The Unseen Damage of Spiritual Manipulation: A Guide by David Johnson

Super soft. One gripe is that it's a straight fit. Curves with a long torso can show a few lumps.: I felt this was a fair and balanced book. He handled the topic well. It was very freeing and validating.
I do wish there was more attention to spiritually abusive groups, and how it can perpetute in marriage. He did touch on that.
He was largely focused on church issues and dominance.
However, he did a great job explaining and creating an atmosphere for the reader to feel safe. I highly recommend this book.

United States on Sep 11, 2023

Aida: Must read for everyone who have been hurt but church. Pick up your copy today.

United States on May 25, 2023

rhonda: this is a very good book on spiritual abuse

Australia on Sep 13, 2022

Aletheuon: Spiritual abuse is quite stonishingly common, especially in churches where leaders are powerful (or want to be) and which emphasise commitment and submission. This book contains an excellent treatment of the cubject.

United Kingdom on Jun 13, 2022

Christine: It is a book I wanted to read

United Kingdom on Dec 20, 2021

Jon: I read this book in an extremely difficult period of our lives and found much help from it.
The authors demonstrate how spiritual abuse varies only in the detail, but not in the intent.
It is surprisingly devastating to be treated unjustly by a church “group”. The results are frequently traumatic stress and depression.
One cannot fight “group” dishonesty and gossip effectively at all, and the resulting frustration can cause mental anguish.
These two authors really know what happens and give great Scriptural help. In the acute stages, one may not want to heed it, but the words are there to fall back on and give Godly help. Thankyou to both.

Australia on Aug 09, 2021

Marlene: I’ll have to admit I was weary in picking up this book, who would have thought such a thing exists in church but it does. As I turned the pages my heart sank, tears streamed down and at last finally I felt validated. I wasn’t crazy. All those times I kept saying “God this isn’t you! It can’t be. This isn’t how you would treat me. I’m not wrong.” And this book clearly shows no I wasn’t wrong. I was right. Story after story I read was almost like it was taken out of my former church. The don’t talk rule. Shaming and guilting its people into serving. Meetings behind closed doors to game plan what to tell the congregation about what happened. All true. While the place I came from wasn’t the extreme example it was definitely what the book describes. The book helped me understand my former leaders, gave me the validation I needed and healed my heart. I since gave it to my mother who also just left the same church.
I believe EVERY single Believer should read this book. It’ll open your eyes to leave or if you are the person in power hopefully open your eyes to change and repent.

United States on Feb 26, 2020

Loyal Amazonian: I wasn't exactly sure what to expect when I picked up this book--all I had to do was read the title to know that I have been spiritually abused. After reading, it seems perhaps the abuse I endured was a bit more extreme than anything mentioned here. As a child, my mother would lock me in a room until I could speak in tongues or force me to stare into a mirror for hours until I could see a demon. She told me how full of sin and rebellion I was; how lazy, how broken and worthless I was without God. She always managed to find churches to act in collusion with her and shame me as a group. She would bring me into the pastor's office so they could both tell me I was possessed by a demon of lust and depravity. She used her extensive knowledge of Scripture to condemn and belittle me while proclaiming grace and forgiveness for her own self. I am an adult now and she *still* spends hours and hours writing me lengthy emails misquoting Scripture and twisting the Bible in order to cast me as the ultimate unworthy sinner and villain. I know this isn't the true God she's representing, but I have literally known nothing else. While reading this book, and I am going to quote the most popular...

United States on Aug 22, 2016

truthbuyer777: This is an incredible book by Loving men of God to help those of us who have escaped being under mind control from religious groups; i haven't finished it yet, as some days, i can only read a few pages, as it's helping me to grieve the fact that though i was deceived and bewitched, it confirms that it was right to separate from this group. Anyone who is not sure if a group is cult-like or in reality, a cult, it will also help you to discern and see the signs of a particular group, and hopefully, not to get involved, because its a very painful process to go through.

Thanks so much, David and Jeff, for writing this book,this has helped me to realize that i have NOT lost my mind, which seems to be what the leaders want to happen. The flock comes under mind control and complete brainwashing by not having any understanding of what is written in this book. This book exposes so many nuances one would ordinarily not pay any attention to. Anyone who asks questions to the leadership about Doctrine or anything, including finances, is shunned by leadership. Then, if you leave the group setting, you are labeled 'divisive' aka, a division maker or in rebellion. Perhaps you will be...

United States on Dec 18, 2015

Engineer Tech: Very powerful and helpful book. The reviews here have covered most of what I would want to say. I'll just say some extras:

Some people like to find church leaders who will take charge of their lives. People they can place their trust in completely, like a young child with a father. If you are starting to think that may be wrong for an adult Christian, and that God wants you to grow into maturity like His Son, then you will find this book very helpful on your journey.

If you are escaping from a cult or church that had a controlling, condeming, cult-like culture then this book will help you sort out the issues. I found it helped me understand the way I had been treated, and led me to renouncing their behaviour as evil, which then enabled me to release them to God for Him to judge them (forgiveness) and finally walk away from them and their unloving ways.

CAUTION: Reading this book is very likely to remind you of times where you were not treated rightly. It may well bring up issues from your past that you may not be currently conscious of. I went into (proper) counselling after this and am now growing into maturity with regards to leadership and caring for...

United Kingdom on Mar 12, 2014