The Insidious Harm of Spiritual Abuse

This brief and clearly organized article from Australia in pdf format called The Insidious Harm of Spiritual Abuse cuts to the heart of the matter and discusses the four "rules" of spiritual abuse: Don't trust, Don't think, Don't talk and Don't question. Graham Barker, the author, also provides several short case studies.

Eight Signs of an Aberrational Group

Also describing "fringe" groups is the New England Institute of Religious Research with Eight Signs of an Aberrational Christian or Bible-based Group:

• Scripture twisting
• Controlling leader or leadership
• Separation or isolation of members
• The chosen few (spiritual elitism)
• Uniformity of lifestyle
• No dissent
• Traumatic departure
• In transition (to a less healthy system)