15 Signs of Religious Abuse: Toxic Faith, Part I

How do I know if I’m in an abusive church?

Religious abuse keeps us quiet because of the beliefs that support it. In fact, if you have difficulty with your faith tradition or your church, you probably think it’s YOU with the problem – not the spiritual guidance you’re receiving.

I felt invisible, stupid, and scared as a girl in the Church of Christ.

My autobiographical novel, Wife Material, deals with the

crazy-making and gaslighting of spiritual abuse.

A person’s faith or religious community should make them calmer, wiser, and more connected (to their higher power and the people in their life). This short list of problems might help you determine if your religion could be having the opposite effect, making you sick instead of whole. The following apply just as easily to synagogue, mosque, prayer group, or drumming circle.

You might be experiencing religious abuse if . . .

1. You feel worse about yourself after being at services.
2. You have doubts or diverging opinions but feel afraid to express them.
3. The lead clergy person ignores you – or, puts a lot of social pressure on you.
4. The leaders criticize or guilt-trip you.
5. You feel invaded by the practices of worship (e.g., “Reach out and hug the person next to you!”).
6. The doctrine requires you to cut ties with family or friends and make yourself more available to the group.
7. One gender is given privilege over another.
8. Certain racial or cultural groups are devalued or given privilege over others.
9. Child corporal punishment is condoned or encouraged.
10. Certain people’s voices or views are privileged, to the exclusion of others.
11. Your sexuality is scrutinized or labeled “deviant.”
12. You feel voiceless, unimportant, crazy, sinful, or ashamed in relation to the group.
13. You’re told how you should think, feel, vote, or handle your personal life.
14. You’re continually asked to sacrifice your boundaries or self-care to further the agenda of the group.
15. You’re pressured to share more personal information with the group than you feel comfortable sharing.

Consider writing down your reactions to this post. Also, Flora Slosson Wuellner’s book, Release, is a gentle starting guide for moving out of the dis-empowerment of religious wounding and into spiritual healing. I’ll be back soon with more signs and an exercise to clarify your basic faith from the toxic religion you’ve learned.

[dacta url=”http://www.amazon.com/Wife-Material-Novel-Misbehavior-Freedom-ebook/dp/B014VP2SXQ” text=”Read Wife Material”]