Spiritual abuse

[calv]

Ah yes another made up topic from the domestic violence industry!

What is my definition of spiritual abuse?

For me it is the twisting of Gods word to justify behaviour's.... that really dont' line up with Gods word.
Being taken advantage of and held to a twisted standard set by those who wish to defend their ways and controling thru emotional means.
Thats just a start!
It's easier to cut and paste what others say .... and there is plenty to be found!

We are victums of spiritual abuse! There are many ways it works....
This is a great topic just like group think ... it all starts to sink in IF you dare to be honest!
I know its not easy to look at myself and see where ive been .... it is God's grace that has lead me beyond the stuff of the past! I don't have to hide behind a facaud of pleasant chiristan syndrome .... oh sweet brother and sister it means so much to me when you share, yes yes I just so agree, you are just sooo wonderful!
Haven't we seen thru that crap? How do people get that way? spiritual abuse. It teaches a false witness that really covers up the emptyness lurking behind it all.

[calv]

http://www.spiritualabuse.org/introduction.htm

here is a start on what others say....

[calv]

Jeff Van Vonderan
Cloud and Townsend
three good authors on recovery

[calv]

abuse
a·buse [ ? by?ss ]

noun* (plural a·bus·es)
Definition:
*
1.*maltreatment:*the physical, psychological, or sexual maltreatment of a person or animal
2.*improper use:*the illegal, improper, or harmful use of something
allegations of abuse of government powers
3.*improper practice:*an illegal, improper, or harmful practice
human rights abuses
4.*insults:*insulting or offensive language
5.*drug use:*the harmful use of drugs or alcohol

verb* (past and past participle a·bused, present participle a·bus·ing, 3rd person present singular a·bus·es)
Definition:
*
1.*transitive verb*maltreat somebody:*to treat a person or animal cruelly, whether physically, psychologically, or sexually, especially on a regular or habitual basis
2.*transitive verb*misuse something:*to use something in an improper, illegal, or harmful way
3.*transitive verb*insult somebody:*to speak insultingly or offensively to somebody
4.*a·buse your·self [ ? by?ss ]*vr*masturbate:*to masturbate ( disapproving )

[calv]

spiritual
spir·i·tu·al

adjective*
Definition:
*
1.*of soul:*relating to the soul or spirit, usually in contrast to material things
2.*of religion:*relating to religious or sacred things rather than worldly things
3.*temperamentally or intellectually akin:*connected by an affinity of the mind, spirit, or temperament
spiritual mother of the young artist
4.*refined:*showing great refinement and concern with the higher things in life

noun* (plural spir·i·tu·als)
Definition:
*
1.*folk hymn:*a religious song, especially one arising from African American culture
2.*things of spirit:*matters concerning the spirit
He was deeply concerned with anything to do with the spiritual.

[calv]

I think.... hiding behind religion, instead of facing the truth is spiritual abuse.
God wants to walk beside us as we face the truth.
He works thru others who can miorror back to us what they see. As we face ourselfs and each other He allows us to work thru the sins of our nature, and look to Himm as our strength and guide.
Man perverts that process and creates something that brings glory to himself. It becomes a lifestyle .... where he is in control and not acountable. He surounds himself with only those that will agree with his agenda.
If that agenda is not leading to healing and renewal ,,,,
where exactly is it leading?

[calv]

masturbate

I think thats what a lot of people do with thier religious belifes.
I think thats what we did/do with the chapel.

I think what db did in vegas was acting out exactly what happened .... maybe he was prophecying.

group-think = mutual decite

[calv]

the massageing of "spirital" ego's is so repulsive!

get the little man on his big soapbox,full of false humility, talking down to 'us' with statments of authority... and they still suck-up!

that is spiritual abuse!

not seeing it for what it is .... thats group think!

[steveb]

Now that last posting is, in my opinion, an excellent description of the relationship between spiritual abuse and groupthink:<blockquote><font color="0000ff">get the little man on his big soapbox,full of false humility, talking down to 'us' with statments of authority... and they still suck-up!

that is spiritual abuse!

not seeing it for what it is .... thats group think!</font></blockquote>And, one might add, if anyone persists in pointing out the obvious truth about the situation, they of course kick him out of the group.

I guess the enduring puzzle for me will always be why there are quite a few Chapelites who, having seen what happened at the Chapel, still buy into that same system.

[movinon]

Steve,

I think the reason why people that experienced the chapel's downfall but still can't let go of the error-ridden system is a good example of religious addiction. They are addicted to what this hyper-religious system gives them, and that is a chance to not face reality, not face themselves, not face what being a christian really means....they are addicted to the unreality of charismania, for one. I can say that because I, too, was once addicted to this very same thing. Addiction is an interesting field, and can apply to many, many things...certainly not just substances.

mo

[calv]

MO

It comes as no shock to me as you hit the nail on the head!
Religious addiction .... I exchanged the ones that I brought with me ( or just set them aside thru a quick deliverance fix) and took on the NEW and IMPROVED life changing high and escape into the glorious realm of chapelism. An instant new LIFE! A new identity! A new place to hide! and a place that would heal me of ALL my hurts ane empower me and make me this "MAN of GOD"..... part of The great revelation, I was in training to become.......????

There was no need to look at the past, all the answers where there in an instant! This "move of god" was THEE
answer! WRONG!!!!!

How many others did the same exact thing!????
I was just deliverd everytime something new was revealed and I was taugh a way to avoid being engaged in the real world.

cc seperated us from reality.... we lived in a bible story fantasy .... bd fantasies!!!!. We were so repressed that when the "move of love happened" all hell broke loose!

Twenty yrs later and we still can't see the truth !
Sure bad things happened but we really where a good family, its normal to have problems. Just look at all the other problems out there! WE were never that bad!
It's just Those people over there with mental problems that have the real problems. It's best to just ignor them,
don't read the papers ... its just lies from the enemy...
etc, etc, etc ...

Proper treatment of addiction.... something else we will have to take a look at!

Yes there is much to learn still .... It takes time !
I say there is hope, It just takes time for the truth to sink in.

[calv]

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