Editing Religious abuse (section)

===Characteristics===
[[Ronald Enroth]] in ''[[Churches That Abuse]]'' identifies five categories:{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}

# '''Authority and power''': abuse arises when leaders of a group arrogate to themselves power and authority that lacks the dynamics of open accountability and the capacity to question or challenge decisions made by leaders. The shift entails moving from general respect for an office bearer to one where members loyally submit without any right to dissent. 
# '''[[Psychological manipulation|Manipulation]] and control''': abusive groups are characterized by social dynamics where fear, guilt or threats are routinely used to produce unquestioning obedience, group [[conformity]] or stringent tests of loyalty. The leader-disciple relationship may become one in which the leader's decisions control and usurp the disciple's right or capacity to make choices.[https://nakedpastor.com/blogs/news/what-is-spiritual-abuse-and-how-to-recognize-when-it-is-happening-to-you]
# '''[[Elitism]] and persecution''': abusive groups depict themselves as unique and have a strong organizational tendency to be separate from other bodies and institutions. The social dynamism of the group involves being independent or separate, with diminishing possibilities for internal correction, reflection, or external criticism.
# '''Life-style and experience''': abusive groups foster rigidity in behavior and belief that requires conformity to the group's ideals.
# '''Dissent and discipline''': abusive groups tend to suppress any kind of internal challenge to decisions made by leaders.

Agnes and John Lawless argue in ''The Drift into Deception'' that there are eight characteristics of spiritual abuse, and some of these clearly overlap with Enroth's criteria. They list the eight marks of spiritual abuse as comprising:{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
#[[Charisma]] and [[pride]]
#[[Anger]] and [[intimidation]]
#[[Seven deadly sins#Greed|Greed]] and [[fraud]]
#[[Immorality]]
#Enslaving [[authoritarian]] structure
#Exclusivity
#Demanding [[loyalty]] and honor
#New revelation

The author of ''Charismatic Captivation'', Steven Lambert, in a post on the book's website delineates "33 Signs of Spiritual Abuse",<ref>{{cite web |date=15 November 2008 |title=The Signs of Spiritual Abuse |url=http://www.charismatic-captivation.com/?p=5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100729174834/http://www.charismatic-captivation.com/?p=5 |archive-date=2010-07-29 |access-date=25 January 2017 |website=Charismatic Captivation}}</ref> including:

#Apotheosis or de facto deification of the leadership.
#Absolute authority of the leadership.
#Pervasive abuse and misuse of authority in personal dealings with members to coerce submission.
#Paranoia, inordinate egotism or narcissism, and insecurity by the leaders.
#Abuse and inordinate incidence of "church discipline" particularly in matters not expressly considered to be church discipline issues.
#Inordinate attention to maintaining the public image of the ministry and lambasting of all "critics".
#Constant indoctrination with a "group" or "family" mentality that impels members to exalt the corporate "life" and goals of the church-group over their personal goals, callings, objectives or relationships.
#Members are psychologically traumatized, terrorized and indoctrinated with numerous fears aimed at creating an over-dependence or codependence on their leaders and the corporate group.
#Members may be required to obtain the approval (or ''witness'') of their leader(s) for decisions regarding personal matters.
#Frequent preaching from the pulpit discouraging leaving the religion or disobeying the leaderships' dictates.
#Members departing without the blessing of the leadership do so under a cloud of suspicion, shame, or slander.
#Departing members often suffer from psychological problems and display the symptoms associated with [[post-traumatic stress disorder]] (PTSD).