Spiritual abuse in Christian faith settings: definition, policy and practice guidance

Abstract

This work has been conducted within the Christian faith community and thus, represents only this faith context. Accordingly, it is research with a specific group. The work would usefully be expanded to other faith contexts.

Religious/spiritual abuse and trauma: A systematic review of the empirical literature.

“…For example, Kamminga (2018) stated that R/S abuse involves a misuse of power or using a God or higher power to control or induce fear in others. Oakley (2009) explained that in R/S abuse, “the abuser uses power to control others …” (p. 193). This misuse or abuse of power is typically defined as having the goal of coercing, controlling, or exploiting another person.…”

“…Most of the studies examined the relationship between R/S leaders and their followers, but several studies specifically examined how spouses/romantic partners can leverage R/S teachings in an abusive manner. Additionally, when qualitatively exploring how victims described R/S abuse and trauma, a primary theme of abuse of power was present across studies (Krueger, 2018; Oakley, 2009; Oakley et al, 2018; Swindle, 2017; Ward, 2011).…”

“…Swindle (2017) applied Finkelhor’s (1987) traumagenic dynamic, applying a model of childhood sexual abuse to R/S abuse, defining it as “an experience that alters … cognitive or emotional orientation to the world and causes trauma by distorting … self-concept, worldview, or affective capacities” (p. 354). Additionally, Oakley (2009) noted that R/S abuse is often experienced as “an attack on self” (p. 193).…”

Development of the Spiritual Harm and Abuse Scale

“…The terms “spiritual abuse” and “religious abuse” are used interchangeably by researchers. Oakley, Kinmond, and Humphreys (2018) define spiritual abuse as a form of emotional and psychological abuse characterized by systemic patterns of coercion and control in religious contexts ; spiritual abuse is distinguished from broad emotional abuse by its common inclusion of specifically religious elements, like the quoting of scripture or the giving of a “divine rationale” for mistreatment. (Much like R/S abuse, there is no consensus definition of emotional abuse, but Pearl (1994) proposed the following categories: rejecting, isolating, terrorizing, ignoring, corrupting, verbally assaulting, and overpressuring.)…”

“…Taken together, R/S abuse is distinguished from other types of abuse by a religious component of one sort or another. As conceived for this article, combining the approaches of Oakley, Kinmond, and Humphreys (2018) and Swindle (2017), spiritual abuse is defined as a type of emotional and psychological abuse perpetrated by a religious leader or group and/or with a religious or spiritual component, usually involving coercion or control . It is separable from other types of abuse that may co‐occur or take place in a religious context or by a religious figure, like clergy sexual abuse or domestic violence excused through the quoting of scripture.…”