Abstract: Abuses of spiritual power are not usually associated with the Shakers, a sect now regarded as wholesome and American as apple pie. Parkgate Road These include the integration of trusted non-human guides through the Shipibo Amazonian indigenous practice of plant dieta, shared reflection on ritual experiences of trauma release using western psychotherapeutic paradigms, and a dialogical process called BreakThrough inspired by Advaita Vedanta that seeks to put nondualism in practice. Our sessions will explore both sides of this reality and strive to foster open-hearted dialogue between people who have benefited from alternative spiritualities and those who have experienced significant harm from them. As we move to be a more inclusive society where gender pronouns are Indigenous lands are acknowledged new negotiations and conversations are being had about Two Spirit communities. a religious or spiritual leader leveraging their position of authority as a means of coercion, insulting or ridiculing someones spiritual beliefs, using spiritual beliefs to manipulate someone, insisting children have to be raised under one partners religion, rationalizing other forms of abuse through religious doctrines or teaching, making someone perform spiritual practices against their will, using someones spiritual beliefs to create guilt or shame, preventing someone from practicing their beliefs, denying education about bodily autonomy due to spiritual beliefs, using spiritual beliefs to withhold necessary medical care, denying basic needs like healthcare, food, or sleep. This is a complex phenomenon, involving typically two individuals, one of which, the initiator, is usually overtly psychotic, often with religious and spiritual overtones, he explains. Harvard Divinity Schools Program for the Evolution of Spirituality is delighted to announce that our spring 2023 conference will be organized around the theme of Uses and Abuses of Power in Alternative Spiritualities. We will offer three days of panels and workshops devoted to this theme and other aspects of alternative spirituality. When Is It Spiritual Abuse? | Psychology Today Spiritual Abuse Resources - About Us Since 2021, Sudarshan has served as the Spiritual Affiliate for Brahma Kumaris at Northeastern University's Center for Spirituality Dialogue and Service. Video screen grab from conference. The emphasis in her work has been on the power of narrative, how the questions we ask ourselves and the stories we tell ourselves affect our life journeys. Are Cultic Environments Psychologically Harmful? What models of femininity do they elaborate and express? This paper will discuss both positive practices of psychedelic communities at Burning Man and areas of abuse and risk. Click the red X in the upper-right corner or Escape button on your keyboard twice at any time to leave TheHotline.org immediately. Faith and Spiritual Affairs Conference tackles trauma, grief and healing. A person doesnt have to be a member of your family or a spiritual leader to spiritually abuse you. In spiritual traditions, meditation is thought to lead to "enlightenment," a state in which one permanently experiences calm, restful alertness. Both cognitive scientists of religions and many religious people think that religions will never go away. It often focuses on forces outside of yourself, such as the belief in a higher power. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This conference provides a space for practitioners, academics, statutory agencies, other relevant stakeholders and survivor groups to explore the growing awareness of this phenomenon from multiple religious, spiritual and non-religious perspectives. She authored scientific articles in both national and international publications. The first of these is flattery. Many of us do not know what it takes to have a healthy partnership. Is Your Religious Organization Free From Cultic Tendencies? We will focus on some of the key structural (such as leadership and membership structure) and cultural factors (such as teachings on gender, sexuality, purification and health and healing) within the movements which enabled this abuse. Wade Mullen: How to Recognize Spiritual Abuse in Evangelicalism You may be experiencing spiritual abuse if your religious leadership or intimate partner is using scriptures or religious beliefs to control your: If you feel that you are experiencing spiritual abuse whether from a religious organization or as an element of intimate partner violence help is available. However, it can be very difficult to identify, as many . French bishops' conference president Archbishop ric de Moulins-Beaufort said in November 2022 that a total of 11 French bishops had faced scrutiny by the secular or ecclesiastical justice systems on suspicion of committing or covering up abuse. Issues Pertaining to the UPCI - Spiritual Abuse In doing so, the presentation highlights how scholars who are favourable to Scientology have more in common with those who oppose Scientology than first appears. There are many different types of abuse, but one you may not be aware of is spiritual (or religious) abuse. An abusive partner who is using spiritual abuse might: People who