The ruling was published on Monday as an online survey found that two-thirds of 1,591 respondents said they had personally experienced spiritual abuse.
The survey, carried out by Bournemouth University for the Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS), a safeguarding charity, identified key characteristics of spiritual abuse as coercion and control, manipulation and pressuring of individuals, control through the misuse of religious texts and scripture, and providing a ‘divine’ rationale for behaviour”.
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This is very relevant to Mormonism and almost any religion. I hope this mindset takes root. Time's Up for religious use of these tactics! Mormons are not special. They are only doing what other religions have done in spades.
Apparently CCPAS is an independent Christian charity providing professional advice, support, training and resources in all areas of safeguarding children, vulnerable adults and for those affected by abuse. They exist to safeguard both children and vulnerable adults throughout the UK. They also work to help those who are, or have been, affected by child abuse and similar issues.
Mormonism, along with other religious groups, should be expected to co-operate fully with any forthcoming independent and regulated body set up to investigate the growing problem of spiritual abuse. Its remit to address the psychological damage to vulnerable members within church and family at an early stage, eliminating the human misery suffered by so many in oppressive religions!
"... identified key characteristics of spiritual abuse as coercion and control, manipulation and pressuring of individuals, control through the misuse of religious texts and scripture, and providing a ‘divine’ rationale for behaviour”."
Me, I'd call that psychological abuse, but whatever.
At any rate, if those are the key characteristics of 'spiritual abuse,' every church ever is guilty of 'spiritual abuse.' Mormons are just really good at it. :)
Mormons should do a lot of things, but their policies have never been changed to follow the example of other organizations. If anything, they have been digging in more to set themselves apart from social change. What makes you think this would be any different?