Tag: spiritual abuse

A friend one day told me he admired my courage. After I laughed and thanked him for the compliment, I came up with a saying that, whether I’m the first to coin the phrase or not, has worked for me many times in the past: “courageously fearful.”

Professional training for therapists working with religious or spiritual issues doesn’t really exist and there are no requirements, at least for psychologists.

With spiritual and religious abuse, the social context is completely different from any other recovery situation. In the case of religious abuse, a person is often pressured by family and church members to return to the church, is reminded in many ways that they are to blame for their suffering and is readily condemned. In essence, they are forced to return to the perpetrator of their abuse.

Within the Christian faith, there are those who believe a doctrine of “once saved, always saved.” The anxiety of this doctrine for many is determining whether they were ever truly saved, especially for those who did not have a dramatic manifestation of a rebirth or salvation experience.

The key doctrine is eternal damnation (or annihilation) for all unbelievers and especially for those who leave the religion. This is the terrifying backdrop for the salvation message presented to all newcomers and all children born into the faith.

Some modern teachers have stated that all religions are one, that they are all ultimately the same and all equally good. While their view is motivated by a sincere effort to bring about religious harmony and world peace, it has led to many distortions.

When one has absolutely no doubts in their version of “truth” they stop searching for answers and they refuse to question, or recognize beliefs and practices that are abusive, or acknowledge the suffering they create.