Stop Spiritual Abuse

Stop Spiritual Abuse contains an abundance of articles that challenge abusive systems. It also has articles on practical suggestions for helping someone out of a cult or spiritually abusive situation. This site contains MANY articles, most of them informative and thought-provoking.
Are Pastors More Annointed?
Authority Unlimited
Christians Criticizing Christians, Can it be Biblical?
Beyond Accountability
Mind Control and Religion
Scripture Twisting Methods
Spiritual Pride

Many more great articles, too.

Narcissism in the Pulpit

Narcissism in the Pulpit, includes a wealth of good information about what's behind a leader's need to control abusively. (The spooky, medieval background template behind this page is annoying as anything, but I found that cutting and pasting into a Word file is helpful, and the information is worth the trouble.) The site uses a World Health Organization definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder: “Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a disorder in which a person has a grandiose self-importance, preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, a driven desire for attention and admiration, an intolerance of criticism, and disturbed self-centered interpersonal relations..."
Authoritarian pastors may be driven by a personality disorder like this one. Knowing what to expect and how manipulation works can be quite helpful, especially for those still enmeshed in an abusive situation. Five of nine listed criteria must be met for someone to be categorized as a clinical narcissist. Among them: obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, interpersonally exploitive, sense of entitlement, firmly convinced of own uniqueness and specialness...

Warning Signs

Warning Signs is cult expert Rick Ross's list of things to look for, not just in a potential cult leader, but in those who are followers of cult leaders -- and also what to look for in a safe group.

This is an essential list for anyone looking to attend a new church because you never know at first what kind of group you may be joining. At first, spiritually abusive groups often bombard new members or attendees with love and care. Some warning signs of abusive leaders:

• Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability


• no tolerance for questions or critical inquiry


• unrealistic fears about the outside world


• the leader always needing to be right.


• Some warning signs of cult followers:


• Leader criticism is characterized as "persecution"


• extreme obsessiveness toward leader or group, resulting in the exclusion of every practical concern


• a dramatic loss of spontaneity and sense of humor


• former followers are, at best, considered negatively, and at worst considered evil


• anything the leader does can be justified, no matter how harsh or harmful.