A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” (I Timothy 2:11-12 English Standard Version) A good Christian home is a place that most associate with a sanctuary that provides a safe atmosphere to explore personal spirituality and promote personal growth. (Popescu, et al., 2009, p. 404) Consequently, this can leave women of faith more vulnerable to abuse. (Nasan-Clark, 2009, p. 388) Specifically, spiritual abuse, which is a growing phenomenon and has had little research. (Ward, 2011, p. 899) Pinning down what constitutes spiritual abuse has been and continues to be a difficult task. By nature, spirituality is a very personal thing and results in the interpretation of experiences being idiosyncratic. (Ward, 2011, p. 901) Due to the nature of faith being personal, abuse can be disguised and …show more content…
(Starr, 2017, p. 39) Spiritual abuse can be defined as abusing a person who has sought out help or spiritual guidance, and rather than experiencing personal growth are left weak and without personal liberation. (Gubi & Jacobs, 2009, p. 191) Spiritual abuse often occurs as a result of someone using their position of authority and respect within a belief system to satisfy their own agenda. Generally, this happens in conjunction with two attributes. One, a leader has an unnatural influence on a group of people or sometimes certain people within that group. Two, the group subscribes to a set doctrine that results in control and subtle manipulation of how to live, carried out through peer pressure. (Gubi & Jacobs, 2009, p. 191) Additionally, an authoritarian leadership is seen, criticism is not tolerated, performance is key to integration, and a tendency to believe that an ideal way has been found. (Enevoldsen,
“Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” (I Timothy 2:11-12 English Standard Version) A good Christian home is a place that most associate with a sanctuary that provides a safe atmosphere to explore personal spirituality and promote personal growth. (Popescu, et al., 2009, p. 404) Consequently, this can leave women of faith more vulnerable to abuse. (Nasan-Clark, 2009, p. 388) Specifically, spiritual abuse, which is a growing phenomenon and has had little research. (Ward, 2011, p. 899) Pinning down what constitutes spiritual abuse has been and continues to be a difficult task. By nature, spirituality is a very personal thing and results in the interpretation of experiences being idiosyncratic. (Ward, 2011, p. 901) Due to the nature of faith being personal, abuse can be disguised and …show more content…
(Starr, 2017, p. 39) Spiritual abuse can be defined as abusing a person who has sought out help or spiritual guidance, and rather than experiencing personal growth are left weak and without personal liberation. (Gubi & Jacobs, 2009, p. 191) Spiritual abuse often occurs as a result of someone using their position of authority and respect within a belief system to satisfy their own agenda. Generally, this happens in conjunction with two attributes. One, a leader has an unnatural influence on a group of people or sometimes certain people within that group. Two, the group subscribes to a set doctrine that results in control and subtle manipulation of how to live, carried out through peer pressure. (Gubi & Jacobs, 2009, p. 191) Additionally, an authoritarian leadership is seen, criticism is not tolerated, performance is key to integration, and a tendency to believe that an ideal way has been found. (Enevoldsen,