How Spiritual Language Is Used to Silence: A Real-Time Example in Screenshots

Note: My personal reflections in response to these messages are available for subscribers at the end of this post.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been speaking to patterns of behavior involving abuse of power, infidelity, institutional protection, and the use of spiritual language to control narratives around conflict and accountability. I have also been sharing my story about my experience with Erik Herrmann after two years of processing, healing, and gaining perspective on the dynamics in which I was enmeshed.

Recently, I received a series of private messages from someone who came across some of my writing that reflect several of the patterns discussed.

Themes present in the messages include:

• Invocation of the Eighth Commandment

• Appeal to private vs. public nature of sin

• Use of spiritual language to control the speaker

• Framing the woman as the seducer

• Insulating the public figure by attacking the speaker

• Minimization of spiritual authority dynamics

Related posts for further context:

• On the Eight Commandment

• Accountability is Not Public Shaming

• Spotting Spiritual Gaslighting

• Evidence in Erik’s Own Words

It is important to note that while these messages correctly observe that I cannot provide direct evidence regarding the state of repentance in another person’s heart, my writing has focused on outward behaviors and institutional responses to patterns of abuse of power, infidelity, and spiritual manipulation. I have not made claims about the internal condition of any individual’s faith or repentance.