Abusive denoms?

[QueenKnitter]

That's denoms as in "denominations" not "demons." :o

It may just be my slice of the world, but I'm discovering a particular kind of abuse born out of a particular creed. It's beginning to almost seem like a trend -- even a publishable trend. <scratching head>

I *know* that power corrupts people. Period. End of the story. And we're all vulnerable.

But have you noticed any trends? in Denoms or church governments? I'm trying, again, to be discrete. It's not my wish to bash anyone. I just sense a trend, and you all are more the experts than I.

Thanks.

QK

[jane]

I don't think I'd be willing to say that any denomination is more or less abusive than others.

Sometimes it would be nice if it could be so easy- if all the churches in X denominations were abusive and all the churches in T denominations weren't.....then we would know where to go to church.


The problem is that even in a denomination that doesn't practice abusive tactics; one small church in the hills of appalacia could have a small community with an abusive leader.....

and in Large abusive churches, you could find a pastor somewhere that is loving and God serving..........


I think for me, I am going to look for the signs of abuse by the actions of the people. What is going on inside the building between relationships, not what the label on the outside says.


Our church calls itself "a family centered church" and yet, we were never able to have time for our OWN family- we always were serving the pastor's family....

The website states "all the right things"; but people were hurting in there.


If you find a label that fits all, surely let me know because it would make things easier.

just my opinion,

jane

[QueenKnitter]

Well, of course, it would be easier. But that's not at all what I'm after. ;)

Recently, I've noticed that those denoms/traditions that were borne out of revivalism have a certain consistency to their abuse. You go to one church on one coast and then another in the midwest and then on the other coast, and they are all similar.

Often, I know, we accuse Evangelical fundamentalists of being patently abusive.

I've seen the thread here about Calvary Chapel.

I hear abusive things in the *confession (http://www.vor.org/truth/1689/1689bc00.html)* of Reformed Baptists.

And when I talk about the abuse in my own experience, my Lutheran friends, my Pres friends, etc. have no clue what I'm talking about. The SA they are seeing has an entirely different character than mine.

So there's something up. A friend recently read Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse and was uncomfortable with the denominational assumptions (and solutions) VanVonderen asserts in that text. So that's what's motivating this question.

QK

[Jerry]

That's denoms as in "denominations" not "demons." :o

It may just be my slice of the world, but I'm discovering a particular kind of abuse born out of a particular creed. It's beginning to almost seem like a trend -- even a publishable trend. <scratching head>

I *know* that power corrupts people. Period. End of the story. And we're all vulnerable.

But have you noticed any trends? in Denoms or church governments? I'm trying, again, to be discrete. It's not my wish to bash anyone. I just sense a trend, and you all are more the experts than I.

Thanks.

QK
Dear QK,,,
As in "Benny Hinn" or "Ken Copeland" or "Rod Parsley" I don't want to "bash" anyone either,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hehehehe but is that who you mean ????????? :D
Love Jerry

[QueenKnitter]

Dear QK,,,
As in "Benny Hinn" or "Ken Copeland" or "Rod Parsley" I don't want to "bash" anyone either,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,hehehehe but is that who you mean ????????? :D
Love Jerry

Well, yeah. . . . those are all Word of Faith. A very flawed theology. I'm not even looking to identify people, although I do see the benefit in potentially doing so. I'm interested in identifying religious ideologies and customs/governments that can't help but lead people down an abusive road.

Word of Faith is one such example.

QK

[SpinningHead]

So you're getting at theologies that are adopted by certain denominations and are used in abusive ways. that right?

[QueenKnitter]

So you're getting at theologies that are adopted by certain denominations and are used in abusive ways. that right?

:) Yup.

QK