| Author | Message | ||
     curious1 (curious1) Intermediate Member Username: curious1 Post Number: 125 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 70.185.109.254 |
Defining Spiritual Abuse DEFINED Spiritual abuse is the misuse of a position of power, leadership, or influence to further the selfish interests of someone other than the individual who needs help. Sometimes abuse arises out of a doctrinal position. At other times it occurs because of legitimate personal needs of a leader that are being met by illegitimate means. Spiritually abusive religious systems are sometimes described as legalistic, mind controlling, religiously addictive, and authoritarian. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS #1) Authoritarian The most distinctive characteristic of a spiritually abusive religious system, or leader, is the over-emphasis on authority. Because a group claims to have been established by God Himself the leaders in this system claim the right to command their followers. This authority supposedly comes from the position they occupy. In Matthew 23:1-2 Jesus said the Scribes and Pharisees "sit in Moses' seat," a position of spiritual authority. Many names are used but in the abusive system this is a position of power, not moral authority. The assumption is that God operates among His people through a hierarchy, or "chain of command." In this abusive system unconditional submission is often called a "covering," or "umbrella of protection" which will provide some spiritual blessing to those who fully submit. Followers may be told that God will bless their submission even if the leadship is wrong. It is not their place to judge or correct the leadership - God will see to that. #2) Image Conscious The abusive religious system is scrupulous to maintain an image of righteousness. The organization's history is often misrepresented in the effort to demonstrate the organization's special relationship to God. The mistaken judgements and character flaws of its leaders are denied or covered up in order to validate their authority. Impossibly high legalistic standards of thought and behavior may be imposed on the members. Their failure to live up to these standards is a constant reminder of the follower's inferiority to his leaders, and the necessity of submission to them. Abusive religion is, at heart, legalism. Abusive religion is also paranoid. Because the truth about the abusive religious system would be quickly rejected if recognized, outsiders are shown only a positive image of the group. This is rationalized by assuming that the religion would not be understood by "worldly" people; therefore they have no right to know. This attitude leads to members being secretive about some doctrines and the inner policies and proceedures of the group. Leaders, especially, will keep secrets from their members. This secrecy is rooted in a basic distrust of others because the belief system is false and can not stand scrutiny. #3) Suppresses Criticism Because the religious system is not based on the truth it cannot allow questions, dissent, or open discussions about issues. The person who dissents becomes the problem rather than the issue he raised. The truth about any issue is settled and handed down from the top of the hierarchy. Questioning anything is considered a challenge to authority. Thinking for oneself is suppressed by pointing out that it leads to doubts. This is portrayed as unbelief in God and His anointed leaders. Thus the follower controls his own thoughts by fear of doubting God. #4) Perfectionistic A most natural assumption is that a person does not get something for nothing. Apart from the express declarations of salvation by grace through faith God has given in the scriptures, it would be natural to think that one must earn salvation, or at least work to keep it. Thus, in abusive religions all blessings come through performance of spiritual requirements. Failure is strongly condemned so there is only one alternative, perfection. So long as he thinks he is succeeding in his observation of the rules, the follower typically exhibits pride, elitism, and arrogance. However, when reality and failure eventually set in, the result is the person experiences spiritual burnout, or even shipwreck of his faith. Those who fail in their efforts are labeled as apostates, weak, or some other such term so that they can be discarded by the system. #5) Unbalanced Abusive religions must distinguish themselves from all other religions so they can claim to be distinctive and therefore special to God. This is usually done by majoring on minor issues such as prophecy, carrying biblical law to extremes, or using strange methods of biblical interpretation. The imbalanced spiritual hobby-horse thus produced represents unique knowledge or practices which seem to validate the group's claim to special status with God. Founding Date: Spiritual abuse is as old as false religion itself. While the practice is old, the term "spiritual abuse" may have been coined first by Jeff VanVonderen. Organizational Structure: Can occur under virtually any organizational structure, but "top down" hierarchical structures are especially well suited to systemic spiritual abuse. http://www.watchman.org/profile/abusepro.htm by David Henke | ||
| joesdad (joesdad) Intermediate Member Username: joesdad Post Number: 326 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 62.253.215.25 |
Curious1: Nice copying, but do you understand what he says? i.e. what are we looking to gain from this? | ||
| godchild (godchild) Intermediate Member Username: godchild Post Number: 178 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 64.28.54.211 |
curious 1, I was trying to find one definition on your list to sum up the mormon church. On rereading, I would have to say they all fit the mormon church. Psalms 118:8--It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. | ||
| curious1 (curious1) Intermediate Member Username: curious1 Post Number: 138 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 70.185.109.254 |
godchild, Mormonism, being the late entry into the realm of religion that it is, contemporary with JW's 7DA, Darwinites, et al; and the fact that their founder so dubiously added a volume of fanciful fiction, and that they have always had a propensity of multiple wives resulting in an inequivocally subservient attitude toward women, the physically visual evidence that members place equal and greater importance on their own works than those of God's Word...as a result of these and other issues I never found it necessary to delve any deeper into this deception as the obviousness of its futility made it eminently plain that it was far better and more productive to focus strictly on the Word of God and His Son Jesus Christ. When I found the Spiritual Abuse outline I wondered which might be appropriate. Your reply would seem to additionally confirm a growing list of those that agree that anything not in accord with even the minimal evidences of salvation, regardless how sweetly nice the TV ad might be, that behind the welcoming facade of peace the manifestation of spiritual abuse exists in the many forms of physical and mental abuse. | ||
| joesdad (joesdad) Intermediate Member Username: joesdad Post Number: 332 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 62.253.215.25 |
Curious1: So to sum up your answer to GC (as she sort of asked the one I did but you ignored) is that you don't have the foggiest idea of how to use the information, and just hoped either by throwing a load of mud some would stick, or someone else would tell you how to use it - sorry chum, GC is not the one to rely on for help here. | ||
| curious1 (curious1) Intermediate Member Username: curious1 Post Number: 150 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 70.185.109.254 |
GC, you are correct in that, "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man", something the Mormons are unable to do as they elevate js and his fictional volume to equal or greater status than that of Jesus Christ and His Word. | ||
| joesdad (joesdad) Intermediate Member Username: joesdad Post Number: 344 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 62.253.215.25 |
Curious1: What proof do you have of this? | ||
| curious1 (curious1) Intermediate Member Username: curious1 Post Number: 151 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 70.185.109.254 |
joesdad, well, you see there's a difference between seeking the living Truth of Jesus Christ and seeking to prove dead joe smith's fictional volume equal and above that of Jesus Christ. ol' joe is dead, gone, dust, no soul, no memories, he's history; but an alive, well and risen Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Ecclesiastes 9:5, "...the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." | ||
| godchild (godchild) Intermediate Member Username: godchild Post Number: 191 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 64.28.63.185 |
curious1, well said! | ||
| joesdad (joesdad) Intermediate Member Username: joesdad Post Number: 350 Registered: 2-2005 Posted From: 62.253.215.25 |
Curious1: That does not answer my question - just another soundbite - wheres the answer? | ||
| godchild (godchild) Intermediate Member Username: godchild Post Number: 341 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 24.237.114.147 |
As Christians we pray for answers which are given to us. We don't need physical evidence. We cannot see our soul physically. We do not see God physically. And the only person claiming to see (physically) men on Mars was Brigham Young. Does jd see men on Mars also, I wonder? What physical evidence do mormons have of js'a plates, other than 'soundbites'? What evidence is there that js saw God and Christ other than 'soundbites'. By jd's definition, mormonism is all 'soundbites'. It is the only time I can agree with mormons. |
