Comparing different groups -- RSQUBF discussion forum

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Date Posted: 13:48:26 09/23/04 Thu
Author: Mike K.
Subject: Comparing different groups
In reply to: Chris 's message, "Re: Jews-for-Jesus" on 15:09:01 09/22/04 Wed

I believe by comparing different groups we can better understand what the essence of spiritual abuse is, how spiritual abusive systems operate, and how spiritual abusive leaders can be recognized.

Interesting that you mention it.
Through my UBF experience, I've become so keen to even subtle spiritual abuse that I can smell it 2 miles against the wind.
Interestingly enough, in fundamentalist groups, spiritual abuse is a common means of "defending" the practices and doctrines of the group when the other doesn't agree.

There is a definition of fundamentalism which includes the phrase "irrationally rejecting any alternatives."
And this is where verbal spiritual abuse comes into play very often: you tell them that there's something wrong in their doctrine or methods, and they say "You are not spiritual enough to realize that this is spiritual and must be considered spiritually."
There's no rationale behind this kind of reasoning, and it's the ultimate argument to counter every kind of criticism. But this kind of statement is pure spiritual abuse. Remember how Jesus took His precious time to explain to His disciples the Heavenly Kingdom in words they could understand? How come people claim to be "more spiritual" than Jesus by not feeling the need to explain, but simply blame others for an alleged "spiritual malcondition"?
(and this is the abuse in the statement: YOU are being blamed for being "unspiritual" when the OTHER is incapable of logically supporting their views!)

Where you find people making use of this statement, you don't need to argue any more. RUN, not walk, to the nearest exit!

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