Editing Religious abuse (section)

==Psychological==
One specific meaning of the term ''religious abuse'' refers to [[psychological manipulation]] and harm inflicted on a person by using the teachings of their religion. This is perpetrated by members of the same or similar faith that includes the use of a position of authority within the religion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Joyce |date=2021-04-28 |title=Bringing attention to exploited obedience, spiritual abuse in religious communities |url=https://www.globalsistersreport.org/religious-life/bringing-attention-exploited-obedience-spiritual-abuse-religious-communities |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=[[Global Sisters Report]]}}</ref> It is most often directed at children and emotionally vulnerable adults, and the motivations behind such abuse vary, and can be either well-intentioned or malicious.<ref name="Wright">{{cite book |author=Wright |first=Keith T. |title=Religious Abuse: A Pastor Explores the Many Ways Religion Can Hurt As Well As Heal |publisher=Northstone Publishing |year=2001 |isbn=9781896836478 |location=Kelowna, B.C.}} </ref>

Even well-intentioned religious abuse can have long-term psychological consequences, such as the victim developing [[phobia]]s or long-term [[Depression (mood)|depression]]. The victim may have a sense of shame that persists even after they leave the religion. A person can also be manipulated into avoiding a beneficial action (such as a medical treatment) or to engage in a harmful behavior.<ref name=Wright/>

In his book ''Religious Abuse'', pastor Keith Wright describes an example of such abuse. When he was a child, his [[Christian Scientist]] mother became very ill and eventually was convinced to seek medical treatment at an inpatient facility. Members of her church went to the treatment center to convince her to trust prayer rather than treatment, and to leave. She died shortly thereafter. While the church members may not have had any malicious intent, their use of their religion's teachings to manipulate Wright's mother ultimately resulted in her death.<ref name=Wright/>

A more recent study among 200 university students has shown that 12.5% of students reported being victimized by at least one form of religious or ritual abuse (RA). The study, which was published in the ''[[Journal of Interpersonal Violence]]'', showed that religious/ritual abuse may result in mental health issues such as [[Dissociative disorder|dissociative disorders]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nobakht |first1=Habib Niyaraq |last2=Yngvar Dale |first2=Karl |year=2018 |title=The Importance of Religious/Ritual Abuse as a Traumatic Predictor of Dissociation |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0886260517723747 |journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence |language=en |volume=33 |issue=23 |pages=3575–3588 |doi=10.1177/0886260517723747 |pmid=29294860 |s2cid=44617940 |issn=0886-2605|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

[[Morality and religion|Religious morality]] can in some cases contribute to [[victim blaming]].<ref name="a604">{{cite journal | last1=Bergenfeld | first1=Irina | last2=Clark | first2=Cari Jo | last3=Sandhu | first3=Seema | last4=Yount | first4=Kathryn M. | last5=Essaid | first5=Aida A. | last6=Sajdi | first6=Jude | last7=Abu Taleb | first7=Rand | last8=Robbin | first8=Zoe | last9=Batayeh | first9=Brian | last10=Zwooqar | first10=Ahad | last11=Spencer | first11=Rachael A. | title="There Is Always an Excuse to Blame the Girl": Perspectives on Sexual Harassment at a Jordanian University | journal=Violence Against Women | volume=28 | issue=14 | date=2022 | issn=1077-8012 | doi=10.1177/10778012221079373 | pages=3457–3481| pmid=35200046 }}</ref>

===Against children===
{{See also|Sexual grooming#Religious settings|Child abuse|Child sexual abuse}}
Religiously-based psychological abuse of children can involve using teachings to subjugate children through fear, or indoctrinating the child in the beliefs of their particular religion whilst suppressing other perspectives. Psychologist Jill Mytton describes this as crushing the child's chance to form a personal morality and belief system; it makes them utterly reliant on their religion or parents, and they never learn to [[Critical thinking|reflect critically]] on the information they receive. Similarly, the use of fear and a judgmental environment (such as the concept of [[Hell]]) to control the child can be traumatic.<ref name=Mytton>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXA7GA9yntc  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GXA7GA9yntc |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=YouTube - Jill Mytton Interview - Richard Dawkins |website=[[YouTube]] |date=2 February 2009 |access-date=May 26, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>