Front Pew Rebellion: When Faith Became the Battleground for Belonging
The message in this church community was clear: Black families sat in the back. Something in me stirred. I knew I couldn’t sit quietly in the back and pretend it was okay. But that day, I refused. I pulled my cousins with me. Though they were nervous and fearful of possible retaliation, I marched us to the front pew.
Signs of Spiritual Abuse in Children and Families
While it’s true spiritual abuse can have some physical features, it’s generally more subtle. Spiritual abuse first affects a person’s mind, moves into their core beliefs, and then informs their actions. Spiritual abuse intersects with psychological and emotional abuse in this way because spiritual abuse impacts mind, body and soul.
But how might a child experience spiritual abuse which results in religious trauma? It starts in the home.