experience abuse often feel ashamed or isolated, and may wonder if they deserve to be treated badly. Abstract: In this paper, we will focus on exploring the complex power dynamics in two case studies in which the leaders of small, syncretistic religious movements abused their followers. Presenter bio: Agustina Gracia holds a PhD and a bachelors degree in Anthropology by the University of Buenos Aires. Andrea Mathews, LPC, NCC, is a cognitive and transpersonal therapist, internet radio show host, and the author of Letting Go of Good: Dispel the Myth of Goodness to Find Your Genuine Self. We also share about what is happening in the world as well as enjoy a pot luck dinner. Progress made protecting minors, but adults remain vulnerable to clergy Spirituality is your personal set of beliefs about lifes purpose, meaning, and connection. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this Web site (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies, and any services or tools provided. Abuse is never the fault of the victim. It discusses the emergence of a community of scholars who adopt a significantly more favourable stance on Scientology and have impacted the homogeneity of Scientology research, seeking to refute their central claim that Scientology research had, prior to their intervention, lacked sophistication by focussing on Scientologys organisational behaviour instead of on its theology, beliefs, and praxis and by unduly relying on the testimonies of former members. Program for the Evolution of Spirituality - Harvard Divinity School Confronting Spiritual Abuse - The Allender Center All information collected will be confidential and anonymous. Abstract: From the perspective of a former member, this paper employs autoethnography to explore the lived and felt experience of growing up in the Church of Scientology in 1990s Toronto. In addition, the abusive partner may claim that any challenge to the abuse is an assault on their own religious freedom. If youre concerned for your safety in exiting a situation of abuse, help and resources are available any time by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or texting START to 88788. What Is Spiritual Abuse? | Psych Central The Spirit of God Like a Fire is Burning: A different kind of General In 2004 she co-founded the Center for Business as Agent of World Benefit at Case Western Reserve University. Love is the eternal source of joy and truth is the eternal source of wisdom. For those who value spirituality, practices found by scientists to boost well-being may hold special significance. Internet usage can be monitored and is impossible to erase completely. Youll be taken to Psych Centrals landing page instead. The paper focuses on communities-of-care and harm reduction practices which allow the 70k person city to function, as well as rituals and spiritual practices co-operating with these care practices. Spiritual Abuse Resources - Recovery From Spiritual Abuse Morality gives us an external point of reference on which we often base our self-worth. This puts her in a constant, moment-by-moment battle with her own inner world so that she cannot allow thoughts to arise and feelings to be made conscious. Its aim is to help change the paradigm of spiritual leadership by empowering seekers and promoting ethical standards and ongoing personal development among spiritual teachers, guides, mentors, and the like. However, it can be very difficult to identify, as many victims may not recognize they are being abused. 2023 Psych Central, a Healthline Media Company. Immediate emergency services can be reached by dialing 911. Some options for dealing with spiritual abuse are: If youre being spiritually abused, there are a number of resources you can reach out to for support. A full conference program will be posted at this site soon. Abusive Relationship Therapy: Is It Helpful? Or, what about children who are made on Halloween to walk through a so-called haunted house in which terrible visions of torturous hell are played out dramatically, thus terrifying the children into believing that if they dont get saved right away they may go, that very night, to that terrible torturous place for all eternity? Whether subtle or obvious, spiritual abuse is a form of trauma that undermines your relationship with yourself and with God. : Growing up in Scientology in 1990s Toronto, Cautions and Correctives to Prevent Religious Abuse in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Lessons from the Oregon Psilocybin Services Initiative, Chasing the Numinous: Hungry Ghosts in the Shadow of the Psychedelic Renaissance, Children and "Spiritual Abuse" in Alternative Spiritualities: Issues of Harm, Questions of Blame, and the Search for Solutions, Choosing and leaving a spiritual community. The term spiritual abuse has increasingly been used to name the phenomenon of abuse, coercion and control within religious and spiritual traditions and contexts. An example of religious abuse is a religious leader using scripture or beliefs to coerce or control the behavior of members of the organization. It is challenging to report the total number of sexual abuse allegations by nuns since there are over 400 