This says it well~
The Rising Dangers of Spiritual Abuse
David M. Wasmundt
Autocratic personality types have long brought physical and emotional pain to the undiscerning masses. We see spiritual abuse in the name of religion on the rise and it is clear that spiritual forces of darkness are aligning themselves to wreak destruction as much as possible and where ever possible. Spiritual abuse, as in physical and emotional abuse has always been characterized by excessive control and manipulation of other people.
Spiritual abuse is harder to deal with because it is often cloaked with an exterior of morality and spirituality. But underneath various coats of self proclaimed piety you discover a hidden agenda of control and domination. The personality of the abuser can be either rigid or charismatic but the underlying thread of control is always there.
For example, cultish groups that are headed by various "god complex" leader’s with any number of titles that can also include sectarian pastors are guilty of dictating to their followers, including church congregations, everything they can wear, everywhere they can go and everything they can do for the most part. Not only is this control unnecessary, it is dangerous as it can eventually produce a “walk off the cliff with me” mentality that with time doesn’t seem that unreasonable to victims who have been conditioned by years of this spiritual totalitarian ethos.
You may wonder why so many people fall for this kind of abuse. One answer seems to indicate that when people come from dysfunctional family settings they often become easy prey for religious abusers who at first seem to offer them a sense of order, structure and security. Satan must delight in the many sincere people who have had their lives disrupted by authoritarian leadership. The abuser may even offer partial truth as an incentive to support their teachings but as time goes by the “wolf” eventually comes out as they expose their dark side of control and domination. Christ condemned the Pharisees who were masters at controlling people by adding their own preferences and traditions to the laws of God. He told them, “In vain do you worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mt 15:9) Many of these commandments of men evolve into spiritual and emotional impediments that are equivalent to heavy yokes attached to people who are searching for God.
The bottom line seems to be that whether it be an individual, a pastor or an entire religious denomination, the manufacturing of unnecessary rules for the purpose of illegitimate control is nothing more than spiritual abuse plain and simple. The irony is that those that are being abused are not serving "Christ" but rather the abuser who is having his or her need for power and control fulfilled while dispensing out a delusional sense of security to their victims. For many trapped in religious affiliations, the church eventually becomes a nightmare of impossible demands and painful condemnation. It is only when the pain of the abused becomes greater than the fear of retribution from the "abuser" will the spiritually exploited person finally seek a way out of the web of spiritual abuse.
http://www.dmwministries.com/rising_..._spiritual.htm
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