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Churches That Abuse, first published in 1991, is a best-selling sociologically-oriented book written by Dr. Ronald Enroth about Christian churches and organizations he perceives as "spiritually abusive" and the effects these groups can have on their members. A primary theme of the book is to demonstrate, through case histories of individuals, couples, and families whose lives have been negatively affected by practices of certain Christian churches, that "spiritual abuse can take place in the context of doctrinally sound, Bible-preaching, fundamentalist, conservative Christianity."[1] The book also attempts to outline the backgrounds of the leaders of these groups, and explain how the groups evolved to the point of becoming, in his mind, spiritually abusive. It has been praised by many in the anti-cult movement, including Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D [1], Michael D. Langone (director of the American Family Foundation) [2], Dr. Paul R. Martin[3], and James Leo Garrett, Jr. (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)[2]. Ronald M. Enroth (born October 28, 1938) is Professor of Sociology at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, and a prominent evangelical Christian author of books concerning cults and new religious movements. ...
For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ...
The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...
The term Spiritual abuse was coined in the late twentieth century to refer to abusive or aberrational practices identified in the behavior and teachings of some churches, spiritual and religious organizations and groups. ...
Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ...
A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ...
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company, one of the four businesses founded by Dutch-Americans that have made Grand Rapids, Michigan into the USAs Christian Publishing Capital, alongside Eerdmans, Baker Books, and Kregel. ...
Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...
ISBN redirects here. ...
Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...
Ronald M. Enroth (born October 28, 1938) is Professor of Sociology at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, and a prominent evangelical Christian author of books concerning cults and new religious movements. ...
For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ...
The term Spiritual abuse was coined in the late twentieth century to refer to abusive or aberrational practices identified in the behavior and teachings of some churches, spiritual and religious organizations and groups. ...
For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ...
The term Spiritual abuse was coined in the late twentieth century to refer to abusive or aberrational practices identified in the behavior and teachings of some churches, spiritual and religious organizations and groups. ...
It has been suggested that Opposition to cults and new religious movements be merged into this article or section. ...
Margaret Thaler Singer (1921 - 2003) was a clinical psychologist and emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. Dr. Singer was born in Denver and received her bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees from the University of Denver. ...
Michael D. Langone, Ph. ...
Book published by the International Cultic Studies Association The International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA) is since 2004 the new name of the American Family Foundation (AFF), a major anti-cult organization based in the United States. ...
Paul R. Martin, Ph. ...
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, whose stated mission is to provide theological education for individuals engaging in Christian ministry. ...
Characteristics of an "abusive church"
The book lists what Ronald Enroth believes are several identifying characteristics of "abusive churches," including: Ronald M. Enroth (born October 28, 1938) is Professor of Sociology at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, and a prominent evangelical Christian author of books concerning cults and new religious movements. ...
Control-oriented leadership According to the book, "...experience with authoritarian leadership is, unfortunately, not unusual for people who have been a part of spiritually abusive groups. Control-oriented leadership is at the core of all such churches. These spiritual power holders become strong role models, and their dogmatic teaching, bold confidence, and arrogant assertiveness become powerful forces of influence. They use their spiritual authority to intimidate the weak and those who consider leaving their flock." (Page 42) The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against the population, generally without attempts at gaining the consent of the population. ...
The term Spiritual abuse was coined in the late twentieth century to refer to abusive or aberrational practices identified in the behavior and teachings of some churches, spiritual and religious organizations and groups. ...
Spiritual elitism, perceived persecution According to the book, "The spiritual elitism of abusive churches can be seen in some of the terminology they use to refer to themselves: "God's Green Berets," "God's End-Time Army," the "faithful remnant," the special "move of God." As one ex-member put it, "We believed we were on the cutting edge of what God was doing in the world. I looked down on people who left our movement; they didn't have what it took. They were not faithful to their commitment. When everyone else got with God's program, they would be involved in shepherding just like we were." ... If abusive churches are exclusive and special, it follows that they will be targets for persecution, or so their leaders seem to feel." (Page 61)
Manipulation of members, fostering dependency According to the book, "Spiritually abusive groups routinely use guilt, fear, and intimidation as effective means for controlling their members. In my opinion, the leaders consciously foster an unhealthy form of dependency, spiritually and interpersonally, by focusing on themes of submission, loyalty, and obedience to those in authority. In all totalitarian environments, dependency is necessary for subjugation." (Page 53)
Life-style rigidity According to the book, "Traditional evangelical churches value and respect individual differences. For the most part, they encourage people to become unique persons in their own right, not mere photocopies of someone else. Authoritarian, manipulative fringe groups, on the other hand, encourage clones and promote cookie-cutter life-styles. ... authoritarian churches demonstrate an excessive focus on such concerns. The restricted life-style and limits on personal freedom that follow are just other examples of the need to control that all abusive churches exemplify. Conformity to prescribed standards is achieved, more so than in mainline churches, through peer pressure and pastoral directives." (Page 54 and 70)
Emphasis on experience According to the book, "Quite clearly, the excesses at Community Chapel demonstrate what can happen when spiritual experience dictates theology and then necessitates a re-interpretation of Scripture. Subjective experience takes care of the theological loopholes that the Bible seems not to address. The leadership of Community Chapel promoted the view that one could accept certain doctrines and practices if they could not be disproved from Scripture, rather than accept them because of a strong conviction they were right because they were taught in God's Word. It has been said that commitment without careful reflection is fanaticism in action, and that certainly was the case at Community Chapel." (Page 26) Community Chapel and Bible Training Center was a controversial independent Christian church created in 1967 by Donald Lee Barnett in which he taught his version of Oneness Pentecostalism. ...
