Spiritual or Religious Abuse is very complex because it has many layers. Not only does some Religious Abuse affect individuals mentally for the rest of their life, but it can also include other forms of abuse we educate on at ARO. When Spiritual Abuse coincides with Sexual, Narcissistic, Spousal, or Child Abuse, that’s when it becomes an extreme type of Religious Abuse.

Spiritual Abuse can entail using scripture or sacred text to humiliate or demean the individual or enforce physical or emotional abuse (Brennan, 2020). Extreme Spiritual Abuse causes alienation, exhibits multiple forms of abuse, and completely changes the individuals’ psyche. This magnified abuse can be hard to detect if it is not well known or hidden in a cult-like setting.

When religious organizations fall under the category of a cult, this is when abuse becomes ten-fold. “Because cults require absolute commitment to their leader and discourage questioning of the belief system set forth, often using manipulative, exploitative, or abusive tactics to prevent and punish” (GoodTherapy, 2016). Many cults and radical religious organizations will use fear as a tactic and Physical, Emotional, and Sexual Abuse to enforce their rules and regulations.

An example of this type of cult that has been widely known for its abuse is NXIVM. There has even been a documentary released on HBO called The Vow that you can watch for more education on how these types of abuses affect their members.

If you notice any Extreme Spiritual Abuse within your life or your loved ones, reach out to a trusted source or counselor. When individuals who have experienced this extreme type of abuse are able to escape, a form of therapy called deprogramming is often used to help them cope and heal (GoodTherapy, 2016).

Because they cannot comprehend or even function in society once they break from the cult, they go through extensive therapy to learn how to survive on their own without their organization’s influence. The wide array of red flags with Spiritual Abuse is vast, but noticing even the smallest detail can be critical to stopping the abuse early on. If you begin to see friends or family or even yourself being questioned about your individuality, belittled for questioning outside of your organization, or the abuse becomes physical, narcissistic, or more, reach out for help.

We at ARO are here to support you in your personal healing journey to complete wellbeing. We bring awareness and education to the ten different types of abuse listed in this post. We are here to guide, educate, and uplift others to truly heal and find peace.
If you would like to learn more and donate to help others find refuge, please visit GoARO.org.

Sources
Brennan, D. “Signs of Spiritual Abuse.” WebMD. December 1, 2020. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/signs-spiritual-abuse.
GoodTherapy. “Cults.” GoodTherapy. June 6, 2016. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/cult-definition.