These materials were used in "Hearts Set Free- A support group for people healing from spiritual abuse".

Presentation date: Mar, 2024

Session 2 The definitional challenge

Definitions in Oakley, L., & Humphreys, J. (2019). Escaping the maze of spiritual abuse: Creating healthy christian cultures. SPCK Publishing.

‘Spiritual abuse is a form of emotional and psychological abuse. It is characterized by a systematic pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour in a religious context. Spiritual abuse can have a deeply damaging impact on those who experience it. 

This abuse may include: manipulation and exploitation, enforced accountability, censorship of decision making, requirements for secrecy and silence, coercion to conform, control through the use of sacred texts or teaching, requirement of obedience to the abuser, the suggestion that the abuser has a ‘divine’ position, isolation as a means of punishment, and superiority and elitism.’ 

(Oakley, 2018)

　

• What do you consider what you experienced to be an infringement or unfair treatment?

• If you are not the target of abuse. Is the abusive environment something that does not concern me? Does it not affect you? About my choice to continue to be there, about the people.

• Am I feeling right? How do I know for sure or define it?