The time has come at last, to re-inspect the lecture that was handed to me fourteen years ago: "What's a Girl to Do?" by Douglas Winston Phillips, Esq. -- Insert CD into player. -- ::: Sappy medieval banquet-hall music intro ::: (This is not a good sign.) Here we go................... He begins: "...My pastor, a … Continue reading What IS a Girl to Do? →

My mother used to be best friends with a woman I will call "Mrs. Light Bringer." She is very active in aiding people who are healing from abuse. I correspond with her frequently; she has helped me deal with and make sense of the spiritual abuse. Mom used to tell her elaborately woven tales in … Continue reading Escaping Spiritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Tale -Part 6 →

My mother likes to make everything about herself, her pain and her "hard" life. During most of the years I lived with her, she was unhappy and complaining. After Darcy and I fled, she asked us to come for a meeting where she was planning to read one of her infamous letters -addressed to our … Continue reading Escaping Spiritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Tale -Part 5 →

We had such an amazing romance. It felt like a fairy tale: too good to be true. I did not think it was necessary to wait until my wedding to kiss; but I made my fiance' wait about a month and a half, which drove him nuts! Though I wanted so much to be with … Continue reading Escaping Spiritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Tale -Part 4 →

Among other "sinful" things were Barbie dolls. They were not allowed because they did not look like real women, and my parents feared that I would aspire to look like that (but for some reason it was okay to watch superhero movies and cartoons where they portray unrealistic expectations). Barbie's clothes could be removed, which … Continue reading Escaping Spiritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Tale -Part 3 →

My father latched onto the teachings of Doug Phillips for awhile. These "truths" were solidified within me at a very early age -so early that I seem to recall acting them out with my doll families. Girls were to stay home under the authority of their fathers, until their husbands took over at their weddings … Continue reading Escaping Spiritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Tale -Part 2 →

The spiritual abuse in my household gradually built up over time, until it culminated in a screeching crescendo that tore my family apart. We were taught to fear so much and call many things "sin" which were not; yet the very sinful behavior they tried to prevent, was what happened. I realize that God and … Continue reading Escaping Spiritual Abuse: A Survivor’s Tale -Part 1 →