Comments on: Spiritual Abuse

By: rhoda

rhoda — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:12:01 +0000

There is a huge difference between Christian leadership and abusive leadership, and many sites, books and other resources talk in detail about it. Christian leadership is servanthood. Some cult leaders and abusive leaders pretend to be servants but really prey upon the flock, which Christ and the apostles repeatedly warn us about. That’s where the expression “wolf in sheep’s clothing” comes from.
It is oftensaid that people don’t join cults, but they do join groups that really challenge them lovingly to be their best etc. and they do sometimes put off leaving while a “crisis” “necessitates some changes” in the group. That’s why we need to be on our guard against the following:
When a leader hurts someone or breaks important rules, do they immediately make the complainer the focus and insist that their actions were right, even changing the rules? Do plaintiffs find they are harassed and have no one to turn to?
If a leader asks for money and labor, and someone declines to help, is the person held out as a bad example and threatened with doom or some terrible consequence?
Do the demands for labor and funds just keep increasing?
Is everyone required to act happy at all times and pretend to be glad for everything that happens? Are “negative” emotions treated as defects to be crushed, without regard to what caused them?
Are people who leave the group for another group with basically similar beliefs told they will go insane, die or may never talk to their loved ones again?
When you ask the leadership about the reasons for their beliefs, do they get defensive or angry?
Is there one set of tenets newcomers are told about, and others only the longtime members are allowed to be aware of?
Are the basic needs of food, water, time alone, rest or fresh air denied members for prolonged periods (days or more) at any time during membership?

By: Ramon

Ramon — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:26:50 +0000

A must see website:

http://www.wickedshepherds.com

By: Unregulated Female

Unregulated Female — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:37:37 +0000

sorry – the url is http://unregulatedfemale.typepad.com

I added an s in the http….

By: Unregulated Female

Unregulated Female — Sun, 30 Sep 2007 20:31:09 +0000

OMW! I am doing a paper for college on the leadership style of the religious abusers – and came across you stating how such-n-such “pissed you off.” I knew I had to check your blog out. One of my absolute most hated books is the Armour Bearer by Nance. As a matter of fact, I keep it with my other books about spiritual abuse to remind me how this teaching fostered already delusional power hungry “pastors” to force their “sheep” into submission, by not “touching the Lord’s annointed” or questioning their practises. Also, we were to “lay down our vision, work for another’s vision, so that God one day will raise up our vision.”

I am one of those rebellious Unregulated Females, w/o a “spiritual covering” and can say I have never been better since my escaping this sickness.

While typing my paper, I had to research some of these charlitans, and to my amazement they are growing and becoming more and more influential. These so-called apostles do nothing about the poor or the social concerns of domestic violence, child abuse, or the cycle of addiction, yet they are going to somehow “take the city for Christ” and damn the person who tries to stop them… It is like a charismatic inquisition – submit to my authority and teaching or be blasted by their intimidation and deception.

Hooray for all y’all for talking!! It is not the simple minded ones that cult leaders prey on – but the intelligent and influential ones. They need someone to do the dirty work of recruitment… (see American History X)

Again – thanks and I look forward to more of what you have to write.

By: The hypocrisy of today’s Christian Leaders « de-conversion

The hypocrisy of today’s Christian Leaders « de-conversion — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 06:13:18 +0000

[...] ministers with expensive suits and bodyguards with Head Microphones flanking them is abundant. In a previous post, I blogged on the concept of modern day ministers having “armor bearers” to serve their [...]

By: v

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:47:36 +0000

quote from the author of the grail message.
“I do not speak to churches and political parties, to fraternities, sects and societies, but only in all simplicity to man himself. Far be it from me to pull down what exists; for I am building up and completing the answers to questions as yet unsolved, questions that must arise in everyone as
soon as he thinks just a little. Only one basic condition is essential for everyone: Earnest seeking for the Truth”

By: v

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:46:10 +0000

Just ran across your blog. thought you might find this site interesting. The guy definitely has some interesting words, but as always make up your own mind.
http://grailmessage.org
http://grailmessage.com

just a thought

By: Slapdash

Slapdash — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 12:18:25 +0000

I am increasingly shocked at how much stock Christians put in the authority of their leaders. When somebody gets put in charge of something, they get this funny patina of divine authority and people immediately stop asking questions or challenging what that leader says or does. Most recently I have seen this play out in a Christian non-profit startup. Initially run by a group of 10 or so Christians who volunteered their time, the group decided to hire someone full-time to help run things. That person, once hired, started moving the organization in directions that several of the other “former” leaders weren’t comfortable with. Yet NONE of them were willing to openly challenge what the new leader was doing! I, as an outsider now since I had left the organization over a year ago, knew of four people on the original leadership team who had serious problems with the new direction it was going. Yet one of them literally said that she felt that she needed to respect the leadership of this person, that God had put that person there for a reason, and that her job was essentially to fall in line underneath her.

I think spiritual abuse might be a little too harsh a term for what this full-time leader is doing in that group, but this person is able to wield the authority of the full-time position for their own ends and their own vision of what the org should be doing, because there are NO checks and balances built in to the organization. None. Zero. And I think this is the case for lots of other churches, parachurches, and Christian organizations.

By: mysteryofiniquity

mysteryofiniquity — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:09:14 +0000

Yes, people, Sue Ann IS SAYING that those raped by fathers and step-fathers ASKED for it. She IS SAYING that those who are starving ASKED to be starving so they can learn a lesson about fear. Girls abducted by wackos wanted to be raped and killed by wackos. They drew the fear to themselves and manifested the evil. In other words, whatever bad happens in life it is YOUR FAULT. Can’t you see that?!! The answer? Think happy t’ots all the time and your mind can control others and whatever they do.

(Obviously I don’t believe this load of *&*#)

Brother, there are such people as fundamentalist new agers and they differ in no way from fundamentalists from other religions.

By: rebecca shannon

rebecca shannon — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:22:03 +0000

The de-Convert,

Maybe I could decipher all this in an upcoming post? I could post in on my blog or here if you like.

Let me know.