By Dr Selina Stone2023-06-27T15:42:00
In light of recent allegations of spiritual abuse at Soul Survivor Watford and the church formerly known as Anaheim Vineyard, Dr Selina Stone explains what spiritual abuse is and how to identify it in our communities
Spiritual abuse can be understood as a separate category of abuse, or simply as a form of abuse (eg. emotional or psychological) that takes place within a religious setting. In many cases, it can appear in subtle ways or go unrecognised.
In her book Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse (SPCK Publishing), Dr Lisa Oakley, a psychologist who has committed her career to research in this area, highlights several examples of what spiritual abuse might look like:
2024-04-10T12:42:00Z By Megan Cornwell
Matt and Beth Redman’s new film Let There Be Light explores the emotional abuse the couple experienced at the hands of Soul Survivor’s Mike Pilavachi. They spoke to Megan Cornwell about why they made it, and what they hope will change in the Church
2025-10-08T09:58:00Z By Beth Allison Barr
Robert Morris, founder of Gateway Church has pled guilty to sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl - yet he will serve only six months in jail. Beth Allison Barr celebrates the courage of survivor Cindy Clemishire, who fought for decades to see justice served
2025-09-03T16:00:00Z By Hayley Chapman-Todd
Chris Brain’s conviction of indecent assault has brought justice but it also raises deeper questions about power, coercion, and spiritual abuse within the Church. Hayley Chapman-Todd explores how the Church is beginning to respond to the issue of spiritual abuse and what more must be done
2025-10-17T15:52:00Z By Bruce Miller
In this new series, Bruce Miller attempts to answer some of the questions that people most often ask the internet about God. Here, he examines the evidence for Christ’s divinity
2025-10-17T14:56:00Z By Faith Lowe
At one church in Nottingham, raw, authentic encounters with God are transforming student lives more powerfully than any human strategy. Young people are hungry for a place where they can truly find God’s presence, says Faith Lowe.
2025-10-15T09:40:00Z By George Pitcher
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is to be celebrated, says George Pitcher. But true shalom demands justice too
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