women's religious institutes in the United States. Abstract: What if the change we are trying to create can only be actualized in relationship to the amount of change we are able to cultivate within ourselves? HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138. Why we insist it does, and why it's okay that it most probably doesn't. Not everyone will agree with or understand your spiritual beliefs, which may lead them to express abusive behaviors which can impact your relationship and well-being. This is the first time both departments have collaborated on this scale, and one of the first academic conferences on the growing awareness of spiritual abuse from multiple religious, spiritual and non-religious perspectives. by The Allender Center on August 14, 2020. iTunes Stitcher. Alternatively, if youre on a computer with an external keyboard and you want to quickly close this tab, try using the following keyboard shortcuts: For more tips on safety plans and safer browsing, consider visiting the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The author of The Bodys Code Synchronicity and Meaning in Illness and Injury (2015), Dr. Osterhold teaches Masters and PhD level courses in Depth Psychology, Dreamwork, Spiritual Counseling, and the Psychology of Death and Dying. This conference provides information and guidance for: those who have experienced spiritual abuse in cults, authoritarian churches, relationships, or mainstream religious organizations professionals, family members, and other persons who want to help spiritual abuse survivors Come and sit at His feet. These mechanisms will be explained in detail using examples from Spiritual and Intentional Communities. Spiritual abuse, controlling pastors and leaving churches - John Burton | Conference Speaker | Author Spiritual abuse, controlling pastors and leaving churches By John Burton | January 22, 2018 Everywhere I turn I hear someone angrily calling out controlling pastors, and it has to stop. Situations of spiritual abuse may include: Sometimes spiritual abuse may appear consensual. Spiritual abuse is not limited to one religion, denomination, or group of people. After centuries of being mocked and denied by the French government, the Bretons Celtic identity has become a motive of personal and collective pride and a source of inspiration for diverse activities. Spiritual Abuse Through 'Charms' Mullen outlined four ways abusers attempt to charm their victims in order to manipulate them. As part of the discussion, the archetypal image of the Hungry Ghost, known across Asian cultural and religious traditions, is explored to better understand the aforementioned shadow phenomena and point towards mitigating possibilities.Presenter bio: Helge Michael Osterhold, PhD, MFT (USA) is an Associate Professor of East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies and previously taught at Golden Gate University and at UCSF School of Medicine in San Francisco, California. Therefore, it is crucial to include the element of personal agency in discourse about power dynamics and potential for empowerment or harm within spiritual groups. Bron Taylor (2010) proposes that Christianity [bears] a heavy burden for the environmental crisis. I explore what those who have spiritual experiences in/of/as the earth can tell us about the opportunities and obstacles for a spiritually and environmentally healing path forward. Often, leaders of pseudo-religious groups will use spirituality as a way to exert control over followers. The National Domestic Violence Hotline offers a toll-free number (1-800-799-SAFE) and a chat option on their website. Abstract: Through an examination of social media content moderation frameworks applied to moderate the activities and reported abuses and harms of alternative spiritualities, this paper discusses the challenges, power dynamics, and authority placed over the activities of alternative spiritualities online. Presenter Bio: A widely traveled scholar, Sunita Singh Sengupta brings with her more than 30 years of teaching and research experience (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunita-ss108/). Vatican restricted retired French archbishop in 2021 If someone ridicules your spiritual beliefs or uses them to make you feel inferior, you may be experiencing spiritual abuse. The paper weaves the authors personal experience from his five Burns (where he worked in psychedelic harm reduction and as a Temple Guardian) with an analysis of the primary and secondary literature on Burning Man and North American psychedelic churches. This is a bonus episode on spiritual abuse. No, she must fight these off to make sure nothing negative ever happens to her. We will also explore stories of empowerment and agency from former members, as well as enduring ambivalent views of the two leaders. Spiritual abuse is the term used to name abuse associated with coercion and control within religious and spiritual traditions and related contexts. Spiritual Abuse: Coercive Control in Religions Spiritual abuse is real and people who have been abused in the name of religion need the church to recognize their pain and give them hope that reconciliation with the church is possible.