Religious abuse in the family occurs when religious texts or teachings are interpreted to condone abuse (Simonič, Mandelji, & Novsak, 2013). While there is no direct evidence of how many individuals experience religious abuse, a survey of nearly 20,000 human service workers indicated that more than a quarter of them had witnessed it in their work (Bottoms 1995). Both spousal abuse and child abuse can spur from religious abuse in the family. There are also four ways it can manifest itself: neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse (Simonič, Mandelji, & Novsak, 2013). Outside people affected/ THESIS
As most of the articles on the subject point out, religious-related abuse is often abuse justified by religion rather than encouraged by religion. Religion often provides a moral compass and encourages healthy family relationships (Bottoms et. al, 2015). However, this category of abuse can have particularly bad effects on family dynamics and functioning when it is present. Christianity and other religions sometimes encourage a patriarchal family structure, which sometimes lead to increased spousal and child abuse (Nash, Faulkner, & Abell, 2013). Women are typically more submissive and children are taught to obey their …show more content…
Victims often believe God willed the abuse on them and that they deserve it for the sins they commit (Simonič, Mandelji, & Novsak, 2013). This also means there is less drive to leave an abusive environment. Religion emphasizes loyalty to ones family, condemns divorce, and places forgiveness above all other qualities (Nason-Clark, 2004). Religious abuse is also not investigated as readily as other forms of abuse because officials worry about hinging on religious freedom. For example, medical neglect cases are only reported half of the time; only 14% of those are brought to trial, and less than a third of those trials ending in conviction (Bottoms et. al,
As most of the articles on the subject point out, religious-related abuse is often abuse justified by religion rather than encouraged by religion. Religion often provides a moral compass and encourages healthy family relationships (Bottoms et. al, 2015). However, this category of abuse can have particularly bad effects on family dynamics and functioning when it is present. Christianity and other religions sometimes encourage a patriarchal family structure, which sometimes lead to increased spousal and child abuse (Nash, Faulkner, & Abell, 2013). Women are typically more submissive and children are taught to obey their …show more content…
Victims often believe God willed the abuse on them and that they deserve it for the sins they commit (Simonič, Mandelji, & Novsak, 2013). This also means there is less drive to leave an abusive environment. Religion emphasizes loyalty to ones family, condemns divorce, and places forgiveness above all other qualities (Nason-Clark, 2004). Religious abuse is also not investigated as readily as other forms of abuse because officials worry about hinging on religious freedom. For example, medical neglect cases are only reported half of the time; only 14% of those are brought to trial, and less than a third of those trials ending in conviction (Bottoms et. al,