Resident Heresiologist

04/09/2019

https://www.facebook.com/360307257408922/posts/1979726252133673/

04/07/2019

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A few Characteristics of an Abusive Church:

- Uses fear, guilt, and shame to engender obedience and devotion.

- Authoritarian and control-oriented style of leadership where challenging the leader is the equivalent of questioning God.

- Elitist orientation, believing they alone have the truth.

- Focusing on themes of submission, loyalty, and obedience to those in authority.
- "Accountability" as a mechanism of control.

- High demand for church involvement that makes one's life the church.

- Demonizing people, other churches, religions, "secular" fields of investigation such as science and psychology, and culture that do not validate their beliefs or narrow view of the world.

In conversations about “spiritual abuse,” many people think of extreme cases like “cults.” But some of the most damaging churches or religious groups can appear culturally relevant, progressive, friendly, and family-oriented on the surface.

If you are interested in more information about resources that address spiritual abuse, recovering from toxic religious indoctrination, and cultivating a non-religious spirituality, read this post ->

https://www.facebook.com/jimpalmerauthor/posts/1976490239123941

Over the course of publishing five books and connecting with my readers and social media followers, I began doing individual work with people who are recovering