I’ve been studying cults and high control religious groups for a long time, and I’m always struck by a couple of things when it comes to survivors: 1) They are typically the most courageous people; and 2) They are free and may not know what to do with that newfound freedom.

Nos encanta explorar juntos el mundo de nuestro Padre. No hay nada como nuestros momentos de papá e hija escalando cascadas, explorando senderos misteriosos y enfrentando desafíos inesperados donde necesitamos el uno del otro para superarlos. Nos encanta estar unidos en amor y propósito, porque estas experiencias nos acercan y forman la base de los hermosos recuerdos que estamos creando. En nuestras aventuras, Dios a menudo nos recuerda la importancia de las relaciones saluda

“Porque nadie hace más daño en la Iglesia que aquel que, teniendo el título o rango de santidad, actúa mal.”¹ La tormenta mediática golpeó nuestra comunidad de Georgia como un tornado EF5 en la oscuridad de la noche. Así como los tornados de esa magnitud dejan a su paso una estela de miedo, negación, destrucción y daños colaterales incalculables, las noticias sobre nuestra universidad cristiana local revelaron una tempestad de distinta magnitud, pero no menos horrendamente de

“Humility is not an ornament to be worn; it is an ideal that will transform.” John Dickson in Humilitas

Most people have heard of the Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints (FLDS), an offshoot of the mainstream LDS Church that practices polygamy and was led by Warren Jeffs.[2] Fewer are familiar with the Samuelites, a more recent splinter group founded in 2019 by Samuel Bateman and featured in the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet.[3]

Warning: This post contains triggers, and I encourage you to tread lightly, especially if you are a religious abuse survivor. I write extensively about Bethel in this blog. I grew up in a charismatic home, and while I don’t necessarily identify as charismatic these days (I’m non-denominational), I do believe in spiritual gifts and the supernatural. Over the years, I’ve taken hard looks at people in the charismatic movement, especially those who proclaim that they are prophets

Have you ever watched a YouTube video or read an article and wondered, “How did that YouTuber/author find out all of that information, and how do I know if what they are saying is true?” If so, you’re not alone, and I’m here to help. One of my favorite things in life is research. I’m truly not kidding. I’m fairly certain I’ve always been like this, especially when it comes to religions, cults, and secret societies.

Once upon a time, before anything big, bad, or very confusing had happened in my life, I was a college student walking along a beach with some friends. There was nothing particularly special about the day, or the beach, or the season of life. But in the middle of it God gave me an object lesson that has been one of the most enduring and impactful I’ve learned.

Let me be honest from the outset—I don’t like making covenants or pledges of loyalty, and outside of my wedding vows, I think I’ve only entered legally binding contracts like the ones I signed to buy my house and accept employment. So, when the topic of church covenants comes up, I get a little tense. This isn’t to say that I object to church covenants wholesale; rather, I think they should only be entered into prayerfully and after a potential church member has discussed the

For example, consider old man’s beard lichen. It looks like a plant but it actually consists of two organisms; fungus and algae living in a mutualistic relationship. They need each other to thrive and survive. The fungus protects the algae from the environment and is a moisture source while algae produce food for both. They are at their best and most healthy when they work together. This is known as a mutual symbiosis. While ecologists debate the nuances of these relationshi

The holiday season can be the best of times and the worst of times, to steal a phrase from novelist Charles Dickens in his classic, A Tale of Two Cities. We are pulled in all sorts of directions, and the expectation seems to be that we’ll be full of merriment throughout it. The truth is, though, that if you’ve experienced loss, whether through death of a loved one or by way of spiritual abuse, the holidays can be exceedingly difficult,

When I was in high school, the Left Behind series by Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye were all the rage. I remember heading to the Sam’s Club on release day to get the newest book in the series, and I’d devour it quickly. I was wrapped up in the rapture, and so were a lot of people. At the time, I attended a Catholic high school, and one of my classmates saw me with one of the Left Behind books. He asked me about it and had a lot of specific questions about rapture theology.

I’ve always been the kind of parent who has been as transparent as possible with my kids. For example, I’ve never shied away from telling them how much I make, something that so many of us were told was none of our business while we were growing up. In my opinion, it’s best to include my kids in difficult or challenging discussions, too.

Have you ever stumbled upon a situation online where one Christian was calling out another Christian publicly for sin? I’ve seen this when someone holds a belief that doesn’t align with Scripture, but I’ve also seen instances where people are publicly accused of abuse or of covering up abuse. Inevitably, someone in the comments will say, “You should follow Matthew 18.” When I see comments like that, I usually ask myself, “Does Matthew 18 even apply here?”

Emotionally healthy spiritual leaders are hard to come by and there is just something about leading a religious flock that draws emotionally vacant, power hungry, and glory seeking manipulators, like moths to a flame. Just as with many types of abuses, there is a spectrum of intensity and hurt that befalls victims of spiritual abuse, but how can we identify and avoid leaders like these?

La expresión «disciplina eclesiástica» o «disciplina en la iglesia» me recuerda a la expresión «cama de clavos», porque ambas evocan sentimientos de angustia y dolor, y ambas incluyen palabras que parecen completamente incongruentes. Las camas deben ser cálidas y cómodas, no provocar heridas punzantes; y la iglesia debe ser un lugar seguro para aprender sobre Jesús en una comunidad amorosa, no un recinto para el castigo.

How do we know if church discipline is being used against us instead of for us?

As is often the case with whistleblowers, we sometimes feel guilt and regret for our actions. If you’re in a situation where you feel like you may need to call out spiritual abuse, I hope this is an encouragement to you; the road may be long, and you may lose some people along the way, but find hope in the knowledge that you are doing what is biblical and right. I also want to point out that for some of you, you may not feel safe calling out the abuse. I’ll offer some suggest

Beatrice temblaba al ver los caballos. No tenía experiencia con ellos y su ansiedad se disparaba. Sabía que su consejera la observaba y recordó su sugerencia: interactuar con caballos podría ayudarla a encontrar alivio a su soledad y a su desconfianza hacia las personas. Decir que era escéptica sería quedarse corto.

"This story is a composite of many true experiences I have both observed and read about. They are filled with healing and relief against a backdrop of soul destroying evil. What is it about a sensitive horse that can be a bridge toward relational healing for one's soul? What about other aspects of creation such as mountain top gazing of a stunning landscape, or experiencing the sights, sounds, and earthy scents of an emerald forest, or admiring the beauty and perfume scent