Harsh discipline of members, information control According to the book, "Virtually all authoritarian groups that I have studied impose discipline, in one form or another, on members. A common theme that I encountered during interviews with ex-members of these groups was that the discipline was often carried out in public-and involved ridicule and humiliation. ... Members of all abusive churches soon learn that the pastor or leader is beyond confrontation. ... Unwavering obedience to religious leadership and unquestioning loyalty to the group would be less easily achieved if analysis and feedback were available to members from the outside. It is not without reason that leaders of abusive groups react so strongly and so defensively to any media criticism of their organizations." (Page 78, 81, and 84)
Painful exit processes According to the book, "leaving an abusive church situation can be extremely difficult, calling into question every aspect of life members may have experienced for the period of time they were involved. ... Leaving a restricted and abusive community involves what sociologists call the de-socialization process whereby the individual loses identification with the past group and moves toward re-socialization, or reintegration into the mainstream culture. There are a number of emotions and needs that emerge during this transition process. How one deals with these feelings and affective experiences has a significant impact on the overall healing that is required. Many have described the aftermath of abusive-church involvement as comparable to that of rape victims, or the delayed stress syndrome experienced by war veterans. It is recovery from what might be called spiritual rape." (Page 89 and 90)
Groups discussed The following groups and religious leaders are discussed in the book: The Church of Bible Understanding (COBU, formerly the Forever Family) is a destructive cult that some former members believe started as a legitimate religious commune. ...
Community Chapel and Bible Training Center was a controversial independent Christian church created in 1967 by Donald Lee Barnett in which he taught his version of Oneness Pentecostalism. ...
Donald Lee Barnett founded Community Chapel and Bible Training Center, a controversial church near Burien, Washington, and was its only pastor during its twenty-one year history, from 1967 to 1988. ...
The Community of Jesus is an ecumenical community of Christians based in Rock Harbor, Orleans, Massachusetts, in the middle of Cape Cod. ...
Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box: The Cooneyites are a...
Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box: The Cooneyites are a...
Official language(s) English Demonym Coloradan Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area Ranked 8th in the US - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²) - Width 280 miles (451 km) - Length 380 miles (612 km) - % water 0. ...
Members Mark (Buss) Stacy: Lead Vocal, Guitars, and Programming Leigh Bailey: Keyboards and Vocal Craig Gilmore: Guitars and Bass Darren Murdock: Drums Megan Erben: Backing Vocals Discography Albums Shades Of Blue (1993) My Mortal Beloved (1997) Ghosts, I Have Been (2000) Windmills [CD + DVD] (2003) Singles/EPs The Winter Of...
Hobart Freeman (October 17, 1920-December 8, 1984) was a charismatic preacher and author, who ministered in northern Indiana. ...
This article or section seems to contain too many quotations for an encyclopedia entry. ...
Jim McCotter (James Douglas McCotter) (b. ...
The International Churches of Christ is generally unaffiliated with other churches that have the words Church and Christ in their name. ...
Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box: Thomas Kip McKean (born May 31...
Maranatha Campus Ministries was a Charismatic/Pentecostal-oriented Christian ministry founded by Bob Weiner which existed from 1971 to 1990. ...
Wayman Othell Mitchell is the founder of Christian Fellowship Ministries also known as The Door, and Victory Chapel, and is the senior pastor of the Potters House Christian Fellowship which is claimed to comprise of 1400 churches in 95 countries. ...
Edgar Mitchell (right) poses with Stuart Roosa (left) and Alan Shepard (center) Edgar D. Mitchell (born September 17, 1930) was the sixth man to walk on the moon. ...
The Vineyard Movement is a combination renewal and church planting movement which can also be considered a Christian denomination. ...
John Wimber (born February 25, 1934 in Peoria, Illinois, died November 17, 1997) was a charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement. ...
Follow-up book Ronald Enroth has written one follow-up book, entitled Recovering From Churches That Abuse (ISBN 0-310-39870-3). Ronald M. Enroth (born October 28, 1938) is Professor of Sociology at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, and a prominent evangelical Christian author of books concerning cults and new religious movements. ...
Analogous books - Recovering from Churches that Abuse, Publisher: Zondervan (August 1994), (ISBN 978-0310398707).
- The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, co-authored by David Johnson and Jeff VanVonderen, published in 2004 (ISBN 1-556-61160-9).
- Toxic Faith, co-authored with Stephen Arterburn and Jack Felton, published in 2001 (ISBN 0-877-88825-6).
References - ^ a b Churches That Abuse (Reviewer: Margaret Thaler Singer).
- ^ a b Apologetics Index - Churches That Abuse.
- ^ CRI Journal - CRJ0112A.
External links Ronald M. Enroth (born October 28, 1938) is Professor of Sociology at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California, and a prominent evangelical Christian author of books concerning cults and new religious movements. ...
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