(I found this list online somewhere. If you've experienced spiritual abuse you'll likely identify with a great number of these. And here's what to do if you have experienced it, want to learn more, and would like to completely heal.)
SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL ABUSE
- Stating personal religious convictions and preferences as fact for everyone
- Religious convictions and preferences are stated as black and white
- Requirements for church attendance
- Dress and clothing requirements (appearance is a priority)
- Closed minded about different interpretations of Scripture
- Misinterpretations of scripture
- Questioning the leaders is discouraged
- Judging others
- Excessive gossip
- Hostility towards "heathens" and others who are not believers
- Only people who go to a certain church are believers
- Only reading a certain Bible version is allowed
- Sexuality is seen as dirty, bad, and/or sinful
- Strict discipline standards for children
- Promoting spanking above all other forms of discipline
- Guilt trips for taking vacation and missing church
- Teaching Tithing
- Emphasis on traditions
- Music standards
- Performance appraisals
- Push towards perfection
- Required devotional or quiet time
- Levels or degrees of spirituality
- Focusing on the penalty for sinning
- Emphasis on God "chastening" you
- Looking down on people who have left the church or denomination
- Requiring a refusal of medical services
- Required membership
- Discarding psychology
- Mental health issues are considered sinful or non-existent
- Depression/Anxiety considered a sin
- Your not spiritual enough if something bad happens to you
- God is judging you for sin in your life
- Being told "You need more faith" or "You don't have enough faith"
- Child discipline tactics that include warnings about God's wrath
- Rigid black and white thinking/answers to questions
- Too much emphasis on the spiritual and not enough emphasis on the physical
- Fears about the punishments of God
- Negative messages about sexuality
- Taught to deny the apatites of the body
- Emphasis on reading the Bible and praying heavily to appease God and avoid punishment
- Messages that you aren't spiritual enough
- Your "suffering" (whatever it may be) is a result of some sin in your life
- Your physical illness is punishment for some sin in your life
