Spiritual Abuse and The Silent That Sickens

The sharp rise in reports of spiritual abuse in evangelical churches raises an alarm that can no longer be ignored. These accusations don’t come from opponents of faith, but from people who, for years, were silenced by a spirituality shaped by structures of power and control. Talking about this is uncomfortable — especially for those taught to obey blindly, without questioning leaders or doctrines. But silence has come at a high cost: mental health, family bonds, and one’s very relationship with faith.

The prosperity gospel, exported to the world as a promise of victory and abundance, has turned the Gospel into a results-driven machine. Pastoral care was replaced with image management. The sacred became a stage. The altar, a showcase. As @me.glaucia denounces: “The performance culture traded intimacy for results.” 

Behind victory speeches lies a trail of victims — manipulated, shamed, emotionally drained, and often fi nancially exploited. What should be a place of healing has become fertile ground for abuse, justifi ed by verses taken out of context and veiled threats of curses.

This month, the book Religious Activism marks one year since its release — the result of a commitment to truth, to listening, and to protecting those who have been wounded in spaces that were meant to be safe. Becoming informed is the fi rst step toward breaking cycles of silence and rebuilding faith in a healthy way.

Giving voice to victims, denouncing abuse, and reevaluating harmful practices is not weakening the faith — it is purifying it. A Christcentered spirituality does not fear the truth; it embraces it with compassion and courage.