomes public, they cry, people freely bought it. It's the same with gods and religions.

 

What would give people hope of a better life would be equality for all people in this life and not some fairy tale for a better life after one is dead.

 

Like everything in life, proof is the deciding factor. Since no one can ever prove there is a god, there isn't one till proven otherwise.

 

Geez, just look at that horrible movie Jesus Camp or whatever it's called. It's terrible what they do to kids. Any gay kid there sure won't be feeling good about himself. Brainwashing kids to pray for Bush, how SAD is that. Kids should be playing not praying for a man who is personally responsible for the deaths of thousands of peole including hundreds of kids. Hussien and Bush are the same, evil liars.

This is the world people who believe in gods have given us.