Spiritual abuse is the mistreatment of
a person who is in need of help, support or greater spiritual empowerment,
with the result of weakening, undermining or decreasing that person’s
spiritual empowerment The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse
by Johnson & VanVonderen
Spiritual abuse occurs when a person in the position
of spiritual authority uses his or her position to control another person.
It involves placing the needs of the person in authority over the needs
of the person seeking help. Spiritual abuse can also include forcing
people to live up the rigid rules and contributes to a belief based on
legalism. No matter how much the individual does or how hard they try
it is never good enough leaving them feel unworthy spiritually.
A few examples would include demands for certain
behaviors (more prayers, more commitment, more meetings), blaming the
person for problems they have because "they don’t have enough faith",
sanctions against a person for not conforming to rules (dress code, hair,
etc.), not permitting people to ask questions of the authority
figures, coercing or forcing an person into a sexual situation, and sexual
harassment. These are examples of how a person in spiritual authority
could use their power to undermine the spirituality of another.
Just as in a family the parents can use their
authority and position to undermine the well-being of the children so can
people in positions of spiritual authority. I have had clients who have
been abused by nuns, priests, ministers, and cults. There is a double abuse
when the individual being abused is also dependent on the abuser
such as children in orphanages, and the families of an abusive religious
leader.
In all these examples not only is there the abuse
itself (which causes its own damage) but there is a second abuse in the
spiritual relationship the victim has with God. Any time a person in religious
authority uses the power of God to assert his or her will over another
they portray God as hurtful and abusive. The victim is then robbed of a
healthy spiritual relationship.
